My husband and myself will be visiting London for a couple of nights, then plan to go to Edinburgh for a week. I love the outdoors and will like to do some walks in the hills/countryside or the coast of England. I will be taking trains or buses. I want advice on where I can stay in between those 2 cities (after I leave London) for about 5 - 7 nights - We like to stay in one little town and just explore the areas - will like a few eating places, but mostly interested in the countryside and getting to know the people there.
Posted by
Irving
2943 posts
What about Keswick in the Lake District?
Posted by
Yorkshire
1277 posts
Because it’s handier for Edinburgh and is not too far away, how about the Northumberland Coast? Base in Alnwick or Alnmouth on the actual coast (Alnwick has a railway station with links to Edinburgh). Castles, long sandy beaches, big skies, what’s not to like?
Posted by
Land of La
8645 posts
I’d opt for Durham.
See the Castle ( its a college now) and the Cathedral. If you were fans of the Inspector George Gently series scenes were shot in the Cathedral and from the Prebends Bridge. There’s a lovely and well maintained River path. The University Archeology Museum is well done. If still serving have a cream tea at Crook Hall and Gardens.
A decade ago I stayed at an Air B n B up the road from the traditional Ye Olde Elm Tree pub. Couldn’t get a more traditional pub serving locals than this pub.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2501 posts
Alnwick doesn't have a railway station (it's now Barter Books of Keep Calm and Carry on fame), but Alnmouth does.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Another vote for Alnwick or Alnmouth. Northumberland is my favourite country in England. Fabulous beaches for long walks, the Cheviots if you want hills, a great selection of castles, the friendliest locals, Holy Island is stunning, Hadrian’s Wall nearby for more walks and my favourite National Trust property, Cragside.
The east coast tends to be much drier than the west coast and the Lake District.
Although Durham has a wonderful cathedral, I am always a bit underwhelmed with the rest of the city for some reason.
Posted by
Yorkshire
1277 posts
Ramblin on - My bad. I must have confused Barter Books model railway with LNER! Which is stupid, because, as far as I know, the model railway isn’t currently striking at intervals.
Jennifer - re Durham. Oh, thank God, I thought it was just me!
Ian
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32700 posts
vijayramraj, if your travel is in the next few weeks, are you aware of the ongoing rail strikes?
Posted by
OP
46 posts
thanks for all the helpful suggestions. That is really very helpful. My husband does not like too many stop overs - so I will have to try to look at trains that go directly to one place in the Lake district or Northcumberland area (we do not mind short bus rides to our destination ). Any suggestions.
My next question will be then do i get a rail pass?
what is more economical? we plan to do trains - as it is faster and more comft
Myself and husband. We fly to Heathrow, stay arounnd in London fo 2 - 4 nights, then head to the either the Lake district or Northcumberland - - stay for a few days then head to Edinburgh - for a week and book a flight back home to the US
Posted by
Los Angeles
4385 posts
your train questions will be answered by the Man in Seat 61
Posted by
Irving
2943 posts
Rarely are rail passes more economical. I like to price point to point tickets then compare to a rail pass: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ldb.aspx then click on Journey Planner.
There are no direct trains to Keswick (Lakes District) but there is a direct train from London’s Euston station to Penrith (North Lakes) PNR (3h 30m). You then have to take a bus to Keswick (45-minutes).
Posted by
199 posts
Rail passes are economical if you go A LOT. Otherwise, I completely agree. There are big differences in prices though, if one buys ahead of time - like a month ahead.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4385 posts
but instead of a pass, a Twotogether card or similar makes sense dunnit?
Posted by
2398 posts
If you are going London to Edinburgh and back again, I would suggest that you go London (Euston) to the Lake District (leave main line usually at Oxenholm for Windermere branch line or Penrith for Keswick - which would need a bus link). The cheapest way of doing this is to buy an advance ticket around 10 weeks ahead from the train company =https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk to the point at which you leave the fast Avanti train. Buy the branch line bit to Windermere separately - which can be done on the day - if that is your chosen stop off. To continue to Edinburgh seehttps://www.traintickets.com/?/ and/or https://v3.trainsplit.com which will work out the cheapest way of doing this and with either Avanti or Trans Pennine Express.
You could return south via the East Coast Mainline and I would suggest you break the joinery with a night or 2 at York. (This is a bit faster than the west coast route). Book with LNER. https://www.lner.co.uk
Buses = https://www.traveline.info
Note that on-going rail strikes are making forward planning difficult at the moment.