I am going a bit mad with worry due to silly reasons and I need a break. I have always intended on going down to Cornwall/Devon in the summer for a few days but now want to bring it forward to April/May.
I know the UK geography very well but I have no idea about the South West, I know where Plymouth, Lands End and Bristol are but I have no idea how to the railnetwork works down there (shall study a map in a minute).
My plan is to get a coach down to Plymouth or a train to Bristol and then head west using pre booked coaches or trains and work my way up to London and then go home.
I was planning of doing this from a Monday to Firday. Any suggestions of good towns with good public transport networks I can stay in? I will probably use cheaper B&Bs and travel lodge type places.
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Coach form Manchester to Exeter.
One of the finest railway journeys in the uk is the one that runs along the coast from Exeter to Torquay/paignton
Stay there a few days, then take the train to plymouth - across the taymar and rejoice at the huge letters on the tamar bridge "ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNELL" and then on to Penzance.
Coaches home from there
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>> across the taymar
Humph.
I'd be strongly tempted to drive. Fannying about with buses and stuff is going to spoil the trip, and it'll take a week to get to the best bits by bus anyway. It'll only cost just over a ton to hire a car. I now wait with resigned pity for the 1,001 reasons why it won't do.
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>> I'd be strongly tempted to drive.
One of the finest railway journeys in the uk is the one that runs along the coast from Exeter to Torquay/paignton
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Most the reason why I need a break is to get away from cars and computers :).
I've just worked out the best way to get to Exceter is via Bristol so I could stay there over night or stay there a few hours. I can get to Exceter from Manchester for £30 this way and its cheaper and quicker than the coach.
I've done this before in Europe I am just doing it on a cheaper and smaller scale as I will be by myself. I will probably go early April.
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So drive to it. Don't go on the flippin'bus when you want to maximise your holiday.
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But then it won't be a holiday :) I like trains anyway to me that is part of the break admiring the wonders of how the victorians made the railway :).
I am going to try and avoid a coach as much as possible especialy as I have just found out its actually not much cheaper than the train.
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There are indeed some really scenic train journeys to be had - in the right weather - Liskeard to Looe and the St. Ives branch, maybe the Falmouth line as well although I've not done that one.
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The weather is the biggest gamble but I have to book it an advance otherwise the cost gets stupid. April is traditionaly my worse month of the year for some reason so it makes sense to go then for that reason.
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The bus ride from Padstein to Newquay along the coast road is pretty scenic as well, if a little hair raising.
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Flybe do Manchester - Exeter in about 40 minutes. Don't take the train, it's about 90 minutes longer than driving.
I'd drive anyway, I used to do Manchester to Devon regularly and if you set off at about 7pm you can easily do it without stopping in about 4 hours.
If you insist on taking the train, go for the smaller one that trundles through Wales. It's going to take 5 hours but at least the scenery is nice.
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I actually took the train from Plymouth to Swansea, changing at Bristol Parkway on Feb 1st to get my new car.
It has been a while since I took the train, 1999 to be exact, when I sold my Morris Oxford to an Irishman who flew into Bristol to pick it up.
They have come on leaps and bounds! The journey from Plymouth to Bristol Parkway was on a virtually new train. It was clean and there's even a plug for your phone or laptop.
The train from Bristol Parkway to Swansea was older stock, however it was still clean and well maintained.
But, the whole service ran on time. I was actually about 3 minutes early at Swansea.
If you want to take the train and enjoy it, don't travel at peak times.
If you want to take the train, do that. Whilst you're in East Cornwall - look me up! We're at the end of the Tamar Valley line.
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If you must go by train Rattle and won't risk a car with a good OS map in your habd to discover Cornwall, you have to do the Liskeard to Looe trip.
The station is right in Looe and there are many B&B's and hotels there.
At least you will get a proper taste of Cornwall in Looe.
Pat
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Once upon a time, long, long ago - I took myself orf to Tenerife for 3 months 'all by myself' ... I felt I had to get away, so I sold my (small) mobile car tuning biz & flew South (for the winter)
Boy did I feel renewed on my return around Eastertime!
At another time (I'm married btw) I met a German Frau who wanted to return to where she was born in Prussia and she was looking for a big strong man to accompany her as a companion/bodyguard, but she couldn't find one - so she took me :-)
We drove her 230CE from Nth. Cornwall to Dover,, into France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, up to the Baltic, along to Poland, down to Czechoslovakia and back into The Fatherland via Dresden ... we just used zimmerfrei (I think they call it) B&B, or some rather strange (to me) former Soviet era Hotels.
The trip took about 2 weeks & 10,000km, and not once did we have any problems finding somewhere to stay, so, - Go for it Rattle, it'll be an adventure! I quite like A&E's suggestion yesterday @ 20-17pm.
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You'll have to have a look at Couchsurfing.com Rattle to expand the experience.
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>> If you want to take the train do that. Whilst you're in East Cornwall -
>> look me up! We're at the end of the Tamar Valley line.
>>
oooohhh you lucky person you! Can't believe I forgot to mention the Gunnislake to Plymouth line.
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Thanks for all suggestions :) It has become apparant that I will probably need more than 5 days because I would want to explore the railway routes suggested. I might actually start booking it today otherwise it will just get forgotton about.
I just need to get away before I go mad.
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>>> I just need to get away before I go mad. <<<
Nth. Wales is looking fine for this weekend comrade :)
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Pack a bag get on a train.............don't worry about where you stay until you get there. Zen is art of travelling and enjoying the journey without worrying about the destination. I would suggest the Lake District and the Settle line.....plenty of cheap B&Bs this time of the year. Or pop over to Ireland as "footie" - plenty to see and do - not a cheap place these days sadly.
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Wales don't temp me :) We are planning of going down there on long weekend with my mates but no caravan this time, won't be till June though.
The reason I want go to Cornwall and Devon and its the only part of the UK I have never been to that is worth visiting. I often go to the lakes on day trips etc with a good friend so not worth staying over, its far too close.
I like the idea of being random because if I had to be at a certain place at a certain time it could restrict my timing. I have decided to stay in Torquay on the first night simply because I can stay in the travel lodge for £19 and I will have a look at the prices of other B&Bs. I may altnerate bookings so I have go on a monday have a booked hotel, on the tuesday be random, on weds I have a set booking etc.
I tend to prefer larger chain hotels though rather than small ones where I feel watched a bit.
My plan is to spent my time in Cornwall and Devon traveling on the railway routes metnioned but then take the express trains out and spend a couple of nights further east on the south Coast and then take a cheap £10 train from London back home.
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Just getting in the flow with booking this now, my budget means that pre booking it all might be my only option :( but I will try and do both, the problem is a I need a break and I want that MX10 AAA Panda parked outside my house before the end of the summer.
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Did you see that series in January Great British Railway Journeys - inspiring it was.
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I really really wish I had seen it, it might be on catchup as I really need to watch this.
Been planning this a bit, I enjoy the logistics of planning train times and hotels as much as I do the break instead. Mother keeps saying I shouldn't go alone but I actually want to, I don't think it makes me a loner just somebody likes his own time. I will need to be a bit careful though so I won't stay up too late at night and get up early.
My plan so far is to spend the first night in Torquay to take advantage of the £20 Travelodge then I am not sure where to go from there, the Wetherspoons lodge in Mineshead is cheap but its going a bit out of the area. I may spend two nights in Torquay and use it as a base which then gives me all of Tuesday and much of Wednesday to explore Cornwall and Devon and no doubt thse train journeys will make sure sense then. At the moment they are just names.
I could then not book into anywhere on Wednesday so I can leave that random, I could stay where ever I end up, and maybe on the Thursday move towards Portsmouth back on to London.
My doctor things I need to spend a bit of money getting myself better (e.g anxiety and worry) and worry about the new car after that. She told me to take a break and suggested I buy a bike ha! So I am not going to worry too much about the money and have a good time, just not sure if I would get depressed on my own 5 days as I haven't done it before. I have often gone to London by myself for night.
My plan is to buy a mini laptop as my main one is falling to pieces and buy some mobile broadband so I will always be connected while I am away.
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Sounds like a good trip - go alone - Sometimes I prefer that....as you say the preparation is almost as good as the trip, I was going to suggest taking a bike !
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I could hire one when I am there, it would be a full size mountain bike, really could do with a fold up but I need a bike for country riding. I live in the middle of the city but also very fortunate to live near some wonderful countryside so I can cycle for miles and miles without seeing a single car.
When I used to go on these trips with mates I did all the organising but there would sometimes be arguments when we got there. Also my mate used go with often just wanted to relax and rest where I just wanted to go onto a train to some random place.
Its at night I get bored but will take the internet, my Grado headphones armed with Spotify and a couple of quiet pints of locally made cider in a pub by a log fire and I will be fine.
There is always a stigma attached when people do things like this alone but I don't see a problem with it, I spent all weekend in pubs and restaraunts with my mates and probably go out socialising as much as younger pensioners and students.
As usual I shall me making my now three year old Panasonic Lumix FZ7 a big workout it will be a chance to sharpen my photography skills.
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you need to get out on your own from time to time. Time to think, time to put your thoughts in order, and time to, well, just please yourself.
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No stigma Rattle - lots of lone people around - Most enjoyable times were biking through Wales on my own, met loads of nice people ready to talk and even a landlady ready to wash my clothes....Bike is a good ice breaker though. On the subject of B&Bs they knock chain hotel breakfasts into a cocked hat. I'm half minded to join you !
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Ive always found Looe/Polperro a world away from the stress. Witchcraft museum in Boscastle is funny too. Im planning on retiring down that way with the wife.
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shouldnt you have used the handle "warlock" on here?
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>>>Witchcraft museum in Boscastle is funny too<<<
Funny? A geezer called Brian King owns it, e got hit quite badly by the Boscastle bore but e's managed to pull the gaff together again - with the help of a few of Martins Hobgoblins no doubt!
Lot of original 'stuff' in said museum - I can spend hours in there :)
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Oh no doubt its a good place, my wife loved it, we were in there two hours. By funny I mean funny stuff within.
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>>> Oh no doubt its a good place, my wife loved it <<<
There still be folk in Cornwall that can 'charm' warts away - wise Woman they be called :)
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My wise woman is pretty good at getting rid of door to door salesmen - nobody can open a front door and say 'WHAT?' with quite the '5 seconds and ill set you on fire' message. I swear she know magic :-)
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>>>My wise woman is pretty good at getting rid of door to door salesmen<<<
(Hehe!) I have a sign on my front door that says "Salesmen welcome - Dog food is expensive!"
... If they do decide to knock, he'll (5.5st Ridgeback) BARK (and some) that usually produces the desired result but - if they persist, I'll pull my long (ish) hair forward, go out, and say "woss on then!" ... it ain't failed yet :-D
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HEY 'P' I told you that the 'Hob..' word was secret...shush!
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>>> shush! <<<
Slurp more like :)
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Forget the South West, Rats.
Manchester to Glasgow
Glasgow to Fort William via Loch Lomond and Rannoch Moor.
Fort William to Mallaig.
Boat to Skye ( bar on board )
Bus to Kyle of Lochalsh.
Kyle to Inverness, The Skye Line.
Inverness to Edinburgh
East Coast main line to Leeds and then home.
2 or 3 nights B&B. Book ahead on the Trainline.
I'll be doing that when the evenings are lighter. Spectacular !
Ted
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Motoring holiday. Ten days or two weeks. France if you dare, otherwise anywhere in Britain or Ireland (Dublin traffic bad though).
No excuses Rattolo.
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Need a break - cornwall/devon suggestions - Zero
