The highlights of this journey from Rotterdam to the West Highlands of Scotland are two railways which are both in the premier league of Europe’s most celebrated lines: the Settle and Carlisle railway and the West Highland Line.
Beurs metro station in the busy heart of Rotterdam is the improbable starting point for this journey which takes in four countries and ends in south-west Ireland on the edge of the country’s first national park.
Route 6 in Europe by Rail is short and sweet, taking in a feast of fine cities as well as, especially in the early stages, some engaging rustic landscapes. It’s not a route where you need ever bother about advance booking and for holders of Interrail or Eurail passes, there are no supplements to pay.
Fifty years ago, the direct train to Basel stayed entirely west of the Rhine, traversing Belgium, Luxembourg and France along the way. The through trains have gone, but the railways are still there. Regular regional trains – all offering a high level of comfort – still ply the entire route.
Most of the cities along Route 24 in Europe by Rail have developed through sea trade or their links with the sea, although none is really on an open coast. We’ll visit places shaped by the Hanseatic League and feel the sea breeze on this journey through four countries.