I've Taken 30 Train Rides Through the U.K.-Here Are 8 of My Favorites

""I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it," said Paul Theroux in the opening line of his 1975 travel classic "The Great Railway Bazaar.""

"I often feel the same way, though Theroux was about to embark on an epic 25,000-mile journey from London to the Far East and back."

"But as monumental as his voyage sounds, journeys around the U.K. can also give me the same sense of awe and wanderlust as those in far-flung corners of the globe."

"From sea-sprayed coastal lines in Cornwall to cinematic mountain jaunts through the mist-strewn Scottish Highlands, the U.K.'s rail network offers a wealth of sublime scenery."

Longing to board passing trains is expressed. An epic 25,000-mile railway journey from London to the Far East and back exemplifies the extremes of rail travel. Journeys closer to home around the U.K. can evoke the same sense of awe and wanderlust as long international voyages. Scenic options include sea-sprayed coastal lines in Cornwall and cinematic mountain jaunts through mist-strewn Scottish Highlands. The U.K. rail network provides a wealth of sublime scenery for travelers. A selection of favorite train routes through the U.K. is presented.

Read at Travel + Leisure