Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
ENTRY
from £20
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Wirksworth
What it’s like
Ride heritage steam and diesel trains through the Derbyshire countryside, with a model railway carriage and picnic stops along the way.
The main event is the train itself, steam or diesel depending on the day, trundling along the Ecclesbourne Valley with stations to hop off at. There's a model railway layout tucked into one of the carriages, which buys you a good ten minutes if the real thing hasn't already done the job, and a child-friendly trail alongside play and picnic zones at the stations for when everyone needs to stretch their legs.
It's not a quick in-and-out sort of day. Trains run on a timed journey with return options, so you can pick a station, get off, potter about, and catch a later train back rather than being stuck on board the whole time. The High Peak Trail runs alongside for anyone who fancies extending things with a walk or a bike ride once they're off the train.
Food ranges from a straightforward Apollo Bar serving drinks from 11am, up to proper dining trains: a Tea & Cake Special at £20 a head, right up to a Sunday Countryman at £67. Those dining experiences want booking ahead, though the standard services and tea and cake trips work as walk-ups too. Worth knowing that under-5s travel free on a Teddy Bears Picnic ticket if they bring their bear along, and the Tea & Cake Special lets two children under 15 go free per paying adult.
Parking is the one to plan for. There's a proper car park at the main station with RingGo pay and display, but Shottle Station in particular has very little space, so that's not the stop to aim for if you're driving and hoping to just roll up.
What’s on here
- SAT10
Duffield Shopper Special
08:20 · 16 more dates
- SUN11
Sunday Countryman
12:45 · from £67 · 16 more dates
- SAT17
Luxury Afternoon Tea
12:45 · from £50
- SAT17
BM&W Band Charity Concert
19:00
- SAT31
The Monster Mash Ball Murder Mystery
A Halloween murder mystery night aboard a heritage train at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
- FRI27
Christmas Countryman
12:45 · from £60
- SAT28
Santa's Enchanted Journey 2026
26 more dates
Ravenstor Shuttle
A Diesel Multiple Unit shuttle runs to Ravenstor Station, the line's most northerly point.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Advance booking recommended for special dining experiences
- Parking
- RingGo pay and display car park at station
- How long to allow
- Flexible - timed train journeys with return options
- Food
- Apollo Bar open 11am most days trains run, serving beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks
- Getting there by bus or train
- Trentbarton Route 6.1 bus serves Duffield (Town Street/Co-op), Idridgehay (Wirksworth Road/Church) & Wirksworth Market Place
- Shottle Station has very limited parking, so it's not the one to head for if you're driving
- The Apollo Bar only serves drinks, not food, so bring a picnic if you're not booking a dining train
- Dining trains like the Luxury Afternoon Tea are pricier and want booking ahead of a normal visit
- Under-5s go free on a Teddy Bears Picnic ticket if they've got their bear with them
- Picnics are allowed, which pairs well with the play zones at the stations
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Dining experiences start at £20 a head for the Tea & Cake Special, rising to £67 for the Sunday Countryman. Standard train fares aren't broken out separately in what they publish, so the dining prices are the clearest guide.
Do we need to book?
Booking's recommended for the special dining trains like afternoon tea or the Countryman's Lunch. Standard services and the tea and cake trips can usually be walked up to.
Is there anywhere to park?
There's a large customer car park and a RingGo pay and display option at the main station, plus a small car park on Chapel Street. Shottle Station has very limited parking, so that's one to avoid if you're driving.
What's there for younger children?
Under-5s travel free on a Teddy Bears Picnic ticket if they bring their bear. There's also a model railway layout in one of the carriages and play zones at the stations.
What food is available?
The Apollo Bar opens from 11am on most running days with drinks. If you want a proper meal, there are dining trains including a Cream Tea Countryman and a full Sunday Countryman lunch, all using seasonal local food.
How long does a visit take?
It's flexible. You can pick a station, get off, picnic or walk about, and catch a later train back rather than sticking to one round trip.
Can we get there without a car?
The Trentbarton Route 6.1 bus stops at Duffield, Idridgehay and Wirksworth Market Place, all along the line.
Is it just steam trains?
It runs both steam and diesel services depending on the day, so check which you'll be getting when you book.
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