I'd like to get from Bristol to Edinburgh via train this December. I know that one of the most scenic routes would be going via Birmingham, Leeds, Settle, and Carlisle, but that would be a minimum of 9 hours on a train! Whereas if I went through the Lakes district, it's only 6 hours total.

My question is, would tacking on the extra 3 hours be worth it to get the famous Settle-Carlisle train scenery? Or will the route via the Lakes District (Bristol -> Birmingham -> Kendal -> Carlisle -> Edinburgh) give me scenery that is just as good?

Or, honestly, is the winter scenery not that great anyway and I should maybe just fly and enjoy extra time in Edinburgh?

thanks all!

If you can get a really cheap flight and you travel with little luggage, go for it.

If you can get a cheaper train ticket than a plane ticket (likely, as long as you book your
ticket well in advance), I'd say go with the six hour train ride anyway. From city centre to
city centre it will take you something like six hours even if you go by plane.

If you want some really nice scenery, you should go on the train from Edinburgh up to Inverness
and back. Maybe even just stopping somewhere in the highlands about midway. If you want to
see the best of the Lake District, you'll have to get off the train and do some hiking. And you
will want to see it some other time than mid-winter. A nine hour ride may mean it will be dark
outside by the time you reach northern England anyway...

Happy rails,

Bjørn
http://bjornfree.com/

You will get from Bristol to Edinburgh at the end of this year and I think this is the great time to sightseeing. I agree that you should go by train to have time to see nice scenery. Have fun.