Itinerary help- Southern England
Replies: 13 - Last Post: Oct 13, 2012 5:22 PM Last Post By: Baskaat
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Itinerary help- Southern England
Hi allI'm planning on starting my trip in London, then visiting Salisbury, Glastonbury, Bath and Cornwall (The lizard?). I will be traveling by bus/train and need some help w/organizing the itinerary. I can't seem to find a way to plan this with out going through the Bristol or Bath area twice. I've been on the National Express site, but maybe there is another bus company that I should check out? I
Also, I picked the Lizard based on previous Thorntree posts as the base of my Cornwall visit. It looks like it would give me the good variety of landscape and things to do (beach, walking, pubs, history...), but if there are other suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks!
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If you're going to Bath anyway, as your post suggests, you don't have a problem. There is Megabus too, which is very cheap, but is a long and arduous journey to the far south.As far as the Lizard is concerned, yes it's a great place to visit but without public transport, you are limited if you spend more than a couple of days there since it's quite remote! If your walking is more than just a stroll on the beach, then there are several good coastal walks there and I suggest looking at the Pathfinder series of books for Cornish walks.
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If you're travelling to Cornwall by train, Falmouth would make a logical base. Lots to see and do within the town but also there are some good walks around the SW coastal path that you can do on foot from the town itself, plus there are buses to other points along the coast.Try the National Rail website for details.
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Yeeees, but, I live just outside Falmouth and its very very different to the Lizard, which is remote and rugged with lots of open space, amazing cliffs, small coves and birdlife. Falmouth is lovely, of course, (which is why I live there) but perhaps not what the OP is looking for? It's much more built up, no rugged coastline, instead, gentle inlets and pretty villages, marinas and lots of boating activities... generally busier.Having said that, it would make a better base than the Lizard if staying more than a couple of days.... although I'd suggest one of the outlying villages, Flushing, Mylor, Restronguet to look for somewhere to stay rather than in town (which is very busy with students these days since the Uni has been extended).
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Thanks everyone,I picked bus over rail as I have more time than money and it seemed a cheaper option. I am now rethinking The Lizard, I picked it for the scenery but I thought there would be local transportation to take me to some surrounding villages and see a bit more of the area, is that not possible? If I still decide on the Lizard , in which nearby city would I want to arrive? I'm thinking Helston? I'll check out the Falmouth area as well, thanks for your help. And thanks for the megabus info, I did not have that.
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Geeg, Exeter Uni have a campus there now - Tremough, up on the helston road which is huge and they do a lot more than just Art these days. Change may not be for the better.Baskaat, the Lizard village is not very big but it does have a pub or two and shops, so not a bad place to base yourself if you like being remote! There are buses but I'm not familiar enough with them to advise (since I only drive here) sorry. Hiring a car for Cornwall may be your answer!
Take a look at a large scale map - google? and you will see the distances involved.
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I definitely plan on visiting Bath, just was trying to avoid going thru there more than once while getting to my other destinations. Been pouring over bus/train schedules and can't find a way to avoid it , all routes to Glastonbury go through there, but no big deal.I did look at Falmouth and it seems busier, but nice and definitely easier to get to then Lizard town, so I may base there and just day trip it. I'm sure I'll find a local bus or as a last resort rent a car for a day. I'm from the US and the idea of renting a car and driving on the left scares the heck out of me, but if it has to be done...
Thanks again everyone!
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If you are heading down to the west country there is also the route from London Waterloo to Exeter on the train that avoids Bristol and Bath. You can change at Exeter and continue on the Great Western main line. Keep an eye on the train websites, you can sometimes get deals that will be as cheap as the bus.11
We had a Canadian couchsurfer staying with us a couple of years ago and she had never driven on the left, or in a right hand drive car, nor in Cornwall... she hired a car in Truro and sat with her for a day driving and 'taught' her to cope with roundabouts etc! She then drove from here to Wales and Scotland, and was fine!I'll act as a guide for you if you like (since I am used to the narrow Cornish lanes and Cornish drivers!)
