Walkers are reminded that train services can be affected by short-notice timetable changes and cancellations, so you are advised to re-check train running times as close as possible to your intended time of travel.

8 October 2026

The October edition of our newsletter has now been sent out to members. This includes booking forms for the Annual General Meeting lunch, New Year Dinner, the Arnside holiday and the Isle of Man holiday.

9 September 2026

A further members' holiday has been booked for next year. This will take place at the Derwentwater Hotel, Keswick for 3 nights from 5 November 2027. Further information and booking details will be in future editions of the members' newsletter.

8 September 2026 - Unlimited travel with Northern Rail for £12 a day or £20 for the weekend

To use this offer:

* Register online: Visit the Newspaper Offer page to sign up and see which newspapers are taking part.

* Collect your tokens: Pick up two or three tokens (depending on your newspaper) between 14 September and 15 October 2026.

* Complete your form: Download, print and complete the application form next to your chosen newspaper once you've collected your tokens.

* Swap your tokens for tickets: Take your completed form and tokens to a Northern ticket office and purchase your Northern Explorer tickets: each completed form can be used to buy up to four Off-Peak Northern Explorer tickets.

* Tickets are valid for travel until 22 October 2026

24 August 2026 - Youth hostel holiday for members October 2027 (updated item)

After the last youth hostel weekend in Whitby, a few people thought it might be good to have one again next year, but in an independent hostel. We have made enquiries at Elterwater hostel and have provisionally booked up to 16 beds in 2/4 bunk rooms, from 1 to 3 October 2027, for £50 per night and breakfast £11-12 per night. We need to know by the middle of October this year if there is enough interest, so please email Elisabeth Van Oudgaarden via enquiries@friendsofdalesrail.org by mid October 2026 at the latest if you are interested.

10 August 2026 - Lake District and Classic Walks - Advance notice of change

The October walk (originally Dunsop Bridge on 15 October) has now been changed to Kentmere on 14 October.

22 June 2026 (upated item)

The May edition of the members' newsletter has now been sent out by email and post. The online version is now available to view and download in the Newsletter section. Please send any items for inclusion in the next edition (Autumn 2026) to the editor, Fiona Robertson, as soon as possible.

5 April 2026

The online edition of the February 2026 members' newsletter can now be seen in the Newsletter section.

27 March 2026

Two members' holidays have now been arranged for next year:

Arnside, Cumbria - 3 to 6 March 2027 (3 nights)

Isle of Man - 16 to 22 May 2027 (6 nights)

Please see the Holidays section for further information. Booking details will be in future editions of the members' newsletter.

6 February 2026 - Statistics

For details of our train walk attendance figures in 2025, plus some analysis of trends since 2013, please see the attached document (PDF format).

23 November 2025

The Friends of DalesRail Annual General Meeting was held today at the Black Horse Hotel in Skipton and was attended by 51 members. This was followed by an illustrated talk from Paul Rodgers about the Wild Ingleborough project from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

25 October 2025

The third members' holiday for next year will take place based at the Premier Inn, Pickering from Friday 16 to Monday 19 October 2026 (3 nights). Further details and booking information will be in future editions of the newsletter.

1 September 2025

For 2025-26, membership of Friends of DalesRail will increase to £13 per household per annum. For any members joining between now and the end of November this year, the anual membership will run until 30 November 2026.

6 July 2025 (amended item)

Friends of DalesRail commemorated 45 years of leading walks for the public on Saturday 5 July with 4 walks from the Settle-Carlisle railway, ending up in Hellifield with a celebration meal at the Hellifield Station Cafe Shed24H for members. The anniversary was featured in an article in the Craven Herald newspaper, which you can view online.

A selection of photos from the meal can be seen in the Past Events (Train Walks 2025) section.