Rail Ale Trails

Enjoy real ales and top food as you explore pubs on Devon and Cornwall’s scenic branch lines.

Rail Ale Trails

Enjoy real ales and top food as you explore pubs on Devon and Cornwall's scenic branch lines.

How it works

1

Enjoy a scenic
day out by train

2

Hop off to visit
great pubs

3

At each pub get
your sheet stamped

4

With 10 stamps
get a T-shirt

Take it easy: Each trail is intended to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace and not all in one day. Please drink responsibly and respect your fellow pubgoers, rail passengers and staff. Cheers!

✔ Take it easy: The trails are intended to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace and not all in one day. Please drink responsibly and respect pubgoers, rail passengers and staff. Cheers!

How it works

1

Enjoy a scenic
day out by train

2

Hop off to visit
great pubs

3

At each pub get
your sheet stamped

4

With 10 stamps
get a T-shirt

Take it easy: Each trail is intended to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace and not all in one day. Please drink responsibly and respect your fellow pubgoers, rail passengers and staff. Cheers!

Take it easy: Enjoy each trail at a leisurely pace and not all in one day. Please drink responsibly and respect pubgoers, rail passengers and staff. Cheers!

Pick a trail

Exeter - Barnstaple

Take a trip to North Devon exploring great pubs along the way.

Plymouth - Gunnislake

Enjoy a pint next to the river as you visit the villages of the Tamar Valley.

Liskeard - Looe

Travel alongside the scenic estuary to the atmospheric seaside town of Looe.

Liskeard - Looe

Travel alongside the scenic estuary to the atmospheric seaside town of Looe.

Truro - Falmouth

Take in the history of Cornwall's capital and the attractive port town of Falmouth.

Truro - Falmouth

Take in the history of Cornwall's capital and the attractive port town of Falmouth.

Penzance - St Ives

Visit the artists’ paradise of St Ives on one of Britain’s most scenic branch lines.

Par - Newquay

Explore the villages of the 'clay country' en route to the popular seaside town of Newquay.

Salisbury - Exeter

A bumper new trail, run with Blackmore Vale Community Rail Partnership and South Western Railway, spanning Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset & East Devon.

Working with Blackmore Vale Community Rail Partnership and South Western Railway we’re proud to bring you a bumper new Rail Ale Trail taking in 12 destinations spanning Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset & East Devon.

Explore this picturesque line and stop off at great local pubs along the way.

rail-ale-trail-t-shirts-mobile

Win a T-shirt

Collect 10 stamps from pubs on your chosen trail to win a fab T-shirt.

Pick a trail to get started.

Win a T-shirt

Collect 10 stamps from pubs on your chosen trail to win a fab T-shirt. Pick a trail to get started.

Train on the St Ives Bay Line

Train tickets

Group travel icon

If you're travelling in a party of 3 or more, buy your train tickets together to save a third with the GroupSave discount.

Single or couple icon

If you're doing the trail solo or with a friend, a Devon & Cornwall Railcard is an alternative way to save a third (available to local residents only).

Return icon

Get an Off-Peak Day Return ticket, which allows you to hop on and off (as long as you continue in the same direction of travel). You can use a BritRail pass if visiting from overseas.

Tickets icon

Buy your tickets online or at station ticket offices. For groups of 10 or more, book via GWR group travel.

Top tips

Plan ahead
Think how long you might spend in each pub and how this fits with train times.
Check with pubs
Opening hours can change (especially in winter), so please call pubs to check. Let them know if bringing a large group.
Bring your stamp sheet
Print one per person and show it to pub staff (pick a quiet time where possible) with your train ticket to get it stamped.
Have a timetable to hand
Save, screenshot or print the train timetable PDF in case mobile signal is patchy.
Getting to the station
Get walking & bus times from the Traveline journey planner, or look up parking.
Stamping the Tamar Valley Line Rail Ale Trail sheet

Questions? The trails are managed by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership. Email railaletrails@dcrp.org.uk or call the office on 01752 584777.

Questions? The trails are managed by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership. Email railaletrails@dcrp.org.uk or call the office on 01752 584777.