Scotland/UK itinerary
Sep 29th, 2016, 09:48 AM
#21
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September is the perfect time to visit Scotland.
Personally I would rather visit Stirling Castle over Eilean Donan anyday.
You might want to look into staying at the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe. I have stayed there twice (once with each of my grown children) and it is our go to place even if we are just passing through for a meal.
Personally I would rather visit Stirling Castle over Eilean Donan anyday.
You might want to look into staying at the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe. I have stayed there twice (once with each of my grown children) and it is our go to place even if we are just passing through for a meal.
Sep 29th, 2016, 04:18 PM
#22
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Thank you very much for all your comments and suggestions.
>>>>Thinking out loud, I wonder if you might not do a Highland day trip from Edinburgh - maybe out to Glen Coe via Stirling and back via Loch Lomond - and call it good, then skip the Lakes but head south on the east coast, visiting the Northumberland coast and castles, then marvelous Durham, before ending in York. Just a thought.<<
That is possible as my son want to visit Alnwick Castle as it was the location for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. He is a Harry Potter fan and hence the visit to Glenfinnan. He will be thrilled if we head to the Castle. Never thought of that route. Do I need to stay overnight if I follow this route or can I stay overnight in York?<<
Do I need an overnight stay between Edinburgh and York? If I do, any suggestion? Durham looks a nice place to stop for an overnight.
>>>>Thinking out loud, I wonder if you might not do a Highland day trip from Edinburgh - maybe out to Glen Coe via Stirling and back via Loch Lomond - and call it good, then skip the Lakes but head south on the east coast, visiting the Northumberland coast and castles, then marvelous Durham, before ending in York. Just a thought.<<
That is possible as my son want to visit Alnwick Castle as it was the location for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. He is a Harry Potter fan and hence the visit to Glenfinnan. He will be thrilled if we head to the Castle. Never thought of that route. Do I need to stay overnight if I follow this route or can I stay overnight in York?<<
Do I need an overnight stay between Edinburgh and York? If I do, any suggestion? Durham looks a nice place to stop for an overnight.
Sep 29th, 2016, 05:22 PM
#23
>>Do I need an overnight stay between Edinburgh and York? If I do, any suggestion? <<
IF you plan on visiting Alnwick you will definitely have to stop en route… Me personally -- I'd stay in Alnwick. Drive down from Edinburgh and visit Holy Island and/or Bamburgh. The drive alone is about 2.5-3 hours plus at least 2 hours at Alnwick. If you stop at Holy Island or Bamburgh that will have filled the whole day.
The next day visit Hadrian's Wall and then on to York. Alnwick to say Haltwhistle and places along the Wall, then on to York will be a 4 hour drive plus stops.
Durham Cathedral is wonderful -- but I'd give it a miss and concentrate on Hadrian's Wall and then getting to York.
IF you plan on visiting Alnwick you will definitely have to stop en route… Me personally -- I'd stay in Alnwick. Drive down from Edinburgh and visit Holy Island and/or Bamburgh. The drive alone is about 2.5-3 hours plus at least 2 hours at Alnwick. If you stop at Holy Island or Bamburgh that will have filled the whole day.
The next day visit Hadrian's Wall and then on to York. Alnwick to say Haltwhistle and places along the Wall, then on to York will be a 4 hour drive plus stops.
Durham Cathedral is wonderful -- but I'd give it a miss and concentrate on Hadrian's Wall and then getting to York.
Sep 29th, 2016, 05:54 PM
#24
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Thanks, Janisj. I note from some of the blogs that most of the large shops in York would be closed on Easter Sunday. I might head to Manchester from Hadrian's Wall and stay in Manchester for 2 nights and make a day trip to York on Monday. So, it may work out well heading to Hadrian's Wall after Alnwick. I can return the car earlier too.
Sep 30th, 2016, 12:13 AM
#25
yes train to york
large shops shut. so what, the other shops will be open as the place will be heaving, Easter marks the start of the money making season.
Manchester is ok, but I'd not come half way around the road to spend 2 days in Manchester and a day trip to York, do it the other way around.
large shops shut. so what, the other shops will be open as the place will be heaving, Easter marks the start of the money making season.
Manchester is ok, but I'd not come half way around the road to spend 2 days in Manchester and a day trip to York, do it the other way around.
Sep 30th, 2016, 06:46 AM
#26
I am also a bit confused on the Manchester bit, and have been assuming the stop there is to see family or friends. True? If not, and meaning no disrespect to Manchester, there are plenty of other destinations in the north of England that - to me at least - offer greater opportunities for visitors, and which could further help you in avoiding trafficky zigzags across Britain.
If Manchester was negotiable then the order of things could be cleaned up: Northumbria coast, Alnwick, Hadrian's Wall, Durham, York... You might even consider heading out to the coast after Durham and visit picture-perfect Staithes, Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay, then approach York via the North York Moors National Park, like this: https://goo.gl/maps/CFV54gVYc6A2
I know this view isn't shared by everyone, but I actually like Durham more than York, although it's a contest of superlatives. York has its city walls and railway museum (both wonderful) but it feels <i>very</i> touristy (and for good reason.) Durham, on the other hand, is largely a working town, with its important university and compact medieval quarter overlooked by its castle and cathedral. For my money Durham Cathedral is one of the most impressive buildings in Europe, not just the UK. That's not to say York Minster is any slouch, but Durham's siting is simply spectacular.
Durham Cathedral - http://ringingforengland.co.uk/wp-co...-Cathedral.jpg and http://static.thousandwonders.net/Du...inal.23708.jpg
Staithes - http://static.thousandwonders.net/St...inal.25760.jpg
If Manchester was negotiable then the order of things could be cleaned up: Northumbria coast, Alnwick, Hadrian's Wall, Durham, York... You might even consider heading out to the coast after Durham and visit picture-perfect Staithes, Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay, then approach York via the North York Moors National Park, like this: https://goo.gl/maps/CFV54gVYc6A2
I know this view isn't shared by everyone, but I actually like Durham more than York, although it's a contest of superlatives. York has its city walls and railway museum (both wonderful) but it feels <i>very</i> touristy (and for good reason.) Durham, on the other hand, is largely a working town, with its important university and compact medieval quarter overlooked by its castle and cathedral. For my money Durham Cathedral is one of the most impressive buildings in Europe, not just the UK. That's not to say York Minster is any slouch, but Durham's siting is simply spectacular.
Durham Cathedral - http://ringingforengland.co.uk/wp-co...-Cathedral.jpg and http://static.thousandwonders.net/Du...inal.23708.jpg
Staithes - http://static.thousandwonders.net/St...inal.25760.jpg
Oct 3rd, 2016, 08:40 PM
#27
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Thank you all for the comments.
>>If Manchester was negotiable then the order of things could be cleaned up: Northumbria coast, Alnwick, Hadrian's Wall, Durham, York... You might even consider heading out to the coast after Durham and visit picture-perfect Staithes, Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay, then approach York via the North York Moors National Park, like this: https://goo.gl/maps/CFV54gVYc6A2<<
Does anyone have any comments of the above route? It might be workable for me but I do need to make a couple of changes. I am very open to all suggestions and do not have a fixed route in mind yet. I could stay a night in Alnwick and another night in Durham and head to Manchester the next day and visit York along the way.
>>If Manchester was negotiable then the order of things could be cleaned up: Northumbria coast, Alnwick, Hadrian's Wall, Durham, York... You might even consider heading out to the coast after Durham and visit picture-perfect Staithes, Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay, then approach York via the North York Moors National Park, like this: https://goo.gl/maps/CFV54gVYc6A2<<
Does anyone have any comments of the above route? It might be workable for me but I do need to make a couple of changes. I am very open to all suggestions and do not have a fixed route in mind yet. I could stay a night in Alnwick and another night in Durham and head to Manchester the next day and visit York along the way.
Oct 3rd, 2016, 11:03 PM
#28
The above route is fine, but, you probably need to understand the road system. The motorways are pretty fast (plan on 60 mph) but the M62 Leeds to Manchester is a nightmare. I used to use it every day and planned 30 mph plus a few more white hairs every day. Manchester itself at the wrong time is also slow.
On the other hand, off the motorway you need to plan at 30 mph. RH's bay i lovely but a h@@@ of a hack. Unless you are doing a tour of the area I wouldn't start by trying to get all the way over there.
NYM are great, look at the steam train etc and do some hiking.
Durham, York, Manchester in one day..... somehow you managed to fit 48 hours in 24 hours here....
On the other hand, off the motorway you need to plan at 30 mph. RH's bay i lovely but a h@@@ of a hack. Unless you are doing a tour of the area I wouldn't start by trying to get all the way over there.
NYM are great, look at the steam train etc and do some hiking.
Durham, York, Manchester in one day..... somehow you managed to fit 48 hours in 24 hours here....
Oct 4th, 2016, 06:54 AM
#29
as bilboburgler suggests, you really do need to understand the driving. Motorways can be fast - or awful - but they aren't scenic. The minor roads is where the scenery/castles/villages are . . . and they are usually sloooooow. Like 35mph slow.
Durham > York > MAN - really is a 2 day excursion. The drive is maybe 4 hours if you are lucky or could be more. But parking in York, and just a superficial visit would add about 6 hours -- so a 10 hour day w/ just the one stop.
If you wanted to see some of the Moors and/or Dales -- then you'd want 3 days total.
>>somehow you managed to fit 48 hours in 24 hours here….<<
Or your whole trip . . . a 10-14 days squeezed into 6 days.
Durham > York > MAN - really is a 2 day excursion. The drive is maybe 4 hours if you are lucky or could be more. But parking in York, and just a superficial visit would add about 6 hours -- so a 10 hour day w/ just the one stop.
If you wanted to see some of the Moors and/or Dales -- then you'd want 3 days total.
>>somehow you managed to fit 48 hours in 24 hours here….<<
Or your whole trip . . . a 10-14 days squeezed into 6 days.
Oct 4th, 2016, 02:02 PM
#30
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>>Durham, York, Manchester in one day..... somehow you managed to fit 48 hours in 24 hours here....<<
Sorry, what I mean was I was going to spend 2 nights in Manchester. I was planning to stay over at Durham for one night and head to York the next day to spend the day there. I am expecting to reach Manchester by evening only to spend the night there. I am not planning to see much of Manchester as the plan is to visit Anfield. I am not sure of the driving conditions in the UK and thank you for all the comments on it.
Sorry, what I mean was I was going to spend 2 nights in Manchester. I was planning to stay over at Durham for one night and head to York the next day to spend the day there. I am expecting to reach Manchester by evening only to spend the night there. I am not planning to see much of Manchester as the plan is to visit Anfield. I am not sure of the driving conditions in the UK and thank you for all the comments on it.
