'A train trip?
Why don't we go in the van? ' I asked.......The reply was straightforward and fairly sensible. Pete had some rail vouchers for a cancelled train journey so he decided he would use them to have a journey up to Scotland in winter. I thought it might be awful- peering gloomily out of misted up windows watching the rain fly past but I was wrong ( for a change!)
We started off with friend Stewart kindly taking us to the station at Penistone and we caught the train to Huddersfield. It was cold but the train was warm and though we've done this journey many times, there was still plenty to keep us glued to the windows for the journey. Pete was checking out pubs in easy reach of the stations as usual. Sadly there wasn't time for a coffee stop at the Head of Steam on the platform at Huddersfield as we had the train to Leeds to catch.
We saw a beautiful train pull in to Leeds station- the Northern Belle, I think it was called but sadly , it wasn't ours.....We had to cheer ourselves up after the disappointment (!) so we headed for the Scarborough Hotel (courtesy of the Good Pub Guide) just outside the station where Pete was delighted to see nine real beers on- the coffee was good too. There was a good menu so we'll probably be returning.......
 |
| a happy chappy |
were painted in the
claret and cream livery of the Settle line and look lovely.
We didn't take advantage of the catering trolley which was rolled on at Settle as we'd needed our sandwiches well before then!
On to Carlisle- and the Woodrow Wilson pub for Pete while I hunted a florist's shop.What a great station and castle ! We'll have to come back - we usually stop on the outskirts at Morrison's for fuel for the van and for us.
Happy chappie again!
Next was the trip through the borders up to Edinburgh. It's also got lovely views though it was just getting dark as we pulled into Waverley Station and dragged the cases not far to Jury's Inn. After a quick shower, Adale- our friend in the North- picked us up and took us to her house where we were royally wined and dined and caught up with each other- a lovely night. We walked back past Holyrood, and up the Royal Mile to the hotel where we had a comfy night.
After a huge breakfast , we went to the station again to get the train to Inverness.
The journey was fantastic! The scenery was breathtaking....we crossed the Firth of Forth and were amazed again at the wonderful engineering of the bridges.
There was a very well behaved hen party on the train and I was impressed with guy who got on at Perth with his girlfriend who promptly got out two glasses and a bottle of bubbly to start the weekend off in style. Very romantic!
The highlight of the journey was when we were talking about golden eagles and the possibility of seeing one when there it was! It wheeled up in the air and the colour of the wings was amazing. We were stunned by it's magnificence.
We were then stunned by the magnificence of the welcome we got on arrival in Inverness! Marje and Mike- who we'd met on a camp site in Greece- came to meet us and it was so good to see them. We had a drive to Alness and around the area they live before going to their house . We had a lovely meal and another big catch up as we hadn't seen them since the end of September, in Greece.
Snow was forecast and sure enough, the next day, snow arrived. The roads were clear and we all set off for a day trip to Kyle of Lochalsh from Inverness. Although it was snowing, we could see some stunning scenery from the window. We saw loads of deer. Mike was good guide and told us lots about the areas we were travelling through. Unfortunately, the train window was covered in mud - we could see out but my photos didn't turn out very well. Marje made a super picnic which we enjoyed. The snow emphasized the shape of the mountains and valleys and it was a spectacular journey.
We got to the Kyle of Lochalsh where we could see the Isle of Skye clearly. It was freezing! The wind was really chilly and made walking about not very pleasant. We thought we'd go for a walk but didn't go far. We had a change of plan and caught an earlier train back .
We saw a deer jump a fence on the way back and a huge herd on the hillside.
We got back to Inverness in daylight then went to Alness. We went out to dinner at a lovely hotel and had fantastic food and good wine.
Next morning, we had a snowy stroll round Alness before getting the train back to Edinburgh. The f our hour journey went very quickly as there was so much to see out of clean (!) windows.
Adale met us and took us to the Holiday Inn, just out of the city centre. We had the most amazing views from the room.
After another magnificent meal, we went to the Captain's bar where there was a super music session going on. The landlady Pam encourages musicians and there seems to be live music on most nights- how great is that?
The next day was Pete's birthday and our wedding anniversary so I'd hoped for something romantic.....'Breakfast at Tiffany's' perhaps? Well I got breakfast at Sainsbury's!...and very tasty it was too.
We had a walk into the city centre and found a nice pub- though there are loads of nice pubs.
We went into the Oak then into the Hebrides where there was a traditional music session going on. I can't believe there were so many musicians about on a Monday afternoon- it was great! We walked back to Adale's for supper then she took us back to the hotel. What a super day.
The last day of the trip started with a taxi ride to the station then the scenic train ride down the east coast through Berwick, past the Farne islands and the Northumberland coast into Newcastle- home town, with Pete chomping merrily on a pasty for breakfast.
We changed trains to get the Leeds train and went past Durham and York. It became a little less scenic going through Leeds and Dewsbury but we had the joy of the Head of Steam at Huddersfield to look forward to.
The lunch at the end of the line! .....well not quite- we had the last little journey home...to be met by Stewart and Katie and another lovely welcome.
What a fantastic time we had.......and we didn't have to watch the road or map read!
 |
| well- we did have a bit of rain... |
We didn't take advantage of the catering trolley which was rolled on at Settle as we'd needed our sandwiches well before then!
On to Carlisle- and the Woodrow Wilson pub for Pete while I hunted a florist's shop.What a great station and castle ! We'll have to come back - we usually stop on the outskirts at Morrison's for fuel for the van and for us.
Next was the trip through the borders up to Edinburgh. It's also got lovely views though it was just getting dark as we pulled into Waverley Station and dragged the cases not far to Jury's Inn. After a quick shower, Adale- our friend in the North- picked us up and took us to her house where we were royally wined and dined and caught up with each other- a lovely night. We walked back past Holyrood, and up the Royal Mile to the hotel where we had a comfy night.
After a huge breakfast , we went to the station again to get the train to Inverness.
The highlight of the journey was when we were talking about golden eagles and the possibility of seeing one when there it was! It wheeled up in the air and the colour of the wings was amazing. We were stunned by it's magnificence.
We were then stunned by the magnificence of the welcome we got on arrival in Inverness! Marje and Mike- who we'd met on a camp site in Greece- came to meet us and it was so good to see them. We had a drive to Alness and around the area they live before going to their house . We had a lovely meal and another big catch up as we hadn't seen them since the end of September, in Greece.
Snow was forecast and sure enough, the next day, snow arrived. The roads were clear and we all set off for a day trip to Kyle of Lochalsh from Inverness. Although it was snowing, we could see some stunning scenery from the window. We saw loads of deer. Mike was good guide and told us lots about the areas we were travelling through. Unfortunately, the train window was covered in mud - we could see out but my photos didn't turn out very well. Marje made a super picnic which we enjoyed. The snow emphasized the shape of the mountains and valleys and it was a spectacular journey.
 |
| a dirty train window and Inverness |
 |
| Achnasheen |
 |
| Marje and me |
 |
| Pete and Mike |
We got to the Kyle of Lochalsh where we could see the Isle of Skye clearly. It was freezing! The wind was really chilly and made walking about not very pleasant. We thought we'd go for a walk but didn't go far. We had a change of plan and caught an earlier train back .
We saw a deer jump a fence on the way back and a huge herd on the hillside.
We got back to Inverness in daylight then went to Alness. We went out to dinner at a lovely hotel and had fantastic food and good wine.
Adale met us and took us to the Holiday Inn, just out of the city centre. We had the most amazing views from the room.
After another magnificent meal, we went to the Captain's bar where there was a super music session going on. The landlady Pam encourages musicians and there seems to be live music on most nights- how great is that?
The next day was Pete's birthday and our wedding anniversary so I'd hoped for something romantic.....'Breakfast at Tiffany's' perhaps? Well I got breakfast at Sainsbury's!...and very tasty it was too.
We had a walk into the city centre and found a nice pub- though there are loads of nice pubs.
We changed trains to get the Leeds train and went past Durham and York. It became a little less scenic going through Leeds and Dewsbury but we had the joy of the Head of Steam at Huddersfield to look forward to.
 |
| Durham |
What a fantastic time we had.......and we didn't have to watch the road or map read!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.