 Thanks for all the info guys. Some very good points made by everyone. Wow Michael where did you manage to find a return first class train for £90 to Aviemore? Does anyone fly to Scotland from da'rn sa'rf, fares look cheap, although I 'spose you've got the hassle of check in etc and then getting trains to where you want to go?
|
 |
 Burp. It's easy to be wise after the event but this is what you could have done once you had reached Keswick. Your waterproofs should have dried out on the bus ride but if not you could have wandered around the supermarket next to the bus station until they had. Next, find a loo, take off all your clothes and just wear your waterproofs. Repair to the laundrette next to the Co-op, which is but a stone's throw from the supermarket, and wash and dry your clothes. Return to the loo to dress in dry clothing and take the bus to Penrith. I've often washed from head to foot in the cubicles of both pub and public loos. It's especially easy to wash in train loos because they are almost always wheelchair-accessible which means that there is lots of room.
The bus from stonethaite pretty much linked up with the keswick/penrith bus so i didnt have much time to dry out. I wasnt actually cold just very wet underneath the nylon. i didnt know there was a laundrette at the time anyway,i just had enough and wanted to get home
so yes on reflection i could have bought a change of clothes booked into a b&b and caught the train the next day.
|
|
 flying can depend upon how long to get to the airport and the notorious check in times etc. conpared to haow long to get to the station and get on a train. once you get used to public transport you enjoy the stress free and hassle free travelling (unlike airports), hopefully avoiding smelly gits  and then there's "engineering works"....GRRR!!! which sometimes means a different destination.
|
|
Right Rocky Tues 9th sept 10.09 Northampton arrive Euston 11.11 saver return £21.20 walk to Kings Cross Kings Cross 12.00 arrive Aviemore 19.30 1st class £44.50 Sat 13th sept 08.30 Aviemore arrive Kings cross 16.30 1st class £44.50 Total £110.20 not bad eh
|
|
|
|
|
Rocky checkout the overnight sleeper trains on Scotrail the have bargain berths from £19 or a seat £61 booked in advance. The other thing i ought to mention is when using public toilets for a wash etc, if a strange man looks you up and down and says hello, this is not a good thing. . A curt f*ck off is the required response.
|
|
Michael - whats the deal with these bargain berths? I had a look at the website - is it a bunkbed in a lockable room and do you have to share with a stranger if going alone?
|
|
I don't know, i've never used it. I think you do share with someone of the same sex , i'd rather the seat.
|
|
|
|
|
have you decided where to go yet?
|
|
The other thing i ought to mention is when using public toilets for a wash etc, if a strange man looks you up and down and says hello, this is not a good thing. A curt f*ck off is the required response. That's no way to talk to a Bishop! Personally I use public transport a lot, for all my longer walks and weekend outtings if possible, even if its just getting a bus back to the car. While it has its hassles, it is nice to be able to eat, sleep or read a book on your way home. Usefull advice would be that public transport is very religious and doesn't like to work on Sundays. So try and end the walk near a larger place between bigger towns. Or get the bus out to the walk start on Friday evening or Saturday morning and walk back to your car rather than the other way around. To a certain extent you have to pick the walk to suit the bus rather than the other way around. Judicous use of taxis can help. Some places run post buses when there is nothing else. Keep some warm dry socks handy for when you are waiting for the bus! And plastic bags to stick muddy boots in.
|
|
Thanks DMM! I'm looking at either Aviemore or Fort Bill. Both locations have lots of walking potential. I'm just looking at the map and there is even the potential to arrive at one station and walk to the other over the space of a week... although that would involve some serious thought!
|
|
God - that doesn't bare thinking about! Can you imagine if you were on the bottom bunk and your room mate turned out to be some bearded travel writer in a Tilley hat, who proceeded to get completely changed in front of you, whilst thinking you couldn't see him... the horror! 
Especially if he dropped his pencil, a hairy face would be the least of your problems.
That walk can be done, i think it's Blair Atholl to Aviemore.
|
|
 Fort Bill to Aviemore is a good walk Rocky. I did it a few years ago. I was enjoying myself so much, i carried on after Aviemore to Breamar then Clova then a bus home (15 miles). I wouldn't worry about sharing a sleeping compartment on a train. It's just the same as a hostel or bunkhouse. A few drams in the buffet bar, bed, breakfast, start walking. Perfect!
|
|
 I wouldn't worry about sharing a sleeping compartment on a train. It's just the same as a hostel or bunkhouse. Mmm. So you have too-close-for-comfort encounters with hairy Israeli surgeons in hostels and bunkhouses, do you? Can't tell you how glad I was when the overnight train from Paris pulled into Koln station.....
|
|
I wouldn't worry about sharing a sleeping compartment on a train. It's just the same as a hostel or bunkhouse. Mmm. So you have too-close-for-comfort encounters with hairy Israeli surgeons in hostels and bunkhouses, do you? Can't tell you how glad I was when the overnight train from Paris pulled into Koln station.....
I don't want to ask how you know he was hairy Kate!
|
|
 Just got back from a similar style of trip was great fun!
Started out the trip in West Houghton (near Bolton) where my walking buddy lives, caught train to Bolton (£1.70). From there caught train to Ravenglass via Lancaster (£26.80). Walked across the road to the Ravenglass Eskdale Steam Train, caught that to Irton Road (£4.50). Walked from there across the hills over four days to Langdale (eventually with very heavy packs!) Caught the bus from Chapel Stile to Ambleside (£3.05)then Ambleside to Windermere (another £3.05 - Stagecoach are robbing sods!) This was followed by train journey from Windermere (with changes - Oxenholme - Preston - Bolton)to West Houghton (£16).
Sum total of £55.10 - less than petrol, no having to go back to the car, at the mercy of public transport but luckily no major hitches and relatively good weather! Not saying it will be like that every time but it was worth the effort and thoroughly enjoyable.
|
|
 Jon, I don't suppose it was you we met heading up through the woods onto Whin Rigg and then camping just down from Burnmoor Tarn on Saturday evening?
|
| Edited: 23/07/08 14:23 |
Matt, no way! It was indeed! Sorry about the swearing and cursing as you appeared out of nowhere in the woods behind us Will post up some pictures soon from our travels. Don't wanna hijack this thread! So I'll leave it at that and PM you later.
|
|
The problem with using Traveline or similar travel planning sites is that you tend not to be any use in finding out exactly where buses go in rural areas. County councils websites often have copies of up to date timetables so are useful in finding out the destinations served by bus in remote areas - national park websites sometimes have this information too. Beware the bus maps that some councils produce though, I reckon some of them are 20 years out of date.
|
|
