Rudyard Steam Train
We love living in Staffordshire, as there is so much to do on the weekend and during term holidays with the kids. There are lots of nature parks, national trust sites, wildlife trust, pottery, museums or just fun activity to do like heading for a train ride with the kids to Leek.
Rudyard Lake near Leek in Staffordshire is a quintessential family-friendly destination where scenic walks and charming heritage experiences come together to create a perfect day out in nature. Set around an elongated reservoir built in the 18th century to feed the Caldon Canal, Rudyard Lake offers a variety of walking routes that cater to all abilities and interests. Whether you’re after a gentle stroll along the flat, wide path on the lake’s eastern shore (ideal for little legs and even pushchairs) or a longer, more varied 5.5 mile circular walk that meanders through woods and open countryside on the west side, there’s something here for every family group.
What truly sets Rudyard Lake apart is the charming Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, a narrow-gauge heritage train that runs alongside the water, offering delightful return trips in covered carriages. This Victorian-style steam experience gives kids and adults alike a fun alternative to walking and stunning lakeside views without tiring little legs out.
As you explore, you’ll find picnic spots, watersports opportunities, cosy cafés and plenty of wildlife to spot, making Rudyard Lake an ideal blend of adventure, relaxation and countryside charm for family outings throughout the year.
What Did We think of Rudyard Steam Train?
Rudyard Lake Railway is located at Rudyard Station. There is a decent amount of car parking space but do go early during summer as the carpark can get busy quickly. It is a very short train journey, running roughly around the 3 mile and tickets cost roughly around £4.50 for adults and £3 for children.
You are also able to purchase single journey tickets or halfway up to The Dam. We saw many people walking alongside with their dogs and kids on bicycles as we were on the train. You could also get off the train half way if you like.
Do check out their website to find out more about themed train rides, drive a train or details of holding birthday parties onboard.
Rudyard Lake Fact
Located just walking distance from Rudyard Lake as well as Rudyard Hotel, Rudyard Railway boasts picturesque views of the lake when you are on the train. Rudyard Lake’s peak of popularity was in the late 1800’s when the ease of train access bought as many as 20,000 visitors in one day.
Today, the lake boasts a visitor centre, activity centre, shop/café and provides boating facilities. Here are just some of the views we saw during our 45 minute train ride, the lake is approximately 5 and a half miles long.
Here’s a short video of the train which came to the station just before we got on. There are no toilets on the train so remember to get your kids to use the facilities when you are at the station. Is a slow relaxing ride on the train with lots of stop, so allocate an hour for the whole ride, longer if you’d like to stop off and walk around the lake before you take the train back.
A photo of us together on thee train with a photo of the the train running times. The half hour delays were perfect as we did not have to wait long when we arrived to get on the train. It was quite busy on the day, with full carriages especially with the weather being nice so we sat in one of the open coaches. We have been on the train once before when it rained and the covered coaches did well keeping us dry. The shot below is of King Arthur getting topped up with water to cool it down.
Did you know!
How to get to Rudyard Station?
Rudyard Station,
Rudyard Road,
Rudyard,
Leek,
Staffordshire
ST13 8PF
Station Tel: 01538 306704
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