Two seniors in our 60's are spending two weeks in August in England and Scotland and we won't drive but will use public transit. We are getting a Britrail pass. Our plan is to spend two days after arrival in London and then visit my son and grandchildren in Portsmouth and travel along the south coastal for about a week. We would also like to go to Scotland for 3 days in the highlands area as well. Then we would stay in London again for two days before we leave. I would like to know if it is reasonable to take day trips along the south coast via train to Dover and, on another day, to Cornwall. That way we could stay with my son in Portsmouth and use that as a base to travel from. Or are those too far for day trips via train? Are there day trip excursions or tours we could take instead of being on our own? We don't want to rush from place to place though. We prefer to experience an area and are quite capable of walking or hiking. We both love history and the out doors. Dover sounds great, as does Dartmoor and Land's End. Any general suggestions about sights not to miss or good local tours? We do have a fairly small budget so we are not looking at high end places.
Posted by
2599 posts
Don’t get the Britrail Pass until you have checked out the fares for the journeys that you plan to make. Use www.nationalrail.co.uk and check fares for Today / Tomorrow and say 11 weeks in advance for each journey. (Shorter journey fares stay the same - longer trips can be much cheaper by pre booking specific trains in advance).
For going from Portsmouth to Scotland, you will probably choose to fly from Southampton or London Gatwick. Check at www.skyscanner .net (best to select monthly view).
Dover is out as a day trip from Portsmouth as is Cornwall. These are places that you could do as day trips by train from a Portsmouth base:> Winchester; Salisbury (with shuttle bus to Stonehenge); Bath; Bournemouth; Arundel - though it is quite a walk from the station to the castle; Brighton. Nearly Chichester is also worth a look. London can also be done as day trips but best to go on Saturdays to avoid commuter packed trains with higher fares.
Posted by
8331 posts
Cornwall is quite a distance from London. I would not try to do a day trip there. Perhaps you can do Dover that way.
Consider saving Scotland and cutting out the long trip from London to Scotland. You need to spend more than three days in Scotland.
You can do great day trips from London to Cambridge, Canterbury, Salisbury, Stonehenge, Bath, the Cotswolds, Oxford, and more.
Posted by
3124 posts
I agree with the previous post that you're trying to go too far afield in your allotted time. It's true that the train London-Edinburgh is fairly fast (faster than driving), but it's still essentially a full day there and a full day back. Cornwall is too far for a day trip by train from Portsmouth; you may get there and back but you won't have much time to see anything.
As you have a son living in Portsmouth, have you asked his advice about the appealing destinations that are reasonable day trips from his home?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17564 posts
I doubt you want a BritRail Pass; generally a Two Together Railcard plus Advance fares are a much better price.
Use the National Rsil website link James gave you to check the travel times from Portsmouth to the places you mention. You will see that Lands End ( train goes as far as Penzance) and Dover are both too far for daytrips. Edinburgh from Londonnis a great trip assuming younwill spend several days in Scotland.
Look at the fares 11-12 weeks out to see the Advance fares.
Posted by
OP
Colorado, US
4 posts
Thanks to everyone who helped out with your great suggestions. This helps me to plan ahead. I think we will take some overnight trips instead of trying to do day trips. We may have to cancel the Scotland trip or maybe just spend a week in Scotland. Thanks again. The information was helpful.
Posted by
824 posts
Just in case it makes any difference, the Braemar Gathering (https://www.braemargathering.org/) is held the first Saturday in September (2 September this year). The Braemar Gathering is arguably THE premier Highlands Games and is hosted by the Royals. We took an escorted tour out of Edinburgh when we went a couple years ago and found that to be really convenient.
On that particular trip, we rode the train from Edinburgh to London and found it easy, relaxing and affordable. Edinburgh Waverly station to London Kings Cross station (where we picked up the tube to get across the city) took about 4 1/2 hours or about the same amount of time as it takes to fly to London once you consider check-in, security, flying time, and transport into the city from an airport.