Traveling to Scotland
Discussion
Evening all.
I'm having to travel up to Scotland somewhen in the near future, and trying to find the best way / cheapest way to get there.
Its a round trip of around 1,000 miles (live in Dorset and going to the Stirling area).
I was either going to drive up (stopping near Manchester for a night as I have family there), or flying and hiring a car (is that possible at 22?).
Rough costs, its going to be roughly the same, cost me around £300 in fuel, maybe less as I would get better mpg on the motorway than round here. Flying would cost around £250, but that is only to Edinburgh, would then need to either hire a car, or get a taxi (around 60 miles there and back).
Of course flying would be quicker, but I like the idea of the drive, so not too fussed about that. Might have to take some time off unpaid, but should be able to swap holiday to cover it.
I was thinking about the train, but not keen on that at all, no idea how to find out how to find out.
While I'm here, does anyone have any advice on the best way to travel from Poole to Stirling. Any roads to avoid. If I do drive, I'll be stopping at Widnes, so need to take that into account.
Any help/advice would be great.
I thought I might have had a thread on this already, but couldn't see it...sorry if I have!
Thanks
.
I'm having to travel up to Scotland somewhen in the near future, and trying to find the best way / cheapest way to get there.
Its a round trip of around 1,000 miles (live in Dorset and going to the Stirling area).
I was either going to drive up (stopping near Manchester for a night as I have family there), or flying and hiring a car (is that possible at 22?).
Rough costs, its going to be roughly the same, cost me around £300 in fuel, maybe less as I would get better mpg on the motorway than round here. Flying would cost around £250, but that is only to Edinburgh, would then need to either hire a car, or get a taxi (around 60 miles there and back).
Of course flying would be quicker, but I like the idea of the drive, so not too fussed about that. Might have to take some time off unpaid, but should be able to swap holiday to cover it.
I was thinking about the train, but not keen on that at all, no idea how to find out how to find out.
While I'm here, does anyone have any advice on the best way to travel from Poole to Stirling. Any roads to avoid. If I do drive, I'll be stopping at Widnes, so need to take that into account.
Any help/advice would be great.
I thought I might have had a thread on this already, but couldn't see it...sorry if I have!
Thanks
.Hi,
Usually go to scotland once a year on my annual cycling trip.
Train fares initially appear very very expensive however if you book exactly 12 weeks to the day before the journey you will get a massive reduction in fares.
To see a example of savings go onto national rail website and compare prices for a trip today and one in12 weeks time.
If you get a quiet carriage it is quite relaxing watching the world go by compared to a tiring car drive
Martyn
Usually go to scotland once a year on my annual cycling trip.
Train fares initially appear very very expensive however if you book exactly 12 weeks to the day before the journey you will get a massive reduction in fares.
To see a example of savings go onto national rail website and compare prices for a trip today and one in12 weeks time.
If you get a quiet carriage it is quite relaxing watching the world go by compared to a tiring car drive
Martyn
Martyn-123 said:
Hi,
Usually go to scotland once a year on my annual cycling trip.
Train fares initially appear very very expensive however if you book exactly 12 weeks to the day before the journey you will get a massive reduction in fares.
To see a example of savings go onto national rail website and compare prices for a trip today and one in12 weeks time.
If you get a quiet carriage it is quite relaxing watching the world go by compared to a tiring car drive
Martyn
Thanks for that Usually go to scotland once a year on my annual cycling trip.
Train fares initially appear very very expensive however if you book exactly 12 weeks to the day before the journey you will get a massive reduction in fares.
To see a example of savings go onto national rail website and compare prices for a trip today and one in12 weeks time.
If you get a quiet carriage it is quite relaxing watching the world go by compared to a tiring car drive
Martyn
.Sadly, I'm not going to have that much notice, week or two at the most I think.
Train can be done for £67.30 return (this assumes you take a specific train as booked, which if you miss can prove expensive) and with randomly selected dates and using a young persons railcard.
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfare...
Doesn't involve Widnes diversion obviously, but saves nearly £200.
Car hire for a 22yr old might be painful with insurance etc.
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfare...
Doesn't involve Widnes diversion obviously, but saves nearly £200.
Car hire for a 22yr old might be painful with insurance etc.
I travel between Brighton and Glasgow and would say the train is fine if you're doing a straight run but can be time consuming and expensive if you're breaking the journey up.
Driving wise I try and time it round rush our as you don't want to be near a major city at that point. Usually I aim to hit Oxford services at 5:00 as it's the best pit stop (Along with Tebay in Cumbria), suitably full of junk food and caffeine I normally then get a clear run to Scotland.
Hooning wise Cumbria has some glorious tarmac set in wonderful countryside. The A6 is nice if you don't want to lose too much time, it's a similar route to the M6 but all the trucks are on the motorway. If you're headed to Stirling then try the A7, get past Longtown then ditch the map - as long as you're heading roughly north you'll get there in the end
It's been quite a while since I lived in Cumbria so I know there's some fantastic roads but you'd be better asking in the roads section of GG.
Once in Stirling I'd highly recommend The Sherrifmuir Inn. Not only will you get a top quality meal but you'll have to drive through some wonderful countryside to get there (very narrow roads so not really hooning territory but fun to drive none the less. The A811/A809 to Glasgow is what you want if you're out for a drive.)
Driving wise I try and time it round rush our as you don't want to be near a major city at that point. Usually I aim to hit Oxford services at 5:00 as it's the best pit stop (Along with Tebay in Cumbria), suitably full of junk food and caffeine I normally then get a clear run to Scotland.
Hooning wise Cumbria has some glorious tarmac set in wonderful countryside. The A6 is nice if you don't want to lose too much time, it's a similar route to the M6 but all the trucks are on the motorway. If you're headed to Stirling then try the A7, get past Longtown then ditch the map - as long as you're heading roughly north you'll get there in the end
It's been quite a while since I lived in Cumbria so I know there's some fantastic roads but you'd be better asking in the roads section of GG.
Once in Stirling I'd highly recommend The Sherrifmuir Inn. Not only will you get a top quality meal but you'll have to drive through some wonderful countryside to get there (very narrow roads so not really hooning territory but fun to drive none the less. The A811/A809 to Glasgow is what you want if you're out for a drive.)
Tartan Pixie said:
I travel between Brighton and Glasgow and would say the train is fine if you're doing a straight run but can be time consuming and expensive if you're breaking the journey up.
Driving wise I try and time it round rush our as you don't want to be near a major city at that point. Usually I aim to hit Oxford services at 5:00 as it's the best pit stop (Along with Tebay in Cumbria), suitably full of junk food and caffeine I normally then get a clear run to Scotland.
Hooning wise Cumbria has some glorious tarmac set in wonderful countryside. The A6 is nice if you don't want to lose too much time, it's a similar route to the M6 but all the trucks are on the motorway. If you're headed to Stirling then try the A7, get past Longtown then ditch the map - as long as you're heading roughly north you'll get there in the end
It's been quite a while since I lived in Cumbria so I know there's some fantastic roads but you'd be better asking in the roads section of GG.
Once in Stirling I'd highly recommend The Sherrifmuir Inn. Not only will you get a top quality meal but you'll have to drive through some wonderful countryside to get there (very narrow roads so not really hooning territory but fun to drive none the less. The A811/A809 to Glasgow is what you want if you're out for a drive.)
Thanks for that Driving wise I try and time it round rush our as you don't want to be near a major city at that point. Usually I aim to hit Oxford services at 5:00 as it's the best pit stop (Along with Tebay in Cumbria), suitably full of junk food and caffeine I normally then get a clear run to Scotland.
Hooning wise Cumbria has some glorious tarmac set in wonderful countryside. The A6 is nice if you don't want to lose too much time, it's a similar route to the M6 but all the trucks are on the motorway. If you're headed to Stirling then try the A7, get past Longtown then ditch the map - as long as you're heading roughly north you'll get there in the end
It's been quite a while since I lived in Cumbria so I know there's some fantastic roads but you'd be better asking in the roads section of GG.
Once in Stirling I'd highly recommend The Sherrifmuir Inn. Not only will you get a top quality meal but you'll have to drive through some wonderful countryside to get there (very narrow roads so not really hooning territory but fun to drive none the less. The A811/A809 to Glasgow is what you want if you're out for a drive.)
.Sadly I don't have the time to drive down any fun roads, looking for the quickest/easiest way there and back.
That place looks nice to stay, but sadly can't afford the £100 for a room. Travel Lodge do one for £30, so fairly sure that's where I'll be going.
Completely forgot about rush hour! I should be able to miss a lot of it on the way up though. Unsure if I'll be stopping on the way home though, tempted to as I have a friend who lives in B'ham, so might see if I can stay there.
Looked at getting a train, its around £200, stopping at Widnes on the way, and coming straight home, but its a 14 hour trip on the way back! Sod that lol.
Thought I could be cheeky and piggy back on the end of this thread.
M6/M74/M80 looks quickest but if carrying on past Stirling to Torridon what's the quickest route? Google is saying A9/A835/A832, but I wondered if A9/A86/A87/A890/A896 would be any faster?
Will hopefully be arriving around Stirling around 4-5am around September sometime if that makes any difference.
M6/M74/M80 looks quickest but if carrying on past Stirling to Torridon what's the quickest route? Google is saying A9/A835/A832, but I wondered if A9/A86/A87/A890/A896 would be any faster?
Will hopefully be arriving around Stirling around 4-5am around September sometime if that makes any difference.
Bloody hell, what's happened to train prices.
We were planning to go up to Edinburgh and planning to book on the first possible day, first class, two people, with Two Together railcard; when last checked was not much over 150 quid return first class. Latest check they want 360 notes.
Looking like a trundle up the A1, bloody railways. Needs more research.
We were planning to go up to Edinburgh and planning to book on the first possible day, first class, two people, with Two Together railcard; when last checked was not much over 150 quid return first class. Latest check they want 360 notes.
Looking like a trundle up the A1, bloody railways. Needs more research.
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