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seniortraveler Jul 8th, 2010 08:51 AM

Carlisle, England
 
Can anyone recommend a place to leave luggage in Carlisle, England.? We plan to stop there by train and catch a bus over to Hadrian's Wall and back. Later in the day we will travel on to Edinburg.

Thanks!

janisj Jul 8th, 2010 09:55 AM

Carlisle station doesn't have left luggage facilities. If you went up the eastern route -- Newcastle station does have left luggage. But going up the west side - nope.

You <i>might</i> find a hotel that will hold your bags --but that is along shot for sure.

Now - another option would be to do an overnight along the wall. You could travel to one of the towns along the Wall, stay in a B&B and the travel on to Edinburgh the next afternoon.

But just a day trip from Carlisle, you'll probably have to take your bags w/ you.

ron Jul 8th, 2010 10:28 AM

While highly unlikely, it's possible that left luggage arrangements could be made at the Carlisle bus station. You can contact the operator of the travel centre there at [email protected]

seniortraveler Jul 8th, 2010 03:12 PM

Can you take luggage on the #AD122 bus along the wall? We mainly want to see the Homesteads Fort and also ride along the wall.

janisj Jul 8th, 2010 03:52 PM

Yes - you can take luggage on the bus. But then what would you do w/ it?

It is quite a walk from the road to Housesteads ruins - probably 10 minutes for fit folks and longer if there are any mobility issues and longer yet if one is schlepping luggage - and that is just from the car park - it is a bit farther from the bus stop. I'm almost certain the visitors' centre won't have left luggage facilities. However there is a small NationalTrust cafe at the bottom of the hill. There is a VERY outside chance the cafe could hold light bags -- but again, that would be a longshot.

The best way to see the Wall is to stay a night along the Wall. Or, barring that (or having a car) you want to either have very light luggage/backbacks, or to come from the east/Newcastle.

seniortraveler Jul 9th, 2010 05:55 AM

Does bus AD122 actually go to Homesteads ruins and wall? It sounds like you get off on a road and then walk a distance to the ruins. Is that correct? Maybe it will be better to just skip the bus ride and Hadrain's wall since we don't have time to stay a night.

janisj Jul 9th, 2010 08:38 AM

Yes - the bus goes right along the wall and has a stop at Housesteads (and even if there wasn't the driver would stop for you). But even the Housesteads car park is a 10 minute walk from the fort. Even w/ a car one would have to walk that far since the road is a few hundred yards from the fort.

You could take the bus all the way across and continue your train journey on the east side - but that still would not solve the luggage problem.

It isn't just a quick 15 or 20 minute excursion by bus from Carlisle - if you must go on to Edinburgh that day and have luggage, you'll probably have to skip the Wall and any of the forts.

OR - if you just want to ride the bus and not explore any forts, you could do that. Ride part way - the road is next to the Wall in many places and has good views all along the route - get off in one of the villages/towns and then wait for a return bus in the other direction. That way you could see a bit of the wall w/o having to carry your bags. But it could still take several hours depending on the bus schedule.


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