Planning a Scotland trip

[Westerndiesels]

Hi all. Wife and I looking to travel from Taunton area to Scotland and have approximately a week there. Want to visit Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Nairn. We will get a two together railcard and was looking at the grand tour rover ticket. Is that our best bet or is there an unlimited Scotland travel ticket?

Any views or ideas warmly welcomed as nothing set in stone at moment.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Don't think the "Scottish Grand Tour" route necessarily includes Nairn (on the Aberdeen to Inverness line). Essentially it's a four days’ travel over eight consecutive days ticket to/from Central Scotland on the West Highland Line, Kyle Line, and Highland Main Line for £89 (before any railcard discount).

The "Spirit of Scotland" product covers more/all of Scotland, but it's more expensive at £149 (before any railcard discount, and again for four days in eight).

More here...

Combined Tickets and Travel Passes

Unlock Scotland by train, coach and bus with our range of combined tickets, travel passes and rovers.

www.scotrail.co.uk

 

[30907]

Don't think the "Scottish Grand Tour" route necessarily includes Nairn (on the Aberdeen to Inverness line). Essentially it's a four days’ travel over eight consecutive days ticket to/from Central Scotland on the West Highland Line, Kyle Line, and Highland Main Line for £89 (before any railcard discount).

And only in one direction round the circle so not suitable for the OP.

 

[Andy Pacer]

The "Spirit of Scotland" product covers more/all of Scotland, but it's more expensive at £149 (before any railcard discount, and again for four days in eight).

More here...

Combined Tickets and Travel Passes

Unlock Scotland by train, coach and bus with our range of combined tickets, travel passes and rovers.

www.scotrail.co.uk

Spirit of Scotland is excellent, and still works out great value even if not used to its "full potential"

 

[Mcr Warrior]

And only in one direction round the circle so not suitable for the OP.

Why not, as such? Whilst the "Scottish Grand Tour" ticket is not as flexible as certain other Scotrail rover-type products, Nairn (just off route), could straightforwardly be done from Inverness for not too much extra.

 

[Westerndiesels]

Thanks for that. Yes I thought about just an extra ticket for Nairn. The spirit of Scotland pass sounds good too, I'll look into it.

 

[Intercity110]

how are you going? have you thought about going up on the sleeper? it'd be expensive, although it's certainly an experience you won't forget.

 

[185143]

I've just finished an 8in15 Spirit of Scotland rover.

Had a truly excellent week.

As mentioned above, the Sleeper is a good experience (usually!) Albeit a pricy one.

If you get the Spirit of Scotland rover, don't forget they're valid to Carlisle and Berwick on day trains, so that might offer a discount too.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Hi all. Wife and I looking to travel from Taunton area to Scotland and have approximately a week there. Want to visit Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Nairn. We will get a two together railcard and was looking at the grand tour rover ticket. Is that our best bet or is there an unlimited Scotland travel ticket?

Any views or ideas warmly welcomed as nothing set in stone at moment.

I love popping up to Scotland when I can. I bet you’ll have a fabulous time and would love to hear all about it in this thread afterwards! Spirit of Scotland is a fantastic idea for someone who wants to really get about by train, but it all depends on how much you want to use the trains of course… hope you have a really nice time.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I've just finished an 8in15 Spirit of Scotland rover.

Had a truly excellent week.

As mentioned above, the Sleeper is a good experience (usually!) Albeit a pricy one.

If you get the Spirit of Scotland rover, don't forget they're valid to Carlisle and Berwick on day trains, so that might offer a discount too.

When I did my spirit of Scotland last year I also used its Berwick validity to reduce costs of my positioning journeys from the Midlands.

 

[185143]

When I did my spirit of Scotland last year I also used its Berwick validity to reduce costs of my positioning journeys from the Midlands.

I utilised both Berwick and Carlisle for that.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I utilised both Berwick and Carlisle for that.

It worked well, and I was on the 8 day ticket but using it for 8 straight days, so didn't really take too much value off the ticket.

 

[Westerndiesels]

I love popping up to Scotland when I can. I bet you’ll have a fabulous time and would love to hear all about it in this thread afterwards! Spirit of Scotland is a fantastic idea for someone who wants to really get about by train, but it all depends on how much you want to use the trains of course… hope you have a really nice time.

I certainly will do a post here. Still trying to work out exact itinery. Wife has never been to Scotland so will be all new to her. I used to drive all over Scotland working about 25 years ago. Never uses the trains before there.

 

[Westerndiesels]

One thing we do need to know though is about the rail strikes. I don't think we can risk booking overnight accommodation if its still on. Hopefully some good news in next couple of weeks.

 

[Kite159]

One thing we do need to know though is about the rail strikes. I don't think we can risk booking overnight accommodation if its still on. Hopefully some good news in next couple of weeks.

Just ensure you book anything which has at the very minimum fee free changes if not free cancellation.

 

[Andy Pacer]

One thing we do need to know though is about the rail strikes. I don't think we can risk booking overnight accommodation if its still on. Hopefully some good news in next couple of weeks.

Very true, I think it's 2 weeks notice they have to give.

I've booked an Inverness trip for mid May so hoping for no strikes then but who knows!

 

[alexf380]

ScotRail aren't in dispute with the RMT so any of their strikes will not affect domestic services in Scotland. Its only the separate network rail strikes you'll have to worry about north of the border.
I, too, like the Spirit of Scotland ticket, and I wish you well in your travels.

 

[Westerndiesels]

We've decided to risk it. Booked accommodation and plan on spirit of Scotland ticket. We will drive in worse case scenario or drive to Glasgow and then get spirit ticket. Booked Glasgow 2 nights, train to Inverness. 1 night there, train to Aberdeen. 2 nights there, train to Dundee, 1 night there, train to Edinburgh and 2 nights there.

The mallaig trip will have to wait for a one off trip in the future. I'm looking to reacquaint myself with the lovely people up there and the difference in culture and accent for the different areas. Many things on our list to do in all of the places we are going to.

Thanks all for your help and advice and will let you know how we got on in August.

By the way we are doing Taunton to Glasgow on Cross Country but coming back from Edinburgh on Lner to King's Cross then GWR from Paddington to Taunton. Not bad value as it is with railcard but hope we may get advance tickets too.

 

[ChrisC]

I’ve booked a hotel in Aberdeen for a week at the end of May. I’ve paid a bit extra and booked at a fully flexible rate just in case of strikes. I have lots of days planned whilst there so will be disappointed if I have to cancel.

I did an 8 Days in 15 Spirit of Scotland during the autumn just before the covid lockdowns and had a great time. I stayed 7 nights in Inverness doing 6 days travelling around the North of Scotland. I loved both the Far North and Kyle Lines. Then I stayed 3 nights in Glasgow using one day to travel up to Mallaig and back and the other a very enjoyable day on the Isle of Arran.

I know most of Scotland fairly well but not the East Coast area around Aberdeen or inland areas in that part of Scotland. I may do some travelling by train but plan to tour the area by bus using a 7 Day Stagecoach Bluebird Ticket.

 

[Andy Pacer]

We've decided to risk it. Booked accommodation and plan on spirit of Scotland ticket. We will drive in worse case scenario or drive to Glasgow and then get spirit ticket. Booked Glasgow 2 nights, train to Inverness. 1 night there, train to Aberdeen. 2 nights there, train to Dundee, 1 night there, train to Edinburgh and 2 nights there.

The mallaig trip will have to wait for a one off trip in the future. I'm looking to reacquaint myself with the lovely people up there and the difference in culture and accent for the different areas. Many things on our list to do in all of the places we are going to.

Thanks all for your help and advice and will let you know how we got on in August.

By the way we are doing Taunton to Glasgow on Cross Country but coming back from Edinburgh on Lner to King's Cross then GWR from Paddington to Taunton. Not bad value as it is with railcard but hope we may get advance tickets too.

Sounds great. As I mentioned upthread I did an 8 day Spirit of Scotland last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Didn't make it to Mallaig but I did do Oban and had a night there.

I've within the past few days arranged a trip to Inverness for May but i'm cheating and going up there and back by plane!

 

[30907]

Why not, as such? Whilst the "Scottish Grand Tour" ticket is not as flexible as certain other Scotrail rover-type products, Nairn (just off route), could straightforwardly be done from Inverness for not too much extra.

The linked blurb states that it can be used in one direction only on each "Highland" route, meaning that Larbert-Inverness both ways is out

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The linked blurb states that it can be used in one direction only on each "Highland" route, meaning that Larbert-Inverness both ways is out

Not sure what point you're trying to make here, in particular as regards Larbert.

Just to clarify, at the point the OP's itinerary reaches Inverness, an Off Peak Day Return, costing an additional £4.55 (per person) with Two Together Railcard discount, could be obtained to do Inverness to Nairn and back, perhaps on one of the in-between days on the Four in Eight Days "Scottish Grand Tour" ticket.

 

[Westerndiesels]

Not sure what point you're trying to make here, in particular as regards Larbert.

Just to clarify, at the point the OP's itinerary reaches Inverness, an Off Peak Day Return, costing an additional £4.55 (per person) with Two Together Railcard discount, could be obtained to do Inverness to Nairn and back, perhaps on one of the in-between days on the Four in Eight Days "Scottish Grand Tour" ticket.

Nairn was off. The particular hotel I wanted to stay at with a view over the Moray Firth and comfortable lounge only had a single or family room left, and the family room was out of my budget for this trip. Ended up staying two nights in Aberdeen as very good value. Often stayed there in the past and has lovely architecture and a bracing seafront. So don't feel I'm missing out.

 

[30907]

Not sure what point you're trying to make here, in particular as regards Larbert.
:

1. the SGT is valid for a journey Central Belt-Mallaig-Kyle-Central Belt or vv.It is not valid for an out and back journey Central Belt-Inverness, which the OP was asking about.
2. South of Larbert (or possibly Stirling) that restriction does not apply.

Just to clarify, at the point the OP's itinerary reaches Inverness, an Off Peak Day Return, costing an additional £4.55 (per person) with Two Together Railcard discount, could be obtained to do Inverness to Nairn and back.

Quite so.

 

[Westerndiesels]

Update to this trip.

All booked now for July. I hoped rail strike might be over but we could leave a day or two earlier and book another overnight and could do the same coming home with an extra night stay.

Worse case scenario would be change to flying up but hopefully we'll be OK. Also if any of our scotrail trips are affected we will use bus.

We also booked first class as felt the prices were decent with railcard. Under £300 for pair of us to go to Glasgow and considerably less on our return trip from Edinburgh via London. It's a once in a lifetime trip so treating ourselves.

We looked at Rover ticket for 4 days in Scotland but actually booking individually meant we could get first class and was only about £25 more for our 4 journeys.

We go from Taunton to Glasgow with changes at Birmingham and Preston. Wasn't sure if we are entitled to food between Birmingham/Preston/Glasgow or do we need to grab a sandwich at a shop before boarding?

Two nights in Glasgow and then Queen St to Inverness and a night there. Then on to Aberdeen for two nights, then Dundee one night followed by two nights in Edinburgh.

Back on East Coast to KX and then Paddington to Taunton. We can't wait.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Wasn't sure if we are entitled to food between Birmingham/Preston/Glasgow or do we need to grab a sandwich at a shop before boarding?

I am not sure of the current Avanti Policy but in the past both Birmingham to Preston and Preston to Glasgow would qualify for food - if not there is always the on board shop, or as it used to be called buffet!

 

[Westerndiesels]

Made an error, we actually change at Carlisle not Preston and change to Transpennine.

Is that a class 397?

 

[hexagon789]

Made an error, we actually change at Carlisle not Preston and change to Transpennine.

Is that a class 397?

Should be, I think the only 802 diagram up that way goes to Edinburgh.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Made an error, we actually change at Carlisle not Preston and change to Transpennine.

Is that a class 397?

Good chance it might be a rail replacement bus!

 

[Westerndiesels]

Good chance it might be a rail replacement bus!

Is that due to a poor service?