For how long can one "Break their journey" on the return leg of an Off Peak Return ?

[General Zod]

Afternoon all.
I intend to break my journey on the return leg from Scotland to the South and it is likely to be in the Lake District. I'm planning to alight at Oxenholme and then catch a local service to Windermere. Obviously I shall have to purchase a separate ticket for the Oxenholme to Windermere journey but for how long am I allowed to "break my journey" before re-boarding my train from Oxenholme back down to the South ? Ideally I plan to stay in the Lakes for three to four days. Also am I allowed only one BOJ ? I did have plans to meet friends and possibly spend a night or two in Manchester in addition to the Lakeland sojourn.

Thanking you all,
ZOd

 

[John @ home]

for how long am I allowed to "break my journey"

With an off-peak return, the return portion is valid a month. Within that restriction, you can break your journey as often and for as long as you want.

The ticket is valid up to and including the "Valid until" date printed on it (and in some circumstances of overnight break, also for a resumed journey on the following morning).

John

 

[General Zod]

Thanks very much John.
I had been trying to find an official online source but was having very little luck. The National Rail site only gives very simplified details on the conditions of carriage wrt the OPR and makes no mention of the length of time or the number of times one can break a journey.

Regards,
Zod

 

[Solent&Wessex]

The official ruling, as taken from the fares manual is as follows:

# Break of Journey

Off-Peak Singles and the outward portion of Off-Peak Returns are valid for travel on the date shown on the ticket. Where a passenger wishes to stop overnight or the journey cannot be completed within one day, break of journey for an overnight stay is allowed. Where a journey does continue into the next day, travel must resume before 1200 and any relevant time restrictions apply (except where regarded as an unbroken continuation of the previous days' travel where the first connection of the day may be taken). No further break of journey is allowed except for the purpose of changing trains. Please note that break of journey is not permitted on some journeys, as detailed in the ticket restrictions.

Return portions of Off-Peak Return tickets are valid for travel until 0230 on the day following the last day of validity (i.e. one calendar month from outward journey). If a passenger is still travelling at 0230, they may stay on the train to complete that part of the journey but no further break of journey is allowed and all travel must be completed by 1200.

Note: Cross London transfers will only be accepted by London Underground on the date shown on the ticket (or last day of validity for Off-Peak Returns) and until 0429 the following day.