Alan_R Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Looking at going away with missus over night. Looking for a nice wee town with few things to do and see. Preferably on a train route from Edinburgh Done York before that was perfect but fancy a change. Suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyjambo Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Durham, lovely town, get the train from Edinburgh, think it's about 1hour 45 mins or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Say What Again Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Reading the first few lines of your post, I was going to suggest York.... Keeping it nearby, and cheap on the train, what about Durham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Say What Again Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Durham, lovely town, get the train from Edinburgh, think it's about 1hour 45 mins or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Fredrickson Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I saw the thread title and had two in mind....York and Durham! Others - Inverness, Lincoln and Chester. Inverness and Lincoln both have smallish decent concert venues that I have been to for gigs and made a weekend of it. Lincoln has a couple of historical sites - a castle and cathedral as well as a decent shopping area. Chester is a nice historic town worth a visit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auld Reekin' Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth, and Penrith are all nice places and within easy reach of Edinburgh by rail. Berwick is a lively and historical town, with well-preserved town walls which you can walk around and many old and interesting buildings. There's a good bus network based there which you can use to get to various other places in Northumberland and Berwickshire. Further south, Alnmouth is a small but very pretty coastal town, with great beaches within easy walking distances. It's also on the Northumberland coastal path, which heads both north and south from there. From Alnmouth, it's easy to catch a bus to the larger town of Alnwick, which is also interesting and historical, as is Warkworth a few miles to the south. You can also walk along the path to Warkworth and Amble, or north to Craster, if you enjoy a bit of fresh air and exercise. I'd recommend staying in Alnmouth, rather than these other places, simply as it's a lovely wee place. The Red Lion in the main street is a cracking pub! In Cumbria, Penrith and its surroundings would also offer enough for a weekend break and the town itself has loads of pubs, caf?s, and places to eat. It's an old market town with many nice old buildings in the centre. First Trans Pennine run services from Edinburgh to there, but these might be disrupted due to the closure, until next month, of the line between Glasgow and Carlisle for repairs. If you're looking for much in the way of nightlife or sophisticated restaurants, then these are maybe not for you, but if you like smaller, characterful, places then you could do a lot worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyjambo Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 My laddies just been accepted into Durham uni to do his masters, starts the beginning of October for a full year, so I imagine we will be having a few weekends there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyjambo Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Great, informative post Auld Reekin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WSTR Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Coldstream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FWJ Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 If it's a nice wee town with a few bars and restaurants to wander about then Pitlochry is good. There's not a lot to do but it's good for an overnighter and less than a couple of hours from Edinburgh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auld Reekin' Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 If it's a nice wee town with a few bars and restaurants to wander about then Pitlochry is good. There's not a lot to do but it's good for an overnighter and less than a couple of hours from Edinburgh. If so, The Moulin Inn is a must! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auld Reekin' Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 If so, The Moulin Inn is a must! And, on that note, Dunkeld is a really nice place too, in a really picturesque setting and with a lot of cracking scenery around it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Templeton Peck Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 St Andrews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cairneyhill Jambo Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Fort William. You can get a room for ?35 for two per night just now in the Premier Inn which is 5 minutes from the station. Cracking train journey up going passed Loch Lomond and Bridge of Orchy. Oban is also nice. There are also a lot of decent deals just now on Groupon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 Thanks some great posts. Appreciated. Off to check a few places out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 If so, The Moulin Inn is a must! It certainly is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CollyWolly Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 To my great surprise, Liverpool, which I had to be dragged kicking and screaming to, was an excellent city break. Plenty to do and see and, once you put the accent to one side, actually genuinely nice people for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosanostra Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 Apart from London - Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol and Brighton are all great short trips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbo1874 Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 I would say Alnwick. Tree house restaurant looked good when I visited castle with kids. Don't know if that's the case mind as never ate there. Also plenty to see and do . Tbh you could spend a good part of your day wandering around castle itself. Wee visit to Low Newton by the sea as well. Nice pub there. Can't remember the name of it. Only caviet I'd put on allthis is it was 6 years ago I visited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auld Reekin' Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 I would say Alnwick. Tree house restaurant looked good when I visited castle with kids. Don't know if that's the case mind as never ate there. Also plenty to see and do . Tbh you could spend a good part of your day wandering around castle itself. Wee visit to Low Newton by the sea as well. Nice pub there. Can't remember the name of it. Only caviet I'd put on allthis is it was 6 years ago I visited. The Ship Inn; superb place - great food & brews its own beer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbo1874 Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 The Ship Inn; superb place - great food & brews its own beer!That's the one. Great wee pub and what a setting. Amazing beach as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecjambo Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 Macdonald hotels have a winter offer on at the moment. I think it runs up until the end of March. The Mrs and I were thinking of a couple of nights in either the Perthshire or Peebles hotel. Has anyone been to either or recommend one place over the other? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tams bird Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 Went to York a few months ago. Never thought of Durham before, might go there next time. Nothing planned this year yet except Cardiff in July. 14th year in a row... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Tucker Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 Another vote for Dunkeld here, cracking town that I spent numerous wee family holidays in. The scenery is amazing, and you can get a lovely walk along the Tay as well. A few good wee caf?'s/restaurants and always a really friendly vibe. It is a wee place though, so maybe an overnighter rather than a long weekend. With Pitlochry just up the road too, you can get a train from one to t'other I think. Two great wee places in touching distance of each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 A bit of a mad idea, but have you thought about doing Edinburgh as a tourist. Book a hotel for a couple of nights. Do the touristy thing and all that. You might learn something, and no travelling costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siegementality Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 A bit of a mad idea, but have you thought about doing Edinburgh as a tourist. Book a hotel for a couple of nights. Do the touristy thing and all that. You might learn something, and no travelling costs. I've done this a few times. Walk down streets you haven't before, into bars, restaurants and cafes you normally wouldn't. Explore Moningside and Stockbridge, climb Arthur's Seat and visit the museum. Edinburgh has so much to offer, places you walk past everyday and never think about visiting. Regardless of how long you've lived there, or how often you've visited, there is always more to do and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Avimore is a lovely place for a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iantjambo Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Another vote for Dunkeld here, cracking town that I spent numerous wee family holidays in. The scenery is amazing, and you can get a lovely walk along the Tay as well. A few good wee caf?'s/restaurants and always a really friendly vibe. It is a wee place though, so maybe an overnighter rather than a long weekend. With Pitlochry just up the road too, you can get a train from one to t'other I think. Two great wee places in touching distance of each other. That looks absolutely stunning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Dunphy Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth, and Penrith are all nice places and within easy reach of Edinburgh by rail. Berwick is a lively and historical town, with well-preserved town walls which you can walk around and many old and interesting buildings. There's a good bus network based there which you can use to get to various other places in Northumberland and Berwickshire. I would, in all honesty, avoid Berwick. The town itself is very nice, the town walls are really impressive and the sea air is lovely. However, it's let down massively by a lot of the people who live there and the standard of places to eat and drink is sub-par to say the least. I used to live near Berwick and would visit regularly. Now I'm in Edinburgh, it's not somewhere I'd fall over myself to go back to. There are a lot of stunning places in Berwickshire to visit though, I would definitely agree on visiting a lot of places in the Borders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasavallan Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Preferably on a train route from Edinburgh I am going to sound a bit Portilloesque but I went to York via Carlisle / Settle / Leeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Tucker Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 That looks absolutely stunning. It is indeed, even better when you're wandering around the town Autumn time in Pitlochry is tremendous too when they have the Enchanted Forest all set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted January 26, 2016 Author Share Posted January 26, 2016 Anyone know when is best to book train fares? (few weeks before do prices drop?)I'm looking at a return to Durham (etc) on our dates and getting crazy prices. (a flight to madrid id cheaper!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 In that case go to Madrid. I know I would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyjambo Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 Anyone know when is best to book train fares? (few weeks before do prices drop?) I'm looking at a return to Durham (etc) on our dates and getting crazy prices. (a flight to madrid id cheaper!) pretty sure they are at the cheapest exactly 12 weeks beforehand, we paid ?75 for the 2 of us return, Edin to Durham, that was April last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gershwin Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 Anyone know when is best to book train fares? (few weeks before do prices drop?) I'm looking at a return to Durham (etc) on our dates and getting crazy prices. (a flight to madrid id cheaper!) East Coast Trains used to release their all cheap fares twelve weeks in advance but since they've become Virgin East coast they now release the cheap midweek tickets about 6 months in advance. Works for some I'd imagine but I never plan 6 months ahead for travel in the UK so it's made tickets more expensive for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchy frog Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 If so, The Moulin Inn is a must!I took the Savage Beast there, we were both impressed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 In that case go to Madrid. I know I would.Great city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 If so, The Moulin Inn is a must! Loved the Moulin Inn on a (reasonably) warm summer's evening. Pitlochry is a very good shout. Heading further afield, Newark-on-Trent is quite nice and has some good pubs and is an interesting historical town http://www.experiencenottinghamshire.com/newark Easy to get a train there from Edinburgh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighusref Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 I saw the thread title and had two in mind....York and Durham! Others - Inverness, Lincoln and Chester. Inverness and Lincoln both have smallish decent concert venues that I have been to for gigs and made a weekend of it. Lincoln has a couple of historical sites - a castle and cathedral as well as a decent shopping area. Chester is a nice historic town worth a visit Same here! Love Durham, argues it's a city due to the cathedral but it's a lovely little town. pretty sure they are at the cheapest exactly 12 weeks beforehand, we paid ?75 for the 2 of us return, Edin to Durham, that was April last year. Jimmy is almost spot on. Prices 12 weeks and over are standard, the cheapest prices start within 12 weeks until the cheapest seats are sold. So, if you are going the Friday, you would need to wait until twelve weeks before and book on the Saturday (or I think as long as it's after the time you'd depart, less sure on that bit though!) to get the cheap prices. It sounds pedantic, but if you book the Friday you may be paying more than necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridge of Djoum Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Apart from London - Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol and Brighton are all great short trips. Brighton is a bit far on the train though. I think he mentioned using the train. Great weekend away though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
va va voom Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 I would say Durham. I worked for Durham council until about a year ago, lived in Newcastle though. Its a lovely town. The train station is midway up a hill so its a nice walk down to the town. The cathedral and the castle are lovely. Have you been to Newcastle? If so I would probably recommend a night in Durham and a night in tha toon. They are both pretty different but both have there own unique points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deevers Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Oxford is pretty good, especially if you are a history buff. Lots to see in and around there. Bath is pretty good as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted January 27, 2016 Author Share Posted January 27, 2016 Anyone been to Preston?Any good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reaths17 Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Anyone been to Preston? Any good? we played them pre season a year or 2 ago so you should get a decent reply for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Fredrickson Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 I went to Preston once for a day trip. Quickly changed to an hour trip. Thought it was quite depressing and I think the football museum is now at Wembley rather than Deepdale (I may be wrong) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Say What Again Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 I've changed trains at Preston a few times. It looks shit. Like Wigan (which was shit) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CollyWolly Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Anyone been to Preston? Any good? Nut its rubbish, and the busies are horrible there. Give it a miss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighusref Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Anyone been to Preston? Any good? Been twice and loved it. Spent both times drunk out of my mind, though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
269miles Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Would recommend Chester. You don't say when you're thinking about going but I went on "Ladies Day" last year to Chester Races. Had a great time. Nice town , plenty of decent boozers and places to eat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Preston is a dump. I wouldn't go if you paid me. Only Stoke beats it in my experience! ***shudder*** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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