Well. for the 11th or so time, I have booked my winter train trip to Britian. Will be leaving from San Francisco on 2/1/09 to Edinburgh via Heathrow. I will be spending the first two nights in North Berwick just to get over jet. l have booked the last two nights at the Hyde park Darlington hotel in London. so off to see friends and womdering if I can spot a beer or two to any locals who will be free on the 9th or 10th.

Have a great trip roger. Did you decide to stay at Rannoch Moor Hotel? I'd be interested in knowing how your trip went especially traveling by train. I've done a bit of train travel but plan on doing more as I'm no longer as secure in my driving skills as I was in my youth. Please report back when you return.

Yes, but depends on visiting my Aberdeen friend. Waiting to here from her.

Drat. Just as I was about to book I found out that they don't open until February 13, 2009.

Too bad as it really is an excellent place. I do seem to remember that they close some time between Nov. and Feburary but thought they'd be back by the time you plannned on being there. Probably off to sunny Spain. You might be able to find some nice, comfy place somewhere else along that train route.

hi rogeruktm, will you purchase train tickets ahead of time. or use a pass, or how?

I am making plans for April and am still researching what I will do for train travel. Individual tickets ahead of time look to make more sense financially, but would flexibility of a pass be good, do you think, for a person who's never had opportunity to ride a real train on her own?

"real" train because I am not counting the occasional trip on the Hobo Railroad in Lincoln, NH

scotlib, I have purchased my all Britain 8 day rail pass. With the winter discount I paid $447. This is for a first Class pass. I won't use it the first couple of trips as they are short and only cost 6 pounds or so, so I will wait until I depart for Aberdeen to Validate the pass.

I don't buy a pass for the best possible deal, but for a good deal and the ability to board any train at any time. It also offers me to jump off and on should I want to. That is how I found Durham.

On my most recent trip ( Sept.) I bought a flexi-pass ( second class). It cost a bit more than buying the individual tickets at the advance purchase price, but I felt the pass would be much more convenient. With the adv. purchase tickets, there was no refund if I missed the trip or missed the scheduled train.

Many thanks for the comments.

Not being tied to a schedule seems to make sense for me. Trying to learn the system, I can just see myself missing a train.

scotlib. Normally missing a train isn't a problem as trains run fairly often. perhaps a bit out of the way, nut you can get whereyou are going. Another good point with a pass. You can run into problems in the back country. Say Oban which has only two or three services a day unlike trains from London to Edinburgh

I make a list of my trips with back up trains details, just to be safe.

Please sir, I've replied to your emails. Having stumbled on this, is there any merit in us picking you up in Edinburgh and you spending a couple of nights here, instead of North Berwick at the start?

I'll take this back to email now.

Wouldn't be fair to you. Knowing my aging body and reaction to jet lag, I need two nights and full day just to be civil. See on Wednesday afternoon. Bright sun please.