aussiedreamer

Bit of a strange one this, our dd's fiancé has been selected to play for Italy (he's Australian with Italian heritage) in the Rugby league World Cup being played in Cardiff, Workington & Halifax in that order. Trouble is the team that will be touring will not be named for another week or so, therefore we don't know if we will be going or not. But I need to get a rough plan in place as if he is named, it will be a manic few weeks getting organised.

We are 'frequent' visitors to the UK so have a pretty good idea of what we'll do, that is fly into London, pick up a car and head to Cardiff for the first game on Oct 26. We will have a few days in London at the beginning or end, but I wont need help with that. I would love suggestions on somewhere nice to stay near Cardiff for a couple of days and then a driving route up to the Lakes District, where we would like to stay for the Workington game. Years ago we drove that area and wanted to stay in Keswick, but there was no available accommodation due to a festival.

We have driven from the Cardiff area up through the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia NP on to Liverpool and up to Scotland. As each of the 3 games will be played on a weekend we will have the week to get to the next destination. We would quite happily drive up through that area again but maybe stopping at different places. We stopped in Merthyr Tidfil, Llandrindod Wells, Aberystwyth (visited the 3 bridges gorge) and spent just a day in Snowdonia NP. We enjoy visiting larger cities but much prefer to stay outside of them. Walking, eating & drinking and amazing scenery are our favourite things.

From Workington we will have a week to get to Halifax, I really don't know much about this area at all. But I'm thinking as we haven't been to York we could base there, so would love some scenic driving routes and suggestions for accommodation in York.

Remembering that we will only need to visit Cardiff, Workington & Halifax for an afternoon as all the games will be around 4pm.

Can't wait to hear your suggestions, I've had a great read of maudies tr from a few years ago http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-5-weeks.cfm and will continue to research.

Thanks as always.

bilboburgler

See recent thread on the joys of Halifax. Leeds is a modern urban gem with Victorian heritage, some very good museums and great night life and is easy to get to by train from Halifax. Driving in the "loop" is an experience but there are some good hotels to stay (41 or 42 the Calls is the best and then the usual brands).

York is far older and the medieval centre is worth a visit, not well designed for the motor car (so make sure any hotel has parking space) if you look up fodorite Morgana you will see all there is to do around and in York.

aussiedreamer

Thanks bilbo'....I've been looking into York as we haven't been here on previous trips, looks stunning.
Maybe I shouldn't have, I'm getting excited now and it probably won't happen

alanRow

<i>that is fly into London, pick up a car </i>

Don't, unless you want to contribute to increased traffic accidents.

Fly into London (presumably Heathrow), take coach to Cardiff.

aussiedreamer

???

hetismij2

AlanRow is assuming you mean pick up a car straight off your flight from Oz. Not a good idea, no matter how well rested you are from your flight. As you well know your body will be confused by the time change, and a long, monotonous car journey is not a good idea then.

It sounds like a great trip. I hope he gets selected so you can do it.

annhig

aussie, I'm with bilbo here. There is also a very good train service to Cardiff from Paddington; the only tedious bit is getting from LHR to Paddington, but it's cheaper to do that, I think than to go to Reading to pick up the train, or so we discovered when researching how to get home from LHR at the end of our trip - the single from Reading to Redruth was £85, from Paddington to Redruth £58, even though it was the same train!

Sounds as if you've done the Brecon Beacons etc, so how about the english side of the border - Shrewsbury, Ludlow, the Long Mynd, Chester - all worth a few days.

hope he makes the team so you can do the trip!

Dickie_Gr

We established on other thread that Halifax is stunning beautiful and even better.....in Yorkshire.

Keswick is a really good base with lots of day trip options but Workington is not the international tourists first port of call. What is your budget for staying in Keswick? you probably visited during the Methodist Convention week. The place is bonkers busy and booked up well in advance.

annhig

you probably visited during the Methodist Convention week. The place is bonkers busy and booked up well in advance.>>

bet the pubs do a roaring trade!

Dickie_Gr

An awful lot of our local trade is selling bacon sandwiches to the Jewish community.

With the upmost discretion.

bilboburgler

Dickie
"We established on other thread that Halifax is stunning beautiful " now saying its beautiful is perhaps taking it a bit far, pleasant might be more accurate.

aussiedreamer

Italian Team announced.........he's in

hetismij2

Hooray! Now you can get planning, booking and enjoying.
Have a great trip.

hetismij2

Just don't expect me to cheer him on in Cardiff. . I'll probably watch the match on the Beeb. I like Rugby League. One of the few sports I do.

aussiedreamer

Aww come on if us Aussies can cheer him on......

hetismij2

He's playing Wales. No way I'll support Italy over the Land of my Mothers ��.

annhig

complimenti a lui, aussie!

does he know any italian? if not, he'll feel right at home, if the RL side is anything like their RU one, which is full of kiwis and aussies.

I promise to cheer for Italy, ESPECIALLY against Wales!

aussiedreamer

No Annhig he doesn't.....but he is madly learning the anthem!!

Stressing out a bit, I need an apartment in London for a week. Two nights in Cardiff , 4/5 in the lakes area, Keswick??? And 4/5 in York .....

annhig

lol, Aussie, the italian anthem is a hoot! we love singing along to it. The funny thing about it [to us] is that the 2nd verse is just the same as the first verse, just sung at twice the speed. [not meaning any offence to any italians reading this!]

BTW, did you get my e-mail?

Heimdall

If the atmosphere is even half as good as it was in Australia during the 2003 RU World Cup, you will have a wonderful time. I didn't get to see any live matches, but watched most of the group stage on cinema-sized screens while in Cairns and Airlie Beach. Many of the fans were wearing their national jerseys, and there was lots of friendly rivalry.

Any hints about who to watch for? Without mentioning names, can you say what position he plays?