Cambsy’s 1st class a thon

[cambsy]

I have just started planning a 7 day 1st class ALR from Feb 4th, which entails leaving home early on the Sunday and not returning home till week later, be using sleeper berths for 6 nights, preliminary plan is

Sunday
Tiverton Parkway-Plymouth-Manchester Pic-Glasgow-London[sleeper]

Monday
London-Montrose-Inverness-London[sleeper]

Tuesday
London-Manchester-London-Par[Pullman]-London[sleper]

Wednesday
London-Chippenham-London-Swansea[Pullmman]-London-Aviemore[sleeper]

Thursday
Aviemore-London-Warrington-London-Glasgow[sleeper]

Friday
Glasgow-London-Manchester Pic-London-Aviemore[sleeper]

Saturday
Aviemore-London-Tiverton Parkway

On these trips I tend to use Virgin mostly as one gets food and plenty of various drinks, I know there are more interesting trains to do, but as going first class I tend to like longer journeys and nicer ambience generally, Ill do a full day by day report on trip, but have found my reports not to have much interest, so what makes a good report? Thanks for any advice.

 

[anti-pacer]

If it's food and drink you want, why not try ATW's 1716 Cardiff Central-Holyhead service (weekdays)? You get a proper 3 course meal, although wine/beer/spirits are chargeable. You could overnight in the Holyhead Travelodge for less money than one of your sleeper tickets, which is about 5-7 mins walk from the station.

In the morning, take the same train at 0533 from Holyhead and have one of their breakfasts. Get off at Chester and take the 0735 VTWC service to London, and enjoy a second breakfast.

 

[StarCrossing]

If it's food and drink you want, why not try ATW's 1716 Cardiff Central-Holyhead service (weekdays)? You get a proper 3 course meal, although wine/beer/spirits are chargeable. You could overnight in the Holyhead Travelodge for less money than one of your sleeper tickets, which is about 5-7 mins walk from the station.

Unless things have changed, you should also be able to catch the 1716 as far as Shrewsbury or Chester, get another train to Crewe, and catch the northbound highland sleeper from Crewe. Like anti-pacer says, the food will be excellent - much better than Virgin's. I must say, using the sleeper for six straight nights sounds like hell to me, but each to their own!