Newton Abbot/Bath
Dec 31st, 2006, 07:48 PM
#1
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Newton Abbot/Bath
I'll be in London in June. My cousin (who lives in London) and I are planning a car trip to Newton Abbot to see the house where our grandfather was born. We hope to see Bath and Stonehenge/Avebury on the same trip. Any tips for those areas? Any suggestions of what else we can do?
Dec 31st, 2006, 08:43 PM
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We don't have much time. My cousin is taking Friday off so, if I wait for him and his car, we'll leave Thursday "after work" and will arrive back in London late Friday night. I could leave early Thursday morning by train but then I'll be without a car for a full day before I can meet him - plus, I'm not sure where we'd meet up. We'll be spending a lot of time in the car and it sounds like a lot to see but my cousin is the one who suggested the side trips (he didn't mention what order we'd do everything in).
Dec 31st, 2006, 08:51 PM
#4
Oh - you are just talking about 1 day - nope too much and too far. Bath alone takes a minimum of 4 or 5 hours and w/ the hassle of driving to the park and ride lot, waiting for the bus and then back to the car - you really need 5 or 6 hours for Bath.
Driving from London to Newton Abbot late on Thursday means on Friday you would have to 1) check out the house, 2) drive to Bath, 3) see anything in Bath, 4) drive on a Fridsy (heavier traffic) to Stonehenge, 5) on to Avebury and finally back to London. That's too much by far.
Why not take the train to Exeter, pick up a car there and spend the day just in South Devon? Drop the car and take the train back to London - that is doable . . . .
Driving from London to Newton Abbot late on Thursday means on Friday you would have to 1) check out the house, 2) drive to Bath, 3) see anything in Bath, 4) drive on a Fridsy (heavier traffic) to Stonehenge, 5) on to Avebury and finally back to London. That's too much by far.
Why not take the train to Exeter, pick up a car there and spend the day just in South Devon? Drop the car and take the train back to London - that is doable . . . .
Dec 31st, 2006, 08:59 PM
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I'm scared to drive in England!! I'll have to ask him what his plans were - maybe we'll just hit Newton Abbot (the house where he was born is now four condominiums so we can't go inside) and come back - I'm sure there'll be lots to see and do on the way. Too bad about Bath (I hear it's the most beautiful part of England) but I'm not that disappointed about not seeing Stonehenge et. al since there is no close-up access when I'm there.
Dec 31st, 2006, 10:22 PM
#6
When I said "Why not take the train" - I meant the both of you on the Friday morning (or Thursday evening). Then you could rent a car from Exeter just for the day and take the train back to London Friday night. Having a car would let you explore Newton Abbot and a bit more of that gorgeous part of the country.
Driving to South Devon and back in a day would be pretty difficult - but the train would be fast and comfortable (as long as you weren't schlepping that monster bag
) and a 1 day rental would not be too expensive.
Driving to South Devon and back in a day would be pretty difficult - but the train would be fast and comfortable (as long as you weren't schlepping that monster bag
) and a 1 day rental would not be too expensive.
Dec 31st, 2006, 10:45 PM
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I promise not to take my big suitcase on an overnighter (*smile*). I'll review the plans with my cousin. What are your favourite things to do in Devon (and Bath, while we're at it)? I love literature (Jane Austen, Chaucer, Shakespeare, etc.) - I found Sampson Farm Hotel in Newton Abbot and I'm intent on visiting it even if we don't stay there.
