Mitchell Hurd
On Moderation
- Joined
- 28 Oct 2017
- Messages
- 1,647
Hello. It's not the first time I've asked advice on here.
Just interested to know what people would do in my shoes so I know where to go / stay on my first visit to Scotland.
Edinburgh (long story short) I had to cancel in August 2015 a few days before I go. The following years after I've been unable to go.
Assuming everything goes smoothly and my way, if I did Edinburgh in around April / May next year for 5 nights, I'd do the following...
1. Go from Oxford on a Thursday to Edinburgh but via Birmingham New Street and catch the 15:03 as it's booked for an HST in the December 2019 - May 2020 timetable change. With this there's the 16:03 and 17:03 also booked for an HST. From Oxford I'd get the 13:10ish.
2. Friday - have a look around / tour of Edinburgh plus the castle there.
3. Saturday - Aberdeen by Scotrail HST and an LNER Azuma back (both First Class).
4. Sunday - visit Falkirk.
5. Monday - visit Perth as Stagecoach was born there. I'd get the X56 in (Plaxton Panther LE) and a Citylink Gold back.
6. Tuesday - 07:00 from Edinburgh to Oxford back home.
If Dundee...
1. Thursday - same train from Oxford and Birmingham New Street, bearing in mind that if my first arrival into Scotland was in Dundee on this service that it could be a Voyager. I appreciate the trains themselves but a HST is much more preferable - thanks to a Quiet Coach which is useful if on a train arriving at Dundee from Birmingham New Street around 21:45.
Friday - Aberdeen by Scotrail HST and an LNER Azuma (18:18), both Standard Class. I'd get the 12:37 from Dundee as I can have a look round Dundee for like 2 hours and do a bit of gift shopping whilst having some lunch.
Saturday - Edinburgh by bus to Perth then an X56 Plaxton Panther LE. Back by a Citylink Gold coach.
Sunday - not sure.
Monday - HST to and from Dundee and Inverness via Perth.
Tuesday - home. 06:32 (1V54) or 09:33 (1V60) from Dundee to Birmingham New Street. The great advantages of the 06:32 would be I could reserve a seat where if it's backwards I can find a fully unreserved forward airline seat. With the 09:33, I could at least sit in my reserved seat. I know that 1V60 is booked for a 5-car Voyager. Only trouble is how busy does this get? I dread to think the loadings til York if the London train before it is cancelled.
If I go to Edinburgh then I can afford to do First Class to and from Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
If I go to Dundee then I can visit 4 other scottish cities compared to 3 if I did Edinburgh. Plus I've an HST to Aberdeen and Inverness to look forward to if I arrive from Birmingham New Street into Dundee on a Voyager.
Let's just say with Dundee I'll be spending roughly the same amount / slightly less on train fare than I would be doing Edinburgh but just changing my plans.
So if any of you were me, what would you do - stay in Edinburgh and enjoy 2 x First Class trips on the Aberdeen trip or stay in Dundee and cope with the disappointment of a still good Voyager but look forward to 2 Scotrail HST trips?
If the Dundee, what would you prefer more - get the 06:32 via Birmingham New Street (13:33 from there) as it starts in Edinburgh or get up like 2 hours later by catching 1V60? If 1V60 this means changing at Birmingham New Street between 4pm and 16:30 (16:33 from there back to Oxford)?
Just interested to know what people would do in my shoes so I know where to go / stay on my first visit to Scotland.
Edinburgh (long story short) I had to cancel in August 2015 a few days before I go. The following years after I've been unable to go.
Assuming everything goes smoothly and my way, if I did Edinburgh in around April / May next year for 5 nights, I'd do the following...
1. Go from Oxford on a Thursday to Edinburgh but via Birmingham New Street and catch the 15:03 as it's booked for an HST in the December 2019 - May 2020 timetable change. With this there's the 16:03 and 17:03 also booked for an HST. From Oxford I'd get the 13:10ish.
2. Friday - have a look around / tour of Edinburgh plus the castle there.
3. Saturday - Aberdeen by Scotrail HST and an LNER Azuma back (both First Class).
4. Sunday - visit Falkirk.
5. Monday - visit Perth as Stagecoach was born there. I'd get the X56 in (Plaxton Panther LE) and a Citylink Gold back.
6. Tuesday - 07:00 from Edinburgh to Oxford back home.
If Dundee...
1. Thursday - same train from Oxford and Birmingham New Street, bearing in mind that if my first arrival into Scotland was in Dundee on this service that it could be a Voyager. I appreciate the trains themselves but a HST is much more preferable - thanks to a Quiet Coach which is useful if on a train arriving at Dundee from Birmingham New Street around 21:45.
Friday - Aberdeen by Scotrail HST and an LNER Azuma (18:18), both Standard Class. I'd get the 12:37 from Dundee as I can have a look round Dundee for like 2 hours and do a bit of gift shopping whilst having some lunch.
Saturday - Edinburgh by bus to Perth then an X56 Plaxton Panther LE. Back by a Citylink Gold coach.
Sunday - not sure.
Monday - HST to and from Dundee and Inverness via Perth.
Tuesday - home. 06:32 (1V54) or 09:33 (1V60) from Dundee to Birmingham New Street. The great advantages of the 06:32 would be I could reserve a seat where if it's backwards I can find a fully unreserved forward airline seat. With the 09:33, I could at least sit in my reserved seat. I know that 1V60 is booked for a 5-car Voyager. Only trouble is how busy does this get? I dread to think the loadings til York if the London train before it is cancelled.
If I go to Edinburgh then I can afford to do First Class to and from Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
If I go to Dundee then I can visit 4 other scottish cities compared to 3 if I did Edinburgh. Plus I've an HST to Aberdeen and Inverness to look forward to if I arrive from Birmingham New Street into Dundee on a Voyager.
Let's just say with Dundee I'll be spending roughly the same amount / slightly less on train fare than I would be doing Edinburgh but just changing my plans.
So if any of you were me, what would you do - stay in Edinburgh and enjoy 2 x First Class trips on the Aberdeen trip or stay in Dundee and cope with the disappointment of a still good Voyager but look forward to 2 Scotrail HST trips?
If the Dundee, what would you prefer more - get the 06:32 via Birmingham New Street (13:33 from there) as it starts in Edinburgh or get up like 2 hours later by catching 1V60? If 1V60 this means changing at Birmingham New Street between 4pm and 16:30 (16:33 from there back to Oxford)?