🚆 7-Day UK Rail Adventure with My Dad

A First Class Multi-Day Train Journey Across Britain (Preview)

On 23 February, my dad and I are setting off on a seven-day rail journey across Britain.

This isn’t an attempt to ride every railway line in the UK.

Instead, it’s a carefully planned multi-day train trip combining iconic main lines, spectacular Highland scenery, an overnight sleeper, and selected First Class segments — designed to balance comfort, variety and proper time together on the rails.

If you’ve ever wondered what a UK rail rover-style trip actually feels like, this week should give a realistic answer.

Why Take a Multi-Day UK Rail Trip?

There’s something uniquely satisfying about crossing the country by train.

Unlike flying, rail travel lets you:

• Watch the landscape evolve mile by mile
• Step off in cities and towns along the way
• Experience both high-speed main lines and rural branches
• Avoid airports entirely
• Turn travel itself into the destination

For this trip, we’ve deliberately built a route that blends:

• 🚄 Fast intercity main line running
• 🏔️ Remote Highland scenery
• 🌙 An overnight sleeper experience
• 🪑 First Class comfort where it makes sense
• 🔁 Strategic cross-country connections

It’s ambitious — but not frantic.

The Highland Highlight

One of the centrepieces of the journey is a classic Highland route from Inverness, widely regarded as one of the most scenic train lines in the UK.

Long sea lochs.

Open moorland.

Tiny request stops.

Dramatic engineering in remote landscapes.

This is the kind of railway that reminds you why Britain’s rail network is so varied — and why multi-day rail travel can be far more immersive than a simple point-to-point ticket.

If the weather cooperates (forecast not looking great!), it should be spectacular.

Overnight on the Sleeper

No proper rail adventure is complete without at least one night on a sleeper train.

Board in the evening.

Wake up somewhere entirely different.

We’ll be testing whether sleeper travel still feels special in 2026 — and how practical it really is as part of a longer rail itinerary.

Expect honest reflections on comfort, sleep quality and value.

Is First Class Worth It on UK Trains?

Over seven consecutive days, comfort matters.

We’ve built First Class into several legs of the journey — not just for luxury, but for extra comfort. Extra space, quieter carriages and onboard catering can make a noticeable difference on longer sectors.

One question I’ll be answering:

Does First Class genuinely improve a multi-day UK rail trip — or is it just a nice-to-have?

Travelling with My Dad

My dad loves train travel just as much as I do.

He’s 84 now — still sharp, still curious, still more than capable of tackling long days on the rails — but probably at the stage where he wouldn’t plan or attempt a trip like this on his own.

Right now, though, he’s well enough to do it with me.

And that matters.

Because the truth is, none of us knows what’s around the corner.

This isn’t about ticking off routes or maximising mileage. It’s about making the most of a window of time when we can still do something ambitious together — long days, sleeper night, Highland scenery and all.

Rail travel is perfect for that. No airport stress. No rushing. Just time — hours of it — to sit side by side while the country rolls past.

That’s the real value of this trip.

The lines and landscapes will be memorable.

He's genuinely excited about our trip!

What I’ll Be Sharing During the Trip

Throughout the week I’ll be posting:

• Daily short-form updates
• Scenic highlights
• First Class reviews
• Sleeper reflections
• Route insights
• Lessons learned

Afterwards, I’ll publish a full long-form breakdown covering:

• Total miles travelled
• Route map
• Costs
• What worked (and what didn’t)
• Whether we’d do it again

Planning Your Own UK Rail Rover Trip

If you’re considering a UK multi-day train journey, here’s what I’ll be evaluating:

• Route balance (fast vs scenic)
• Rest and recovery time
• Accommodation positioning
• Sleeper integration
• First Class value over multiple days
• Engineering disruption resilience

By the end of the week, we should have a very practical answer to the big question:

Is a seven-day UK rail adventure worth it?

We leave Monday.

Let’s see where the rails take us.