(27 Feb 2015, 9:36 pm)MrFozz wrote From Aycliffe, he would have to go down to Darlo to come back up

(27 Feb 2015, 9:34 pm)Tom wrote If you get a North West Explorer you could go to Central Lakes too. 

Could you not get the train to Newcastle?

(27 Feb 2015, 9:39 pm)Jimmi wrote I would love to do some of the lakes at some point.

Probably could get the train to/from Newcastle to speed things up and maybe stay out later. It helps that Arriva extended the last 7 from Durham at 2315 to Newton Aycliffe last year as before that it only ran as far as Ferryhill meaning the last journey to Aycliffe was at 2215.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:37 pm)Tom wrote Would still be quicker?

(27 Feb 2015, 9:43 pm)Jimmi wrote It wouldn't be much faster and there is only a train from Aycliffe - Darlington every 2 hours so really I'd have to get the bus to Darlington which would take over 30 minutes to get to Darlo then I have about 10 minutes walk and I like to be there in plenty of time so it's easier and cheaper to get the buses to Newcastle.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:43 pm)Jimmi wrote It wouldn't be much faster and there is only a train from Aycliffe - Darlington every 2 hours so really I'd have to get the bus to Darlington which would take over 30 minutes to get to Darlo then I have about 10 minutes walk and I like to be there in plenty of time so it's easier and cheaper to get the buses to Newcastle.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:46 pm)Tom wrote You could get the 7 to Durham arriving at 0614, then you could get the 0636 X2 to Newcastle?

You could then get the 0745 85 to Carlisle, using an Arriva Day Ticket, arrivng into Carlisle at 0956.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:52 pm)Jimmi wrote Jesus that's early! It was bad enough when I had to get up and out for the 0637 journey to college one morning when we went on a trip to Birmingham.

Yeah would have to be weekday as the first 7 on a Saturday isn't until just after 7am and the connecting X2 gets into Newcastle at the same time the 0845 Stagecoach 685 leaves so have to wait another hour unless I got the train to Newcastle from Durham.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:56 pm)Tom wrote Haha if you want to get to Central Lakes and back in a day then you have to leave early!

Could you not stay over? We only paid £35 per night for a Premier Inn in Kendal and it was well worth it. 

(27 Feb 2015, 10:03 pm)Jimmi wrote Probably could do although I possibly could do a whole day out providing I could recover the next day. Probably would be better staying in a hotel as I'd have more time to explore in one day and not have to worry about getting home and return the next day although this would cost more.

(27 Feb 2015, 10:07 pm)Tom wrote Aye if you stayed in a hotel you could even venture to Blackpool and Lancaster, and possibly Preston. 

This is the hotel I was talking about and if you look closely you could probably find a room for £29.

http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/KENTAB/kendal-central

(27 Feb 2015, 10:15 pm)aureolin wrote You must be on commission for Premier Inn.

(27 Feb 2015, 10:17 pm)Tom wrote Aye

Nah they are just really good quality for the money. Some of the hotels in the lakes are a rip off and that is the cheapest I can find unless you want to stay in a Travelodge in the middle of nowhere

(27 Feb 2015, 10:19 pm)aureolin wrote Aye they're not bad Premier Inns. I may try that Kendel one and have a trip through the lakes, if I can get a decent rate when I'm off work.

(27 Feb 2015, 10:07 pm)Tom wrote Aye if you stayed in a hotel you could even venture to Blackpool and Lancaster, and possibly Preston. 



This is the hotel I was talking about and if you look closely you could probably find a room for £29.



http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/KENTAB/kendal-central

(27 Feb 2015, 10:27 pm)Jimmi wrote I would like a trip to Blackpool too especially as I quite like Blackpool and they have new Mercedes Citaro's entering service in the next month or so.

(27 Feb 2015, 10:29 pm)Tom wrote If you get the express 555 to Lancaster, you could get the 42 from there to Blackpool. Might be a rush getting back to Carlisle though.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:43 pm)MrFozz wrote Could anyone give me an idea of what tickets Northern do, I have just come up with a plan I fancy doing about August

Sunderland-Carlisle
Carlisle-Leeds
Leeds-York
York-Durham, Newcastle or Sunderland...

I have always wanted to ride Settle-Carlisle line

(27 Feb 2015, 10:29 pm)Tom wrote If you get the express 555 to Lancaster, you could get the 42 from there to Blackpool. Might be a rush getting back to Carlisle though.

(27 Feb 2015, 9:22 pm)Dan wrote Well the invite was there but some of us don't like travelling huge distances!

(27 Feb 2015, 7:01 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Possible plan for tomorrow:

#21 - Chester-le-Street Clifford Terrace to Durham University Hospital
(10:03 --- 10:18) - GNE Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2
About 10 minutes of taking photos at the Durham University Hospital
#Anything - Durham University Hospital to Durham Bus Station
(10:30ish --- 10:35ish) - GNE..could be anything depending on which service I opt for!
#50 - Durham Bus Station to Durham Arnison Centre Retail Park
(10:53 --- 11:02) - GNE Scania CN230UB/Scania OmniCity
About 20 minutes taking photos at a few spots around the Arnison Centre
#64 - Durham Arnison Centre Retail Park to Durham North Road
(11:30 --- 11:45) - ANE..anything...hopefully one of those Enviro200s again!
#X21 - Durham Bus Station to Bishop Auckland Bus Station
(11:55 --- 12:29) - GNE Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President
About half an hour of taking photos around Bishop Auckland Bus Station
#X21 - Bishop Auckland Bus Station to Durham Bus Station
(13:04 --- 13:39) - GNE Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President
#21 - Durham Bus Station to Chester-le-Street Clifford Terrace
(13:46 --- 14:03) - GNE Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2

I'll get a Get Around day ticket for £3.75, I don't mind paying £1.70 on the 64 for another ride on an E200.

(28 Feb 2015, 9:44 am)MarcTheA4 wrote Left the house - should be on the 10:03 #21 to Durham my local stop.

Would be the 10:00 from CLS.

(28 Feb 2015, 9:44 am)MarcTheA4 wrote Left the house - should be on the 10:03 #21 to Durham my local stop.

Would be the 10:00 from CLS.

(28 Feb 2015, 9:56 am)citaro5284 wrote I reckon it will be bus 6070....

(28 Feb 2015, 9:57 am)MarcTheA4 wrote Here we go again...you reckon...or you KNOW?!

(28 Feb 2015, 7:13 am)Dan wrote Yeah, it's impossible to do it in one day.

I bought a North West 7-day Explorer last year during the summer, and even on the days where I used Northern Rail to/from Carlisle to speed things up, I couldn't cram everything in that I wanted to.

Going to the lakes and back in one day needs vigorous planning, and I'd suggest that it would perhaps be easier and more efficient to book a hotel if it's as cheap as £35 for a night. I left some very risky connections when I went, and luckily nothing went wrong, but some running was required.