Consecutive day trips from Merseyside

[Merseysider]

It's my father's birthday soon so I'm hoping to treat him to some time away from the daily rat race, to a couple places he's keen on visiting.

Please can anyone advise a cheap way of doing the following weekday journeys, on flexible tickets, for two passengers?

Pax 1: Free Merseyrail & bus travel in England, Senior RC; pax 2: 16-25 RC. Able to travel outside of peak times. Travel dates likely to be decided on the morning itself.

Day one: Liverpool <- -> Ravenglass; plus return travel on Rav/Esk railway
Day two: Liverpool or Chester <- -> Stratford upon Avon

Alternatively, if somewhat cheaper:
Day one: Liverpool -> Ravenglass; plus return travel on Rav/Esk railway; -> Birmingham
Day two: Birmingham -> Stratford upon Avon -> Liverpool or Chester

I have a feeling there should be an effective split in the West Midlands somewhere but I can't quite find it.

Also, any (eg LM) TOC specific fares are a possibility.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[lyndhurst25]

For the day trip to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, I can't find splits to beat the £28.80 SDR Railcard fare from Liverpool.
http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=LIV&dest=H045&rlc=YNG
Buying a ticket from the Merseyside boundary, rather from Liverpool, for Passenger 1 may save a small amount on this. (Is it free travel on Merseyrail the TOC, or free train travel within Merseyside, that they have?)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Please can anyone advise a cheap way of doing the following weekday journeys, on flexible tickets, for two passengers?

I don't think you can do any better on Liverpool-Ravenglass than the £22.50 Anytime Day Return.

For Stratford, you could buy a West Midlands Day Ranger at £16.55 (valid after 0900, from Crewe) and add on a day return to Crewe.
From Lime St it's £7.30 Any Permitted, or £5.75 VT Only (both after 0859).
From South Parkway it's £7.00 (Any Permitted, but effectively LM only).
From Chester it's £8.00, although you can winkle it down to £7.30 by buying to Shrewsbury (valid either way, after 0830).
So, £22.30 up to £24.55 depending on route/operator.

Or you could buy Chester-Gobowen ADR at £5.75, and pick up the West Midlands Day Ranger validity from there.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/pr9cb0cc0a040004006ad8690e40c16f.aspx
That would tie you to the Gobowen/Telford route, but if you bought a Chester-Shrewsbury CDR you could go either way to/from Chester (ie via Stafford or Telford).
All fares are after railcard discounts.

 

[cool110]

Is it free travel on Merseyrail the TOC, or free train travel within Merseyside, that they have?

It'll be both, the local element of Merseytravel ENCTS is identical to an all area Saveaway.