Manchester to Edinburgh via Settle?

[nitten_travell]

Hello all

Life will take me to Manchester next month (May 16/17), from Edinburgh. I don't know when on the 17th I will leave so I'll buy a flexible ticket. I'm wondering if I can take a more interesting route back to Edinburgh than the direct service. In particular if the weather is nice I might like take the Settle-Carlisle. I know about the buses north of Appleby - time is on my side here.

Combining the Routing Guide and the advice on the forum I *think* I can do the following:

Manchester-Lancaster-Hellifield-Carlisle-Edinburgh

but not

Manchester-Leeds-Carlisle-Edinburgh

So my questions are:

1) am I right? And
2) if so, can I do this on a £74.90 "via Carlisle" off-peak Return?

Thanks all

 

[Romilly]

You can book the ticket you mention with the return itinerary you would like by using the Virgin Trains East Coast website and on the VTEC mixing deck asking for "via Giggleswick", clicking on "Show timetables only", specifying "Calls at Appleby", clicking on "Update" and clicking on "Buy tickets".

 

[nitten_travell]

Thank you very much! I can see that the Off Peak Edinburgh-Manchester return is indeed valid for that route, though the system also wants me to book the same route (via Appleby and everywhere else) on the outward leg when the direct service will do me just fine. No matter, I can change that at a station later on. Thanks again!

 

[Romilly]

If you are booking the flexible offpeak return, then you will simply end up with a "via Carlisle" ticket. No-one is going to dispute your use of the obvious route on the outward journey, so it is not as if you are going to have to produce the itinerary when travelling to Manchester. Of course, you will have to go to a ticket office if you want reservations for the outward journey when you've booked using the "via Giggleswick & Appleby" routing, but if you don't want reservations in either direction then there will be no need to go to a ticket office.

 

[reb0118]

Remember you can walk from Giggleswick to Settle. It is a pleasant walk.

 

[nitten_travell]

If you are booking the flexible offpeak return, then you will simply end up with a "via Carlisle" ticket. No-one is going to dispute your use of the obvious route on the outward journey, so it is not as if you are going to have to produce the itinerary when travelling to Manchester. Of course, you will have to go to a ticket office if you want reservations for the outward journey when you've booked using the "via Giggleswick & Appleby" routing, but if you don't want reservations in either direction then there will be no need to go to a ticket office.

Yes I think the only reservation I'll need will be Edinburgh-Manchester. I wasn't sure if a mere printout of the VTEC website showing that the route is valid would be accepted (if I'm asked), or if I actually needed to book seats via Giggleswick/Appleby. From what you say a simple printout of the website will be fine.

Remember you can walk from Giggleswick to Settle. It is a pleasant walk.

I thought about changing trains at Long Preston to have lunch at the Boar's Head. A stroll to Settle on a nice day will do just as well!

Thanks for all the replies and advice, much appreciated.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Don't forget the 4-in-8-day Freedom of the North West Rover at £72 would allow you to travel between Lockerbie and Manchester via Leeds as well as via Giggleswick or Penrith.
Valid after 0845 M-F, anytime between Lockerbie and Carlisle.
Of course you would need a separate ticket Edinburgh-Lockerbie.
You can have another 3 days out on the same ticket as well, over the 8 days.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/pr0a8889c35ce74100b70b85ba4af335.aspx