Stay and Ride: Cottage Holidays Near Cliff Railways in the UK
Here’s something interesting to do on holiday: ride a Cliff railway. A throwback to the days of superb Victorian engineering, they are also known as cliff lifts, funicular or incline railways. They are a type of transportation system designed to move passengers up or down steep inclines using cable-driven cars. They are probably as popular today as they were in Victorian times. They offer smooth rides and stunning views, always run on time and are environmentally friendly, being mainly powered by a blend of water and gravity. So why not book a holiday cottage in a location within easy reach of a cliff railway to include in your holiday itinerary?
There’s an obvious clue to their usual location in the name as all bar one of UK Cliff Railways are located on cliffs above a beach. Book a holiday cottage at the top of the cliff and commute to the beach by train every day! Here are some of the best-known funiculars in the UK for you to consider. There is a link to each Railway listing to holiday cottages on the relevant town pages. Here are some notable cliff railways in the UK.
Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway in North Devon
Located in Devon, England, this Grade II-listed cliff railway connects the towns of Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon. It was opened in 1890 and is one of the highest and steepest fully water-powered railways in the world. The railway uses a counterbalanced system of two cars, each connected to a water tank. As one car goes down, it pulls the other car up, and vice versa. The Railway also has a Grade II-listed café with amazing coastal views adjacent to the Lynton (top) station.
Opened: 1890
Address: Lynton & Lynmouth Lift Co, The Cliff Railway, The Esplanade, Lynmouth, North Devon, EX35 6EQ
Opening hours:
February - March: 10:00am - 5:00pm
April - Mid-July: 10:00am - 6:00pm
September: 10:00am - 6:00pm
October: 10:00am - 5:00pm
November: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Where to stay: North Devon Holiday Cottages
We Like: Lorna Doone Cottage in Lynmouth
Found in the Victorian seaside resort at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, this funicular railway was opened in 1884. Its proud red and white carriages connect the town to Saltburn’s pier and beach below. The Saltburn Cliff Lift is powered by water balance similar to the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway. It has been lovingly restored and remains operational today.
Opened: 1884
Address: Saltburn Cliff Tramway, Lower Promenade, Saltburn, TS12 1HQ
Opening hours: 7 days a week: 10.=:30am - 5:00pm (the last train departs at 4:55pm)
Where to stay: View Saltburn-by-the-Sea Holiday Cottages
We like: Fast Car in Saltburn, Sleeps 4
Situated in Torquay, Devon, this cliff railway was opened in 1926. It connects Babbacombe Downs with Oddicombe Beach. The railway is powered by an electric motor and features two cars that travel up and down the incline, providing stunning views of the coastline.
Opened: 1926
Address: Babbacombe Downs Rd, Torquay TQ1 3LF
Opening hours: 7 days a week: 9:00am – 5:00pm (Last car down at 4:55pm).
Where to stay: Torbay Holiday Cottages
We like: Holcombe House, a large holiday home in Torquay. Sleeps 12
Located in Shropshire, England, this railway connects the High Town and Low Town of Bridgnorth. It was built in 1892 and is England's oldest and steepest inland funicular railway. The railway uses a water counterbalance system to operate. This is the only non-seaside cliff railway on our list, but its blue and white cars offer beautiful views across the Severn Valley. For steam train lovers, the Severn Valley Railway terminus is just a few minutes walk from the bottom station. Ride both railways!
Opened: 1892
Address: 6A Castle Terrace, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 4AH
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday: 8:00am – 8:0pm
Sunday: 12noon to 8:00pm
In winter, closing time is 6:30pm
Where to stay: View Holiday Cottages in Bridgenorth
We like: Garden Barn near Bridgenorth, Sleeps 4
The longest funicular railway in Britain is located at the Northern end of Aberystwyth’s splendid promenade. The railway ascends Constitution Hill to give beautiful views over the seaside town and across Cardigan Bay. Take a map and see how many Snowdonian mountain peaks you can identify (apparently, 26 can be seen on a clear day). Also at the top is a magnificent camera obscura, a children’s playground, a cafe and a gift shop. The railway and summit paths are all wheelchair accessible.
Opened: 1896
Address: Cliff Terrace, Aberystwyth, SY23 2DN.
Opening hours: 10:00am – 5:00pm, 7 days a week between April 1st and October 31st. During the peak summer periods, it remains open until 6:00pm.
Where to stay: Holiday Cottages in Ceredigion
We Like: Cariad Cottage, a large coastal holiday home in nearby Aberaeron, Sleeps 11
The Cliff Lift in Southend
Situated in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, this volunteer-managed electrically powered railway connects the Clifftown area to the seafront. At 40m long, It’s the shortest funicular railway in Britain. It was opened in 1912 and was originally steam-powered. It was later converted to electric power and remains operational. While there, enjoy another somewhat longer railway journey and take a train to the end of Southend Pier.
Opened: 1912
Address:
Southend Pier & Railway
Western Esplanade
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
SS1 1EE
Opening hours:
Mon: 10:30am - 3:00pm
Tue: Subject to staffing
Wed: Subject to staffing
Thu: Subject to staffing
Fri: Subject to staffing
Sat: 10:30am - 3:00pm
Sun: 10:30am - 3:00pm
Where to stay: Holiday Cottages in Essex
We like:: Brook Lodge near Colchester. This idyllic rural holiday cottage sleeps 2.
Scarborough
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, is home to two cliff lifts: the Central Tramway Company and the South Bay Cliff Lift. These funiculars provide access from the town to the beach and offer picturesque coastline views.
Opened: 1881
Address: Upper Station, Marine Parade, Scarborough, YO11 2ER
Opening hours: In summer, it is open 7 days a week from 9:30am to 21:45pm
The South Bay Cliff Lift connects the South Cliff Esplanade with the Scarborough Spa. Its cars can carry up to twenty people at a time and, at its peak just after the war, carried 1.2 million passengers in a single year.
Opened: 1873
Address: South Cliff Esplanade, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Opening hours: These vary according to the season, but it is open 7 days a week. In summer, hours are 9:00am. – 10:30pm and sometimes later.
Where to stay: Scarborough holiday cottages
We like: Honey Bee Cottage in Stantondale, Scarborough. Sleeps 4.
Great Orme Tramway in Llandudno
Situated in Llandudno, Wales, the Great Orme Tramway is not a traditional cliff railway but a mile-long cable-hauled tramway that transports visitors through a country park to the summit of the Great Orme headland where arriving passengers are greeted with stunning coastal views. It's one of the few remaining cable-operated street tramways in the world and offers spectacular views as far up the coast to Blackpool and the Lake District (on clear days). Each of the original tramcars is named after a Saint.
Opened: 1902
Address:
Opening hours: 7 days a week: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where to stay: North Wales holiday cottages
We Like: Lisboa, a large holiday home in Llandudno, Sleeps 16
Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) near Machynlleth
Everybody arrives in style at CAT via this water-balanced railway, which, at a slope of 35%, is one of the steepest inclines in the world. Once you have parked your (preferably electric-powered) car in the bottom car park, pay the entry fee and then board a railway car which will ascend to the proper entrance to the Centre. In this disused slate quarry, you will discover a carbon-neutral world bristling with working examples of renewable energy in green buildings surrounded by organic gardens and sustainably managed woodland. Quite an enlightening educational experience!
Opened: 1973
Address: Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9AZ,
Opening hours: 7 days a week: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Where to stay: North Wales holiday cottages
We Like: Draenllwynellen, a remote rural farmhouse. Sleeps 6.
These examples of cliff railways in the UK showcase the diverse range of cliff railways and similar inclined transportation systems found across the UK. Each railway has its own historical significance, design, and purpose, but they all provide a charming and practical way to navigate steep inclines and enjoy scenic views. They also offer a memorable holiday experience.