Round the Cumbrian Coast from Glasgow

[PaxVobiscum]

After a fair bit of research today, I managed to book up a day trip for 2 (16-25 and Senior Railcards) for later this week for £38.20 (4 x £9.55 singles) by going out to Barrow-in-Furness via WCML to Lancaster, returning by way of the Cumbrian Coast to Carlisle and then back home.

While I consider this a reasonable effort at short notice, I would be interested to hear any suggestions for a future return trip. I would have preferred to have done it the other way round but the cost was prohibitive. Perhaps Barrow may not have been the best choice to spend a few hours. This will be my first visit - have been meaning to do this line for years.

 

[scotsman]

If circular is your thing, may I suggest Glasgow - Newcastle (and possibly Berwick) - Carlisle - Glasgow?

 

[Welshman]

More expensive than your present planned trip, but Northern has a "Cumbria Round Robin" allowing travel from Carlisle to Lancaster via the WCML or the Cumbrian Coast, for £19.15p with railcards.

http://www.northernrail.org/tickets/dayrangers/Explore+Cumbria+and+the+Lake+District

Could you couple one of these with cheap advance tickets to/from Carlisle?

[As an aside, I admire your stamina in wanting to do the Cumbrian Coast line a second time - I've done it throughout, and enjoyed the scenery, especially around Morecambe Bay and north of Whitehaven, but decided afterwards that once a lifetime was enough!]

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Thanks for these suggestions. I normally just do an out and back but have 'done' Lancaster a few times before (temptingly cheap Advances). I always used to find that trying to factor in the Cumbrian Coast put the price up too much.

A Newcastle/Carlisle circle has been on my to do list for some time.

 

[30907]

My preferred option for the Cumbrian Coast is a Lakes Day Ranger, but then I do enjoy scenic bus journeys and the Windermere steamers. From Lancaster for me, from Penrith coming from Scotland.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Planning doing a Cumbria Round Robbin myself v soon going down on the 12:47x CAR, Currently worked by a 142

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Planning doing a Cumbria Round Robbin myself v soon going down on the 12:47x CAR, Currently worked by a 142

Looks like I've managed to avoid the Pacers this time, but I didn't know that till I checked RealtimeTrains earlier this evening. In fact I had wondered if that was why it was cheaper travelling at the times I booked.

EDIT: Maybe not after all - your 2C30 1247 Carlisle to Lancaster is coming up as

Operational Information
Schedule from ITPS
Timed for 75mph max
Pathed as Class 150/153/155/156 (Sprinter) DMU

which is the same Operational Information as mine. So maybe I'll have a Pacer after all!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Unless your going stupidly early them your safe as I believe it only gets to Carlisle once a day, quite an early start X Barrow I think!

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Unless your going stupidly early them your safe as I believe it only gets to Carlisle once a day, quite an early start X Barrow I think!

Sorry - didn't see that last reply of yours!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The 1010 ex-Barrow is booked a Pacer, return runs to Lancaster I think. Like mentioned above, the timing info on RTT often counts for nothing in local TOC's cases: Northern's diagramming is often hit and miss; what is a 156 one day can be a 142 the next.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

No Pacers for me today - both the 1123 ex Lancaster and the 1452 ex Barrow were as advertised. Just as well as the latter gets pretty busy at Sellafield.
Had the pleasure of an chance encounter with another forum member, but he has the honour of posting the details.