London to Windermere (and back) with a large dog - best/cheapest way?

gettingready

My daughter has recently moved to Winermere (Cumbria) and at some point I would like to visit.

I do not drive. Coach is only £20 each way but seems to be taking like almost 11 hours (national express) and of course can not take a dog with me this way.

I am useless with trains/fares - perhepas someone can point me in the right direction on how to look for/find cheaper ones? I can only see like nearly £70 each way, very expensive

From any London station (I am in East London but travelling within London is not a probem) to Windermere.

Thanks a lot...

Also, bit confused here:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/luggage_animals.html

Does anyone have experience of travelling with a LARGE dog on a train?

shiprob195

How large are we talking here? I regularly travel from Leicester to the lake district. I have two kids, two suitcases and a border collie sized dog. We try to reserve table seats. The dog just lies down under the table. Every hour or so, my eldest takes her to stretch her legs.

discplayer

It'll be a train from Euston changing at Oxenholme for Windermere, which you probably know if you've looked at times but just struggled with fares.

You don't say when you're looking at travelling but the cheap Advance single type of tickets are released 12 weeks ahead, sometimes a little less for weekends. You might be able to bring the cost down slightly by splitting the tickets - there's a great MSE article on trying this.

Looking at late Oct I can see first class singles for £59 and that the standard class off-peak return for £93 - this type of return is not going to sell out like the cheapest advance singles.

gettingready

Thanks - no date in mind at all yet. Just a general quwry re how to find cheapest possible tickets. Seen the ones for £93 return, expensive

Tottaly useless with trains. Took a train so very few times and those were work trips - booked/paid for by work so all I had to do was find the right plaform LOL

Dog - 40kg German Shepherd.....Very peoplke friendly BUT - massive.... Hmmmm

Miiri

I don't think you'll have much problems with a dog.. I've used that train a few times and if you can pick some of the quieter ones, then I can't see any issues.

That service is used by a lot of walkers and tourists for the lake district and although I've only seen a few dogs - no-one's really bothered. If anything - they are very popular and everyone says hello!

As long as she's on a lead and under control, I'd be very surprised if you had issues.

If you can avoid the school hols and book mid week - you can get some great deals. Look at singles esp off peak - my best was £10 single to Carlisle although that was a couple of years ago.

Miiri

lovesabargain123

Just looked on virgin fare finder ( not virin rail) and you can get Euston to Carlisle for as little as £16 each way, select route and then click 'month view' you can then get another train from Carlisle to Windermere ?

discplayer

Carlisle's too far north. You need to change at Oxenholme, or maybe Preston, for Windermere. If you go to Carlisle you'll go past these places then get on a train to come back south to them.

Look at getting a ticket from Euston to Preston or Oxenholme then a ticket from whichever of those to Windermere. Oxenholme to Windermere is £4.90 each way. From a quick look at dates in Oct this might work out a nice amount less than getting a Euston-Windermere ticket.

Do you qualify for any railcards? If you do and might visit more then a railcard could make a real difference.

Dr_Cuckoo3

Travelling via Manchester brings the fare down to £42.50 return and means the dog can stretch its legs at Manchester rather than being stuck on the same train from London to Lancaster


Outward journey
Depart London Euston 1120/1140 arrive Manchester Piccadilly 1328/1349 fare = £11 date 28/08/2012

Depart Manchester Piccadilly 1416 arrive Windermere 1559 fare = £11.50 date 28/08/2012


Return journey
Depart Windermere 1706 arrive Manchester Piccadilly 1856 fare = £8 date 29/08/2012
Depart Manchester Piccadilly 1955/2015 arrive London Euston 2212/2233 fare = £12 date 29/08/2012


Return fare = £42.50

London - Manchester

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/EUS/MAN/280812/1415/arr/290812/1930/dep

Manchester - Windermere

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/MAN/WDM/280812/1315/dep/290812/1700/dep

There may be cheaper methods and the best thread to ask is this one

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/18454

Dr_Cuckoo3

Dr_Cuckoo3 wrote: »

London - Manchester

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/EUS/MAN/280812/1415/arr/290812/1930/dep

Those London - Manchester fares have gone up to £18 now as they appear to update in real time

12/09/2012 is available at £12

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/EUS/MAN/120912/1415/arr/130912/1930/dep

I think that booking London - Manchester and Manchester - Windermere will be the cheaper option in any event

gettingready

Thanks everyone....

Dr_Cockoo3 - brilliant

Thanks again