Rail/train travel in north England, south Scotland

We travelled by train/rail from Newcastle to Carlisle. There is a nice hotel just outside the Carlisle train station. One day in that town is plenty, but you would want to see the cathedral. There is a very nice tourist infromation center there. We went by train up to Glasgow, always our Scotland home base, took two day trips over to Edinburgh, one to see the Royal Mile for the third time, and the other to the Royal Botanic Garden.

Rail and train mean, basically, the same thing. I thought you had decided to stay in the near north of England. Anyway, train will take you just under or just over 4 hours, changing either at Crewe or Crewe and either Preston or Lancaster. Dunno how fast you or hubby could drive it. A lot, in addition to stopping at what catches your fancy, would depend on how the M6 motorway was feeling that day.

Nigel, Just exploring options. Linda...

I googled the drive from LHR to EDI and it says around 8 hours. There is an option nearing Scotland where you can drive up the coast. Not nearly as fast as the train, but you go very near York and could stop and visit anything you wanted. DO NOT SPEED. At all. At least in England. They are very serious about cameras, (fixed and in moving vehicles) and they WILL catch you. I heard from my Broughton co-workers that if you even go 1 km over the limit in some areas you get ticketed.

Speedometers in British cars are in mph. Speed limit signs are also. Never trust your friends. Never google anything. You can drive up either coast whole way since the whole place is an island.

For other posters note that Linda is starting this segment in Stafford so going via York would be going out of the way. Driving by the M6, west coast route, a straight shot would weigh in at just under 5 hours. To go via York, in addition to the stop, would add another hour and a halfish.

Once again, you guys are great! Neither my husband nor I will be driving. My English friend will be and she knows all about the cameras! Thanks all, Linda...

Have you thought of asking your English driver friend how she would suggest to go and how her driving style is? That may answer your question about if taking a train would get you there faster than her driving. Are there particular things she would want to show you on your way back to Stafford?

Linda, There are limited trains in the south of Scotland. If you want to see the Abbey's or Hermitage Castle, or Sir Walter Scott's home Abbotsford, Traquair House, or Floors Castle, you'll find it's easier with a car. It's beautiful area that often gets missed as people charge to Edinburgh and then north to the Highlands. So, the notion of taking the train to Edinburgh and then driving back south is probably a good one. Pam

Nigel, Despite living there her entire life, she doesn't know much about her country! She say she's never been north of Stafford! That's why =I'm= doing the planning. She's only learned to drive in the last 4 or 5 years so I admit to being a bit nervous about long drives on crowed motorways! Linda...

So she doesn't know where she's going, not an experienced driver (but who knows all about the cameras), who is going to take you up the M6? EDIT: That looks a bit harsh, and probably is. Sorry. But you can see what I am saying, I hope. You asked if driving would be faster. Not a cat's. You need to make allowance for getting lost, getting caught in the moving roadblock that is the M6 (especially on the approach to Crewe), and time for guiding. I, who takes people around quite a lot, drive slower when I am talking a lot and pointing out sights.

Nigel, She has actually driven from Stafford to Edinburgh once. She's told me she can get us anywhere as long as I can give her info for the navigator she has. Obviously rail travel is out. I think I've finally come up with an itinerary but I have to run it by her first. I'll post the final version in my original message. Thanks again, Linda...