About RailTrails

Wait, where are you taking me?

Our tool connects you to scenic countryside locations across Great Britain.

• National Park

  There are 15 national parks, ten in England, three in Wales, and two in Scotland.

• National Landscape (AONB)

  16 National Landscapes across England and Wales, formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

• Heritage Coast

  46 nationally recognised strips of largely undeveloped coastline in England and Wales.

• National Trail

  16 long distance footpaths and bridleways crossing England and Wales, administered by Natural England.

• National Scenic Area

  40 Scottish specific conservation zones, designated to protect landscapes of exceptional beauty. Only 8 accessible by train.

• Wild Land Area

  Some of the most remote, rugged, and unpopulated landscapes in Scotland. Only one is accessible by train.

• National Nature Reserve

  1049 reserves managed specifically for wildlife and habitat. Not included in search results by default. Many in city centre locations.

• Special Area of Conservation

  576 rivers, wetlands, habitat patches. Not included in search results by default.

Journey times are precomputed estimates, not a live timetable lookup – calculating them once from typical days keeps the app fast and free to run.

Always check the actual timetable before you travel.

How do you know all this?

With thanks to the good people and APIs at:

• NaPTAN
• Natural England
• NatureScot
• Scottish Government
• Natural Resources Wales
• JNCC
• ONS Open Geography Portal
• Database of British and Irish Hills (DoBIH)
• OpenStreetMap contributors
• Rail Data Marketplace

Is that it?

RailTrails is a work in progress. We’re working to include:

• Live timetables
• Onward bus journeys
• Better walking routes