Gothic Romantic Getaway By Rail

As the movie Wuthering Heights opens in UK cinemas, Trainline is spotlighting rail-accessible destinations across the UK that echo the dramatic spirit of Wuthering Heights, Frankenstein and wider gothic romance.

The film, starring Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff – the man also behind the recent cinematic re-telling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – has been widely anticipated.

However, as with all cinematic hype, there’s plenty of other associated ‘to do’s’ that you can partake in…..including a nice day out on the ‘Gothic’ train to somewhere as equally wild as the moors of Haworth, original West Yorkshire home to the Bronte sisters.

Sarah Helppi, UK Country Director for Trainline, said: “With Wuthering Heights landing on Valentine’s weekend and gothic romance having a real cultural moment, we wanted to highlight destinations that match that mood. From windswept landscapes to atmospheric towns – and even a night out with a twist – the rail network makes it easy to turn screen-inspired romance into a real-world escape.”

Trainline’s Wuthering Heights and Gothic Romantic Escapes include:

📍 Settle - Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales

Using Settle’s characterful market town as a base, walkers can step straight into windswept moorland: open heather, stone walls snaking across the hills, and vast skies that create the same sense of isolation and intensity found in Wuthering Heights.

Getting there: Accessible via routes from Leeds and Carlisle, Settle station is within a 5 minute walk from the market square and cafés. The start of classic moorland routes lies around 10–15 minutes on foot. Short circular walks lead uphill towards the Hoffmann Kiln, opening out to wide views across Ribblesdale. For more dramatic scenery, walkers can follow the Pennine Bridleway towards Attermire Scar, where limestone cliffs and sweeping valley views echo the wild landscapes associated with the Brontës.

📍 Grosmont - Esk Valley Ambience

This small village in the North York Moors National Park sits amid rolling valleys, wooded paths and peaceful stone-built streets, offering scenic walks through landscapes that echo the wild, romantic spirit associated with Wuthering Heights. The village itself is a charming base for moorland strolls and countryside escapes.

Getting there: Grosmont is served by regular services on the Esk Valley Line, which runs between Middlesbrough and Whitby. Grosmont station opens directly onto the village, with the river, stone cottages and nearby trailheads all within a 2–5 minute walk. Riverside paths follow the River Esk through woodland, while longer routes climb steadily out of the village towards open moorland with wide skies and distant views.

📍 Skipton - Castle Woods and Romantic Woodland Walks

Skipton’s historic castle and woodland walks blend heritage and moodiness, offering rustic romance on the edge of the Dales.

Getting there: Skipton station is a 12–15 minute walk through the town centre to Skipton Castle Woods, located just behind the historic castle. A circular woodland route passes beautiful trees, stone steps and a narrow beck, while paths near the castle walls offer elevated views across the woods and town rooftops. Late afternoon light adds a subtle sense of atmosphere.

📍 Edinburgh - Gothic Filming Legacy

From mist-haunted closes and cobbled Royal Mile streets that were transformed into atmospheric 19th-century sets for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein to the shadowed spires and ancient stone of its Old Town, Edinburgh offers romance, mystery and cinematic drama at every turn.

Getting there: Edinburgh Waverley Station sits directly beneath the Old Town, with the Royal Mile and its network of narrow, alley-lined streets just a 5-minute walk from the station. The dense stone architecture, steep cobbled passages and closely packed historic buildings give this compact area its distinctive gothic character, all easily explored on foot immediately after arrival.

📍 Whitby - Gothic Coast with Vampires

Whitby’s dramatic abbey ruins and clifftop views famously inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, making it a favourite for lovers of atmospheric literary and cinematic landscapes. The recent high-profile film remake of Nosferatu - a gothic horror take on Dracula’s mythos released in 2024 - has reinforced the cultural appetite for shadowy coastlines and eerie settings that echo classic gothic tales.

Getting there: Train to Whitby (via Middlesbrough or York); the station is just a 5-minute walk from the harbour. From the waterfront, the ascent to Whitby Abbey takes around 15–20 minutes via the famous 199 Steps, gradually revealing views over the town and coastline.

📍 Oxford - Historic Spires and Literary Mood

A city of dreaming spires and ancient stone where winding cobbled streets, Gothic towers and historic colleges whisper tales of centuries past, perfect for lovers of moody wanderings and literary romance.

Getting there: Oxford station is a 10–15 minute walk from the historic heart of the city. Once there, slip into the narrow, cobbled Catte Street - a shadowed passage linking some of Oxford’s most imposing architectural landmarks. Beneath the theatrical dome of the Radcliffe Camera and the medieval stonework of the Bodleian Library, the city’s scholarly past feels heavy in the air - an evocative setting for gothic literary inspiration.

📍 Bath - Literary and Romantic City Escape

Bath’s elegant honey-coloured stone streets and grand historic architecture - from soaring Abbey facades to mysterious corners and Georgian crescents - create a romantic, shadowed backdrop rich with literary and atmospheric charm.

Getting there: Bath Spa station opens directly into the city centre, with the Abbey and Roman Baths less than a five-minute walk away. From here, wander through Bath Abbey Churchyard, where the city’s grand stone façades are gently lit after dark, before following the river to Pulteney Bridge and its weir, around 10 minutes on foot. As evening approaches, the wide lawns and sweeping curve of the Royal Crescent offer a calm, slightly haunting backdrop

For those planning a moody shared escape by rail this Valentine’s Day, Trainline’s Two Together Railcard makes exploring gothic-inspired destinations even more appealing - the digital card costs £35 for a year and lets two named adults save around one-third off most UK rail fares when they travel together, helping make atmospheric getaways more affordable all year round.

See following link to apply: https://www.thetrainline.com/trains/great-britain/railcards/two-together-railcard