"I did not know the fares if purchasing the day of the train ride"

Answer - very expensive !

I don't think you said when you are travelling but I just used www.thetrainline.com to check the price of 1) a return from Gatwick to Edinburgh, travelling up tomorrow & back in a week, & 2) a single from Gatwick to Edinburgh tomorrow - all departing at a random time of after 11am.

Cheapest fares now, per person - 1) £102, 2) £101.

Train tickets usually go on sale 3 months in advance. Thereafter, the earlier you book, the cheaper.

It's Northumberland, not North Umberland BTW

But if you are going to Northumberland why are you asking about train fares to Edinburgh - for Northumberland it's Newcastle, Mprpeth, Alnmouth or Berwick

To AlanRow...we are going to Edinburgh first, staying overnight and picking up a car for a weeks stay in Aberfeldy, then we are driver to Northumberland for another weeks stay. The trip is starting May 11th and ending May 31st.

Fares right now for 11 May :-

Train - LGW-Edinburgh - single on the first 5 trains after 11am (random time) - £23.50 - can theoretically be bought any time up until the evening before but cheap fares sell out fast. (Walk-up fare is £117.50 single.)

Train - LHR-EDinburgh - single on 5 trains after 11am - £16.50 - can theoretically be bought any time up until the evening before but cheap fares sell out fast. (Walk-up fare is £114 single.)

Train - LGW-Edinburgh - return on 5 trains after 11am each way, returning 18 May - cheapest fare currently is £102 (so 2 singles will be cheaper).

Train - LHR-Edinburgh - return on 5 trains after 11am each way, returning 18 May - cheapest fare currently is £102.10 (so 2 singles will be cheaper).

Train fares all from www.thetrainline.co.uk.

Fly LHR-EDI, bmi, single fares each way from £4 + extra charges, tax, etc = from £27.10. (www.flybmi.com)

Fly LHR/LGW-EDI, BA, single fares each way from £38.50 (LGW) or £41.50 (LHR)including extra charges, tax, etc. (ww.ba.com)

So whichever route you choose, book asap ! I'd still definitely fly.

Thank you Caroline!

I am in the process of planning my trip to Scotland and France in May. After checking out train cost then chunnel to France vs BMI from Heathrow to Edinburgh / Edinburgh to CDG it came out much cheaper... factoring in transportation from the airport to train station as a cost.
Also eliminated my prior post about trusting train from Tours to CDG with same day flight. We are doing France itinerary in reverse. TGV from CDG to Tours first then ending in Paris. After mapping out new itinerary we are saving almost $300 and 1/2 day in transportation.