Holiday to Cornwall using night sleeper

Rosierabbit

Hi there,

Just wondering if anyone had used the night sleeper from Paddington to Penzance and what they thought? My partner and I are thinking of a weeks holiday in Cornwall in June/ early July and we live in Suffolk and don't want to drive all that way. I know it will be quite expensive but then the petrol would be pretty pricey too.

Also has anyone got any good recommendations for a nice cottage. Not too far from Penzance station and a hot tub would be lovely but not essential. I looked on the Hoseasons website but wasn't particularly inspired. We'd like to spend less than £1000 including travel, taxis etc.

Any ideas or advice gratefully received.
Many thanks

pollywiggle

Check out https://www.classic.co.uk, https://www.helpfulholidays.com, http://www.westcornwallcottageholidays.com/ & http://www.cornishcottageholidays.co.uk/.

I have used all of these agencies & they are good quality properties although not always the cheapest.

You could also have a look at http://www.cornwall-online.co.uk/ & http://www.chycor.co.uk/

That trip is always something we've wanted to do but I don't fancy trying to negotiate the train with two teenagers, bodyboards & a canoe!

Rosierabbit

Thank you very much for all those links. I will start looking through now. I don't blame you for avoiding the trip with having to negotiate teenagers and equipment down there! Think I may have to cut down on my own ridiculous amount of luggage!

chancesare_2

It is one of the most beautiful train routes, is there not a way you could use the day service? The minute it comes into Devon it really is beautiful.

unsure

It might be worth checking out flights from Norwich with Flybe. They go to Exeter (I know it's Devon but it puts most of Cornwall in easy reach) and I believe in Summer they fly to Newquay too. You'd save the better part of a day's travel either way and Norwich is a small, easy airport that doesn't take log to get through.

Sorry, looks likethose routes are no longer operating at least at the mo.

Rosierabbit

Thanks chancesare it would be possible to do the whole journey in a day from here just fancied the whole romance of travelling on the sleeper but if the journey is as beautiful as you say then perhaps it would be a shame to miss it. Thanks for that idea unsure, shame its no longer operating that route.

PasturesNew

There have been three changes to flights in/out of Cornwall this week, as various companies pull out, get p155y or just change. Changes to flights/times/airlines tend to happen twice a year. Alternative could be to fly to Plymouth, get a taxi to the station and pick up a train from there.

From Gatwick it's Flybe or Air Southwest.

fwoodles

I did the sleeper from London down to Cornwall in July last year - mainly to be able to do it. There is something slightly old-worldly about the whole journey.

There is useful information (with pictures) on the train and journey at : http://www.seat61.com/Cornwall-sleeper.htm

Be warned - the beds are *very* small - don't expect to be able to toss and turn in the night! But the berths are clean, the rocking as you're travelling is quite comforting as you nod off.

As Seat61 suggests, if you've a lot of luggage try to leave it in the guards van as there is little floor space - even less if there are going to be 2 of you in the compartment - but you should be able to get 2 interconnecting compartments which might suit better.

Price wise it was marginally cheaper to by a ticket for the night service then pay the sleeper supplement - but I don't know if you can still do that.

Rosierabbit

Many thanks for that fwoodles. I will check out the website!

emg

just looked at the website, now i want to go on a sleeper train, it sounds like good fun!

Ponkle22

Me too! I want to do it too (though last time I booked a sleeper train I couldnt sleep through excitement and noise - still want to repeat the experience though). Though I agree with the poster above, the daytime trip is STUNNING scenery from Devon onwards. So I would advise sleeper down there and daytime train return (or vice versa).