All aboard for a brilliant day out at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway with this great-value Children’s Day Rover ticket (ages 5–15). This handy hop-on, hop-off pass lets kids travel all day on any scheduled train service, so there’s no faffing about with separate tickets—just turn up and ride as much as you like. You’ll be travelling along nine miles of heritage track between Wirksworth and Duffield, on Derbyshire’s longest preserved railway. Expect a proper mix of steam and classic diesel trains, all running through some lovely countryside alongside the River Ecclesbourne. A top tip: spend some time at Wirksworth. There’s plenty to keep younger visitors entertained, from the fun audio surprise in the old quarry tunnel to the bookshop and a well-earned ice cream from the Apollo café in its vintage 1950s railway wagon on platform 3. If the Ravenstor branch line is running on the day of your visit, it’s well worth jumping on. It heads off in the other direction and stops near the National Stone Centre, where kids can even try their hand at panning for (fool’s) gold. And if you get off at Duffield, you’re in a great spot to watch modern mainline trains heading off towards Derby, Matlock, Sheffield or even London St Pancras—a nice contrast to the heritage railway experience. It’s a relaxed, fun-filled day out that kids of all ages tend to love, and this Day Rover ticket makes it easy to explore the whole line at your own pace.
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Overview
- Unlimited travel for the day, hauled by steam and classic diesel locomotives
- The 9-mile route follows the Ecclesbourne Valley, passing through woodlands and farmland with spectacular views of the Derbyshire countryside
- Visit the 7 1/4-inch gauge miniature railway
What's Included
- Unlimited travel for the day, hauled by steam and classic diesel locomotives
- The 9-mile route follows the Ecclesbourne Valley, passing through woodlands and farmland with spectacular views of the Derbyshire countryside
- The heritage railway operates heritage between Wirksworth and Duffield, with intermediate stations at Idridgehay and Shottle
- Limited services are also available to Ravenstor Station, one mile north of Wirksworth at the end of a unique 1-in-27 incline
- Hop on and off at any of the stations
- Visit the 7 1/4-inch gauge miniature railway which runs for a third of a mile at the end of Platform 1, running adjacent to the main track
- The on-site museum boasts an array of railway-related artefacts and information about the history of the railway with interactive displays and the gift shop has the largest selection of second-hand transport books in the region
Suitable For
- Tickets are valid for those aged 5 to 15
Availability
- Regular passenger services operate on most weekends throughout the year
- Not valid on Orange timetable days (except August Bank Holiday where they are accepted) or pre-book specials
- No advance booking is needed
- Take a printed version of your voucher with you on the day of your journey
Spectators
- Friends and family are welcome, however they will be required to pay for a ticket (subject to availability)
How the Voucher Works
- Purchase the voucher online
- Receive your e-voucher or gift pack
- Redeem online to select location and date
- Enjoy your experience
