Activity Detail Page

Since 1892 it has been transporting residents and visitors alike up and down the 111 ft sandstone cliff between High Town, with its interesting shops, gardens and historic castle grounds, and Low Town with the riverside quay, enjoying the view that CharlesI called the finest in his kingdom.


The railway operates 2 carriages on parallel tracks. Connected by steel cables, the carriages serve to counterbalance each other. The carriages were originally driven by a system of water balance, each carriage carrying water ballast in a tank beneath the passenger compartment, but since 1943 an electric winding engine has powered the railway.


The railway is unique in that it makes its spectacular journey every few minutes throughout the year.


The railway is fully accessible to someone with limited mobility and able to walk a few paces and manage 3 steps. A full size wheelchair will need to be folded. Please telephone for more information.