Freedom of Scotland rail pass
Aug 18th, 2011, 05:56 PM
#22
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As I mentioned above, and in the “best way to see Scotland” thread, my parents and I used the Freedom of Scotland pass last year. Although purchasing tickets in advance would have saved us some money, in our case it was not quite enough to forgo the flexibility of the pass. We wanted some leeway on our longest train journeys. A rail pass isn’t always the best option but we thought this one was a good choice for us, especially with the senior railcard discount. It was also accepted on all of the buses we took but one.
As for an itinerary, we had 10 nights and agonized over where to put them so I understand how challenging it is, especially using public transport. I suggest you spend some serious time using the journey planner on www.travelinescotland.com and see what’s possible with the schedules. Watch out for reduced service on Sundays. Figure out your priorities and let the lower ones fall by the wayside if necessary. Try not to include too many (or any) days that are logistically cumbersome. See if your route works better in one direction or the other. Try not to do too many one night stays – packing up every morning gets old fast. And if the planning becomes a headache, ditch it and go with an organized tour.
We carefully chose accommodation convenient to public transport, which requires some research and booking ahead. Check various sites like the town’s tourism website, Tripadvisor and other listing sites like the two I posted below if you haven’t already found them. You might want to check out your choices on streetview if possible. Our bed & breakfasts in the Highlands were the kind where you have to walk through the kitchen to get to your room and the proprietors invite you into their living room for a chat and a drink. For us they were one of the highlights of the trip. Others might prefer more privacy and choose to avoid that type of lodging.
www.a1touristguide.com
www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/index.html
The one where we stayed in Stirling was a bit higher-end. It had very nice rooms, modern bathrooms and excellent breakfasts with varied options. It was a great value for the price.
www.cameron-10.co.uk
As for Edinburgh, next time I think I would put location above character when choosing accommodation. We stayed at one of the Dalkeith Rd. B&B’s and it was perfectly fine but nothing special. I know there are great B&B’s and guesthouses in Edinburgh but next time I might go ahead and book a chain hotel if I can get a great deal on one in a good location. IHG usually has various promotions in effect.
A few other budget-minded suggestions:
If you end up in Plockton, we enjoyed the £8 seal boat tour: www.calums-sealtrips.com
This is a good spot for a quick lunch in Edinburgh if you’re okay with seeing a roast pig on display: www.grassmarket.net/oink.asp Being from Hogtown you should be cool with it.
Forsyth’s Tea Room in Chalmers Close was an oasis of tranquility amid the tourist bustle of the Royal Mile. I came across this video while rummaging around Youtube before the trip so we made a point of finding it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELiztjyi_e8
The free tour at the National Museum (admission is also free) in Edinburgh is worthwhile: http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/nat...seum/tours.asp
We also enjoyed the tour included with admission at Stirling Castle, and especially the additional £2 tour of Argyll’s Lodging:
http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/hom...uidedtours.htm
Once you have your sightseeing itinerary sorted out, see if perhaps one of these passes makes sense for you:
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/explorer
www.britishheritagepass.com
Just a final thought – although a significant percentage of Scotland is inaccessible by public transport, it’s still amazing to me the number of small towns and villages that actually do have train or bus access - because where I live, and in most of North America, that number is zero.
As for an itinerary, we had 10 nights and agonized over where to put them so I understand how challenging it is, especially using public transport. I suggest you spend some serious time using the journey planner on www.travelinescotland.com and see what’s possible with the schedules. Watch out for reduced service on Sundays. Figure out your priorities and let the lower ones fall by the wayside if necessary. Try not to include too many (or any) days that are logistically cumbersome. See if your route works better in one direction or the other. Try not to do too many one night stays – packing up every morning gets old fast. And if the planning becomes a headache, ditch it and go with an organized tour.
We carefully chose accommodation convenient to public transport, which requires some research and booking ahead. Check various sites like the town’s tourism website, Tripadvisor and other listing sites like the two I posted below if you haven’t already found them. You might want to check out your choices on streetview if possible. Our bed & breakfasts in the Highlands were the kind where you have to walk through the kitchen to get to your room and the proprietors invite you into their living room for a chat and a drink. For us they were one of the highlights of the trip. Others might prefer more privacy and choose to avoid that type of lodging.
www.a1touristguide.com
www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/index.html
The one where we stayed in Stirling was a bit higher-end. It had very nice rooms, modern bathrooms and excellent breakfasts with varied options. It was a great value for the price.
www.cameron-10.co.uk
As for Edinburgh, next time I think I would put location above character when choosing accommodation. We stayed at one of the Dalkeith Rd. B&B’s and it was perfectly fine but nothing special. I know there are great B&B’s and guesthouses in Edinburgh but next time I might go ahead and book a chain hotel if I can get a great deal on one in a good location. IHG usually has various promotions in effect.
A few other budget-minded suggestions:
If you end up in Plockton, we enjoyed the £8 seal boat tour: www.calums-sealtrips.com
This is a good spot for a quick lunch in Edinburgh if you’re okay with seeing a roast pig on display: www.grassmarket.net/oink.asp Being from Hogtown you should be cool with it.
Forsyth’s Tea Room in Chalmers Close was an oasis of tranquility amid the tourist bustle of the Royal Mile. I came across this video while rummaging around Youtube before the trip so we made a point of finding it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELiztjyi_e8
The free tour at the National Museum (admission is also free) in Edinburgh is worthwhile: http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/nat...seum/tours.asp
We also enjoyed the tour included with admission at Stirling Castle, and especially the additional £2 tour of Argyll’s Lodging:
http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/hom...uidedtours.htm
Once you have your sightseeing itinerary sorted out, see if perhaps one of these passes makes sense for you:
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/explorer
www.britishheritagepass.com
Just a final thought – although a significant percentage of Scotland is inaccessible by public transport, it’s still amazing to me the number of small towns and villages that actually do have train or bus access - because where I live, and in most of North America, that number is zero.
Aug 18th, 2011, 06:30 PM
#23
"<i>Harry Potter fans I believe will recongize some stations on the West Highlands rail line Glasgow to Maillag.</i>"
AFAIK - other than the Glenfinnan viaduct, the train/station shots were in North Yorkshire, not in Scotland.
reddun and historytraveler have given you some terrific info/advice/insight. You can go lots of places by train-- but you do have to make concessions/compromises. For instance, yes, there is some bus service on Skye. But trying to "see" Skye by bus is REALLY difficult. It is a very large island w/ mostly VERY narrow roads. If you want to visit Skye, then hire a car on the island for a day or two--or hire a driver/guide. The buses don't go to most of the most scenic bits.
Unfortunately two of the places you mention staying are not the nicest. You are partly limited by wanting to be near rail hubs, but Inverness, and especially Ft William are not in the top ten (or even top 100).
>>the one station I remember actually had a hotel next to it<<< -- easy to remember since there is ONLY one station . . Rannoch Station.
AFAIK - other than the Glenfinnan viaduct, the train/station shots were in North Yorkshire, not in Scotland.
reddun and historytraveler have given you some terrific info/advice/insight. You can go lots of places by train-- but you do have to make concessions/compromises. For instance, yes, there is some bus service on Skye. But trying to "see" Skye by bus is REALLY difficult. It is a very large island w/ mostly VERY narrow roads. If you want to visit Skye, then hire a car on the island for a day or two--or hire a driver/guide. The buses don't go to most of the most scenic bits.
Unfortunately two of the places you mention staying are not the nicest. You are partly limited by wanting to be near rail hubs, but Inverness, and especially Ft William are not in the top ten (or even top 100).
>>the one station I remember actually had a hotel next to it<<< -- easy to remember since there is ONLY one station . . Rannoch Station.
Aug 19th, 2011, 07:06 AM
#24
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AFAIK - other than the Glenfinnan viaduct, the train/station shots were in North Yorkshire, not in Scotland.>
well I guess my a very smart person I know who was a few years back planning a trip to Britain and just had to include the West Highlands rail line because her granddaughter was such a Harry Potter fan must have been wrong - after all her planning?
well I guess my a very smart person I know who was a few years back planning a trip to Britain and just had to include the West Highlands rail line because her granddaughter was such a Harry Potter fan must have been wrong - after all her planning?
Aug 19th, 2011, 07:44 AM
#25
PQ-- here we go again. I wrote . . >>EXCEPT for the <i>viaduct</i>. . . <<
The Hogwarts express crossing it is an iconic scene from the movies.
But you posted "<I>Harry Potter fans I believe will recongize some <u>stations</u> on the West Highlands rail line</i>".
They won't recognize any stations, but will recognize the Glenfinnan Viaduct -- which is what I said.
The station used is Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors railway
The Hogwarts express crossing it is an iconic scene from the movies.
But you posted "<I>Harry Potter fans I believe will recongize some <u>stations</u> on the West Highlands rail line</i>".
They won't recognize any stations, but will recognize the Glenfinnan Viaduct -- which is what I said.
The station used is Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors railway
Aug 19th, 2011, 01:58 PM
#26
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For what you can buy once you are in Scotland, the info from ScotRail may help: http://www.scotrail.co.uk/content/fa...tickets#rovers
When I saw the link above for the first time, I liked learning that if I were interested in the Central Scotland Rover pass that it would be cheaper to buy there (as compared to buying here from Rick Steves' site - there could be other sources to buy here, but I happen to have been looking at RS).
reddun, thank you for your great post with helpful information.
When I saw the link above for the first time, I liked learning that if I were interested in the Central Scotland Rover pass that it would be cheaper to buy there (as compared to buying here from Rick Steves' site - there could be other sources to buy here, but I happen to have been looking at RS).
reddun, thank you for your great post with helpful information.
Aug 19th, 2011, 02:38 PM
#27
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Being familar with the stations along the the West Highland route, I can vouch for janisj's comment that none of the stations were ever featured in any Harry Potter movie. The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a different creature from a rail station.
