Trip To Inverness

[pitdiver]

Good afternoon
Previously I asked about the best way to get to Edinburgh airport. That has now been sorted. We are now planning a trip to Inverness.
My question is do we go from our nearest appropriate station, Newark Northgate or do we get the train into London and get the sleeper.

We were looking to fly up but there doesn't seem to be any reasonable services.

What do the members recommend, We are even thinking of driving all the way.

 

[Hadders]

LNER from Newark North Gate to York and then pick up the Chieftain, if it were me.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

You can also pick up the Sleeper at Crewe.
A lot of extra miles going via London but not sure how costs would compare.
But have to agree from Newark, via York and the Chieftain makes a whole lot of sense.

 

[FQTV]

LNER from Newark North Gate to York and then pick up the Chieftain, if it were me.

Absolutely, and the same in reverse. Ideally, come back on a Sunday, for the more civilised departure time from Inverness. The Sleeper is an 'experience', rather more expensive, you may or may not enjoy it if you're not used to it, and it can create something of an issue with accommodation check in and check out times not matching up.

If you think that you might need a car in Inverness, Focus Car Rental will deliver to the station and pick up from there too, and I've found them very convenient. Not as cheap as some of the international franchises, but quite a lot friendlier than some of them.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Absolutely, and the same in reverse. Ideally, come back on a Sunday, for the more civilised departure time from Inverness. The Sleeper is an 'experience', rather more expensive, you may or may not enjoy it if you're not used to it, and it can create something of an issue with accommodation check in and check out times not matching up.

If you think that you might need a car in Inverness, Focus Car Rental will deliver to the station and pick up from there too, and I've found them very convenient. Not as cheap as some of the international franchises, but quite a lot friendlier than some of them.

Europcar are adjacent to the station in the Shopping Centre but have limited hours of opening - e.g. closed at Chieftain arrival and departure times, not sure what their out of hours arrangements are. Usually much cheaper when booked through a third party.

 

[Andy Pacer]

LNER from Newark North Gate to York and then pick up the Chieftain, if it were me.

I did this myself a couple of years ago, as Newark NG is a station local to me. The only difference was I changed at Newcastle, as the advances worked out cheaper than changing at York.

 

[FQTV]

Europcar are adjacent to the station in the Shopping Centre but have limited hours of opening - e.g. closed at Chieftain arrival and departure times, not sure what their out of hours arrangements are. Usually much cheaper when booked through a third party.

That's why I have found Focus handy - they'll meet you and you can just leave the car in the station car park. They also have a very large range of cars from Toyota Aygo type up to Range Rovers and sports cars, so if you want something 'special' they don't top out at a Mondeo Diesel.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

That's why I have found Focus handy - they'll meet you and you can just leave the car in the station car park. They also have a very large range of cars from Toyota Aygo type up to Range Rovers and sports cars, so if you want something 'special' they don't top out at a Mondeo Diesel.

Useful info., thank you.
One to bear in mind for future.

 

[30907]

I, too, would go with the daytime option from Newark - London is 120m in the wrong direction for the sleeper, and picking it up at Crewe late atat night wouldn't save you much time.

I am assuming you will be travelling in more normal times, but looking randomly 4 weeks ahead, Standard Advance fares work out at about £110 return (ignoring railcard discounts) and the Offpeak Return is £154.
The flexible fare might be worth considering if you wanted to stop off on the return, or take a less obvious route back.

 

[Iskra]

When travelling to Inverness, I've generally got the Highland Chieftain going North and then the Sleeper coming back South. This provides the best of both worlds in my opinion. The sleeper is an exquisite experience, but pricey.

 

[ChrisC]

I, too, would go with the daytime option from Newark - London is 120m in the wrong direction for the sleeper, and picking it up at Crewe late atat night wouldn't save you much time.

.

I did the daytime option from Newark to Inverness in September last year. I agree that LNER to York and then the Chieftain is perhaps the best option but I decided to make an earlier start from Newark. I got a train to Edinburgh at approx 0845 and changed there to an Edinburgh to Inverness Scotrail train. The reason for this was to arrive in Inverness at just after 1700, whilst it was still light, rather than a 2033 arrival on the Chieftain. This enabled me to settle into my hotel and then go out for a meal and a walk around Inverness.