Coasts and Peaks Planning

[SWTurbo]

To those far more knowledgeable than I:

Planning a 4 in 8 Coasts and Peaks trip on a long weekend of rest days (Friday - Monday), are there any tried and tested ways of getting as much in as possible/known good routes?
We're planning on a west to east route going roughly Euston, Holyhead, Llandudno Jn, Llandudno, Blaenau + back, Chester to begin with, taking in as many good pubs + sights as possible along the way.
I appreciate Sunday trains may limit us slightly in some areas, so happy to compromise here and there.

Any advice for this (or the rest) would be hugely appreciated!

TIA

SW

 

[Amaranthe]

Is the plan to end in Sheffield on the final day of the rover in time for a train back to St. Pancras?

 

[SWTurbo]

Is the plan to end in Sheffield on the final day of the rover in time for a train back to St. Pancras?

Not too sure. We've also thought of doing an ale trail from Hebden Bridge, so the ending is flexible (potential York finish) so we're just looking for a general plan!

 

[Amaranthe]

Not too sure. We've also thought of doing an ale trail from Hebden Bridge, so the ending is flexible (potential York finish) so we're just looking for a general plan!

Would that be after the rover? As none of those are do-able with the Coasts & Peaks?

 

[SWTurbo]

Would that be after the rover? As none of those are do-able with the Coasts & Peaks?

Correct, sorry, should have mentioned!

 

[Amaranthe]

Correct, sorry, should have mentioned!

So also outside the scope of the rover but you could use the rover to get to sheffield then you could access the Penistone Line Ale Trail

If it was me I'd spend the first couple of days in North Wales visiting the different resorts as well as Blaenau (Option of Ffestiniog railway) and don't forget a stop off at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Then maybe a day exploring the Merseyrail lines and finally a day in the Peak District (Particularly recommend Matlock Bath) before ending the rover in Sheffield.

A Euston - Tamworth Advance would probably be your best bet to start of the trip.

 

[Llandudno]

So also outside the scope of the rover but you could use the rover to get to sheffield then you could access the Penistone Line Ale Trail

If it was me I'd spend the first couple of days in North Wales visiting the different resorts as well as Blaenau (Option of Ffestiniog railway) and don't forget a stop off at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Then maybe a day exploring the Merseyrail lines and finally a day in the Peak District (Particularly recommend Matlock Bath) before ending the rover in Sheffield.

A Euston - Tamworth Advance would probably be your best bet to start of the trip.

Perhaps catch the train to Buxton and then the scenic TransPeak hourly bus to fill in the missing Buxton to Matlock link, only £3 per single journey.

Plenty of decent pubs in Buxton and Matlock, you could also drop back a bus or two and visit the fantastic Thornbridge Brewery Tap just to the north of Bakewell town centre?

 

[TheSel]

...If it was me I'd spend the first couple of days in North Wales visiting the different resorts as well as Blaenau (Option of Ffestiniog railway) and don't forget a stop off at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Then maybe a day exploring the Merseyrail lines and finally a day in the Peak District (Particularly recommend Matlock Bath) before ending the rover in Sheffield...

Makes a lot of sense for a Friday - Monday ticket, as at least Merseyrail's Sunday services are reasonably frequent (engineering works permitting) - pretty much clock-face every 30 mins on all lines, but do remember the Coast & Peaks rover is only valid as far north as Sandhills on the Southport line, and Kirkdale on the Ormskirk line. Oddly, it's valid to Headbolt Lane, though, for onwards connections via Rainford to Wigan. But - Sod's law - no service Headbolt Lane - Wigan on a Sunday!

Delamere Forest line is always pretty, and there's a few stops along there with reasonable pubs within a five minute walk.

Also worth doing the 'Borderlands' line (Bidston - Shotton - Wrexham) - particularly towards Wrexham as that makes the units work hard up the hill out of Shotton.

Pubs? New one just opened in the old station buildings at Chester, but be warned, the prices are top heavy. IMHO other pubs within five mins walk offer better value.

And as @Amaranthe says, Matlock Bath is a lovely spot. Bearing in mind that the Coast & Peaks isn't valid via Chesterfield, a decent way round that is by train from Crewe via Stoke & Uttoxeter, Unit to Matlock / Matlock Bath, and then there's a Stagecoach bus (X17) to Sheffield. Roughly hourly Sheffield - Matlock Bath, supplemented by 'shorts' Sheffield - Matlock to give a (broadly) half-hourly frequency Monday to Saturday. Hourly throughout Sundays. £3 max fare applies. Timetable via this link.

 

[Amaranthe]

Also 2 pubs in the station buildings at Huddersfield and another good one at Dewsbury station.

 

[TheSel]

Also 2 pubs in the station buildings at Huddersfield and another good one at Dewsbury station.

Indeed. But, sadly, neither station is within the Coast and Peaks ticket validity area.

 

[Amaranthe]

Indeed. But, sadly, neither station is within the Coast and Peaks ticket validity area.

The OP had mentioned a detour to West Yorkshire after the rover.

 

[magpiespy]

Some pub stops to consider, all within 10 minutes or less of the station. All recommended for real ale and either interesting interiors or views

Macclesfield : Castle
Bolton : Old Man and Scythe
Warrington : Lower Angel
Stockport : Magnet
Chinley : Chinley Club
Hyde Central : Cheshire Ring
Mobberley : Railway
Deansgate or Oxford Road : Peveril of the Peak

There are also several brewery taprooms near Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria, usually open on weekend afternoons.