So, I haven't been on holiday in a few years. Just on tour (which believe you me, sonny jim, is no kind of holiday at all). Even more shamefully, I haven't taken Dindon away as yet despite us having been together a good couple of years now. I've barely shown her this damn country. I suck massively.

So, I've saved a modest quantity of annual leave, enough for a week or so, and have proposed to her that we get the fuck out of here for a romantic/stupid/lost time somewhere far, far away. Not that far, because neither of us drive, and we're relying on public transport, and the whole point is to show Johnny Foreinger a bit of England my England, as old Henry Purcell would have it, or indeed anywhere else on this perfidious island and the other one out to the west. But where to go?

Cheap is good for we are not rich. Not crazy cheap, but not too pricey either. Hills and mountains and rivers and lakes and beaches and the sea and museums and art galleries and theatres and cafés and book shops are all good. Beyond that, the page is blank. The Highlands, maybe? Cornwall? The west coast of Ireland? The lake district? Somewhere a little different? If you have any top tips I'd love to hear them.

I thought vaguely of -

a) Ferry to Dublin, hang out there a couple of days, get a train/bus over to the west coast, explore there a bit;

b) Train to the Lake District, bed and breakfast it, walk in the hills and smell a daffodil or two

c) North Wales perhaps? Get a cottage somewhere and get attacked by sheep

What would you do in the situation? Where have you been and enjoyed?

I am all ears!

S. x

Train up to Edinburgh/Scotland?

Problem with Edinburgh is that it's pretty far from the Highlands/mountains isn't it? I can't remember, the last time I was there I was 6.

Wales.

I couldn't tell you about rail links, as my bit of fuzz and I usually drive up, but I don't imagine getting to some of the nicer parts is going to be difficult if planned carefully beforehand.

My favourites:

The Wye Valley



The Brecon Beacons



Snowdonia (this is Bala Lake)



Renting a cottage has always worked out dandy for us - we get plenty of space to ourselves, get to cook what we want (which is important when your budget is tight) and have violent sex without having to contend with the police knocking on our door and asking me if I've been raped.

Okay, not all of that is strictly true (the police never knock).

Rimbaud III wrote:Wales.

I couldn't tell you about rail links, as my bit of fuzz and I usually drive up, but I don't imagine getting to some of the nicer parts is going to be difficult if planned carefully beforehand.

My favourites:

The Wye Valley

The Brecon Beacons

Snowdonia (this is Bala Lake)

a train journey to edinburgh is a doddle though;

nottingham->doncaster (or newark) then all the way to Edinburgh on the 125.

you can then take another train once you're in Edinburgh to Inverness, (which is meant to be a pretty fast developing city at the minute) which is in the Highlands.

You'll get to see some pretty fantastic scenery from the train during the 2nd part of the journey.

You can rent a cottage in Betws-Y-Coed in North Wales pretty cheaply. Could then take a train ride to Chester for a day out, which is always a good one for tourists (pretty city and all that) plus while in Betws, you've got really nice walks and valleys and shit and you'd quite easily be able to organise some kind of hiking / kayaking type bonding outdoor fun for you both

Hmmm...

For both of us to travel:

Cheapest return train tickets to Bangor (for Snowdonia) - £96 (five hour journey)

Cheapest coach tickets to Bangor (for Snowdonia) - £43 (9 hour journey)


Cheapest train tickets to Edinburgh - £124 (5 1/2 hour journey)

Cheapest coach tickets to Edinburgh £85 (10 hour journey)


I'd forgotten how expensive train tickets are and how slow coaches are. Grrrr....!

I officially hate not having a driving license.

Wow. That's pretty expensive. What about the Peak District? That's not too far away, so it might work out to being cheaper than the other options...

I'd go to Glasgow, then get a bus to Campbeltown. The journey to Campbeltown is as beautiful a trip as you could imagine. You don't need to go all the way to Campbeltown, there are many beauty spots along the way such as Arrochar, Inverary, Lochgilhead and many more.

I'll type more info once my finger has healed (see the "little details from your day" thread).