RAIL-Y PRETTY
One of the most beautiful train stations in the world is right by a UK beach
You can even get a ferry from the train station
A TRAIN station in the north of the UK has been named one of world's most beautiful - despite barely having any routes.
Wemyss Bay Station is a small village station in Scotland and opened in 1865.
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Sadly very little of the original features remain as it was rebuilt in 1903 to increase its capacity.
It featured in the book Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations, and was only one of 10 to be given the full five stars.
It was also rated highly in the World Cup of Stations, an annual competition every year.
While Wemyss was beaten last year by Maghull Station, it made it to the final 48, out of 2,500.
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However, it took the top spot back in 2023, where it was praised for its gardens and bookshop".
And last year, it was named the best Small Station of the Year at the prestigious annual National Rail Awards.
It's most famous feature is the huge glass and steel roof, created by Scottish architect James Miller who was also behind Glasgow station.
Inside the station is a small pub - don't expect more than a couple of seats as is a one-room venue.
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Celebs including Ant and Dec have even been spotted there before, with one guest said it was a "cosy step back in time".
There is also a bookshop in the station that sells books along with CDs and DVDS.
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The station has hourly trains to Glasgow and Paisley, with 210,000 people using it last year - nearly the same as pre-pandemic.
One tourist wrote on TripAdvisor: "One of 'must see' railway stations in the World".
Another said: "The most beautiful station I’ve ever been to."
A third agreed: "It's a tourist attraction in itself."
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You an even catch the ferry right next to the station, which goes to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.
And the Isle of Bute's unusual claim to fame is having some of the world's most beautiful toilets.
Writer Robin McKelvie, who visited, told The Sun: "The days are gone when most holidaying Glaswegians headed “doon the watter” to this stunning 15-mile-long isle in the Firth of Clyde, but the beaches that attracted them are just as lovely as ever."
Another station named the most beautiful in the world is Schafbergbahn Station in St. Wolfgang, Austria.
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Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
Cornish Coast - One trip that rail enthusiasts seem to love is along a stretch of the Cornish coast and takes just 10 minutes to complete.
The route from St Erth to St Ives only stops at Carbis Bay en route to its final destination, but the views out the window for the whole journey are pretty spectacular.
Another highlight of the journey is that St Ives station is situated right next to Porthminster beach, meaning the sand and sea can be accessed almost immediately.
Meanwhile, the station is less than a ten minute walk into town, where the harbour, shops, galleries and pubs can be explored.
Durham to Edinburgh - Another train route that people in the UK love is the East Coast train line between Durham and Edinburgh, with coastal views and city landscapes among the sights that can be seen out the window.
Newcastle, Berwick, Lindisfarne and Durham Cathedral are all among the highlights on that route.
Scotland's West Highland Line - While Scotland is home to plenty of famous landmarks and top attractions, it also has one of the most breathtaking train routes in the world.
Scotland's West Highland Line has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world by - and it's easy to see why.
The journey from Glasgow to Fort William is one of my favourite train routes - and I've interrailed through mainland Europe.
With mountain landscapes, serene lochs, wistful moors, and wildlife all visible through the train window, it's certainly a route all holidaymakers should consider doing at least once.
Antwerp Station in Belgium is also regarded as one of the most stunning in the world.
Otherwise here are five abandoned train stations that have since been converted into hotels.
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