Carlisle to ?
Dec 19th, 2003, 04:15 PM
#1
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Carlisle to ?
Next month I will be taking my rail trip in the UK. On my last full day on the rails I will be starting from Carlisle and have been thinking of a small town to spend the night. Lancaster looks ok but not close enought to London which I would like to reach the next day by noon. Shrewsbury is a possibility, but does anyone have a suggestion for a place no more than a three hour train trip to London?
Dec 19th, 2003, 08:31 PM
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Roger, if you haven't done the Carlisle-Settle Railway on your earlier visits, I suggest you take it for this journey, staying overnight where the train terminates at Leeds or go on the half hour or so to York. Neither are small towns, but they are within 3 hrs of London. Nice scenery on this line, and the stations have been restored to their Victorian splendour. A two hour or so stop in Settle would be worth while.
Dec 19th, 2003, 10:34 PM
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Assuming you want to minimise time spent on and changing trains, and assuming the trains run on time (maybe neither totally realistic):
- On Ron's suggestion, stopover at Skipton. Possibly THE English small town (sort of a macho version of a Cotswold tourist mecca without the thatch or coach parties). I think you can just get onto Leeds the following morning and change for London within your 3 hours. But it's worth stretching your brief a bit for this wonderful bit of the Pennines.
- Durham. Is this too big for you? With a scattering of snow - always possible up there - it's probably Britain's best view from a train. And what other Norman cathedral not only houses the tomb of England's first author, but has monuments made of coal? If you've not been there, GO.
Smaller, undervisited, cathedral cities accessible with one change from Carlisle and one train, 3 hrs from London: Chester, Lichfield, Hereford, Worcester, Oxford, Peterborough.
- On Ron's suggestion, stopover at Skipton. Possibly THE English small town (sort of a macho version of a Cotswold tourist mecca without the thatch or coach parties). I think you can just get onto Leeds the following morning and change for London within your 3 hours. But it's worth stretching your brief a bit for this wonderful bit of the Pennines.
- Durham. Is this too big for you? With a scattering of snow - always possible up there - it's probably Britain's best view from a train. And what other Norman cathedral not only houses the tomb of England's first author, but has monuments made of coal? If you've not been there, GO.
Smaller, undervisited, cathedral cities accessible with one change from Carlisle and one train, 3 hrs from London: Chester, Lichfield, Hereford, Worcester, Oxford, Peterborough.
Dec 20th, 2003, 12:18 AM
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Roger, I've no idea how long it takes to London on the train but with your felicity with the timetables you can find out faster than I. What about Hebden Bridge? It's a post industrial mill town in West Yorkshire (same side of the Penines as Carlisle) and perhaps it's a bit twee these days.
But I think you might like it. There's great walking round about, and you should stay in a place called the Birchcliffe Centre
But I think you might like it. There's great walking round about, and you should stay in a place called the Birchcliffe Centre
Dec 20th, 2003, 08:16 AM
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Thanks for the replies. Ron, yes I have done the Carlisle-Settle route which I did enjoy. Also York.
Flanneruk, Done Durham twice and have thought about stopping on the route from York to London.
Sheila, I think you know me best and I have moved Hebden Bridge to the top of my list. Sounds just what I am looking for.
Just so you all know I will be leaving Bardon Mill on that morning to Carlisle and then the coastal loop to Barrow in Furness and then I can drop down to Preston and hop over to Hebden Bridge. The next morning I can catch the 8:12 or 8:59 train to Leeds and then to London. Thank you all for your suggestions.
Sheila, see you on the 30th of Jan. right?
Flanneruk, Done Durham twice and have thought about stopping on the route from York to London.
Sheila, I think you know me best and I have moved Hebden Bridge to the top of my list. Sounds just what I am looking for.
Just so you all know I will be leaving Bardon Mill on that morning to Carlisle and then the coastal loop to Barrow in Furness and then I can drop down to Preston and hop over to Hebden Bridge. The next morning I can catch the 8:12 or 8:59 train to Leeds and then to London. Thank you all for your suggestions.
Sheila, see you on the 30th of Jan. right?
