Easy access mountain routes

i.e. using public transport

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Pete Hazlett
28/01/2004 at 14:07
Any good suggestions for mountain routes that have easy access by public transport. I'd like to rock up by rail, throw on the rucksack and hike off into the mountains for a weekend and then get the train back Sunday eve.
I live in London and don't own a car!
Advice / suggestions?
Alison Stockwell
28/01/2004 at 14:30
I find Wales and the Lakes quite tricky by public transport. Scotland is easier in my view, but that is partly because I can get to Luton Airport easily from where I live, and Easyjet are very fast and cheap.
I have taken both the train and the coach to Scotland before now. Both are feasible, but it usually involves sleeping on it overnight on friday night and sunday night. There are good bus and rail connections from the airport and main train station in Glasgow that go to the mountain regions.
Jon Doran
28/01/2004 at 14:40
Most mountain areas, bar Fort William and Aviemore have chronic and slow public transport connections - you can get to Windemere or Kendal by train, but it won't be quick or easy.

The Peak is better with trains to Hope, Edale, Hathersage etc, from both Sheffield and Manchester, but not exactly 'mountains'.

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Pete Hazlett
28/01/2004 at 14:41
Cheers for that - I'll have to look into some cheap flights to Innverness. Going to try Wales this weekend - train to Llanfairfechan - and strike out for Carnedd Llywelyn.
Man on stilts
28/01/2004 at 14:56

Settle-Carlisle railway line. A classic. Horton in Ribblesdale, Ribble Head or Dent stations for the Three Peaks area of Yorks Dales. Ingleborough is also accessible from Clapham station, to the south.



Wee Feisty One
28/01/2004 at 17:38
Train to Penrith and bus to Keswick, Go from there. Buses from Penrith station run fairly regularly. Lakes isn't THAT difficult.
Simon Shearn
29/01/2004 at 13:00
The railway between Edinburgh/Glasgow and Fort William is quite handy for a range of mountainous areas - Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy and Fort William stations are all close to Munros. This line also joins up with the West Highland Way in places, so it you can use this to access areas where the train doesn't go.

Once you get to Fort William there's also the railway line to Malaig which can be used for access to Knoydart.

Jon Wickham
29/01/2004 at 13:53
I often take the train to Windermere and then do Ill Bell and area from there. It often depends on whether you are prepared to do a long walk to and from your chosen route, and how far that route actually is.

Also, you can always try and find a nice person with a car!
Alison Stockwell
29/01/2004 at 16:12
Yes Jon, but you have only got to get there from Lancaster!!
Pete Hazlett
29/01/2004 at 16:17
So I get the train to Lancaster and Jon can drive me to the Lakes ;-)

Sorted
Alison Stockwell
29/01/2004 at 16:25
That would be the ultimate high-risk activity! (Jon is my climbing partner).
Jenny Smith
29/01/2004 at 21:04
I go to the Lakes quite often on the train from Birmingham to Penrith and then bus to Keswick, or change at Oxenhulme for Windermere and south Lakes. There has always been a bus waiting at the stations whenever I've gone. Cumbria County Council produces a free timetable book (104 pages) twice a year and if you can read a timetable I reckon you can get to nearly everywhere the roads go to in the summer and quite a lot of places in the winter. I have never had any problems and have done week long circular walks as well as long weekend mountain ones.
It saves having a problem with where to leave the car and you feel like you have done your bit for the environment.......
John MacEwan
29/01/2004 at 21:47
Don't know what the hitchings like these days but I spent a large part of the late eighties hitching to, from and around the hills of Scotland. Dead easy to get most places and often far quicker than the public transport options.

I was on the broo so had plenty time mind you. Awful the time I wasted just dawdling through the hills and camping out for days doing bugger all when I have so little opportunity nowadays to get up there properly.

Being away down in London maybe doesn't suit you but it might be a consideration once you get in the vicinity of the area you are heading for.
Rob Draper
30/01/2004 at 08:11
Try http://ukbus.u-net.co.uk/cgi/jp.exe?c=Cumb&x=0&s=Y&

Bus travel in the Lakes is fairly good, I'm a non-driver (wonky eyes not DD before anyone makes any assumptions!) so I have used the buses quite a bit. It's usually easy to get to the major centres like Keswick, Ambleside or Windermere but you might need to use a taxi service for some of the outlying hills (a mobile phone is essential). If you talk to the taxi service beforehand and explain that you are a hillwalker then they won't think you are trying to hijack them when you call them out to a remote layby. A YHA card can make things easier too since many youth hostels have buses running to them and it's nice to get a shower and a decent sleep before tackling the railways again.
Andy McKenzie
30/01/2004 at 17:13
Pete, myself and Matt Harmsworth go upto N.Wales often and if you don't mind getting a train to us(Hampshire area), then we wouldn't mind giving you a lift.
I will post the next time we are heading up there, and hopefully it will tie in with you.
I have just come back myself and I know Matt is flat out at work at the minute, so it will probably be a few weeks before we get up there again. Drop me an email and I will keep you posted.
Pete Hazlett
30/01/2004 at 17:19
Sounds cool! (unless of course someone scares me off - read Alison's above) ;-)
Ninja Marmot
30/01/2004 at 17:39
Oh we've met Jon and he's rather harmless really :)
Alison Stockwell
30/01/2004 at 18:59
It's the thought of him driving I'm concerned about. He hasn't ditched his "L" plates yet. ;-)
Orange Alex Ford
30/01/2004 at 19:03
Well, MOSTLY harmless.
Alison Stockwell
30/01/2004 at 23:40
Ah yes, a risky rendezvous with Matt and Andy! My advice is to swap mobile phone numbers with them beforehand. Otherwise you stand a high chance of not finding them in the agreed location. Instead, there will be a noisy scout group. Afterwards, Matt and Andy will claim that they were there all along and will describe the scout group in detail.

Personally, I suspect they are the invisible men. ;-)
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