Keds1

Hello, we will be traveling from York to Edinburgh by train on a Wednesday in August. If we left around 9, do you think it feasible to break our journey with a visit to Alnwick Castle, Northumberland? Seems to be on the train route. If so, how long would you visit the castle? We are two adults that like historic castles, Harry Potter and gardens. I imagine there are taxis we could get to/ from Alnmouth train station to castle? Any advice most appreciated

janisj

Doable. Visiting the castle and gardens will take about half a day (more if you eat in the Tree House).

You won't be able to book discounted train tickets York to Edinburgh since they are for specific trains. You'd have to book York > Alnmouth, and a separate ticket Alnmouth > Edinburgh.

dotheboyshall

What do you do with your luggage?

Keds1

Do, that's exactly what I thought after posting this. Looked up the train station, no locker facilities so I guess it's a no go. Janisj thank you for your quick response.

Keds1

From the castle's website :
"Is there somewhere that I can store my luggage when I visit the castle?
Yes!

We now have a luggage storage facility available for visitors to the castle, please visit Castle Admissions on arrival to arrange storage. Please note that this service is limited.

Be advised that luggage is left at your own risk in a secured area and must be collected by 4.00pm on the date of your visit."

Hmmm

Gardyloo

<i>We are two adults that like historic castles, Harry Potter and gardens. </i>

Well I'll just ask the obvious question. Why not rent a car and drive from York to Edinburgh? The driving is easy, and the route allows you to see some of the most stirring sights in the north of England - Durham cathedral, Alnwick and Bamburgh castles, the Holy Island, beautiful villages along the Northumberland and Scottish coasts... You could even head inland to Hadrian's wall if you wanted, or leave the coast at the Holy Island and cross over the Lammermuir Hills to East Lothian and on to Edinburgh. There are many options, all of them immensely rewarding.

janisj

Gardyloo is right -- the drive is pretty easy. In one day it would be really difficult to fit in more than Alnwick (and perhaps Holy Isle, or a teensy bit of the Wall, if one got a very early start). But even just driving through, a lot of the scenery is great.

York > Chesters (the most eastern fort on the Wall), Alnwick > Lindesfarne > Edinburgh is nearly a six hour drive not counting any wait for the tides at Holy Isle. Just York > Edinburgh > Alnwick is a little over 4 hours car time so a very doable day.

If you drove you wouldn't have to worry about retrieving your bags before 4PM. (Alnwick is just about the midway point time-wise by car). But taking the train you would get to Alnwick earlier so you'd have more time to explore the Gardens/Castle before 4:00. A 9:00 train would have you to Alnmouth by about 10:30. (I didn't look up the actual schedules so not sure what times trains leave York)

Keds1

I know, I know, but we drove each other crazy driving in Ireland, I was required to sit in the back seat because I was leaning away from every stone wall and hedgerow moaning "woah !!( and more) " repeatedly at my husband. Earlier, when I drove in the countryside visiting some small towns outside Shrewsbury, I felt I was going to hit every biker, the roads were so narrow, plus the opposite side of the road thing, too stressful driving through cities. We vowed we would not do that to each other when visiting UK or Ireland. Fine on Caribbean islands though ��
Taking a train anywhere is not something we do at home, so we rather like it and I think this journey should be scenic. Anyway, thanks all for the advice. Next trip we'll bring along someone who will love driving there. Pretty cheap airfare on Norwegian airlines to Edinburgh so we'll be back , yay

Gardyloo

It dawned on me that Rabbie's has a day-trip tour from Edinburgh to Alnwick, so if you have an extra day, you could leave your bags in Edinburgh and visit the castle and other places covered on the tour. That way you wouldn't have to worry about the trains lining up.

https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-t...rders-day-tour

Keds1

Thanks Gardyloo, I saw that too, but was hoping to get it done on the way, maybe that is the best alternative. The trip has good reviews.

dwdvagamundo

"I know, I know, but we drove each other crazy driving in Ireland, I was required to sit in the back seat because I was leaning away from every stone wall and hedgerow moaning "woah !!( and more) " repeatedly at my husband."

Hmm, sounds familiar. But my spouse wants us to give it a go again in Scotland and England this fall, and she's tasked me to do all the driving (Glasgow to Heathrow via Portsmouth.)