Heathrow to Cornwall

Where in Cornwall are you going. Trains are usually faster and more expensive, while buses are slower and cheaper. But some out of the way places might only be reachable by bus. In the England guide RS says that by train you can go from London Paddington to Penzance in 5-6 hours possibly with one train change. That train leaves London about every 1-2 hours. By bus it takes 8-10 hours. I would take the train. You could take a train from Heathrow to Paddington. Then go from there to the train to Cornwall. Sounds like once in Cornwall a car or bus is better than trains for getting around the region.

If you are travelling to South-West England from Heathrow, there's no need to travel all the way into London and out again. There are direct buses (www.railair.com) from Heathrow airport to Reading railway station, which is on the line from London to Cornwall and where almost all trains stop.

Denise, It is really important that you qualify where in Cornwall you mean. By English standards it is a long, large, and wide county with a wide range of supplied amenities. Any comprehensive answer can only be location specific. (and it speaks a funny language) (and has funny food)
(and a black and white flag - they never got colour!!)

We are going to Barnstable

I'm confused. You say Barnstable. Can you check the spelling? There is Barnstaple with a P. It is near Cornwall but actually in North Devon near Ilfracombe. If that's where you mean, it is served on a branch line railway from Exeter which is on the main Paddington to the Southwest rail line, about an hour north of Exeter by that train. Barnstaple is also on the National Express coach. I am reluctant to reply to the "should I" question as I try never to tell people what choices they should take. I will say that if it were I, I would take the train, but then I would stay on a stop or two beyond Exeter and go along the Dawlish Sea Wall, fantastic seen from left hand side windows of trains heading towards Torquay and Paignton. Then turn around back to Exeter and north up to Barnstaple. If it is actually Barnstable I can't help because I can't find it online or on any of my map atlases.

Your confused, It is Barnstaple, we have a Barnstable in Cape Cod,Mass. We are meeting family, they are picking us up at the train. There address is Tremoyne,Morwenstow, Cornwall. Can we take the train from Heathrow to this destination or do we have to switch and how do we do that. Thank you.

It is actually possible to travel on public transport right through to Morwenstow. Train or coach to Exeter, bus to Bude and then bus to Morwenstow. However, there is only one service a day where these all connect, and that relies on a 10 minute connection at Bude. Total journey time 5.5 hours using train to Exeter. Train to Exeter, and thence to Barnstaple is much more frequent, and takes under 4.5 hours. Of course you would have to go from Barnstaple to your final destination. You get to the Exeter train either by taking the Railair bus to Reading, or the Heathrow Express service into London Paddington. Timewise they are much of a muchness, although the Express would probably be quicker from T1,2,3 (Central) and the bus from terminal 5. (Terminal 4 is less convenient to both, but probably best to go to London.)

Denise, You say "Your confused". Only because of the spelling in your message of 10/3/12 6:53 PM.

Re Marco's suggestion. We have found the Bus (Railair) connection to Reading station to be very convenient. Also somwhow relaxing after the rush and anxiety of getting through immigration, grabbing baggage, customs and then finding my way out of the airport. Also reading is more "peaceful" than any of the bustling London stations.