ALR- Mundane question

[tivoli]

Thinking of an ALR trip next year, when I qualify for a Senior Railcard. Early stages of planning but will include sleepers.

Mundane question to those who have done a trip-how successful have you been in packing for a week away from home. I will want to spend time in towns I want to visit but don't want to lumber myself with an awkward suitcase. Any ideas or experiences?

 

[Bevan Price]

1. Take the bare minimum of clothing. It is not essential to change shirts or socks every day. You are unlikely to need a change of footwear. Only take other items that you really need.
2. Consider staying in bed & breakfast somewhere for a couple of days, and leave luggage in B&B during daytime. You don't say where you are going, but, for example somewhere like Stirling or Perth for 2-3 nights would be a good base to cover much of Scotland apart from the far north. Other potential bases could be Blackpool or Chester (NW England & N. Wales); Cardiff or Weston Super Mare for S. Wales & SW England;
Brighton or Bournemouth for S/SE England, etc.

 

[Sapphire Blue]

Good quality walking sandals (therefore no need for socks)
2 pair shorts (plenty of pockets best)
7 old shirts or cheap T-shirts (throw away after a days use then the load gets lighter)
Same with underpants.
Good size rucksack with plenty of pockets.
Camping style toiletry bag.
If going for two weeks call home after the first week for a complete change of gear (Saturday night is best as you don't miss many trains over the quietest night of the week)
Another good ploy, if you know someone you can spend the night with in a far flung part of the country, is to send supplies in advance. Then leave any dirty washing with them to be posted back to you.

 

[David Goddard]

We split our two week trip into two sections, doing Saturday-Thursday, came home for the night, picked then set off again Friday -Friday with our second case. (we split on Thursday night as that was the only night of the week we could get as late as possible bus home from the station at night, and then the earliest possible one back next morning)
Definitely only pack what you really need. If planning to spend most of the time on the train, or it is summer time, then you don't really need jumpers etc (I packed one just in case). No need to take too much so you can vary according to weather, as if on a train all day the climate will be fairly stable.

 

[EltonRoad]

Ruckside is one idea, using a case that you can pull around on wheels is another.
See if there are any left luggage facilities at stations or nearby.