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Mountain treks near train stations

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swindonred

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I want to climb a mountain, and want to travel by train to get to it. Are there any options in the UK? I don't want to be relying on a taxi at all...
 
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433N

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Well, the question then becomes how far you are prepared to walk to get to this 'mountain' ... or are you wanting a station with a signpost outside saying 'This Way to the Mountain' ?
 

swindonred

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Well, the question then becomes how far you are prepared to walk to get to this 'mountain' ... or are you wanting a station with a signpost outside saying 'This Way to the Mountain' ?
Good question. Let's go within a mile.
 

peri

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Horton-in-Ribblesdale is a favourite of mine. It is on the slopes of Ingleborough with Pen-y-Ghent just across the valley. Garsdale to Kirkby Stephen over Boar Fell is another good walk. Wales may be closer for you, though.
 

185

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Black Hill: Hadfield by train, walk 3km on the Longendale path, then turn left & over the top via the Pennine Way, to Marsden Station 5-6 hours.
Or,
Kinder Scout: Glossop by train, walk up the Doctor Gate path to Kinder Scout, down to Edale Station, 5-6 hours.
 

vlad

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The summit of Ben Nevis isn't that far from Fort William. It's up quite a bit however.

If you want to start closer to the summit how about Rhyd Ddu and Snowdon?
 

Struner

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Good question. Let's go within a mile.
The summit of Ben Nevis isn't that far from Fort William. It's up quite a bit however.
If you want to start closer to the summit how about Rhyd Ddu and Snowdon?
Snowdon is certainly within a mile :lol:
But the Ben from the Fort sprang to my mind immediately.
& there are plenty hills on the WHL/HML & Kyle line of course.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ might help you on your way there?
 

Gathursty

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Sugar Loaf on the Heart of Wales line
Falls of Cruachan on the Oban branch
Achnashellach on the Kyle line is very close to the Cape Wrath Trail which is not for the unprepared as it is not signposted or maintained in the same way the West Highland Way is.

Can't think of any others that haven't been said.
 

306024

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Shippea Hill must be worth climbing ;)

Hope to Edale via Mam Tor is a decent stroll with views of the trains in the Hope Valley below. Have also done Pen-y-ghent from Horton-in-Ribblesdale was enjoyable too, although a tourist in flip-flops found it a struggle :rolleyes:
 

Bletchleyite

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Snowdon is certainly within a mile :lol:
But the Ben from the Fort sprang to my mind immediately.
& there are plenty hills on the WHL/HML & Kyle line of course.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ might help you on your way there?

Best way to do the Ben without a doubt is to book into the CIC hut (a mountain hut about half way up on the north side). On the first day, walk to the hut in the evening and stay over, then go up via the CMD Arete (a bit scrambly so not for a novice) and down via the tourist path, returning to the hut. On the second, a leisurely stroll back down and the train (CS if desired) back home.

Another one you can do is to get the S&C to Horton in Ribblesdale and do the Yorkshire Three Peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen y Ghent.
 

DarloRich

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Are all of these suggested locations actually mountains?

personally i would go with Horton in Ribblesdale. Lovely area. Quiet, decent pubs, not many tourist walkers like Snowdon or Ben Nevis
 

AndrewE

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Caer Caradoc from Church Stretton station is an easy climb and really feels like an achievement when you are in the hill fort on the top. A brilliant introduction to hill walking for younger people, with great views.
 

jnjkerbin

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Caer Caradoc from Church Stretton station is an easy climb and really feels like an achievement when you are in the hill fort on the top. A brilliant introduction to hill walking for younger people, with great views.
That's a lovely walk with a good view - I seem to remember there's one path up that's really steep - almost needed to to crawl up it! But I think there was also a slightly more circuitous path that was a little less steeply graded!
 

Essan

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No knowing the OP's experience, something like Caer Caradoc is a good idea

Malverns shouldn't be discounted either - easy access from Malvern Link or Great Malvern and whilst not that high or remote, they rise pretty high from the Severn Plain.

Pen y Fal aka the Sugar Loaf can be done from Abergavenny.

Shining Edge or Kinder Scout in the Peak District from Edale, and Pen y Ghent or Ingleborough from Horton in Ribblesdale are other options for hills in England, all with good paths; a little more serious than Caer Caradoc but not requiring the level of hillwalking experience needed for most Scottish hills.
 

AndrewE

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A mountain might have an official definition, but I would say it is subjective, depending on the experience you get. Yes, for a mountain trek you need to know what you are doing and be properly equipped, but in reasonable weather and moderately well clothed and shod Caer Caradoc is perfect. Here's a photo I took earlier this year (on the longest day, in fact. I missed a trick, we should have gone up the evening before and bivouacked up there to see the dawn!) :
midsummer.jpg
 

Bald Rick

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Best way to do the Ben without a doubt is to book into the CIC hut (a mountain hut about half way up on the north side). On the first day, walk to the hut in the evening and stay over, then go up via the CMD Arete (a bit scrambly so not for a novice) and down via the tourist path, returning to the hut. On the second, a leisurely stroll back down and the train (CS if desired) back home.

Also easily done in a day out and back, with the benefit of stay in Ft William with a decent pint and a curry.


I've got off at Bridge of Orchy and set off up Beinn Dorain and Beinn a Dothaidh direct from the station.

Some other good suggestions here:

https://www.stevenfallon.co.uk/munros-by-train.html

I was going to suggest exactly that page. I’ve done about half of them; Ben Lui (+ 3 others) from Tyndrum was my favourite, although I expect Beinn Dorain (+4 others) would have been better had it not belted down all day.

Treat those hills listed further down with a pinch of salt - doing the Cairngorms from Aviemore is a big ask!
 

roadierway77

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Falls of Cruachan is convenient for the munros of Ben Cruachan and Stob Daimh, though bear in mind the station is only open in the summer months. Walk Highlands has a 14km circular walk from the station around the Cruachan reservoir that goes up to a height of almost 1400m. Certainly not for the inexperienced mountaineer.
 

Struner

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A lot of people use the term "climb a mountain" when they mean walking up one, not getting the harnesses, helmets and ropes out. Mostly "climbing Snowdon" refers simply to walking up one of the paths.
You mean I should understand it to mean do some hillwalking?
Hope the OP will clarify this.
Walking up the Ben by the ponytrack is some serious hillwalking as well tho.
 

Bletchleyite

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You mean I should understand it to mean do some hillwalking?

Yes, I suspect that's what most people mean by "climb a mountain" when undertaking it in the UK. Someone who wanted to do a classic Welsh mountain VDiff (or something) would probably be quite specific about that. Or there is Tryfan if you like your scrambling, but again I suspect not what the OP had in mind.
 

ChiefPlanner

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Rhyd Ddu on the Welsh Highland - gives you access to Snowdon on the named path , come down another route (Snowdon Ranger) and rest up in the Cwellyn Arms. Real ale , wood fire ,good food. Job done.
 

Bald Rick

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Falls of Cruachan is convenient for the munros of Ben Cruachan and Stob Daimh, though bear in mind the station is only open in the summer months. Walk Highlands has a 14km circular walk from the station around the Cruachan reservoir that goes up to a height of almost 1400m. Certainly not for the inexperienced mountaineer.

There’s a tricky spot between those two, not recommended in the wet / icy conditions.
 
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