Train from Carlisle to the Cotswolds

I don’t know what day or time of year you’re coming, but a quick search for an average weekday on www.nationalrail.co.uk reveals that Cheltenham is a slightly shorter train ride - just under four hours from Carlisle with one straightforward change at Birmingham New Street. Gloucester takes an extra 15 minutes or so - it’s on the same train route from Birmingham, one stop further on from Gloucester.

So I’d go for Cheltenham. It is also a bit better as an access point for the Cotswolds. Don’t know about car hire, but it’s a big town so I’d imagine there’d be no problem.

Or alternatively take the train to Birmingham Airport – quicker than going to Cheltenham or Gloucester, likely cheaper too; more choice of car hire, and only 45 minutes from the Cotswolds.

Hopefully the countryside of the Cotswolds won’t be too much of an anti-climax after Hadrian’s Wall and Northumberland.

The cheapest advance fares for a specific train(s) will appear about 11 weeks out. if going to Cheltenham, it may be cheaper to split the ticket at Birmingham New Street or Stafford - click ‘details’ on the National Rail website to find the calling points.

Cheltenham is much closer to the Cotswold Hills and beautiful villages than Gloucester but it is near, not in. Just the other side of Cheltenham is Prestbury, Cleeve Hill and Winchcombe - and you are in paradise.

If you drive in from Birmingham International - another good choice - you will have plenty of suburban and semi-rural to drive through before you get to Stratford-upon-Avon or Evesham (depending on the route you select) and then it is a wee bit more before the Cotswolds.

But you may well, as said above, get a better deal or better car at the bigger installation. Or not.

Then again, I may be prejudiced. I grew up near Cheltenham and lived very close to Birmingham International for many years.

I'd go for Cheltenham. Yah, probably prejudiced. Or not.