Train Travel and Railpasses in England

I have found this is a great website for train advice: http://www.seat61.com/ I am not familiar with all your destinations, but my sense is you would be better off with point to point tickets rather than a pass. You should price out the point to point tickets to compare.
As for buying the actual tickets, I booked through Virgin trains last year and it worked well.

Wow, that's a doozie of a question - actually many questions. We only get a little under 2000 characters, about the size of a dozen tweets to answer. Nevertheless - to plunge in - - - First, you are already in Dublin? You say you arrived on 3/3? Or is this for next year? You are taking a ferry to Llandudno? Which ferry? As far as I know the last passenger ship called there in 2005. Unsolicited comment - seems like a lot of trouble and expense to go to to use Dublin as the airport of choice for England. If you are saving money, does all this still wind up saving money? Don't expect to much at the Turkish Baths. After we saw the approach we didn't continue in. Maybe it is better further inside? If there are any flowers up when you get there in April, Harrogate does gardens really well. Say hello for us to the Red Squirrels when you are in Filey. They are simply wonderful. You could take a train to Filey, it has 2 stations. Yes if you get tickets far enough in advance and Advance tickets are available they will be offered. If you qualify for the Senior Railcard you will have to buy them at £28 each at a rail station.

I reccomend the book "Britain by Britrail" by LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski. I got the 2012/2013 edition at the Library. It has more than just schedules. It covers crossings and daytrips. And what to see in the towns connected by rail.

Thanks, for all the responses. I made a dumb mistake booking to Dublin and now have to make the best of it. Both time and cost are considerations, as is jet lag. After I saw my options for getting to Bradford on the day of Wed. 3 April, I thought the ferry and overnight Llandudno option would be more relaxing. I'm a knitter and a quilter and would have music and recorded books close at hand. And I actually think it might end up costing less. I believe (unless I've miscalculated) that I can get the ferry + train to Lland. + overnight accom. + train to Brad. for under 100 LGB. (Hope I got my keyboard to reflect that properly!) The visit to Bradford would be to visit a niece. A brief overnight is fine on Thur 4 Apr. I will need to go to Harrogate on Fri. Keith, does that alter your thinking about my situation? I also think, now, I'll be throwing another train trip into the mix between London and Guildford/Chilworth. Not sure if that counts as tube or regional travel...I'm still not sure if I have enough regional legs to in my trip to warrant a senior card, advance plan purchases or railpass of some sort. It does seem like one question always lead to another.....I will save my ?'s re: Ryan Air carry-on for another post. Thanks again, everyone.

When you say you're taking the ferry to Llandudno do you mean the ferry to Holyhead (and then from there a train? to Llandudno). I've done the ferry to Holyhead and then a train back to London, not sure how easy it is to get to Llandudno from Holyhead.
I think you're making the journey from Dublin to Bradford very hard work. I am assuming you have no particular reason for a stop in Llandudno and I would follow the suggestion above and go by air to Manchester and then get a train to Bradford on the day you arrive.

You can buy tickets ahead even before you have received your Senior Railcard if you decide to get one, you just must not attempt to use a ticket with the Senior Railcard discount unless you have a valid one in your possession. When the train conductor checks your ticket they will want to see the Railcard too.

Okay, I'm convinced. Booked myself on Aer Lingus to Manchester, as you suggested, Keith. Since I've been incredibly lucky in booking wonderfully inexpensive rooms through airbnb in amazing locales in the homes of people with whom I have lots in common, I'm also willing to pay the additional checked-baggage costs rather than torment myself with ridiculously light weight and small size carry-on luggage restrictions. I'm not moving around that much so it's not like I'll be dragging my suitcase around with me very often. Not sure how quickly I'll be able to collect my luggage and walk to the Manch Airport rail station so what train I will actually catch to Bradford remains an unknown. Still chewing on the train fare/rail pass options as my itinerary continues to flesh out. This helpline and the folks who are kind enough to offer their wisdom and time are nothing short of fabulous. More from me later, no doubt.