Another Scottish Question
 

Sorry - I am new at this and hit the wrong button. Am trying again.
I will attend a knitting and weaving workshop in the Orkney and Shetland Islands July 8 - 22. The program finishes in Lerwick in the Shetland Islands on July 21. I fly back to the USA on July 29 from Glasgow. I have a week to look around. I want to visit my goddaughter and her new baby in Banbury in England for a day or so and also see Glasgow University (my Scottish forefather was a Presbyterian minister who trained there before coming to the USA in 1791 to be a circuit riding minister to Scottish immigrants in Argyle, NY).
Does anyone have suggestions for best ways to travel from Lerwick to Banbury and then to Glasgow and what to see en route? Also, ideas for places to stay and "must see" things in Glasgow? I'd love to hill walk but not this time, as I'm traveling alone.
Thanks for any ideas. I loved reading the responses to CrazyHawaii. Just came across this website tonight.

Well - Banbury is waaaay down south between Oxford and Birmingham.

Probably the easiest would be to fly from the Shetlands to Edinburgh and then fly to Birmingham. You can take the train from B'ham to Banbury. Does she actually live IN Banbury - or just nearby? It is not that far from B'ham to Banbury so she might be able to pick you up instad of you taking the train.

Then you could take the train or fly back to Glasgow.

Oh, wow! That's a good one; and I hope you enjoy yourself in Shetland. My frind Alastair carmichael, is the MP for Orney and Shetland and the workshop sounds like the sort of thing he might pitch up at. If so, mention my name.

I think you'd be better to take the direct flight from Lerwick to Glasgow then a return train from Glasgow to Banbury. We have rellies near Banbury and had the task of sorting my aged parents' trips on more than one occasion. The nearest airport is East Midlands, but it's a bit of a scutter to get to from there.

If you can free up some weekend time on the mainland, I'm sure a hill walking club would welcome your attendance up a hill somewhere.

I live in the Shetland Islands!
Hope summer gets here for your visit!
You dont mention budget, but flying to Shetland is very expensive. There is an overnight ferry from Aberdeen which is far more reasonable. Its a nice comfortable vessel -look at www.northlinkferries.co.uk for timetable and prices.
You could go away on the Friday at 5pm if your course finishes in time, arrive in Aberdeen the next morning at 7am and take the bus or train to London.Again,this depends on budget -if money is no problem then you just fly out of Shetland on the Saturday morning. If money is tight then you can travel from Aberdeen to London for a few pounds on the magicbus.You could spend the day in Aberdeen before taking a n overnight bus or train. From London,its not that far to Banbury. At the end of your stay take the bus to Glasgow from London. Alternatively you can book single flights on www.easyjet.com or British Airways.

I mentioned magic bus -its www.megabus.com

Assuming that all three elements of the trip are crucial, you are going about it in a daft way. You are going to Lerwick (thevery far north – polar bears and vikings), coming back down to Banbury (southern midlands) and then retracing your steps back north.

Go from Lerwick to Glasgow, then to Banbury (or go south to north). You will save yourselves a lot of travelling.

Might make it hard to catch the flight home, tho' David.

(I can afford to be a smart ass. I had exactly the same answer typed, but checked before posting:))

David West! I have lived in Shetland all my life (49 years) And never knew we had polar bears. Pleeeeeese tell me where I will find them . This could really boost tourism for the islands. Now - otters,seals -we had whales at the weekend,shetland ponies ,but POLAR BEARS?????
I wont mention the viking thing.

hi hillwalker

Glasgow University is situated in the west end of Glasgow and has been from 1870. In 1791 however, the university was located in the High Street area of Glasgow.

You can still walk to the area the university was located as it is close to the Cathedral, Provands Lordship (the oldest house in Glasgow) and the now demolished Bishop's Castle. It's exact location though as far as I recall is now known as CollegeLands and has been 're-developed' into a private housing area.

I'll find more information for you and post later when I get home from work.

Joe

David West! I have lived in Shetland all my life (49 years) And never knew we had polar bears. Pleeeeeese tell me where I will find them >>>>>

They are very, very good at hiding. Have you looked in the cupboard under the stairs?

Like elephants, polar bears sometimes paint their feet yellow so that they can hide upside down in a bowl of custard

Maybe I am just too cynical sometimes...................

The other thing they do (they’re devious buggers) is lie stretched out in front of open fires with their mouths open. And yet people never seem to notice.

carylspall: Shetland - Wow! I had no idea that is where you live. One area I haven't visited but hope to one day. Good to know we have a resource there . . .

Since you are right there you probably have the best handle on how to manage this.

Hillwalker: I didn't mention London because you didn't mention anything about wanting to go there. But if you do - then yes, make your way to London (by whichever mode carylspall says is easiest) and then take the train from London to Banbury.

As for what to see between Banbury and Glasgow - it mainly depends on how much time you leave your self after Banbury (and possibly London). if you have 2 or 3 days you could go to York or the Lake District. Or you could spend the extra time in Scotland (the Trossachs/Stirling, or Edinburgh, or Ayrshire and the SW)

Lemme know when youre coming up here janisj!
I really like reading your posts - you should be getting paid by the Scottish Tourist Board!

It's Unst's Oil.

Gardyloo, what?????

Unst is the Island waaaaaaay up north at the very top of the Shetland's. Not totally sure what Gardyloo is on about, but it sounds like he means the oil revenue should belong to the "Unstians"? "Unsters"? "people of Unst"?

One of the SNP's independence battle cries in the '70s was "It's Scotland's Oil." Then somebody noted that the signs ought to read, "It's Shetland's Oil," since the main North Sea fields were closer to Shetland than to mainland Scotland (okay, "British" Scotland - ugh.)

Then somebody suggested that using the same logic "It's Unst's Oil."

Ancient history. All along, it was really Houston's oil.

Hello all, Thanks for advice and a good laugh. We will spend 2 nights on Unst. Will look out for MPs, polar bears and signs of oil. Am open to further suggestions re places to stay, and favorites in Glasgow.