We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

Edinburgh to Penzance!

My recently widowed mother has booked herself and a friend on a holiday to the Isles of Scilly, which departs from Penzance airport at 4PM, on a Monday in March.

Unfortunately neither she or her friend drive, and she lives in Edinburgh, so has tasked me with working out how to get her there!

I think her options are:

a) Fly from Edinburgh to a nearer airport - Newquay, Exeter or similar, and then catch a direct train.

b) Catch the Sunday Caledonian sleeper to London, then change in the morning for an early London -> Penzance train, with a probable change en-route.

c) Travel the day before by train to a midway point - Bristol, Birmingham??, stay overnight, then pick up a semi-direct Penzance train service.

d) Some sort of coach thing!

Has anyone tried this sort of journey before and can recommend a good option, or something to avoid.

I'm ideally looking for something simple (more than 2 or 3 changes would stress her) and cost effective! I'm also concerned about engineering works etc. scuppering well planned weekend train journies.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice!

Rufus.

Comments

  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 15,895 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Firstly, Virgin trains do run direct services. If she enjoys train travel and would like to spend a full day watching the UK go past her window, this option is worth considering. Go to the Virgin trains website, and look for SINGLE tickets in each direction: that way the system will offer the lowest possible fares. Cheap tickets in first class can be only five pounds more than in standard, and on weekdays the service is good: a steward comes round handing out free sandwiches and drinks, and you are generally well looked after. Also see if you can find cheap tickets by splitting the journey in Birmingham.

    Flying is likely to be a more cost-effective option, unless you are lucky with cheap train tickets. Flybe have a direct service between Edinburgh and Exeter; there is a direct bus between Exeter airport and St Davids Station, but it only runs every hour and the last bus is at about 6.00. Otherwise a taxi will cost 8 - 15 pounds. So the morning flight might be a better option!

    If using Flybe, note that you can get cashback if you book your flight by using a site like Quidco or TopCashBack. And be very careful about the additional Flybe charges: for paying by credit card; for checked luggage; for priority boarding. Note that all food and drink served in-flight is sold, at rather high prices, so a snack at the airport before boarding might be a good idea.
  • morganb
    morganb Posts: 1,762 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Another alternative would be to not take the helicopter from Penzance but to use the Skybus plane (which flies from a number of other UK airports which have connections to Edinburgh) to get to Scilly :

    http://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/timetable_skybus.htm

    If you can not cancel the helicopter then I'd recommend breaking the journey, possibly at Taunton as there is a direct train from Edinburgh to Taunton then direct trains from Taunton to Pz.
    That's Numberwang!
  • Mollymop5
    Mollymop5 Posts: 2,095 Forumite
    I used to be a regular travel between Newcastle and Penzance on a direct train no changes.I had a baby in tow :) The journey was always very enjoyable and once on it was great knowing I didn't have to get off and change.Your mum could travel down by train the day before and book a b&b in Penzance then have a taxi take her to the airport on the day of her flight.
    lost my way but now I'm back ! roll on 2013
    spc member 72

  • Mollymop5
    Mollymop5 Posts: 2,095 Forumite
    This has made me think I may need to plan a visit to take my kids to see their Grandpa.Thanks for the nudge :)

    I found a direct train leaving Edinburgh 10.05 am taking nearly 11 hours and arriving 9pm if your mum doesn't mind long journeys.

    http://ojp2.nationalrail.co.uk/en/pj/tt
    lost my way but now I'm back ! roll on 2013
    spc member 72

  • Another option - single ticket each way between Edinburgh and London with "National Express East Coast" then the Night Riveria Sleeper to Penzance

    They could have a whole day in London and even catch a show
  • RufusA
    RufusA Posts: 939 Forumite
    500 Posts
    Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. You've given me lots of ideas - I'm going to bash the interweb tonight, and then discuss with my mother.

    No doubt I'll be back with some tricky questions!

    Rufus.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 241K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.