Airline trip planning (UK mainly)

[GRALISTAIR]

Well I am living back in the UK so I am planning a few trips by plane not just train.

On my radar is Papa Westray to Westray - shortest commercial flight in the world.
Also , I would not mind doing the beach landing on Barra.

I usually like a back up plan such as a nearby hotel/hostel/accommodation near the airport in case of stuff going wrong.

If anyone has any good ideas for cool trips, please feel free to let me know in this thread ideally.

 

[Butts]

You will Loganair operate flights to Barra now for the beach landing which is really cool - however the price has heated up since Flybe used to operate it.

The Western Isles are really laid back - ie hire a car and the keys will be left in the ignition in the Car Park !!

I would recommend Orkney and Shetland as well - again you will have the Loganair Premium.

All the other Islands are worth visiting - it's really mind blowing to be Taxiing at Glasgow in a Twin Otter with and Airbus 320 or the like alongside.

Another bonus there is virtually no security with the small planes.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Well I am living back in the UK so I am planning a few trips by plane not just train.

On my radar is Papa Westray to Westray - shortest commercial flight in the world.
Also , I would not mind doing the beach landing on Barra.

I usually like a back up plan such as a nearby hotel/hostel/accommodation near the airport in case of stuff going wrong.

If anyone has any good ideas for cool trips, please feel free to let me know in this thread ideally.

Why don't you consider maybe the Loganair hop over from Glasgow to Campbeltown in a Twin Otter, then the Kintyre Express boat over to Ballycastle in County Antrim?
There is accommodation in Campbeltown in case the boat trip gets cancelled, and plenty of things to see and do if you wanted to give yourself a bigger buffer between flight and boat.
The boat is seasonal I think, so would need to be done in the summer.

 

[thejuggler]

There are some interesting short hops from Oban to the islands.

Hebridean Air Services

Fly with Hebridean Air Services from Oban Airport, offering regular flights to Oban, Coll, Colonsay, Tiree, Stornoway, and Benbecula. Book direct flights and explore the Hebrides with ease.

www.hebrideanair.co.uk

You could fly to Coll or Tiree and get the ferry back.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Why don't you consider maybe the Loganair hop over from Glasgow to Campbeltown in a Twin Otter, then the Kintyre Express boat over to Ballycastle in County Antrim?
There is accommodation in Campbeltown in case the boat trip gets cancelled, and plenty of things to see and do if you wanted to give yourself a bigger buffer between flight and boat.
The boat is seasonal I think, so would need to be done in the summer.

There are some interesting short hops from Oban to the islands.

Hebridean Air Services

Fly with Hebridean Air Services from Oban Airport, offering regular flights to Oban, Coll, Colonsay, Tiree, Stornoway, and Benbecula. Book direct flights and explore the Hebrides with ease.

www.hebrideanair.co.uk

You could fly to Coll or Tiree and get the ferry back.

Great ideas thanks. Did not know about Hebridean Air - so thanks.

 

[Elwyn]

The Orkney flight does a triangular route: Kirkwall - Westray - Papa Westray - Kirkwall. There’s no hotel at Kirkwall Airport but a taxi into Kirkwall would not be expensive. On Westray there’s one hotel, the Pierowall which is fine. Has about 6 rooms and does food. There’s an island minibus that can meet flights by arrangement. Text or call the driver at 07789 034289 for specific times or to book. No hotel on Papa Westray but there is a hostel which is within walking distance of the airfield. There is a village shop by the hostel.

The aircraft on the Westray/Papa Westray service is a Britten Norman islander. Usually flown by 1 pilot alone. If you ask nicely it’s often possible to get the co-pilot’s seat which gives you the best possible views, especially as the plane doesn’t climb very high. Usually flies at about 800 feet or so.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The aircraft on the Westray/Papa Westray service is a Britten Norman islander. Usually flown by 1 pilot alone. If you ask nicely it’s often possible to get the co-pilot’s seat which gives you the best possible views, especially as the plane doesn’t climb very high. Usually flies at about 800 feet or so.

Both their aircraft are Islanders.

G-BLNI c/n 2188, ex VP-FBI ( former Falkland Islands government aircraft, so that would be a "prize" to collect ).
G-HEBS c/n 2267, ex G-BUBJ.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

There’s no hotel at Kirkwall Airport but a taxi into Kirkwall would not be expensive. -------------------- There’s an island minibus that can meet flights by arrangement.

I just did a google search and it says a bus is usually timed to meet flights. Either way it does not look like I will have a problem.

The aircraft on the Westray/Papa Westray service is a Britten Norman islander. Usually flown by 1 pilot alone. If you ask nicely it’s often possible to get the co-pilot’s seat which gives you the best possible views, especially as the plane doesn’t climb very high. Usually flies at about 800 feet or so.

Outstanding. That would definitely be a first for me.

 

[thejuggler]

A Hebridean Islander on its annual "holiday" to Leeds Bradford for maintenance.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

A Hebridean Islander on its annual "holiday" to Leeds Bradford for maintenance.

Wow - thanks for posting that. I definitely want a ride on one now.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Great ideas thanks. Did not know about Hebridean Air - so thanks.

The travel YouTuber Steve Marsh has some great videos about Hebridean Air, well worth watching to give yourself an idea of what they can do (take offs in some pretty insane conditions!)

 

[GRALISTAIR]

There is a very convenient MAN-ABZ (Manchester -Aberdeen) using Loganair and that seems a great pivot point. I will leave until warmer weather though- probably April.

 

[pitdiver]

Orkney is a fantastic place to explore, been there three times. As for Loganair be prepared for extremely expensive fares but the Islander is a very interesting aircraft. Been in two of Loganair's