UK itinerary help
Thanks for your assistance on my flight advice post. We have flights purchased so now have firm dates to work with. As usual, there isn't enough time to do/see everything I would like (the jobs and bank accounts make sure of that!). So, more of your help and advice is needed to help me organize our trip so it makes the best use of our time.
I will be traveling with my best friend. We are in our late 50's early 60's. I've been to London and Scotland before, she has not. We travel well together and she is NOT a planner and is happy for me to do all the planning and tag along happily wherever I decide. Seriously, she will be happy whatever we do and not complain she's "missing out" on something. We make a good pair since I have planning in my genes and it exhausts her. Dates: Sep 7 depart SFO 7:50pm - arrive Sep 8 LHR 2:00pm Sep 24 depart LHR 2:15pm- arrive SFO 5:20pm Further research into open jaw flights indicated we will save money by purchasing a separate flight either from LHR to EDI on arrival or EDI to LHR on departure day. Slightly cheaper to go EDI to LHR on Sep 24. I originally thought of going directly to EDI on arrival, but we will get in late (8pm ish) so now we will do London first. This is a very tentative idea of cities/sites we want to see (or should I be honest and say I want to see since my friend could really care less)
Thoughts? Suggestions for routes? Call me crazy? It's okay, you wouldn't be the first! My friend Lynn and I already have reputations of being wild and crazy for a couple of old ladies :). If you are a single man living anywhere near where we are going- watch out. She's a serious flirt and a little "handsy" after a few pints, lol. Nancy |
Driving or taking trains or both?
I'd suggest taking trains to York and Edinburgh unless of course wanting to meander thru rural areas, etc. But if just between those cities as quick as possible hop the train. Book tickets early for discounted fares much cheaper than full-fare walk-up tickets- York in 2 hours - Edinburgh about 4.5 from London. National Rail Enquiries - Official source for UK train times and timetables has all the fares and can book on there - Edinburgh rent a car or take escorted tours. For lots on trains and booking (first class is discounted too and immensely nicer on that line than standard class - free food and drink much of way. Rather scenic in parts above Newcastle to edinburgh -sit on right side for best views (east side). www.seat61.com is great on booking your own tickets; general info BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. there are several really Scotland experts on Fodors who will have great ideas for other places. |
If you decide to include York I would recommend a visit to the very good Air Museum just outside the city at Elvington. This would give you a good taste of what your dad did during his time at Sutton in the Forest (which I know well). The Air Museum is very atmospheric and moving - you can go into some of the old airfield buildings and it is like stepping back in time.
http://yorkshireairmuseum.org/ York itself is a beautiful city and a lot could be seen in a day. So, with just 2 days in York you could explore the city on one day (no need for a car to do this) and hire a car for Sutton in the Forest/Air Museum the other day. Of course with longer time you could go to the Dales or the Moors or see any of the numerous attractions in the North Yorkshire area. |
Originally Posted by Morgana
(Post 16655761)
If you decide to include York I would recommend a visit to the very good Air Museum just outside the city at Elvington. This would give you a good taste of what your dad did during his time at Sutton in the Forest (which I know well). The Air Museum is very atmospheric and moving - you can go into some of the old airfield buildings and it is like stepping back in time.
http://yorkshireairmuseum.org/ York itself is a beautiful city and a lot could be seen in a day. So, with just 2 days in York you could explore the city on one day (no need for a car to do this) and hire a car for Sutton in the Forest/Air Museum the other day. Of course with longer time you could go to the Dales or the Moors or see any of the numerous attractions in the North Yorkshire area. |
Originally Posted by PalenQ
(Post 16655672)
Driving or taking trains or both?
I'd suggest taking trains to York and Edinburgh unless of course wanting to meander thru rural areas, etc. But if just between those cities as quick as possible hop the train. Book tickets early for discounted fares much cheaper than full-fare walk-up tickets- York in 2 hours - Edinburgh about 4.5 from London. National Rail Enquiries - Official source for UK train times and timetables has all the fares and can book on there - Edinburgh rent a car or take escorted tours. For lots on trains and booking (first class is discounted too and immensely nicer on that line than standard class - free food and drink much of way. Rather scenic in parts above Newcastle to edinburgh -sit on right side for best views (east side). www.seat61.com is great on booking your own tickets; general info BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. there are several really Scotland experts on Fodors who will have great ideas for other places. |
My FIL was born in Sutton.
Train to York is the right solution, from Kings Cross (a station worth visiting in its own right and if you have time drop by St Pancras next door, a total complex including access to Eurostar which is fascinating). York itself is a walled city (very unusual in the UK) and worth walking around, the cathedral is the obvious visit, along with the free railway museum and a few other medievel buildings. Visits outside York are also lovely, Morgana's suggestion is perfect, but there is so much more to see. Search websites under North Yorkshire and Yorkshire to get any more ideas before you head north. |
re the trains, if one of you is 60 or over, you are entitled to a Senior Rail card which gives ⅓ discounts on tickets. You can buy the discounted tickets before you by the railcard but you must have it when you use them to board the train. book early enough and you can really get some bargains - in April I am travelling from Coventry to London and back on consecutive days, and with the senior discount, the ticket is costing £22 return in First class.
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York also has the free National Rail Museum adjacent to the train station -something of interest for all ages.
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re times: With your 16 nights
For york preferably 3 nights (Sep 13,14,15). That would give you 1+ day for York and 1 day for the Sutton area, the air museum and Sutton Park . . . and maybe Castle Howard. 2 nights in/near Callander (Sep 16,17) - leaving you 1.75 days for Doune, Inchmahome, Loch Katrine, the general National Park scenery, maybe a bit of Loch Lomond. >>Skye- because it's SKYE. 3 nights/2days would be ideal<< Two days isn't 'ideal' because it is a very large isle and the travel is quite slow. If all you end up with is time for 3 nights (Sep 18, 19, 20) you can have a very nice visit, but you won't see all that much. The Trotternish, Dunvegan, and some terrific scenery. If you stay in London 5 nights - that is 13 nights So -- you can fit in Mull/Iona. You can drive from Mallaig to Lochaline and ferry across to Mull, stay 2 nights (Sep 20, 21) in say Fionnphort seeing Mull and Iona, then ferry to Oban and explore Kilmartin, Inveraray and on to GLA. You can stay the night of the 23rd either at GLA and take an early AM flight to LHR - or - an evening flight to LHR and stay the night there. |
Annhig, is the senior rail card available to non-UK citizens?
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Jeeze -- my dates are screwed up -- I left out Edinburgh :(
So 16 nights: Sep 8-12 London, Sep 13-14 York, Sep 15-17 Edinburgh, Sep 18-19 Trossachs, Sep 21-22 Skye. SOOOOO . . . if you cut London to 4 nights and Edinburgh to 2 nights then you could fit in Mull/Iona So 16 nights: Sep 8-11 London, Sep 12-13 York, Sep 14-15 Edinburgh, Sep 16-17 Trossachs, Sep 18-20 Skye, Sep 21-22 Mull/Iona, Sep 23 either at GLA or LHR, fly home Sep 24 (Sorry) >>Annhig, is the senior rail card available to non-UK citizens?<< It's available to anyone. You can't but the pass in the States -- But you can download the form and fill it out at home. and book your tix as if you had the pass in hand. Then when you get to London you can turn in the form and but the pass at any train station - as long as you have it before you collect/use your tickets. But - also check out the 'Two Traveling Together' pass. And do dummy bookings using both passes. All in, (cost of the tickets plus the passes) one may be a better deal than the other. You'd handle the TTT pass the same way -- download the forms at home etc. . . |
[QUOTE][re the trains, if one of you is 60 or over, you are entitled to a Senior Rail card which gives ⅓ discounts on tickets. You can buy the discounted tickets before you by the railcard but you must have it when you use them to board the train. book early enough and you can really get some bargains - in April I am travelling from Coventry to London and back on consecutive days, and with the senior discount, the ticket is costing £22 return in First class./QUOTE]
It's available to anyone. You can't but the pass in the States -- But you can download the form and fill it out at home. and book your tix as if you had the pass in hand. Then when you get to London you can turn in the form and but the pass at any train station - as long as you have it before you collect/use your tickets. But - also check out the 'Two Traveling Together' pass. And do dummy bookings using both passes. All in, (cost of the tickets plus the passes) one may be a better deal than the other. You'd handle the TTT pass the same way -- download the forms at home etc. . . |
[QUOTE=janisj;16656535]Jeeze -- my dates are screwed up -- I left out Edinburgh :(
So 16 nights: Sep 8-12 London, Sep 13-14 York, Sep 15-17 Edinburgh, Sep 18-19 Trossachs, Sep 21-22 Skye. SOOOOO . . . if you cut London to 4 nights and Edinburgh to 2 nights then you could fit in Mull/Iona So 16 nights: Sep 8-11 London, Sep 12-13 York, Sep 14-15 Edinburgh, Sep 16-17 Trossachs, Sep 18-20 Skye, Sep 21-22 Mull/Iona, Sep 23 either at GLA or LHR, fly home Sep 24 (Sorry)[QUOTE] Yeah, I feel like I have to let something go. We already have reservations for 5 nights in London and I really don't want to give Edinburgh short shrift. Ugh, now I have to decide between York or Mull/Iona. |
OR -- you could drop Skye. I know, I know . . . everybody says you have to go to Skye :)
But it is a long way to go for the chance to see something. They don't call it the Misty Isle for nothing. I visited three times before I saw a darned thing. But that third trip was AMAZING. >>Yes, one of us IS over 60! Finally getting to cash in on old age, yay!<< I'd still check out the Two Travel Together scheme. Might end up saving you even more than the senior pass (or not) National Rail Enquiries - Two Together Railcard |
[QUOTE=janisj;16657470]OR -- you could drop Skye. I know, I know . . . everybody says you have to go to Skye :)
But it is a long way to go for the chance to see something. They don't call it the Misty Isle for nothing. I visited three times before I saw a darned thing. But that third trip was AMAZING.[QUOTE] We had such a magical time on Skye, I have dreamed of going back. That being said, we had REALLY good weather for Skye and I could end up being massively disappointed trying to share/recreate that trip with my friend. I just can't imagine saying I went back to Scotland and didn't see Skye again.https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9e149b24ae.jpg My daughter and I at the Fairy Pools on Skye https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ebb212c9c7.jpg Looking back at the Cuillins from Loch Harport |
That view of the Cullins is why everyone needs to see Skye at least once
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Originally Posted by PalenQ
(Post 16656265)
York also has the free National Rail Museum adjacent to the train station -something of interest for all ages.
Enjoyed it immensely, but half of it was closed for a Tim Peake [the British Astronaut] exhibition, which was starting the following day, lasting for several weeks. Shame really, the NRM is a great venue, attracting 100s of 1,000s of visitors, and should be kept firmly as the NRM, not shared with some Outer Space explorer. |
Wow! annhig 22 pounds first class reurn Coventry - London return - if they give free food even more a bargain!
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PalenQ - we quite often go from York to Edinburgh for the day.
Last time I paid £31 first class return. I'm not over 60 so this was full price, but we booked nearly 6 months in advance, which you can do on week days. It included breakfast and an evening meal. The ticket allows entry to the rather nice First Class Lounge in Edinburgh where we often have a break and a drink (shopping can be exhausting!) before catching our train home. |
Thanks Morgana - early bird gets a big worm - 31 quid return 1st class! The cost of meals makes it a better deal and served at seat. Yes on that line a world of different between 1st and 2nd class - just can't see why some say there is little difference between classes. On some trains like regional trains not much but on long-distance trains often a huge difference.
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