Train arrangements from Dorchester or Yeovil Junction in Dorset to Bellerby in the Yorkshire Dales

If you want to avoid London by public transport it is more like 7 hours on the train from either starting point to Darlington, followed by an hour on two buses changing in Richmond. There are nearer train stations, but they are on slower routes or have poorer bus services or both.

Someone will now come along and say I've missed something obvious.

It depends on where you'll be in Dorset, but you're unlikely to have to go through London. There are cross-country routes to the north via Bath or the Midlands and they'll be a lot quicker.

You save about an hour going via London.

If you have chosen a place like Bellaby - well away from the main transport routes, then surely, at some point, you will need to pick up a hire car? York would possibly be the best place to do this.

Looking at the present schedules and assuming that you will be departing from Dorchester West - other stations exist in Dorset but you don't say what place you starting from - it will be a 7hr 31 minute journey with 1 change (in Bristol). Some other timings are a bit quicker but they all involve crossing London on the underground. So, a service currently departs Dorchester West DCW at 8.59am for Bristol. Then change & depart BRI at 12.30 to arrive in York at 16.30. Book about 10 weeks out & the fare should be about £53.(The train from Dorchester to Bristol is very slow with constant stops at small towns/villages).

Another alternative is to go from Dorchester (south) to York and get an express going north from Southampton So, it could go like this: DCH dep 8.13 /10.13 arr SOU at 9.28 / 11.28. £24 for this leg. Then dep. SOU 9.47/ 11.47 to arr YRK at 14.39/ 16.39. Cost £36 with Advance booking. (If you are going from Yeovil Junction, Basingstoke would be the place to change to a SOU > YRK express).

If you do wish to go via London, try going from Dorchester South or Yeovil Junction to London (Waterloo). Check fare for this leg for say a Saturday in November and note your arrival time in London. Then allow time for crossing London to Kings Cross. Now check the fares & timings from KGX to YRK. www.nationalrail.co.uk

So, you have 3 possible routings. Hope this helps.

Thank you, I will follow up on this. We will have a car hire, but as far as I know it will be waiting for us at the holiday cottage. Frankly I would prefer to avoid London if at all possible.

If the car is waiting for you at the holiday cottage, you perhaps could request that you pick it up at Northallerton = the nearest rail station to Bellerby. (You will need to change trains in York for one that stops at Northallerton).