Formby to Bingley doable in a day?

[gray1404]

Is Formby to Bingley doable in a day. Once I am there I will only need 2 hours maximum there.

I have a Merseytravel issued ENCTS Pass and a free Northern return ticket I can use. I also hold a disabled persons Railcard.

Ideally I do not want an early start but am mindful I'll need to watch the last connections.

Using my ENCTS I'm thinking X2 Formby to Preston, 280 Preston to Skipton. Then I'd have to get a bus Skipton to Keighley and then Keighley to Bingley. Same in reverse. It could be any day of the week or a Saturday or Sunday.

If I use my free Northern return I am thinking X2 to Preston, then the Bradford service and then walk across Bradford for another Northern service to Bingley. Returning when I get to Preston I might have to get the train from Preston to Liverpool then Liverpool to Formby depending on the time.

Any advice or tips or anything I've overlooked.

 

[30907]

Your title doesn't mention that you don't want to pay for travel

The 66 from Skipton to Keighley is tedious (done once, never again, I pay to use the train).
A sensible option would be train to Hebden Bridge (from Preston, or Southport via Manchester) and B3 bus to Keighley, whence there are 7bph to Keighley (the railway station is a few minutes' walk from the bus station). On the return there is of course a train from Keighley to Oxenhope

 

[xotGD]

Formby - Southport - Wigan - Leeds - Bingley

 

[tram21]

B3 bus to Keighley

This is regarded as one of the most scenic buses in the country. I did it on a very grey and rainy day so couldn't see much, but I would recommend it.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I have a Merseytravel issued ENCTS Pass and a free Northern return ticket I can use. I also hold a disabled persons Railcard.

Is this subject to any time restrictions, as and when the OP is wanting to set off from Formby?

 

[gray1404]

Looks like the viable options are

X2 Formby to Preston - 280 Preston to Skipton - Train Skipton to Bingley

Or by train:
Formby to Southport
Southport to Manchester
Manchester to Leeds
Leeds to Bingley

Or (I'm thinking this might allow me to come back later)

Formby to Liverpool
Liverpool to Manchester
Manchester to Leeds
Leeds to Bingley

Alternatively for a more smooth journey:

X2 Formby to Preston
Train - Preston to Bradford
Train - Bradford to Bingley

 

[30907]

Looks like the viable options are

Manchester to Leeds
Leeds to Bingley

Train - Preston to Bradford
Train - Bradford to Bingley

TBH if going via Bradford (which you would using Northern) I would use the 662 bus from Interchange, which runs every 15min whereas the train from Forster Sq is only hourly offpeak.

 

[xotGD]

TBH if going via Bradford (which you would using Northern) I would use the 662 bus from Interchange, which runs every 15min whereas the train from Forster Sq is only hourly offpeak.

The Wigan - Leeds services don't go via Bradford.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The Wigan - Leeds services don't go via Bradford.

Are you sure? Can see fifteen direct trains from Wigan Wallgate to Leeds via Bradford Interchange timetabled for tomorrow. And two more starting from Wigan North Western.

 

[xotGD]

Are you sure? Can see fifteen direct trains from Wigan Wallgate to Leeds via Bradford Interchange timetabled for tomorrow. And two more starting from Wigan North Western.

Diversions tomorrow. Normally they run via Brighouse.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Diversions tomorrow. Normally they run via Brighouse.

Thanks for clarifying. And maybe for a little bit longer than just tomorrow. Next two weeks, possibly? BTW, has the OP said when they're planning on going?

 

[gray1404]

I don't have a date yet but hopefully within the next couple of weeks. At the earliest it will be the end of next week.

 

[jamesst]

Is this subject to any time restrictions, as and when the OP is wanting to set off from Formby?

Yep, not valid before 0930 Monday to Friday

 

[gray1404]

Is this subject to any time restrictions, as and when the OP is wanting to set off from Formby?

The only time restrictions I'm subject to are:
Use of free pass - anytime on bus or rail in Merseyside as it's a disabled pass
If getting on a bus going out of Merseyside/entirely out of Merseyside then it's 09.30 onwards Monday to Friday.

No time restrictions on free Northern ticket.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

If travel within Merseyside and on Northern is free for you, perhaps Merseyrail to Liverpool (either walking from Moorfields or doing one stop on the loop) then NT Liverpool to Blackpool service as far as Preston, NT Barrow or Windermere service to Lancaster and NT Leeds service direct from there to Bingley might be a pleasant route outwards.

Coming back you could get the bus from Bingley to Bradford, then either go Bradford to Preston or Bradford to Wigan (if the trains are being diverted that way).

 

[anothertyke]

If travel within Merseyside and on Northern is free for you, perhaps Merseyrail to Liverpool (either walking from Moorfields or doing one stop on the loop) then NT Liverpool to Blackpool service as far as Preston, NT Barrow or Windermere service to Lancaster and NT Leeds service direct from there to Bingley might be a pleasant route outwards.

Coming back you could get the bus from Bingley to Bradford, then either go Bradford to Preston or Bradford to Wigan (if the trains are being diverted that way).

Good shout outbound. Looks like 0839 from Liverpool to Preston might work. Lovely ride to Skipton that way.

Coming back, another option not mentioned yet is to catch either the Keighley-Colne or Skipton-Colne bus, both quite scenic. Then train to Preston.

 

[30907]

The Wigan - Leeds services don't go via Bradford.

No, but there are 2tph from Victoria that do as well as the Blackpool which I was referring to.

 

[Statto]

To do the trip as quickly as possible
X2 Formby - Preston
Rail Preston - Bradford
662 Bradford - Bingley

To do the trip by bus

X2 Formby - Preston
280 Preston - Skipton
66 Skipton - Keighley
662 Keighley - Bingley

Alternitive route from Preston to Keighley
152 Preston - Burnley
M4 Burnley - Keighley