Suggestions Invited from UK / Scotland Members

puchoo

Hi,

Me and Mrs P are on our way to the UK in June 2008. Leaving Delhi on 15th and will spend almost 3 weeks between London, Scotland, Windermere etc. Below is an itinerary we had drawn up, some of the bookings have been made but would love suggestions on the same from members based there to begin with.

Have attached it as an image file, just click on it for an expanded version.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Cheers!

Sidharth

puchoo.wordpress.com

Mickey S

You're planning to see the Isle of Skye on June 26, yet are staying in Inverness the night before and after? Are you aware how far it is, and how big the island is? How are you travelling? You will need a hire car to do Skye justice, as its main sights are far from the ferry terminals and bridge.

Lots to see in Cardiff. Don't miss the guided tour of the Castle (which is right in the city centre) - it's really good. Visit the Millennium Centre and the Senedd (Senate) down at the Bay.

Are you going to Abergavenny for any particular reason? It's a pleasant place, but there's not a great deal to do there. You could think about spending some time at the St. Ffagans folk museum, which is a little way outside Cardiff to the west. It's a lovely open-air museum with buildings from all over Wales. Frequent buses from the city.

Don't forget to buy an "Oyster card" (electronic travel card) for travelling around London. You load it with cash at any station and then just touch it to the card reader each time you enter and leave an underground station or board a bus. The card itself costs £3 but you can get that (and any remaining balance) back if you return the card to a station before leaving the UK. You can pay cash for your tickets instead if you wish, but the cost is exorbitant - £2 flat fare for a bus and minimum £4 (Rs.320!!) for the underground (even if you go just one stop).

puchoo

Cardiff is primarily to attend the Neil Diamond Concert and nothing else per say, but we decided to add another day nevertheless..

I thought Inverness and Isle of Sky were relatively close..2 hours or so read somewhere??? We are toying with the idea of taking a tour ( i have no idea currently on whether its worth it) and see some the local sights...our primary interest is Lochness and Skye..

steven_ber

I have much less knowledge of train routes in England than I do the same in India, however (and I hope others can offer better advice)...

Glasgow has direct trains to Oxenholme (or a similar sounding name), I was told that this was the station for Windermere.

Also wondering if there is a better station on the west coast railway to get to Hatfield, though the timing of the train you're using seems reasonable for a 'cross country' train.

Why come back to London from Wales?

The train from London to Edinburgh is fantastically quick (a few sections allow travel at 140mph, and most of the route allows 125mph), some trains take less than 4 hours, try to see if you can get a cheap ticket by booking in advance. (passing through Durham on the train is one of the best sights in England)

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How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

fsg

I do not understand why people want to see Loch Ness. its not that exciting, and you certainly will not see a monster, only hordes of tourists. Miss it

If I read your schedule correctly, you intend to fly Luton To Edinburgh.

Why not get the train. It will be as quick as the plane and you will at least see something.
If you book well enough in advance you will get a good price and it will be on time.The bit through the east of england is not too exciting but you go through Durham, York, pass by Bamburgh castle, spectacular scenery, and past the Bass rock to Edinburgh.

From Edinburgh I would again take the train to Inverness, just the same as any other town in UK now, it has lost all of its Highland charm of yore, change trains and get to Kyle of Lochalsh. Nearby there is Eilean Donan Castle, featured in a Bollwood featuring the beautiful Mrs Bachan junior, Aishwarya. You will probably have to get a car there, much better than LN.

Over the sea to Skye, but exit Skye at Armadale to Mallaig, and get the West Highland line train to Fort William/Glasgow, and on to the lakes.

My memories of childhood are of blue skies and fantastic scenery on the west coast of Scotland, pure magic. You will love it too as I do your India.

Any more info pls contact

Mickey S

It's about 150km from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh (for the bridge to Skye). Not that far, and the roads are pretty good, but most of the route is remote and very beautiful and you really don't want to be racing along it at breakneck speed. You'd miss so much. The bridge only takes you to the tip of what is a very large island. The lovely little town of Portree is another 50km further on, with the most beautiful areas of the island beyond that. It's certainly worth seeing, but you'd spend most of your day driving.

Of course, in mid June you'll have about 20 hours of daylight to enjoy the scenery so long driving days might not be a problem.

steven_ber

Absolutely agree, fares in London are ridiculous if you don't have an Oyster card, and they're really easy to get.

ALWAYS remember to 'touch in' when you start your journey and 'touch out' when you end your journey, if you don't touch in, you are travelling illegally, if you don't touch out, the maximum fare is deducted from your Oyster card.

puchoo

Well we have close friends in London who we want to spend time with as well...and it will be a weekend when we get back from Cardiff which means that they are at our disposal for 2 whole days , and additionally they have a car and we have fixed up for a day drive to Cambridge / Oxford or something...

Mickey S

Given the option of Oxford or Cambridge, I'd probably choose Oxford. But if you're driving you'll have to park in one of the "Park & Ride" car parks on the outskirts of town and take a bus into the the centre. Private cars are not permitted.

Don't even think about taking the train to Oxford; the fares are high and the service poor. The bus, on the other hand, is very comfortable (with free wi-fi!), frequent (every 15 minutes) and inexpensive.

puchoo

We wont , we will have a car to our disposal...so we would have to park and bus it to Oxford but i thats fine...incidentally why would you suggest Oxford over Cambridge...? Just curious to know the differences...

Nick-H

Oxenholme, yes, is the station for the Windermere area. Windermere, the town, has a station of its own, although maybe that's just a sub-urban route, I don't know. I remember seeing the station on my pilgrimage to Lakeland Plastics . Are you staying in the town? It is a beautiful area; I was there for a week last October. You need more time to do it justice --- it is an area where you can be in completely different landscapes in minutes! And if you are staying in a hotel with a lake view, you want time to just relax and enjoy it.

Fond as I am of Wales, If it was me, I'd leave it out, and send more time in the other locations --- unless you really, really have to go to that concert!

I've never been to Scotland: can't say anything about it.

It is very bad of you to leave out the South West! Add another week and go to Cornwall

Where are you staying in London?

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Mickey S

Purely personal preference. They're both lovely cities, but I prefer Oxford. Your choice might depend on which side of London you'll be staying - if it's west or north-west then driving to Oxford is a breeze up the M40 (about 45 minutes).

puchoo

Well ya the concert's kinda important ,w both love Neil Diamond and lets face it, the chances of him coming to India and that too Delhi are pretty much non existent , so we are looking at it as the only way to catch him...

In London we are going to be staying with friends, i forget the exact location but i think it was someplace close to Marble Arch...

I Hatfield again we are staying with relatives , any recommendations of a 1 day trip from there to someplace given how much time we have??

Nick-H

Whether you go to Oxford or Cambridge may be influenced by which side of London you are staying. From East London, Cambridge is a really easy drive, less than an hour.

<a few minutes later>

(I think Mickey was typing almost exactly the same words at almost exactly the ssame time --- then we parted company; he went to Oxford and I went to Cambridge!)

puchoo

Ok In London we are at a place called Clarnicarde Gardens