Experience two historic journeys in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales! Skipton Boat Trips and Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway have joined together to create Rail and Sail – a wonderfully nostalgic day out. Access

Taking the line to Addingham and re-opening Addingham is often mentioned as a potential project but the line's owners have stated that they intend to consolidate the current route instead. [4]A59, from Liverpool, the M6 and Preston (The West): Follow the A59 towards Skipton, and then follow the signs for ‘Embsay Steam Railway’ to get to Embsay Station. If you want to get to Bolton Abbey Station, continue along the A59, towards Harrogate and alongside part of the railway, until it is signposted as ‘Bolton Abbey Station’. Car parking spaces are reserved close to both station buildings for ease of access. There are wheelchair-accessible toilets at both Embsay and Bolton Abbey stations. However, this line did not close (limestone trains from the quarry still use the line today) and so the society switched its attentions to restoring the old Midland Railway route which runs from Skipton, through Embsay, Bolton Abbey and Addingham to Ilkley, which closed in 1965. A59, from York, the A1 and Harrogate (The East): Follow the A59 towards Skipton, following the signposts marked ‘Bolton Abbey Station’ for Bolton Abbey Station. For Embsay Station, continue past Bolton Abbey Station, and follow the road, alongside part of the railway, towards Skipton. Follow the signs for ‘Embsay Steam Railway’. Stoneacre. Former run-round loop en route along the line, now used as a passing loop for use during two train operation.

By 1987 further extensions brought the line to a newly constructed halt at Holywell and later to Stoneacre Loop. Bolton Abbey railway station finally reopened in 1998, bringing the current total of over 4 miles in length. There are plans to rebuild one of the bridge abutments at the end of the surviving embankment to the north as part of the Addingham Project which also involves constructing a replica LMS style station, goods yard and depot on the extra land next to and at the edge of the embankment. For Bolton Abbey Station, turn right onto the A59 and follow this road (which runs alongside part of the railway) until the station is signposted as ‘Bolton Abbey Station’.The line runs through the countryside of the Yorkshire Dales in the county council area of North Yorkshire. The Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway is a volunteer-run, preserved Heritage Railway which does not receive any grants or subsidies towards running.