We are planning a golf trip to either Scotland or Ireland and are using frequent flyer miles. Ireland is simple--we can fly into Shannon. For Scotland, the closest we can get is Manchester and we are trying to get a handle on how challenging and time consuming it might be to take either a train or driving a rental car from Manchester to the primary golf areas on the East or West coasts of Scotland. Can anyone suggest how long/hard the drive might be? How about taking a train to Edinburg from Manchester?

Thanks

For train schedules: www.nationalrail.co or www.thetrainline.com - gives schedules for all the few dozen independent rail franchises in U.K.

My train freind advises from 2006 guide
Manchester to Glasgow 9.58am departure.
Manchester Piccadilly station to Edinburgh 11.58am departure.
Best way though he recommends is Manchester to Preston & change for Edinburgh train.
If you are doing Irish courses then finishing near Belfast could get you to Edinburgh by plane or boat/train.

From Manchester airport to Edinburgh will take a little over 4 hours. Lots of trains, some with transfers at Crewe and one other place that I can't remember and another with a single trasfer at York. From Edinburgh you would still need to get to a golf course of your choosing, perhaps making a car rental more practical.

Is that 4 hours by train or by car?

train, if trains on ontime.

You might want to consider flying from Manchester to Edinburgh and then renting a car from there. There are low cost airlines (such as BMI) that might suit.

The 4 hours was by train. I don't know how long it would be by car. You might try "mapquest" for that information by road.

OK, I had time on my hands and looked up driving time. According to "Mapquest" from Manchester to Edinburgh would be 3 hours 41 minutes.

you have 3 (6 actually) easy options -- all depends on what you want to do.

Driving from Manchester to Scotland is easy and is what you should consider IF you want to see things enroute -- like Hadrian's Wall, the Lake District, SW Scotland, and/or the Borders.

But if you are really only going for the golf - then you could

- fly to GLA (convenient for Troon, Prestwick, Turnberry etc)

- train to Glasgow or Ayr - again for the Ayshire courses

- fly to EDI (Convenient to Murifield, St Andrews, Carnoustie and the other east coast courses)

- train to Edinburgh or Leuchars for St Andrews etc.

I'd personally (and have for several golfer's trips) drive it. You'd probably want a car anyway after you get to Scotland. But the first day can be a jet lagged fog - so I'd probably recommend flying up and getting a car on the second day, after you've recovered a bit.

oops - to clarify. My "three easy options" are drive, fly, train. The six comes when you factor in going to either the east or west coasts.

janisj, you had me talked into driving, but then said it would be hard to do while let-lagged. Thanks for the advice

I live in Edinburgh and I think flying from Manchester to Edinburgh is your best bet. Once in Edinburgh you can rent a car and drive to St Andrews, then further up to Carnoustie, then to Turnberry, etc. You will need to do a fair bit of driving from course to course, and better to do that fresh from Edinburgh, rather than from Manchester.

I thought you said you were going to Shannon first? You don't get jetlagged between Shannona nd Manchester. Honest.

I drove Edinburgh-Manchester, could not have been an easier, relaxing, about 3 hours. I found Scottish roads to be very good, well posted, great rest stop areas.

sheila: I though the choice was between Ireland and Scotland &quot;<i> . . .golf trip to either Scotland or Ireland</i>&quot;

The first day will likely be tiring whether into Shannon or Manchester.

viajero2: Manchester airport to Edinburgh is about 220+ miles - not a 3 hour drive even when not jetlagged. Plus congestion around Manchester can be quite bad. I plan on a minimum 4 hours just driving. Any stops along the way would make it more like 5-6 hours or more.

Janis-- I think you need to read more carefully. I didn't drive Manchester Airport to Edinburgh.

Mapquest may say 3 hours 41 minutes to drive from Manchester airport, but based on experience I reckon 4.5-5 hours. If you've just got off n (I assume) transatlantic flight, don't do it.

The train is easy as there's a station in the airport - just change at Manchester Piccadilly. Or fly - as well as bmi, BA &amp; jet2 do this route.

Okaaaay? What is the huge difference between Manchester to Edinburgh OR Edinburgh to Manchester?? (factoring in the airport doesn't change things much)

Caroline has it about right in my experience - 4.5 to 5 hours w/ a short stop or two. Again - not something one wants to do directly off an overnight flight.

For a bargain fare (as low as 1.00 GBP) and a relaxing ride, take the Megatrain operated by Virgin Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh.

Leave at 11:58 and arrive at 15:29
Leave at 13:58 and arrive at 17:26
Leave at 17:58 and arrive at 21:32

Book well in advance online at www.megatrain.com to get the best fare.