sorry -- a previous version of this was "eaten" by the forum software after I edited it. Weird. Try again...
I will arrive at LHR on Sept 8 for 3-4 weeks in the UK (departure date for France not set). I've not had much time to plan this trip, so it will be very on-the-fly and budget. I am staying in hostels, so booking accommodation ahead is not much of an issue. I am 55+ so may be eligible for some transportation discounts.
My travel style is slow, wandering, enjoying local events, exploring villages. I do not have a long list of tourist sites to tick off.
The loose idea is to use London as an anchor point, returning there as logic and weather dictate. Otherwise I'm thinking in terms of "modules" of 3-5 days, which can be strung together again as weather (and other logistics) allow.
I begin with four nights in London. And then ...
The MUSTS for this trip are:
- a day (not a weekend day) in Oxford. This can be as part of a longer module, or a day trip from London
- Hereford ( at least half a day)
- Glamorgan & environs (Llantwit Major, Ewenny, Brigend, Porthcawl). For this I would base out of Cardiff for 2-3 days and use a local daily bus pass.
Other potential "modules" are:
- North Wales: 3-5 days based out of the hostels at Llanberis or Conway, again using local bus day passes (?) to explore villages, castles, etc.
- The southwest: Tintagel, Port Isaac, Port Ives, Eden Project, some coastal walking if weather permits.
- North and east of London -- Cambridge, etc?
And I want to spend more days in London at some point.
So I need help in figuring out flexible transport without locking myself in. How do I learn about regional transport and day passes, or perhaps something like a rover pass in North Wales? What's the best way to do a Southwest wander -- are there regional day passes on buses? For a long-haul reposition (something illogical like North Wales to Devon) would a rail split ticket be better than coach? and so on.
I've been looking at National Express, Megabus/train, traveline.info, traveline.cymru, ArrivaTrains (England and Wales) and my head is spinning.
How should I proceed to find interesting and not terribly expensive transport, just a few days in advance (or even same day)? Slow and rural is perfect! Transportation is part of the adventure.
Thanks.