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...

gettingready

Also - I am quite confused by this:

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

Zara is a BIG dog so what? Someone may decide she causes inconvenince and not allow us onto a train?

scaredy_cat

When do you want to go? and which times for travel? on redspotted hankey a return is £93 leaving fri and returning sunday.

krlyr

Unfortunately you can be refused entry on a train and as a GSD you may find Zara discriminated against - I had it myself when I tried with my black & tan LH GSD (think the darker colours make them a bit more intimidating - everyone loves Casper with his white coat!). However, my brother often used to go on the train with Kiki with no problems, but he was/is quite a muscley bloke, I can imagine the train guards didn't want to confront him and his Rottie x!

scaredy_cat

you might have to have her wear a muzzle on the train for them to accept her.

Fire_Fox

How to guide
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-coach-train-ticket-deals

ETA: Contradictory
"Byelaw 16 allows the train company to refuse carriage or entry to any animal. If your dog or other animal causes a nuisance or inconvenience to other passengers you may be asked to remove it from the train or railway premises by the Train Company or Rail Service Company staff."

"Any animal or article which, in the opinion of the train company staff, is causing or is likely to cause inconvenience to passengers due to its size or behaviour. On train staff are authorised to have items such as these removed from the train."

IMO clarify what happens if you buy a ticket for a fixed time and then get chucked off the train for 'likely to' rather than actual bad behaviour. How do you get to your destination or home? Maybe try not to travel at peak times; if children are at school say then you are less likely to have frightened children or hysterical parents. Can you/ are you willing to lightly sedate Zara to keep her especially calm?

gettingready

double post.....

gettingready

Thanks everyone - this is what worries me the "likely to cause".

In who's opinion?

Coming across a staff member who is scared of dogs full stop and we are stuck?

Zara is very calm when on public transport, used to busses/tube so can not see her causing any problem on the train but.. her size and ..



£93.00 - oh dear oh dear....

Do not have any date in mind yet, not at all. Just trying to figure out if I will be able to visit her at all.

Back to "Real cost of having pets" - ticket price, cost of someone to come and see the cats every day, possibiity of being chucked off the train.. oh dear...

Thanks everyone

Fire_Fox

I would e-mail National Rail for clarification on the exact rules, who decides and what happens if you are removed. Then I'd print out the response and the byelaws and carry with you when you travel. Are there ANY circumstances that might have Zara barking or very restless or straining on her leash - bad weather, another animal on the train, needing the toilet? In that case they might be within their rights to ask you to leave the train.

paddypaws101

Gosh has she already moved up there GR? That all happened very quickly.
As for the train travel, hmm it is a tricky one as the public perception of a GSD can sadly be negative, although I can of course vouchsafe for Zara's lovely character.

gettingready

Paddypaws - yup, they gone last Saturday morning... sigh.....

FireFox, good idea with the email... wonder if they going to respond at all though.

no, nothing will freak her out to lash out or anything... she is a couch potato and it is very nlikely for her to run into a fox/other dog on the train....I hope...