Tintern Abbey and Upton House
Jun 13th, 2013, 04:54 PM
#1
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Tintern Abbey and Upton House
My husband and I are planning a trip to Great Britain later this summer and, on the way from Edinburgh to London, we would like to visit Tintern Abbey, Hay-on-Wye, and Upton House (near Banbury). On the map, the three locations appear to be pretty close to one another. However, last time I went from Oxford to Tintern Abbey, it took all day. We will be using public transportation and will have two days for the adventure. Can anyone advise me of the best combination of trains, buses, and taxis we could take to make this trip workable. Also, where would it make the most sense to stay overnight? PS: I realize that this is an eccentric itinerary, but we have our reasons.
Jun 13th, 2013, 05:30 PM
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Driving in the UK is not that bad or difficult, really. In fact, can be half the fun, especially with a good co-pilot. Consider a rental car as the time and difficulty with the limited public transport will likely result in regrets.
How about train to Oxford or other city and arrange car hire from there? Tintern is well worth the visit and other Abbeys would be possible to visit via car along the route.
If you are going to Tintern it is likely for spiritual motives, so take it slow and do stay overnight.
How about train to Oxford or other city and arrange car hire from there? Tintern is well worth the visit and other Abbeys would be possible to visit via car along the route.
If you are going to Tintern it is likely for spiritual motives, so take it slow and do stay overnight.
Jun 13th, 2013, 06:52 PM
#3
>>On the map, the three locations appear to be pretty close to one another<<
They are nowhere near each other. What sort of scale map are you looking at??? Chepstow/Tintern > Hay-on-Wye > Banbury is nearly 170 miles and easily 4.5-5 hours drive time not counting stops. So basically 2 day's worth. And that is driving. None of them are on a direct rail line from Edinburgh. By public transport you are really looking at 3 days minimum.
Edinburgh to Banbury takes 5+hours by train.
Banbury to Ledbury is 2.5 hours by train and then you are more than an hour by road from Hay on Wye. Not sure about bus service but there probably is from Hereford or Ledbury. But likely 1.5-2 hours. Banbury to Gloucester is 2 hours by train and again another hour plus by car and longer by bus.
Then Hay on Wye to Tintern - that is a 3 hour drive, by bus who knows???. To get there by train you'd have to get back to Gloucester and go to to ChepstowI (only about a 30 minute train ride) and then an 8 mile cab or bus ride to the Abbey.
I don't see any way you could do these three destinations in two days by public transport. Even starting from Banbury would be tough - but you are starting from Edinburgh . . .
They are nowhere near each other. What sort of scale map are you looking at??? Chepstow/Tintern > Hay-on-Wye > Banbury is nearly 170 miles and easily 4.5-5 hours drive time not counting stops. So basically 2 day's worth. And that is driving. None of them are on a direct rail line from Edinburgh. By public transport you are really looking at 3 days minimum.
Edinburgh to Banbury takes 5+hours by train.
Banbury to Ledbury is 2.5 hours by train and then you are more than an hour by road from Hay on Wye. Not sure about bus service but there probably is from Hereford or Ledbury. But likely 1.5-2 hours. Banbury to Gloucester is 2 hours by train and again another hour plus by car and longer by bus.
Then Hay on Wye to Tintern - that is a 3 hour drive, by bus who knows???. To get there by train you'd have to get back to Gloucester and go to to ChepstowI (only about a 30 minute train ride) and then an 8 mile cab or bus ride to the Abbey.
I don't see any way you could do these three destinations in two days by public transport. Even starting from Banbury would be tough - but you are starting from Edinburgh . . .
Jun 13th, 2013, 09:22 PM
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The two simple answers to your question are:
1. www.transportdirect.info and
2. Drive.
Hay and the area round Tintern are, by British standards, in the middle of nowhere and badly served by public transport. They're both accessible by combinations of train and bus, but not necessarily in the same century. No-one who's looked at a map could possibly delude themslves either are anything like on the way between London and Edinburgh.
Upton House is a few yards off the fastest driving route between London to Edinburgh. By train, in theory easy to get to between London and Edinburgh. London-Banbury: a bit over an hour, a 7 mile taxi journey (Banbury station taxi rank has usually got taxis waiting, but there's cabs dropping all the time), then half-hourly 5.5 hr trains to Edinburgh. But there's no left luggage at Banbury, and hiring a taxi to wait with your luggage and return will cost a king's ransom (taxi drivers expect a living wage, and living round here is a great deal more expensive than almost anywhere else on earth). That's really why God invented the motor car.
1. www.transportdirect.info and
2. Drive.
Hay and the area round Tintern are, by British standards, in the middle of nowhere and badly served by public transport. They're both accessible by combinations of train and bus, but not necessarily in the same century. No-one who's looked at a map could possibly delude themslves either are anything like on the way between London and Edinburgh.
Upton House is a few yards off the fastest driving route between London to Edinburgh. By train, in theory easy to get to between London and Edinburgh. London-Banbury: a bit over an hour, a 7 mile taxi journey (Banbury station taxi rank has usually got taxis waiting, but there's cabs dropping all the time), then half-hourly 5.5 hr trains to Edinburgh. But there's no left luggage at Banbury, and hiring a taxi to wait with your luggage and return will cost a king's ransom (taxi drivers expect a living wage, and living round here is a great deal more expensive than almost anywhere else on earth). That's really why God invented the motor car.
Jun 13th, 2013, 11:20 PM
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I love working out mad routes like this…
Train from Edinburgh to Hereford (5 hours) www.eastcoast.co.uk/
Bus from Hereford to Hay on Wye (1 Hour)
Return Bus from Hay on Wye to Hereford (1 hour)
http://www.stagecoachbus.com/PdfUplo...e_10836_39.pdf
Train from Hereford to Chepstow (1½ hours)
Bus (or taxi) from Chepstow to Tintern Abbey
Return Bus (or taxi) from Tintern Abbey to Chepstow
http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/file...ry_Bus_Ltd.pdf
Train from Chepstow to Banbury (3 hours)
Taxi from Banbury to Upton House
Return taxi Upton House to Banbury
Train from Banbury to London (1½ hours)
As you can see quite impractical in 2 days by public transport.
Train from Edinburgh to Hereford (5 hours) www.eastcoast.co.uk/
Bus from Hereford to Hay on Wye (1 Hour)
Return Bus from Hay on Wye to Hereford (1 hour)
http://www.stagecoachbus.com/PdfUplo...e_10836_39.pdf
Train from Hereford to Chepstow (1½ hours)
Bus (or taxi) from Chepstow to Tintern Abbey
Return Bus (or taxi) from Tintern Abbey to Chepstow
http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/file...ry_Bus_Ltd.pdf
Train from Chepstow to Banbury (3 hours)
Taxi from Banbury to Upton House
Return taxi Upton House to Banbury
Train from Banbury to London (1½ hours)
As you can see quite impractical in 2 days by public transport.
Jun 14th, 2013, 05:16 AM
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Sofarsogood-- thanks for the information. That is exactly what I need. I know it would be best if we could drive, but we are from the rural U.S. and neither of us is comfortable with the idea of driving on the left side of the road. So, I guess we will have to allot three days to the enterprise.
Jun 14th, 2013, 08:44 AM
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Flanneruk makes a good point re the awkwardness of schlepping our luggage from place to place. So, I have one more question. Can anyone recommend a central location where we could stay for a couple of nights while we visit the three places on my list?
Jun 14th, 2013, 09:27 AM
#9
Why on earth can't you drive? Millions of Americans (rural living and otherwise) have done so successfully.. What you are trying to do by public transport will be a huge time waster and very inconvenient. By car - easy as pie.
Even if you didn't want to drive down from Scotland you could collect a rental car in any number go places for two or three days drop it at LHR and then take the tube into London. I know banbury has at least an Avis location and possibly other major chains.
Train to banbury, collect car, drive to Upton House, drive to H-o-W, drive to Tintern. This is an easy two day jaunt. Then you could drop the car in Cardiff or Bristol and take the train into London, or you could drop the car at LHR and take the tube.
Even if you didn't want to drive down from Scotland you could collect a rental car in any number go places for two or three days drop it at LHR and then take the tube into London. I know banbury has at least an Avis location and possibly other major chains.
Train to banbury, collect car, drive to Upton House, drive to H-o-W, drive to Tintern. This is an easy two day jaunt. Then you could drop the car in Cardiff or Bristol and take the train into London, or you could drop the car at LHR and take the tube.
