A day trip from the NW

[Merseysider]

Every so often I like to take my mother (55) or father (65) on a day trip somewhere. They're based near Liverpool, I'm in Manchester and we can start the journey from either. Due to their age, I wouldn't want to push it with more than two changes of train or have an overly long journey on a Pacer (the 142 wouldn't be great for my dad's back).

I'm looking for suggestions of places to visit. So far, we've been to Barrow in Furness, Preston, Southport, Llandudno and Chester.

Anywhere within 90 minutes of either Manchester or Liverpool would be within my scope.

Criteria: a cafe, a pub, some shops.
Bonus: art gallery, museum, heritage centre, some nice scenery/sights/points of interest.

Thanks

 

[IanD]

Shrewsbury has some decent pubs.

Ludlow also, with the brewery by the station and the Castle at the top of town, a fair few cafes and pubs too. Usually over the 90 minute mark but no changes from Manchester.

York too. Lost to see (NRM, walls, other museums), loads of pubs cafes and a brewery.

 

[Bertie the bus]

Clitheroe.

 

[Techniquest]

Huddersfield or Leeds would be my immediate suggestions,a trip up to Oxenholme or Penrith may be worth a try?

 

[30907]

Clitheroe.

Beat me to it. Emporium next to Sainsburys good informal lunches, don't know pubs but I can ask clergy, is it just for a drink?
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Huddersfield or Leeds would be my immediate suggestions,a trip up to Oxenholme or Penrith may be worth a try?

Nothing at Oxenhope, change and go to Kendal.

 

[Bungle965]

What about Sheffield (make sure you get the tpe or emt train not the northern one though)
Leeds is a good one as well
Blackpool (do that one in the summer)

 

[185143]

What about Sheffield (make sure you get the tpe or emt train not the northern one though)
Leeds is a good one as well
Blackpool (do that one in the summer)

Yes advising against Sheffield, for the Northern trains, 142s are nailed to the hope valley! Advances are easily available on EMT and TPE as well.

I'd also advise against Blackpool in summer as the trains are absolutely rammed!

 

[mbonwick]

Lancaster or Carlisle are good, though perhaps obvious choices.

 

[ash39]

York.

 

[Merseysider]

Thanks all, for suggestions so far

Day trip will be in the week starting 12th Jan (so enough time to get reasonably priced APs). My father said he does want to visit York and will book a weekend break away in late spring.

The Lake District would definitely be a nice day out for mi madre, but the SVR at £37.20 from Wallasey to Windermere / £32.10 Wallasey to Oxenholme could definitely do with a split somewhere!

With my father, the most important thing is having somewhere to sit down and relax for a nice meal and 2/3 pints.

I'm quite torn between the suggestions

 

[IanD]

Clitheroe.

Beat me to it. Emporium next to Sainsburys good informal lunches, don't know pubs but I can ask clergy, is it just for a drink?

As always, CAMRA's WhatPub site is your internet friend. Had a few excellent pints of Thwaites in the Inn at The Station in Clitheroe when doing a Northern £10 thing in October. It's quite close to the station

I also found Wigan to be surprisingly good for pubs too.

 

[Bevan Price]

Huddersfield or Leeds would be my immediate suggestions,a trip up to Oxenholme or Penrith may be worth a try?

If they don't mind a shortish bus ride (20 or so mins.), I would suggest train to Huddersfield, then bus to Holmfirth ("Last of the Summer Wine" location.) - But choose a dry, warmish day - it can get a bit bleak at this time of year.

Also Carlisle - Cathedral & Castle to visit, plus assorted shops, etc. Again best on a dry day.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Grange or Ulverston might also be a shout

 

[Hardcastle]

Staveley on the Windermere line a good pub & Hawkshead brewery plus a short bus journey to the nearby village of Ings for the Watermill inn which also has its own brewery. The First bus/train ticket for Holmfirth mentioned below only appears to be available for purchase on the bus & not from railway stations etc which rules out the combined ticket which is a shame.

 

[trickyvegas]

If they don't mind a shortish bus ride (20 or so mins.), I would suggest train to Huddersfield, then bus to Holmfirth ("Last of the Summer Wine" location.) - But choose a dry, warmish day - it can get a bit bleak at this time of year.

If going to Holmfirth, excellent suggestion, First offer a special ticket which combines the TPE and bus service - http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/calderdale_huddersfield/journey_planning/holmfirth/tickets.php

 

[anti-pacer]

GM Wayfarer.

As you live in the Manchester area, just one ticket needed for you. For your Liverpool based parents they just need a ticket to Warrington Central as it's valid from there.

You could go down to Buxton, have a gander around there and then maybe the short bus ride to Bakewell. Or, if time allows, the bus journey from Buxton to Ashbourne via Hartington is lovely.

Alternatively, from Buxton catch the bus towards Macclesfield and stop off at the Cat & Fiddle, one of England's highest pubs. It's a lovely journey to Macclesfield, and on a good day offers (from certain points) excellent views over Manchester, the Cheshire Plain, and even the Clwydian Range.

 

[185143]

GM Wayfarer.

As you live in the Manchester area, just one ticket needed for you. For your Liverpool based parents they just need a ticket to Warrington Central as it's valid from there.

You could go down to Buxton, have a gander around there and then maybe the short bus ride to Bakewell. Or, if time allows, the bus journey from Buxton to Ashbourne via Hartington is lovely.

Alternatively, from Buxton catch the bus towards Macclesfield and stop off at the Cat & Fiddle, one of England's highest pubs. It's a lovely journey to Macclesfield, and on a good day offers (from certain points) excellent views over Manchester, the Cheshire Plain, and even the Clwydian Range.

Taken the words out of my mouth. Don't forget, OP, that your father as you said he is over 60, cab travel on a concessionary wayfarer at £6.

 

[telstarbox]

Hebden Bridge has got everything on your list. A shade over 90 minutes from Lime Street with a single change at Manchester Victoria. I don't think Pacers run on that line either.

 

[185143]

Hebden Bridge has got everything on your list. A shade over 90 minutes from Lime Street with a single change at Manchester Victoria. I don't think Pacers run on that line either.

They can run on the Calder Valley, but there aren't many. Usually it is for strengthening at peak times. ,

 

[Merseysider]

All excellent suggestions! The concessionary Wayfarer at £6 seems an absolute bargain. Enough ideas here to last until summer - my father is retired and doesn't get out as much these days, so these'll be great.

I'm still trying to convince both parents that travelling by train itself is something to be enjoyed, not 'endured' until we get there... Hopefully that'll change soon

 

[oddiesjack]

I think the idea of using a GM Wayfarer, and going Liverpool-Warrington-Piccadilly-Buxton , then the hourly 58 bus over the Cat & Fiddle to Macclesfield, and returning home from there is a damn good idea.

Loads of stuff to see in Buxton - Pavilion Gardens, Museum, etc, and being a bit touristy, quite a lot of good cafes. Quite a lot of good pubs, too. Macclesfield offers many places for a decent tea-time pint after the scenic road over the hills (not sure if it might be closed due to snow in January, though!).

If your dad likes real ales, Macclesfield has I think 13 microbreweries within its boundaries, with at least 3 based in the town itself.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Another suggestion:

Take them to Burnley either by train on a Lancashire Day Ranger, or on the Wayfarer but using the X43 Witch Way bus from Manchester.

The place to take them while at Burnley is Queen Street Weaving Shed at Harle Syke, which is a living breathing steam-powered cotton weaving mill, which does have a good cafe. Plenty of decent pubs back in Burnley town centre, too.

 

[Condor7]

Huddersfield or Leeds would be my immediate suggestions,a trip up to Oxenholme or Penrith may be worth a try?

If you decide on Penrith, there is a 'hopper' train from the station around the town, and food wise I can strongly recommend Four & Twenty on Kings Street, open between 12:00 & 14:30 (as well as evenings) it will quite simply be one of the nicest lunches you will ever have, just read the TripAdvisor reviews.