Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Talk about anything.

Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew

Post Reply
rollindoughnut
Posts: 156
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 7:55 pm

Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by rollindoughnut »

I keep looking at trips in Scotland but the thought of driving for hours puts me off. Reading about the rubbish cycle provision on the mainline trains is hardly inviting. The Caledonian sleeper seems a bit more welcoming?
Anything else I've missed? Coaches for example?
User avatar
Mariner
Posts: 1793
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 2:37 pm
Location: East Devon

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by Mariner »

Not much information here but might be worth a look
https://sendbike.com/collections/packaging-supplies

In fact I am not sure if they are just selling boxes or actually shipping. :???:
Zazen - nothing happens next this is it.
lune ranger
Posts: 2380
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
Location: Peoples Republic of Devon

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by lune ranger »

Unless you box your bike coach providers won’t take them as luggage.
The only way is by train * Whilst far from ideal taking your bike on the train isn’t too bad. Provided that you book ahead for a seat and bike reservation the hassle is limited.
Know your route and read up about where bikes go on the trains you will be using - information available on National Rail website. Allow reasonable time at connections. Take something to read and relax.

* I’m automatically discounting flying as a means of domestic travel in the UK.
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
jameso
Posts: 5036
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 1:48 pm

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by jameso »

The Caledonian Sleeper is expensive but it's a great way to do it. If you can plan ahead and get a discounted ticket somehow I'd recommend it. Waking up and seeing the hills outside is a way of travelling that adds to the whole experience.

I've also done it from King's Cross with a couple of changes. Booked the bikes in advance. Booking itself was a minor faff but the trip itself was easy.
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9009
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by RIP »

Never had a problem booking bikes on Avanti West Coast and very easy to put them on and get them off. Obviously try not to book at the last minute.

Can book with Avanti or at local ticket office. Do the bike booking at the same time as the ticket or beforehand. On the day, tell station staff you want to put the bike on and meet them at the northern end of the train ('quiet' coach). There's even two seats permanently reserved for cyclists in the quiet coach right next to the bike store. You can access the bike during the journey. Tell the train staff where you want to get off.Sometimes a bit nervewracking waiting for them to come down the platform to open the door for you from the outside :smile: .

Big fan here.

Will leave it to our Scottish correspondents to describe onwards from Glasgow. Obviously as James says the sleeper removes that problem.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
lune ranger
Posts: 2380
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
Location: Peoples Republic of Devon

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by lune ranger »

RIP wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 9:46 am Tell the train staff where you want to get off.Sometimes a bit nervewracking waiting for them to come down the platform to open the door for you from the outside :smile:
I did once have to pull the alarm on the train in order to get off at Oxenholme. No one arrived to let me off and the train started to pull away… as I had a booked ticket and had told the staff I felt justified in doing so and didn’t get in trouble. I do prefer the trains where you put your bike on yourself as a result!
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
User avatar
Borderer
Posts: 1541
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:59 pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Contact:

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by Borderer »

lune ranger wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 9:37 am Unless you box your bike coach providers won’t take them as luggage.
This isn't true. I recently got our bikes on a coach by wrapping them in plastic sheeting, a friend then got away with bubble wrap on her bike. Someone on here since shared a link showing that coach operators will take a bike if it's in one of these stretchy sock things people use to stop their bike making hotel rooms dirty and so on. As long as the chain and other dirty bits are covered they are fine with it.
This was my experience recently in Scotland any way. The coach was also cheaper and more convenient than a train.
lune ranger
Posts: 2380
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
Location: Peoples Republic of Devon

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by lune ranger »

Borderer wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 6:37 pm
lune ranger wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 9:37 am Unless you box your bike coach providers won’t take them as luggage.
This isn't true. I recently got our bikes on a coach by wrapping them in plastic sheeting, a friend then got away with bubble wrap on her bike. Someone on here since shared a link showing that coach operators will take a bike if it's in one of these stretchy sock things people use to stop their bike making hotel rooms dirty and so on. As long as the chain and other dirty bits are covered they are fine with it.
This was my experience recently in Scotland any way. The coach was also cheaper and more convenient than a train.
I stand corrected. It’s been a while since I looked at it. Some form of packing is still required. A coach to Scotland from London would be an excruciating experience. Exeter to Birmingham was hard enough :|
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
User avatar
Borderer
Posts: 1541
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:59 pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Contact:

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by Borderer »

I don't mind the coach tbh. It took us ten hours from ullapool to Hawick with changes at Inverness and Edinburgh. The seats were comfy and we had a table and charger plugs plus a toilet. We were both quite happy to sit and watch videos and play cards.
User avatar
BigdummySteve
Posts: 2974
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 9:16 pm
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by BigdummySteve »

The sleeper can be quite reasonable, I looked a while back and you could book a reclining seat for £74 each way to Inverness.
When I did my Jogle I got a courier to deliver my bike at a specific time and the flew from Birmingham international to Wick, and it was still cheaper than the standard train fare.
We’re all individuals, except me.

I woke up this morning but I’m still in the dark
lune ranger
Posts: 2380
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
Location: Peoples Republic of Devon

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by lune ranger »

Fair enough. You’d be looking at 20 hours at least from London to Ullapool in that case.
In that time you can get the train from Exeter to the Dolomites - all be it for a considerable sum of money.
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by ScotRoutes »

Assuming you can sleep, the sleeper train also cuts the cost (and bypasses the current unavailability issue) of accommodation.
User avatar
Mariner
Posts: 1793
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 2:37 pm
Location: East Devon

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by Mariner »

Depending on destination you may or may not have to move your bike in the middle of the night at Edinburgh.
The train splits here with the smaller Fort Willian section having its own goods van added.
It is a very sureal experence to be riding your bike down Waverley platform at 02.00 am with guards shouting 'no riding'. :lol:
Zazen - nothing happens next this is it.
User avatar
thenorthwind
Posts: 2574
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:07 pm
Location: Newcastle

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by thenorthwind »

RIP wrote: Sun Jul 25, 2021 9:46 am There's even two seats permanently reserved for cyclists in the quiet coach right next to the bike store.
I wonder which rocket scientist came up with that idea? Perhaps LNER could employ him on a lucrative consultancy contract since every single time I've made a bike reservation my seat reservation has been at the opposite end of the train, usually resulting in me walking through 8 carriages, including the buffet car and first class, to get to my seat, and repeating at the other end.

This used to happen when you could make a bike reservation online whilst buying a ticket, which you haven't been able to do for the last few years, presumably because the technology to do so has been un-invented. 😤

Deep breath.
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by ScotRoutes »

This used to happen when you could make a bike reservation online whilst buying a ticket, which you haven't been able to do for the last few years, presumably because the technology to do so has been un-invented.
ScotRail still use that technology.
lune ranger
Posts: 2380
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
Location: Peoples Republic of Devon

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by lune ranger »

ScotRoutes wrote: Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:45 am
This used to happen when you could make a bike reservation online whilst buying a ticket, which you haven't been able to do for the last few years, presumably because the technology to do so has been un-invented.
ScotRail still use that technology.
:lol:
I had a nice surprise recently and found to my shock that you could actually reserve a bike online whilst buying a ticket with GWR… no more pointless hour to the station to buy a ticket for me (subject to only travelling on GWR I presume) :-bd
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
User avatar
In Reverse
Posts: 1819
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:08 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by In Reverse »

Evil option obvs but flights are available as a last resort. I've flown to Inverness with the bike for a JoGLE. Easyjet go from Gatwick and Luton.
rollindoughnut
Posts: 156
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 7:55 pm

Re: Is there any hassle free way to travel from London to Scotland by public transport?

Post by rollindoughnut »

There is another option which seems more and more attractive and that's to not bother with the bike and just hike instead. Still get to explore and can pick out more gnarly routes. Nice thing is that my uber expensive bikepacking gear is just as great for backpacking. As long as I get out there then that's a win.
Post Reply