glad to help. BB.

The train journey is very scenic, particularly the parts between Plymouth and Exeter - it takes you over Brunel's iconic Tamar Bridge, and right along the coast at Dawlish, where you can see right out over the estuary. That's the bit that got washed away last year but they fixed it much more quickly than any of us were expecting. I'm sure that you and your mum would enjoy it, and if you started at Penzance, you would have plenty of time to settle into your seats and get comfortable.

If you can afford it, first class is lovely and if pick you the right train you can have silver service lunch on the way - it's not cheap but it's still quite an experience and would be a terrific end to your trip.

The train journey sounds lovely. Definitely a bit pricier for first class, but sounds as though it would be worth springing for it. I still need to give that some consideration.

I'm using the AA website for travel times and routes, and while the Wells/Dunster looks lovely, it looks like a bit too much of a drive (minimum 3.5 hours) to fit in Lanhydrock. Lanhydrock isn't a must-do - it just looks like someplace we'd enjoy.

If we took a more direct route between Newbury and Falmouth (the A303/A30), I'd considered stopping in Chagford for a couple of nights and pootling around Dartmoor for a day. We obviously wouldn't be looking to hike, but would there be things for us to see without getting off the main roads? I've read the driving in Dartmoor can be a bit challenging.

You could stay on the train to Paddington and then you'd only need to change at Slough. Longer but easier. For info on eating on the train see: http://www.seat61.com/Cornwall-sleep...don_&_Cornwall

I'm seriously considering taking the night train going west, but of course I'd miss most of the scenery.

BB - i've never had a problem driving on Dartmoor [unless it's foggy, when it can be tricky] so long as you take it steadily and don't mind waiting for other traffic to pass at frequent intervals which I'm sure you would have no problem with. you'll have o do that in Cornwall anyway so you might as well get in some practice!

Chagford is very pretty and lovely for a night or two; another place you might consider on the edge of the moor is Tavistock, which is bigger and so offers more for walking around in the evening/shopping/restaurants etc. It also has a terrific covered market which is well worth exploring. there are plenty of places to go and look at on the moor

<< while the Wells/Dunster looks lovely, it looks like a bit too much of a drive (minimum 3.5 hours) to fit in Lanhydrock. Lanhydrock isn't a must-do - it just looks like someplace we'd enjoy.>>

what I meant was that instead of stopping in one place on the way down, and another on the way back, if you decided to take the train back, you could stop for 2 nights in Wells first, and then 2 nights in Dunster second, dropping into Lanhydrock on your way to Falmouth.

Newbury to Wells is about 2 ½ hours, and Wells to Dunster only 90 mins, with Dunster to Falmouth about 3 hours. Lanhydrock is about 2 hours into the journey so it would make an excellent lunch stop. [and if you told them that your mum has limited mobility, I'm sure that they would let you drive down to the entrance rather than having to park at the top of the long drive]. it's only an hour from Chagford if you decided to stay there.

I'm seriously considering taking the night train going west, but of course I'd miss most of the scenery.>>

indeed you would, thursdaysd. have you seen any of Michael Portillo's great train journeys? I'm sure that there's a programme about the stretch I mentioned to BB, and the influence of Isambard Kingdom Brunel who engineered the line to the west.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xgqxy/episodes/guide

[series 1 has got the Devon and Cornwall bits; i can't believe that he hasn't done Exeter to Plymouth but I couldn't find it]

Hmmm - yes, I see all of that now (just having a look at the AA route planner again). If we stopped at Chagford, we'd probably spend only two nights and therefore have two more for Cornwall; if we stop at Wells and Dunster, it's just that much more opportunity to see other beautiful places! Decisions, decisions...

Of course, we have several months before we can even book most places, I would think, so plenty of time to think about it. I did find a lovely looking place in Chagford that has is right off the A30 and has a twin-bedded ground floor room with pretty views: http://www.easton.co.uk/.

I'm sure I can find just as nice in Wells and Dunster! Time to run this all by Mom again.

annhig - I tried to look at the Portillo episodes the other day but I get "Sorry, this episode is not currently available " messages. Can you view them? Because if so I may try setting my VPN to a UK address and seeing if that works.

I am a big train fan, so I would like to take the sleeper (which is also a very good deal if booked early) but of course I would get the scenery on the way back - I was hoping you'd take a look at the thread I just started on the Scilly Isles.

Thursdays - I just took a look at that link, and the Pullman service looks amazing. When is your trip? I'd love to hear about whatever you end up doing!

BBgt - I leave for Europe July 14, but the Cornwall leg won't be until early September. Thanks for asking. There will almost certainly be a TR here, or you can sign up for updates to my blog at http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com

Great - I'll check it out. It's always fun to hear of others' experiences. I need to be better at doing TR's myself. I certainly owe it to AnnHig and other Fodor's contributors who have helped me out!

Sorry, thursdaysd, i didn't check that they would actually play! Duh! I got the same message as well.

However, I did find this, which give part of the line we're discussing, I think:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...group=p01277qd

It plays ok for me [I checked this time]. I hope that both you and BB can see it.

I'll go and look at your Scillies thread straight away!