A more scenic route from London to Glasgow

[theageofthetra]

I'm going up on Monday and returning on Weds and already have a non protected Priv off peak return London Terminals- Exhibition Centre. I also have an unused Scarborough -London super off peak return portion from a previous trip.



I know I'm restricted to the 09.30 or later from Euston but are there any restrictions on what time I can leave Glasgow on the Weds?

I was also wondering whether its doable to have a side trip to Windemere on one of the loco hauled services on the way up or back?

Another option could be to do the Settle- Carlisle or one of the more scenic rides across the Pennines- I don't think I've ever done the line through Edale for example.

I've basically got all day Mon or Weds to complete the journeys and only have plans in Glasgow on Tues (a trip on The Waverley and James Taylor at the Hydro that night)

Any suggestions or local knowledge welcome.

Thanks

 

[matt]

I was also wondering whether its doable to have a side trip to Windemere on one of the loco hauled services on the way up or back?

It is back to a Northern unit now

 

[Cowley]

Not sure about the rest of it but the Windermere loco hauled service has finished now.

Edit - What Matt said.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In my view the WCML is actually very scenic.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I know I'm restricted to the 09.30 or later from Euston but are there any restrictions on what time I can leave Glasgow on the Weds?

Here are the return restrictions:

RETURN TRAVEL

Not valid on trains timed to arrive:

• London Euston after 04:29 and before 10:05;
• Watford Junction after 04:29 and before 10:20;
• Milton Keynes Central after 04:29 and before 10:20.

Valid on all Caledonian Sleeper services (with supplement).

There are also restrictions on other services arriving into London, but none of those are relevant if you are using the WCML.

I was also wondering whether its doable to have a side trip to Windemere on one of the loco hauled services on the way up or back?

Not on the loco hauled WCR services - because they have been withdrawn now that the Northern service has been reintroduced (I was on the last train!). You can, of course, choose between bustitution and the normal trains if you would still like to do that!

Another option could be to do the Settle- Carlisle or one of the more scenic rides across the Pennines- I don't think I've ever done the line through Edale for example.

I think Settle-Carlisle would definitely be worth it, although again that is best done (IMO) on a railtour or on a diversion with some other, more comfortable train than the usual Northern ones.

 

[Mag_seven]

I'm going up on Monday and returning on Weds and already have a non protected Priv off peak return London Terminals- Exhibition Centre.

Would the return portion be valid via Barrow - you could do the Carlisle-Lancaster leg via the Cumbrian coast?

 

[theageofthetra]

Had a look at doing Windermere with the 09.30 via a change at Preston but for some reason you have to wait 40 mins at Oxenholme. Am I better off just getting a bus from there?

 

[AlterEgo]

Would the return portion be valid via Barrow - you could do the Carlisle-Lancaster leg via the Cumbrian coast?

Yep - though the Cumbrian Coast divides opinion. Some say it’s beautiful, others say it’s overrated. I’ve actually never done it myself.

 

[Mag_seven]

I’ve actually never done it myself.

Can thoroughly recommend it - a bit slow though and to be fair you do need good weather.

 

[Haywain]

The main trans-Pennine routes will not be valid with a London to Glasgow ticket.

 

[theageofthetra]

Yep - though the Cumbrian Coast divides opinion. Some say it’s beautiful, others say it’s overrated. I’ve actually never done it myself.

I've done that route before thanks.

 

[30907]

You could pay for Stockport-Sheffield if you want to do Edale.

Alternatively, aim for the S and C, and check that the 158 has working aircon before committing - you can always take the next Pendolino instead.

Or head via Brum with a Chiltern locohauled? IMO it's a pleasant run.

 

[Haywain]

You could pay for Stockport-Sheffield if you want to do Edale.

You can't start on one permitted (mapped) route and then switch to another, even buying a ticket between the two.

 

[theageofthetra]

Thanks for the tips. Another question- does exhibition centre station have a manned ticket office so I can buy priv tickets from there? Or is it acceptable to buy on board from the guard

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Thanks for the tips. Another question- does exhibition centre station have a manned ticket office so I can buy priv tickets from there? Or is it acceptable to buy on board from the guard

Yes, there's a ticket office and it's open as follows according to NRE:

Monday - Friday 06:25 - 23:10
Saturday 06:25 - 23:10
Sunday 08:25 - 23:25

 

[A Challenge]

You can't start on one permitted (mapped) route and then switch to another, even buying a ticket between the two.

But the OP said they had the return portion of a Super Off Peak Return Scarborough to London to use up.

 

[theageofthetra]

Thanks for the help.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You can't start on one permitted (mapped) route and then switch to another, even buying a ticket between the two.

Officially no, but it’s fairly unlikely you’ll get problems from doing this in this context.

 

[philthetube]

Thanks for the tips. Another question- does exhibition centre station have a manned ticket office so I can buy priv tickets from there? Or is it acceptable to buy on board from the guard

Always acceptable to buy from the guard if none available previously, you will never have a problem, (unless you are travelling from Waterloo East).

 

[cactustwirly]

In my view the WCML is actually very scenic.

IMO the MML is more interesting than the south WCML

 

[theageofthetra]

Regarding going Lancaster- Ravenglass- Carlisle to have a trip on the Ratty. Would I need a separate ticket for that leg?

 

[lyndhurst25]

Regarding going Lancaster- Ravenglass- Carlisle to have a trip on the Ratty. Would I need a separate ticket for that leg?

Not for the National Rail bit as the Cumbrian Coast line is a permitted route on London to Glasgow journies. All you'd need is this-

http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=RAV&dest=H045&rlc=PRV

 

[theageofthetra]

Not for the National Rail bit as the Cumbrian Coast line is a permitted route on London to Glasgow journies. All you'd need is this-

http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=RAV&dest=H045&rlc=PRV

Thanks- forgot you get Priv on that.

Is there any other option of doing a scenic bus ride across the lakes to either Ravenglass or Boot as I have done Lancaster- Ravenglass before? How about up to Carlisle?

 

[lyndhurst25]

AFAIK all bus services to Ravenglass and Eskdale have been withdrawn in recent years. Apart from the Cumbrian coast line and Ratty it's now a bit if a public transport dessert round there.

 

[theageofthetra]

AFAIK all bus services to Ravenglass and Eskdale have been withdrawn in recent years. Apart from the Cumbrian coast line and Ratty it's now a bit if a public transport dessert round there.

Ridiculous isn't it that a National Park isn't trying to reduce car usage? Shame.

 

[ashworth]

Is there any other option of doing a scenic bus ride across the lakes to either Ravenglass or Boot as I have done Lancaster- Ravenglass before? How about up to Carlisle?

If you wanting a scenic bus ride across the lakes you can’t do better than the 555 from Lancaster to Keswick. Then you can change onto the X4/X5 to either Workington or Penrith to get back to the train. There are hourly faster 555 journeys from Lancaster during the summer. The Stagecoach Explorer Ticket covers both buses.
Great bus ride but probably won’t allow you enough time to do the Ratty as well in one day.

 

[theageofthetra]

If you wanting a scenic bus ride across the lakes you can’t do better than the 555 from Lancaster to Keswick. Then you can change onto the X4/X5 to either Workington or Penrith to get back to the train. There are hourly faster 555 journeys from Lancaster during the summer. The Stagecoach Explorer Ticket covers both buses.
Great bus ride but probably won’t allow you enough time to do the Ratty as well in one day.

Good tip that. The journey has gone all wrong anyway thanks to the usual vermin nicking the cables at Lancaster.

 

[theageofthetra]

Have to say that in glorious weather like this the Cumbrian coast route really is lovely. That the blonde guard is a gorgeous as the scenery adds to it naturally.

 

[philjo]

The 508 bus from Windermere station to Penrith station is also a good ride - it goes over the Kirkstone pass and alongside Ullswater.

 

[30907]

Ridiculous isn't it that a National Park isn't trying to reduce car usage? Shame.

The roads are simply not conducive to doing East-West across the central Lakes - unless Mountain Goat offer something.
The useful routes have been mentioned already - and of course you can pick up the 555 at Windermere now the trains are running.