North Country rover - suggestions

[mikeg]

I don't really know if this belongs in this section or F,T & R, but here goes.

I'm going to do a North Country 4-in-8 day rover next week and would like to know if anyone has suggestions of lines I should try.

I've already done Settle and Carlisle twice, but may use it as a means to get to and from Carlisle. I've also already done the Esk Valley Line and the section of the ECML covered, along with the Northallerton-Eaglescliffe line, the Hadrians Wall Line and the Durham coast line.
I was thinking of the Cumbrian Coast Line, the Yorkshire Coast Line and Scarborough branch of the Transpennine Route, the Leeds-Morecambe via Hellifield and Lancaster (I know it's a pacer )... any other suggestions? I'm starting from Thirsk each day, so doing too much around Cumbria in one day isn't that realistic.

 

[IanXC]

I've done a North Country rover - I would recommend the interesting lines you've mentioned, also York-Preston (service to Blackpool North) was quite good.

I did a day of York to Preston with Northern, Preston to Carlisle with Virgin and then back to Leeds via the S&C.

The thing I missed out on was the Cumbrian Coast - just couldnt find a way of getting their doing that and getting back in a day! No shortage of other routes to cover though!

 

[Welshman]

You seem to have covered most of the scenic routes, but I'd definitely try to include the Cumbrian Coast line, even if it means a night away, as the section around Morecambe Bay from Carnforth-Barrow is beautiful, as is the stretch between Whitehaven and Workington, where the line hugs the sea coast.

Also while you're in the NW, try the Preston-Carlisle section of the WCML. Sweeping through the Lune Gorge is a lovely ride, but try to do it on a Voyager rather than a Pendolino, as the Voyager's windows are larger.

When I did my NC Rover a couple of years ago, I also booked a seperate Berwick-Edinburgh ticket - not too expensive if booked in advance- and rode the ECML from York to Edinburgh, which again, is very interesting from Newcastle northwards, along the Northumberland coast and over the bridge at Berwick.

 

[142094]

Leeds - Morecambe is a decent trip out, nice enough scenery and you could go for fish and chips in Morecambe. Also helps that you can get a TPE direct from Thirsk to Leeds. Scarborough - Hull is alright, scenery isn't as good as some of the other lines though.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

You seem to have covered most of the scenic routes, but I'd definitely try to include the Cumbrian Coast line, even if it means a night away, as the section around Morecambe Bay from Carnforth-Barrow is beautiful, as is the stretch between Whitehaven and Workington, where the line hugs the sea coast.

.

If you plan on stopping over Travelodge have a £15 room sale on at the moment and have new hotels just opened in both Morecambe and Lancaster.

link is www.travelodge.co.uk

I stopped overnight in Lancaster when doing a North Country Rover last year so I could do the Windermere branch one day and the Cumbrian Coast line the next (there's an 08.58 departure from Lancaster to Carlisle via the coast that's ideal!).

 

[ashworth]

Although I would say the Cumbrian Coast is a must, I can't see you being able to do it very easily in a day during the week if you are based at Thirsk.
However, if you are able to do this on a Saturday, when there is no morning time restriction, it can be done quite easily. It can be done as a circular route in either direction with departures shortly after 7am from Thirsk.
Thirsk-Newcastle-Carlisle-Barrow in Furness-Carnforth-Leeds-Thirsk (or the other way around).
This will also enable you to travel over most of the Leeds-Morcambe route.

If you want a stop for a couple of hours on the way around I would recommend Whitehaven. Interesting town and harbour and good fish and chip shop/restuarant a few minutes walk from the station. Don't make the mistake I once made and allowed a long break at Barrow as the area around the station is a bit grim!

Each year I do week staying with friends in Blackpool and travelling out and back from there with a NW Rover. I never tire of the Cumbrian Coast.

 

[142094]

Cumbrian Coast line could be easily done in a day from Thirsk IMO (in fact I'm planning on doing it this Saturday from Newcastle). Easiest way to do it would be to get the Morecambe service from Leeds, change either at Carnforth or Lancaster (especially if you can make the Preston - Carlisle Northern train), then go via the Tyne Valley and back down to Thirsk.

Might be a long day but certainly possible.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

If doing obscure sections of track is your thing, how about taking the one train a day that runs to Heysham Port - the 10.19 out of Leeds? Admittedly it's only a short section on from Morecambe and not particularly scenic, but worth doing if you're a completist. Then you could walk the coastal path back to Morecambe; it's about 3 miles but all flat and quite bracing on a winter's day.

You'd have to do it on a saturday mind, as the 08.45 morning restriction on rovers means your ticket wouldn't be valid from Thirsk on weekdays.

 

[mikeg]

Thanks for the useful suggestions.