carolyn

My sister, daughter, and I have planned a September/October trip consisting of five nights in London (where we have all been before), train to York for one night, and then train on to Edinburgh for a week there, to include some day trips.

Now we have decided, since we have invested all this airfare, that we would like to extend the two-week trip by five nights in Cornwall. Would Penzance be a good place to stay and make some day trips by coach or train? DD also would like to see Tintagel, perhaps on the way to or from the best home base back to London for our return home.

Annhig, I hope you see this! We are also looking for suggestions for a hotel or en suite B&B, under $200 for the three of us if possible, and a good coach tour company. We will be using public transportation. Dates would be October 7-11.

Rubicund

I'll let annhig advise on your last paragraph, but I'm curious to know how you intend to get from Edinburgh down to Penzance. Currently train enquiries show a 10 or 11 hour rail trip costing around £220 per person (not sure how many in your party). It may be a bit cheaper at about 3 months before the journey. www.nationalrail.co.uk The trainline.com website doesn't give October trips as yet.

You can fly to Newquay from Edinburgh on Flybe.com, with a stop at Manchester, in about 3 hours for currently around £76 including baggage pp. Newquay to Penzance is 33 miles and should take under an hour.

By the way, Edinburgh to Penzance is listed at 556 miles and 10/11 hours. With our motorways, it could take a lot longer.

bilboburgler

Yikes, that is a trip Edin to Corn. I might try to break it through London in some way.

janisj

One of my UK visits included Scotland and Devon/Cornwall - but it was six weeks and I visted many places in between.

Edinburgh to Cornwall is a looooooong way. Flying is the only practical option for such a short visit. But then you are Newquay and it would be a lot easier if you rented a car for your time in Cornwall.

annhig

hi carolyn,

first of all, getting here. i agree that flying is the best option, but sadly public transport links to Newquay airport are pretty poor - there is no direct bus linking the airport to Penzance, only to Newquay or Padstow. a private taxi or hiring a car to get to Penzance would be much easier.

once in Penzance, there is plenty to keep you busy - trips to St Ives, or even land's end by bus, walking to Newlyn [and back or take the bus] and Mousehole, or Marazion to see St Michael\s Mount, and in Penzance itself, the lovely Morab gardens, the sea front, historic Chapel Street, and the Penlee Art with its permanent collection of luminous Newlyn School paintings and great cafe. Add in a load of georgian and victorian buildings, some great restaurants, and a terrific climate, and you've got a winner.

Here's the local bus timetable which may help:

http://www.westerngreyhound.com/places_served.php

and here's the other bus company

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devo...=1&redirect=no

[no, they don't make it easy, do they?]

I'm afraid i haven't got any accommodation recommendations in PZ - as we live only about 30 mins or so away, we've never stayed there. but if you have some places that you are thinking about, I'll be happy to look at them with regard to location etc.

hope all this helps - keep the questions coming!

carolyn

Thanks a lot, Ann. Good info for touring.

I looked at the trains, and there are some that go into Penzance, at least on line. Is that not true? Also, booking three months out (July just to check prices) and using a senior discounted ticket brought the fare way, way down. I do realize that it is a very long trip.

Rubicund

"July just to check prices"

This may not be a fair comparison. I'd expect prices outside of peak season to be lower.

evecolorado

Carolyn--Is that $200 per night, or for all 5 nights?

annhig

carolyn - yes the trains do go to Penzance [well, since they reopened the line at Dawlish they do] - it is the time it'll take you to get here from Scotland which is the problem others have perceived.

in fact I've looked and it'll take between 11-12 hours, with between 1-3 changes, save for one train a day which appears to be direct. That's quite a long journey, but particularly if you can get a train where you don't need to change, you can just sit back and relax. Some of the trip will be boring but other parts [especially that around the aforesaid Dawlish] are gorgeous. and yes you can get cheap/er tickets by booking 3 months in advance.

given the problems of getting from Newquay airport to Penzance then the train may well be the easier option.

thursdaysd

Of course, one option would be to go via London and make one or both legs an overnight. See seat61.com for info on the Caledonian and Night Riviera sleepers.

annhig

i think that might be longer on the southbound section, thursdaysd, but a good idea for the return to London.

carolyn

evecolorado, yes, $200 per night.

In checking the internet, it looks as if the Flybe time door to door would be five hours and put us in Newquay rather than Penzance. We are still debating. As Ann said, seeing the countryside from a train window, even for such a long day, might be good, especially after a couple of weeks of busy days. Using the advance purchase option and with senior rail cards, my sister and I could travel pretty cheaply; and my daughter said she wouldn't mind flying by herself if she finds she would rather do that.

Anyway, thanks to all of you for your suggestions and input. Decisions, decisions.

janisj

Since you'll have senior railcars -- I'd opt for first class. You get a terrific discount and for that long a trip I'd definitely want meals, drinks, and <u>more comfortable seats</u>.

annhig

. Using the advance purchase option and with senior rail cards, my sister and I could travel pretty cheaply; and my daughter said she wouldn't mind flying by herself if she finds she would rather do that.>>

train v plane? that would make for an interesting experiment as to who got to Penzance first!