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Travel help
Easy ways to book train tickets through Gates Travel (£1 charge for each ticket), and other useful travel contact numbers....

Travel directions to the UK holidays
We send you comprehensive road and rail travel directions when you book, but here are directions to everywhere we stay in the UK....

'Gear' - What to bring?
This is the basic list of what to bring for UK holidays. We send you a more specific list for your holiday when you book.

Travel Help

• Ticket booking help? Whatever your journey in the UK by public transport, Gates Travel based in Ambleside offer a great service: they will find out the best times and routes for you, and the best prices (including Advance saver tickets), book your ticket and post it to you - and only charge you £1 per ticket (+ £1 per seat reservation).
  Gates Travel Service: phone 015394 33200 or email them at ambleside@gatestravel.co.uk.

• National Rail Enquiries: excellent website for finding out train times and prices (though you then have to go to a train line website to buy them) http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ or phone: 08457 484950

• Car route planning: From all parts of the UK, you'll find a helpful route planner on the AA website: www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp

Travel Directions for UK destinations

Lake District - General Directions

The Lake District is in the northwest of England, close to the M6, and well serviced by the Virgin West Coast line.
Driving to the Lake District
Flying to Manchester Airport
See Lake District Map (Use your browser's Back button to return)

Coast to Coast walk

By Train or by Car?

This is definitely a holiday where it makes sense to come by train rather than by car. The Coast to Coast walk is a linear walk from one side of the country to another, with a train station within walking distance of the first accommodation, and a transfer to Scarborough train station from the last accommodation (arranged & paid for by WW). If you come by car, you would have to leave your car at St Bees and arrange a taxi back to St Bees from the end of the trip (which will cost approx £150 unless shared). This taxi back to cars left in St Bees is not paid for by WW.

Start: By Train to St Bees

St Bees is on the Lancaster to Carlisle line which runs along the coast around the outside of the Lake District. The line is serviced by Northern Rail, and links at Lancaster or Carlisle to the Virgin West Coast line between London Euston & Glasgow.

• From London: the journey takes 5 hours, changing once at Lancaster, and costs £18.50 for an Advance Single. (It takes the same length of time if you change at Carlisle rather than Lancaster).
• From Manchester Piccadilly: it takes 3.14 hrs, with one change at Lancaster and costs £41.00 for an open, flexible ticket. (Can also travel from Manchester Oxford Road and change at Lancaster).
• From Newcastle: it takes 2.55 hrs, changing at Carlisle, & costs £13.80 for a Cheap day/Saver single.
• From York: it takes 4.30 hrs, changing at Newcastle & Carlisle (or Preston & Lancaster), & costs £41.00 for an Advance Single.

Stonehouse Farm is 30 metres from St Bees station (heading south then right into Main Street - see map).

Finish: By Train from Scarborough

The last night of the trip is at Boggle Hole YH near Robin Hoods Bay. The nearest station is Scarborough which suits travel to most destinations. Scarborough is a short drive from Boggle Hole and WW will arrange transport at around 1-2pm on the last day to get everyone to the station. There will be time for a short walk in the morning.

• Scarborough to London: journey takes 3.10 hrs, changing at York, & costs £26.50 for an Advanced Single.
• Scarborough to Manchester Oxford Road: there are direct trains taking 2.22hrs and costs from £12.00 for an Advanced Single.
• Scarborough to York: there are direct trains taking 50 minutesand costs from £5 for an Advanced Single
• Scarborough to Newcastle: takes approx 2 hours, changing at York, £37.00.

Or Finish: by Train from Whitby

Whitby is only 7 miles north of Boggle Hole YH, and although trains from here take longer, they are cheaper for north eastern destinations like Newcastle.

• Whitby to Newcastle: journey takes 3.30 hrs, with changes at Middlesborough & Darlington, but only costs £14.40

Northumberland

Rothbury in Coquetdale

By Train & bus to Rothbury

Morpeth on the Newcastle to Edinburgh line is the nearest station to Rothbury. From Morpeth bus station there is a regular bus to Rothbury (516 & 416), stopping across the bridge from the hotel. There are also a few buses from the main road near the train station (request stop), but it's easiest to get a short taxi to the bus station for the more regular & frequent service.

• From London Kings Cross · There are regular trains to Morpeth from London Kings Cross, changing in Newcastle. They run approximately every hour (taking 3.5 hours) with National Express. A National Express Standard Advance Single will cost you from £22-£30
• From Manchester Piccadilly there are regular trains to Morpeth changing in York (taking approx 3.5 hours) with Transpennine Express then NXEC (National Express East Coast). A Saver Return will cost you £63.00.

By Car to Rothbury

The Coquetvale Hotel is is in the centre of Rothbury, on the B6342 (see map)

• Coming from the south via Morpeth: take the A1 from Newcastle to Morpeth. Beyond Morpeth, fork left onto the A697 towards Wooler, then left again onto the B6344 towards Rothbury. Cross the river bridge and Station Road is on your left.
• Coming from the north via Wooler: take the A697 south to the B6341, and follow the B6341 into Rothbury following the directions above.
• Coming via west/south west via Bellingham: take the B6320, then the B6341 to Rothbury, again follow the directions above.

Twice Brewed nr Hadrians Wall

By Train & short taxi to the Twice Brewed Inn

Bardon Mill is a couple of miles by taxi from Twice Brewed Inn, on the Newcastle to Carlisle line operated by Northern Rail. Regular trains up the east coast to Newcastle, & up the west coast to Carlisle link to this line.

Order taxi beforehand as there is no taxi rank at Bardon Mill station (Local taxi: 01434 688808. Sometimes there is also a bus from Bardon Mill to the Twice Brewed Inn - but it's not very frequent).

• From Newcastle: There are direct trains taking approximately 50 minutes to Bardon Mill, costing £8.40 each way for fully flexible singles.
• From Glasgow: There are regular trains south on the Virgin West Coast line, changing at Carlisle.
• From London Kings Cross: High speed regular service to Newcastle once an hour means a total journey time of just over 4 hours to Bardon Mill after changing at Newcastle onto the Carlisle line. So you can leave from London at 12.00, and arrive at Bardon Mill at 16.15 with only 1 change. Cost of an Advance Single: £14.60 each way! (Arrange taxi beforehand for the last 2-3 miles - see above)
• From Manchester: There are a variety of routes that you can choose, but one of the quickest with only one change in Carlisle, takes 3hr 5 mins, and costs only £10.00 each way for Advance Singles.
• From Birmingham: There are trains taking as little as 3hr 50mins, changing once at Carlisle, & costing £13.00 each way for Advance Singles.

By Car to the Twice Brewed Inn

• Coming from further south: The quickest route to Twice Brewed Inn will usually be via the M6 to Carlisle, then A69 towards Newcastle; or via the A1/A1M up the east of the country to Darlington then cut across on the A68 to the A69 and head towards Carlisle.
• Twice Brewed Inn is located between Haydon Bridge & Haltwhistle, close to the wall just north of the A69. Turn north at Henshaw onto a small road heading towards Hadrians Wall and follow signs to the National Park Visitors Centre. When you reach the B6218, turn left, still following signs for the Visitors Centre. The Twice Brewed Inn is located opposite the Visitors Centre after 300m along this road.

• Coming from further north: If you are coming from Glasgow, your best route again will be to head down the M6, then turn onto the A69 at Carlisle (and follow directions above). From Edinburgh you best route will be the A68 initially towards Newcastle, but staying on the A68 to intercept the A69 between Newcastle & Hexham. Turn west along the A69, and follow the directions from Henshaw.

The Yorkshire Dales

High Trenhouse nr Malham Tarn

By Train & shared taxi to High Trenhouse

Skipton is on the Leeds to Carlisle or Carnforth line. Some trains traveling to Skipton stop in Settle a few minutes later. High Trenhouse is either 30 mins taxi drive from Skipton or 10 mins taxi from Settle Station. (To help women coming on holidays at High Trenhouse we will co-ordinate a shared minibus lift from Settle at around 4pm - cost will be approx £3).

• To Settle There are trains every 2 hours from London or Manchester, and largely every 2 hours from Newcastle - all via Leeds. One of those trains arrives at 15.44 (2008 times) which arrange for the taxi to meet. London to Settle: Advanced Singles from £13.50 each way NXEC (National Express East Coast) & Northern Rail. Manchester to Settle: costs £24.30 for an Open Return with First Transpennine Express.

• To Skipton If you are arriving late or coming from further away like the South West, you may find it easier to get a taxi from Skipton as more trains stop here than at Settle.

By Car to High Trenhouse

By Car to High Trenhouse - Malham (Postcode: BD24 9PR) Malham Tarn lies more of less to the north of Malham Cove, and High Trenhouse is on left side of the moorland road from Malham to Arncliffe.

• From Skipton (14 miles, approximately ½ hour) Leave the by-pass on the A65 towards Kendal. After 4 miles turn right at Gargrave (opposite garage) for Malham. After passing through Airton and Kirkby Malham keep left through Malham up the steep hill. After three miles of single track moorland road you reach a crossroads. Continue straight on and High Trenhouse is on your left, due west of Malham Tarn.

• From Settle (5 miles, approximately 10 minutes) Leave Settle on the Hawes road (B6479). After one mile, take an obscure right turn through the village of Langcliffe, signposted to Malham. Go up the steep hill and follow the single track road for four miles. As you drop down again onto Malham Moor look out for a right fork towards Malham. Follow this for half a mile to a minor crossroads. Turn left and High Trenhouse is on the left.

The South Pennines

Hebden House above Hebden Bridge

By Train to Hebden Bridge

• From London, there are trains to Hebden Bridge from Kings Cross (with NXEC then Transpennine) or Hebden Bridge changing at Leeds and Manchester/Lancaster respectively, taking approximately 3:30 hours. Advance single tickets cost from £12.45 to £23.00 each way.
• From Manchester Victoria there are frequent direct trains to Hebden Bridge costing £9.70 for an Anytime return.
• From Birmingham there are frequent trains to Hebden Bridge changing at Manchester, and costing £47.10 for an off peak saver return.

From Hebden Bridge station to Hebden House

It is about a 15 minutes walk from the station to Hebden House (some of it beside main roads). A taxi to Hebden House will take less than 5 minutes, however there is no taxi rank at the station. Best to arrange a taxi beforehand:

• West End taxis 07702 627611;
• Valley Private Hire 01422 844070

By Car to Hebden Bridge

• From the South or North East: M1, M62 leaving at J25. Then A6025, A6026 and A646 into Hebden Bridge. Turn right onto the A6033 (signposted to Keighley) which is Birchcliffe Road and Hebden House is a short way along on the right.
• From the South or North West: M6, M62 leaving at J22. Then A672, A58 and A646 into Hebden Bridge. Turn right onto the A6033 (signposted to Keighley) which is Birchcliffe Road and Hebden House is a short way along on the right.

The Peak District - Losehill Hall

Losehill Hall, Castleton

By Train to Losehill Hall

Hope (Hope in Derbyshire) is the nearest station, 2 miles from Losehill hall on the Sheffield/Manchester line. There is no public telephone or taxi rank at Hope Station so please phone to arrange one in advance (Pete Armitage on 01433 872107, Brian Jackson on 01433 620525).

• From London St Pancras: there are trains to Sheffield with East Midlands Trains, then with Northern Rail to Hope, taking approx 3.15 hrs. Advance Singles cost from £18.00 each way.
• From London Euston: with Virgin Trains to Manchester Piccadilly, then Northern Trains to Hope, taking approx 3.30 hrs. Advance Singles cost from £21.50 each way. (You can also travel from London Kings Cross via Doncaster (marginally faster, but more expensive).

• From Sheffield: direct trains taking 25 minutes. No advance tickets. Regular singles cost £3.80 each way.
• From Manchester: direct trains. No saver returns. Cost £13.10.
• From Birmingham: cchange at Sheffield or Manchester, 2 week advance singles cost £12 each way and takes about 2 hours.

By Car to Losehill Hall

Losehill Hall is just off the A6187 half a mile east of Castleton, Derbyshire (see map).

The best exit points from the motorways are:

• Northbound on M1 - exit 29 to A617, A619, A623, A625, A6187
• Southbound on M1 - exit 36 to A61, then onto the A57
• Northbound on M6 - exit 14 to A34 and then on to the A520, A53, A6, A6061 (see below).
• Southbound on M6/M61/M60 - exit 27 on to the M60 and then on to the A6, A6061.

The road to the west of Castleton is closed. If you are traveling by car this doesn't matter as you can reach Castleton via an unclassified road (formerly A625) from Chapel-en-le-Frith, or the B6061 from Buxton. Access to Castleton is possible by traveling down the Winnats Pass. (Beware: the signposting deliberately misleads traffic to avoid Winnats Pass. Please note that the A6187 was formerly the A625).

By Bus/Coach to Losehill Hall

• There is an hourly bus service (272) direct from Sheffield Bus station to 200m from Hope railway station.

Hartington Hall Youth Hostel, nr Dovedale

By Train to Buxton

Buxton Station is 12 miles to the north west of Hartington; Matlock Station is 13 miles to the west of Hartington (however there doesn't appear to be a bus service from Matlock station to Hartington).

Bowers Bus 442 from Buxton Station to Hartington (from Ashbourne Road next to the station) · Times from Buxton station are: 10.05, 12.05, 14.05, 15.45, 16.05, 17.45 taking 50 mins. Sunday return times 13.08 or 16.08 - though you may get a lift from a car driver in the group.

• From London Euston: there are hourly connections via Stockport to Buxton taking approx 3 hours - an Advance Single costs £14.00 with Virgin Trains: http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/

• From Birmingham: there are hourly trains via Stockport to Buxton taking approx 2.5 hours; Advance Single costs £9.00 from Virgin Trains.

• From Manchester: there are hourly direct trains to Buxton. Anytime fare costs £13.00 from Northern Rail www.northernrail.org

• From Sheffield: there are regular trains via Derby to Matlock. Advance Singles cost £11.90 to £15.40 each way from Midland Mainline www.midlandmainline.com

• From Newcastle: there are some trains with only one change at Derby, taking approx 4 hours. 2 Advance Saver singles cost £17 each, from CrossCountry www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

By Car to Hartington Hall YH

Hartington village is on B5054, 12 miles south east of Buxton and 13 miles west of Matlock. From Hartington village centre, turn up the lane by the school. The hostel is 200yds up hill on the left.

• Northbound on M1 - either from Junction 26 via the A610 (or Junction 28 via the A38) pick up the A610 towards Matlock and the A6. Turn north on the A6 towards Matlock, then turn right onto the A5012 heading west. At a t-junction with the A515, turn right then soon left onto the B5054 to Hartington.

• Southbound on M1 - follow the directions above from Junction 28 via the A38.

• Northbound on M6 - depending on time of day and Stoke-on-Trent rush hour, you can either: leave the M6 at Junction 15, and take the A500 as far as the A53 north east to Leek, then the A523 south east towards Ashbourne, the B5053, then the B5054 to Hartington; alternatively, exit earlier at Junction 13 to Stafford on the A449, and take the A518 from Staford to Uttoxeter, then right onto the A50 for a stretch, then the A515 north to Ashbourne and on towards Buxton until you reach the B5054 on the left to Hartington.

• From Manchester - take the A6 to Buxton, the A515 south east towards Ashbourne. Then take the B5054 on your right to Hartington.

Hathersage Youth Hostel, Hathersage

By Car to Hathersage

Hathersage YH is on the A6187 which is the Hope and Castleton road from Sheffield, Derbyshire. The hostel is 100 metres on the right past the George Hotel.

The best exit points from the motorways are:

• Northbound on M1 - exit 29 to A617, A619, A623, A625, A6187
• Southbound on M1 - exit 36 to A61, then onto the A57
• Northbound on M6 - exit 14 to A34 and then on to the A520, A53, A6, A6061 (see below).
• Southbound on M6/M61/M60 - exit 27 on to the M60 and then on to the A6, A6061.

By Train to Hathersage Station

• From London St Pancras: there are trains to Sheffield with East Midlands Trains, then with Northern Rail to Hathersage, taking approx 3 hrs. Advance Singles cost from £18.00 each way.
• From London Euston: with Virgin Trains to Manchester Piccadilly, then Northern Trains to Hathersage, taking approx 3.30 hrs. Advance Singles cost from £21.50 each way.
• You can also travel from London Kings Cross via Doncaster (marginally faster, but more expensive).
• From Sheffield: direct trains taking 20 minutes. No advance tickets. Regular singles cost £2.60 each way.
• From Manchester: direct trains. No saver returns. Cost £13.10.
• From Birmingham: change at Sheffield or Manchester, 2 week advance singles cost £12 each way and takes about 2 hours.

By Bus/Coach

There is an hourly bus service (272) direct from Sheffield Bus Station which stops in the village.

Mynd House, Little Stretton, Shropshire

The nearest station to Little Stretton is Church Stretton one mile away by taxi. Church Stretton is on the mainline south from Crewe/Shrewsbury to Newport/Milford Haven.

• From Birmingham: The journey takes approx 1.5 hours, and costs £18.60 with an Advanced Saver Return (Arriva Trains Wales), changing at Shrewsbury.

• From London: From London to Church Stretton is relatively quick and easy, with regular Virgin Trains to Crewe from London Euston, changing there onto the Camarthen train for Church Stretton. Total journey time 2hr 47 mins, cost: £32.00 for an Advanced Saver Single in each direction.

• From Manchester: From Manchester it's also a very simple journey - and some trains are direct, taking 1.30 mins each way, and costs from £10 each way with an Advanced Saver Single ticket.

Church Stretton & Little Stretton both lie just off the A49 - the main road between Shrewsbury and Ludlow/Hereford.

Unless you're coming from the south coast, the south west, or Wales, your best route will usually be via the M54 which leaves the M6 at Junction 10 just north Birmingham & Wolverhampton. The M54 becomes the A5, and you stay on the A5 where it forms the ring road south of Shrewsbury. After several roundabouts, turn off onto the A49.

• Drive south on the A49 to Church Stretton, continuing over the Church Stretton traffic lights for a further 1-1.5 miles, then turn right following signs to Little Stretton. Continue over a small railway bridge and past the Ragleth Inn on the left. 50m further on you will reach Mynd House - also on the left. Enter up the driveway.

• If coming from Ludlow north along the A49, continue through Craven Arms, and after approximately 6 Miles turn left following signs to Little Stretton. Continue as above: over a small railway bridge and past the Ragleth Inn to find Mynd House 50m further along on the left.

Cleeve Hill Hotel, Cotswolds, Glos

Cheltenham is the nearest train station to the Cleeve Hill Hotel on Cleeve Hill. A taxi from the station to the hotel will cost approx £10 with 747 Taxis: 01242 523523 (or less if shared - let us know what time your train arrives if you would like to share a taxi, if possible).

• From London Paddington there are direct trains to Cheltenham approximately every 2 hours, taking 2.5 hours, and costing from £9.00-£12.50 for an Advance Single each way (on certain trains only) with First Great Western trains.

• From Birmingham New Street there are direct trains to Cheltenham approximately every 15 minutes on Friday & every 1.15 on Sunday, taking approx 40 minutes, and costing approx £22.90 for an Advance Single on Friday & an Off Peak Single on Sunday.

• From Manchester Piccadilly with Cross Country trains there are direct trains every two hours, or trains that change at Birmingham New Street in between, taking approx 2.5 hours, and costing approx £42.00 in total with an Advance Single on Friday, and an Off Peak Single on Sunday

• Taxi from Cheltenham station to Cleeve Hill Hotel will cost approx £10.50 with 747 Taxis: 01242 523523 (or less if shared - let us know what time your train arrives if you would like to share a taxi, if possible).

The Cleeve Hill Hotel is a 10-15 minute drive from the centre of Cheltenham on the B4632 between Prestbury and Winchcombe, towards the summit of Cleeve Hill. There is plenty of parking at the Cleeve Hill Hotel.

The Ship Inn, Dunwich, Suffolk Coast

There is no taxi rank at Darsham Station, but you can pre-arrange a taxi with Darsham Taxis or Coast Link. · Darsham Taxis: 01728 668039 · Coast Link: 01728 833526 (ask for Sadie)

If you tell us what time you will be arriving - in plenty of time before the holiday - we may be able to put you in touch with other women who would like to share a taxi.

• From London Liverpool street on weekdays there are direct trains to and from Lowestoft via Ipswich which stop at Darsham, running approximately ever 2 hours, taking 2.10 mins, and costing from £6 each way with an Advanced Saver. On Saturday or Sunday you may have to change trains at Ipswich and Colchester, journey duration 3 hours.

• From Birmingham the trains are more expensive (£66.50 Advanced Saver Return - via Ely with 2-3 changes at Cambridge & Ipswich, taking 5-6 hours). Quicker but more expensive via London Euston (£73.90 with an Advanced Saver Return taking 4.5 hours with a tube journey Euston to Liverpool Street).

Dunwich lies on the Suffolk coast approximately half way between Ipswich and Lowestoft (about level with Cambridge). If you are driving to Dunwich you would do best to check the AA route planner above, or check a map first since your approach will vary widely depending on where you are coming from.

• From London it is very straightforward: the A12 directly links Suffolk and the M25, passing close to Dunwich a short distance beyond Saxmundum. Continuing north from Saxmumdum, pass the staggered junction with the B1122, then at the next turning on the right - small unnumbered road to Westleton. In Westleton turn left onto the B1125 then turn first right to drive the last 3 miles to the sea at Dunwich. If you drive until you are virtually next to the sea, then turn left as the road bends sharply away from it again, the Ship Inn with be a short way up on your left in the middle of what remains of the village.

• From the Midlands: your fastest route may be via the A14 - depending on where you are coming from. The simplest route is to stay on the A14 beyond Bury St Edmunds to Stowmarket. At Stowmarket, turn onto the A1120 till it reaches the A12 north of Saxmundum. · Turn left onto the A12 for a very short distance and take the next turning on your right to Westleton - which is the small unnumbered turning described in the London route above (then follow London directions).

The Horse & Groom, East Ashling, Sussex

The nearest mainline train station to East Ashling is Chichester (or Bosham station is a little closer but involves a change at Chichester).

• There are very regular direct trains from London Victoria to Chichester, taking approx 1.40 mins, and costing from £13.50 each way with Southern Railway. Southern: 08451 27 29 20 or www.southernrailway.com

• Starline Taxis: 01243 698053 Charge very reasonable fares to East Ashling (£9-£10) and have some women drivers available. Fare can be less if shared, so please tell us your train arrival time well in advance).

The Horse & Groom Inn is in the western edge of East Ashling village. East Ashling is on the B2178 out of Chichester on the South Coast, and is accessible from the A27 via Chichester, or from the A3 (taking the B2149, B2148, B2147, then B2146 into East Ashling). There is plenty of car parking at the Horse & Groom.

Lulworth Cove - Cromwell House Hotel

By Train to Lulworth Cove

• There are frequent direct trains to Wool station (5 miles from Lulworth Cove) from London on the Waterloo to Weymouth line (Apex Advance Saver booked 1 week in advance £33.00 from South West Trains on 08456 000650 or www.swtrains.co.uk).
• From Birmingham and further northwest, trains change at Winchester (Advance saver booked 2 weeks in advance £33.00 from Virgin Trains: 08457 222333, http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/). There are always taxis waiting at Wool Station (costing approximately £10-£12 to Lulworth Cove).

By Car to Lulworth Cove

• From London, take the M3, M27, then to avoid Bournmouth and Poole, take the A31 at Trickets Cross near Ferndown to Bere Regis. At Bere Regis, turn south on a small unclassified road signposted to Wool, then from Wool take the B3071 to Lulworth Cove.
• Access to the Cromwell House Hotel is along a small slip road parallel with the main road on the left, 200 metres after the end of West Lulworth village - see map.
• The hotel has parking for 15 cars - and they ask us to please park carefully in the marked areas.

Huntstile Organic Farm, Quantock Hills, Somerset

By Car to Goathurst - from most directions

• Huntstile Farm is about 10 minutes from Junction 24 of the M5
• From the M5 take the exit at J24, heading towards North Petherton at the roundabout.
• Just before the North Petherton village turn right into Old Road signposted to Goathurst and Broomfield.
• Then take 2nd right to Goathurst. The turning is quite a way up the road past a house with two huge lion pillars at the gates. The right turn is about 0.2 of a mile after this.
• Huntstile Farm is about a mile down this road and is the only farm. Pass two small stone cottages on the right and a big red brick house on left. The farm buildings are in front of you. Carry on round the corner and you will see two driveways on the right - take the 2nd one and it will lead you down to the farmhouse. If you get to a brick barn with a blue door and circular window you have gone too far.

By Train to Bridgwater or Taunton, then taxi

The 2 nearest stations to Goathurst are Bridgewater (3.5 miles) and Taunton (10.5 miles). From London you will need to change trains at Taunton to reach Bridgwater, whereas from the north your train will stop at Bridgwater on the way to Taunton.

• Trains from London Paddington: there are frequent First Great Western trains to Taunton. You would change here to Bridgwater for the shortest taxi ride.The journey takes approx 2.30 hrs and costs from £11 for an advanced saver single each way.
• Trains from Birmingham and further north: there are Cross Country trains once an hour, changing at Bristol Temple Meads to First Great Western towards Taunton. Bridgwater is before Taunton.
• From Birmingham the journey takes approx 2.30 hrs and costs from £13-£20 for an advanced saver single each way.

• Taxi from Bridgwater station to Huntstile Farm costs £10/£12 - Beeline Taxis 0278 4443334.
• Taxi from Taunton station to Huntstile costs £15/£16. Try Deans Taxis on 01823 323 232 (plenty others too). Let us know in good time before the holiday if you would like to share a taxi, and what time your train arrives.

Tuke House, Falmouth, Cornwall

By Car to Falmouth

• From the North and East: Take the M5 to Exeter and then the A38 south through Plymouth to Liskeard. Just after Liskeard bear left onto the A390, through St Austell to Truro. At Truro take the A39 through Penryn to Falmouth.
• Come in to Falmouth on the A39, along Dracaena Avenue, and then turn left at traffic lights into Kimberley Park Rd. Continue down and just as the road begins to widen (area known as Falmouth Moor) you'll see Quarry Hill on your left (immediately before the Cresta Café). The halls of residence are on the corner by this junction. To park, turn up Quarry Hill and there's a car park a little way up on your left where parking is available for £17.50 a week.

By Train to Falmouth Town Station

• From London Paddington, the journey takes about 5 hrs with First Great Western, costing from £15 each way for Advance Single tickets, changing at Truro or Plymouth and Truro.
• From Manchester or Birmingham, there are no direct trains to Truro but it is Cross Country trains to Plymouth and then change to First Great Western to Truro and then on to Falmouth. From Manchester it takes about 8 hours and costs from £43.50 with Advanced Singles and from Birmingham about 6 hours costing from £36.50 with Advanced Singles.

• By taxi or on foot from the station to Tuke House
• From the train station the most straightforward way to walk would be down Avenue Rd, left along Arwenack St, continuing on to Market St, then left up to the wide area known as Falmouth Moor. Walk up past Tesco and continue up until you come to the Cresta Café on your right. You can then see the Tuke House halls of residence there on the corner just past the cafe. This walk is about half a mile. Alternatively, there are usually taxis at the station.

By Plane to Newquay, then bus to Falmouth

If you live in the north of England, Scotland, N. Ireland, or even Norfolk, Cornwall is a long way to travel by train or car, and you may be interested to know of flights to Newquay with Air Southwest, Flybe, BMIbaby, & Ryan Air. · From Newquay Airport you catch the 556 Western Greyhound bus to the Ambassador Hotel stop in Newquay, then 585/586 to Truro and then there are regular buses onto Falmouth: http://www.travelinesw.com/

Chy-an-Albany Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall

By Car to St Ives

The Chy-an-Albany Hotel is situated on Albany Terrace just off the main A3074 into St Ives.

• Take the M5 to near Exeter, then the A30 south until just after Hayle. Take the A3074 signposted to St. Ives, Pass the Treganna Castle Hotel & Golf Country Club on your left and continue down Trelyon Avenue. At the bottom of the hill turn left on to Albany Terrace (signposted Edward Hain Hospital). The hotel's main car park is situated at the rear of the Hotel and there are a small number of parking spaces at the front.

• To The Main Car Park From The Hotel: Proceed back to Albany Terrace, turn left on to Trelyon Avenue and left in to Albert Road. Take the next left on to Talland Road and left again into Belyars Lane. The hotel's main car park is about 200m along here, on the left.

By Train to St Ives

• From London Paddington, the journey takes just over 5.30 hrs with First Great Western, costing from £15 each way for Advance Single tickets, or £75 for an Off-Peak Return.
• From Manchester or Birmingham, there are a few direct Cross Country trains to St Erth, changing here onto the short branch line to St Ives. They cost from £28.00 each way from Birmingham for Advance Singles, or £43.50 each way from Manchester. Make sure you book your tickets in advance!

• Taxi to the hotel
  There is no taxi rank at St Ives station, so arrange a taxi in advance from DJ Cars on 01736 796633.

• On foot to the hotel
  There is a footpath which leads from the back (ie away from the sea) of the station car park and joins the road above which is called The Terrace. There may be several of these paths leading upwards - they all lead to the road above and cut off the diversion involved in walking up Station Hill and turning left, though you can do this if you want to stick to the road. When you reach the point where The Terrace and Albert Road meet, you will see the hotel above you and slightly to your left (on the opposite side of the road from the sea). The walk from station to hotel is just a few minutes, though it is uphill.

Snowdonia

The nearest mainline station to both the Llanberis & the Nantlle Valley is Bangor, 9 miles north of Llanberis.

• From London Euston, the 11.28 takes 3 ½ hours with one change at Llandudno. Later trains take longer with changes at Chester and Crewe. Advanced Singles cost from £16.50 each way or £69.80 for a more flexible return with Virgin on 08456 222333 or http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/

• From Birmingham, trains take 3 ½ - 4 hours changing at Crewe with Virgin and then Arriva Trains Wales. Advanced singles available from £10.

• From Manchester, trains take about 2 ½ hours changing at Llandudno. Advanced Singles will cost from £10.00 from Arriva Trains Wales (08709 000773)

From Bangor to Llanberis, There is at least one bus an hour departing from Bangor Station (the 85 & 86 services). Tell the bus driver you want to get off at the Dol Peris Hotel. Because of the many stops en route, buses take about 40 minutes each way.

From Bangor Station to Nantlle Village The 5A Arriva bus from Bangor to Nantlle village does not run on Saturday when our 2009 holiday starts. So instead we will arrange a shared taxi at approximately 4pm from Bangor station. Please let us know in good time if you would like to share this taxi. (We will adjust the time of this taxi if 2009 train times don't suit 4pm).

By car to Dol Peris Hotel

The Dol Peris Hotel is situated slightly set back from the High Street in Llanberis on the right side of the road as you drive in from Bangor (just after the Spar grocer, and opposite the Heights Hotel).

• Coming from the north or M56, take the A55 to the A487 just past Bangor. Take the A487 to Caernarfon, and from there take the A4086 to Llanberis. (Alternatively, you can short cut from the A55 before Bangor on the B4386 and B4547 to the A4086 just before Llanberis). Turn right into the High Street as you reach Llanberis.

• Coming from the south/Wales/ M54: Follow the A5 round Shrewsbury & Oswestry, and stay on it through Llangollen & Druid to Betws-y-coed & Capel Curig. At Capel Curig turn onto the A4086 and keep going till you reach Llanberis. Veer left to Town Centre down the High Street.

By car to Trigonos

Trigonos is situated in the village of Nantlle on the B4418, between Penygroes and Rhyd Ddu. Caernarfon is the nearest town.

• Coming from the North or M56, take the A55 to Bangor, then the A487 to Caernarfon and on towards Porthmadog. About 5 miles beyond Caernarfon, at a roundabout, follow signs to Penygroes. In the centre of Penygroes, turn off between the HSBC Bank and the chemist. Continue to the T-junction (1 1/2 miles) and turn right, carrying on until you reach the village of Nantlle. The Trigonos drive is on the right, opposite the village telephone box.

• Coming from the south/Wales/ M54: Follow the A470 through Dolgellau and then the A487 to Porthmadog and Penygroes. Then follow directions as above.

Pembrokeshire CP - Part 1 - East Trewent Farm

Lamphey is the nearest train station to East Trewent on the Pembroke to Carmarthen line.

• Lamphey is a request stop, so you need to tell the conductor or driver in Swansea that you want to stop here. For your return journey, you need to make yourself visible on the platform as the train approaches so that the driver knows to stop!
• Pick up from Lamphey station: Pat from the farm has offered to pick women up from Lamphey station at around 4pm - but please give us plenty of advance notice if you need this lift.
• From London Paddington: journey 5.14 hours with First Great Western, then Arriva Trains, changing once in Swansea, from £15 each way with Advanced Single tickets. Trains run approx every 2 hours: 10.45 & 12.45 have the most convenient arrival times for being picked up from Lamphey.
• From Birmingham New Street: journey 5.19 hrs with Country and First Great Western Trains, changing at Bristol Parkway and Swansea and costs £13.00 for an Advance Single each way. The 10.40 train has the most convenient arrival time for being picked up from Lamphey.

By Car to East Trewent Farm

East Trewent Farm is located in East Trewent on an unnumbered road between Freshwater East and Stackpole.

• Travel to Carmarthen via motorway network (M4, M5, M50, etc).
• At Carmarthen take the A40 towards Haverfordwest.
• At St. Clears take the A477 towards Pembroke Dock.
• Just after Milton, take the left fork onto the A4075 to Pembroke.
• As you enter Pembroke you will come to a small roundabout, take the first exit towards Lamphey A4139. Immediately after the road crosses the railway at Lamphey turn right towards Freshwater East B4584.
• Proceed down the hill, crossing a small bridge at the bottom, continue up the other side and East Trewent Farm will be found on the right, at the top of the hill.

Pembrokeshire Coast Path - Part 2

This holiday starts at Dale Fort Field Centre near Dale (11 miles from Milford, or 15 miles from Haverfordwest). It finishes at St Davids YH (2 miles from St Davids).

There is a bus service that runs from Haverfordwest or Milford to Dale, and another that runs from St Davids back to Milford & Haverfordwest. At the end of the trek after time to visit St Davids or a morning walk, we will also arrange a shared lift back to cars at Dale Fort, or to Haverfordwest Station (will cost approx £10).

The nearest mainline stations to Dale are Haverfordwest (15 miles) or Milford Haven (11 miles) which is the next stop.

• Puffin Shuttle Bus: From Haverfordwest bus Station & Milford centre, there is a Puffin bus service to Dale that runs from Haverfordwest at approx 09.00, 13.00, & 17.00, taking 20 mins to reach Milford, then 35 minutes more to reach Dale. Marian or Dale Fort staff are happy to pick you up from the bus stop for the last 1 mile to the centre - but please let us know your travel plans and bus times well in advance!
• Return bus times: there is a regular bus from St Davids to Haverfordwest, Bus Number: 411, for those who need to leave early (takes 50 minutes to Haverfordwest station, and runs every hour from 09.50 to 15.50). Alternatively you can share the minibus lift back to Haverfordwest arriving there at approx 14.30. ·
• Taxi to Dale Fort: From Haverfordwest a taxi will cost £25. From Milford Station a taxi will cost £14. (Could be shared if you let us know in advance when your train arrives).

Trains from London Paddington changing in Newport take approx 4.35 hours, and tickets cost from £26 each way for an Advance Single with First Great Western & Arriva Trains Wales.

Trains from Birmingham changing at Bristol Parkway and Newport take 5 hours, and tickets cost from £25 each way with Advanced Single with Cross Country Trains, First Great Western and Arriva Trains Wales.

Trains from Bristol changing at Newport take 3 hr 45 minutes, costs £33.40 for an Off Peak Saver Return with First Great Western & Arriva Trains Wales.

Dale Fort Field center is located on Dale Point, 1 mile outside Dale along an unclassified road heading south east along the cliffs. From the east (M40), you will need to take the A48 to Carmarthen, then the A40 to Haverfordwest, and the B4327 to Dale.

Eco Hotel, St Davids, Pembrokeshire

By Car to St David's

• From the East: Take the M4, A48, then A40 to Haverfordwest. From here follow the A487 to St. David's (Tyddewi). On reaching St Davids, take the first road on the left after the driveway to "The Waterings" B&B, signposted Twr y Felin Outdoor Centre. There is a large car park on the left followed by a small lane. TYF Eco Hotel is 50 metres down this lane, on the right - park in the car park at the front of the hotel.
• From Manchester and the North: Take the M56, A494, A487 through Fishguard to St. David's (Tyddewi). Once in St. David's (Tyddewi), follow the one-way system until the T-junction (High Street). Turn left, then take the second road on the right (first road is a no-entry) signposted Twr y Felin Outdoor Centre. There is a large car park on the left followed by a small lane. TYF Eco Hotel is 50 metres down this lane, on the right - park in the car park at the front of the hotel.

By Train to Haverfordwest, then bus to St Davids

• Trains from London Paddington changing in Newport take approx 4.35 hours, and tickets cost from £26 each way for an Advance Single with First Great Western & Arriva Trains Wales.
• Trains from Birmingham New Street changing at Bristol Parkway and Newport take 5 hours, and tickets cost from £25 each way with Advanced Single with Cross Country Trains, First Great Western and Arriva Trains Wales.
• Trains from Bristol Temple Meads changing at Newport take 3 hr 45 minutes, costs £33.40 for an Off Peak Saver Return with First Great Western & Arriva Trains Wales.
• There are regular buses from Haverfordwest Station to St David's (No. 411) taking about 45 minutes. There is one at approx 14.45, 15.55, & 17.00 (check Richards Buses or 01239 613756 or http://www.richardsbros.co.uk/ for up to date bus times).

The Royal George Hotel, Tintern - Wye Valley

By Train

The nearest mainline train station to Tintern is at Chepstow. M & R Taxis: charge a reasonable fare from Chepstow: 01291 624482. (£10, or less if taxi fare is shared - let us know in good time when you will be arriving if you'd like to share a taxi.)

• From London Paddington, with First Great Western, changing onto Arriva Trains Wales in Newport. Takes 2.5 hours and costs from £11.50 each way (Advance Singles).

• From Birmingham there are regular trains with a change at Chelteenham Spa , taking 1 hr 45 mins, and costing from £23.40 each way Advance Singles with Cross Country Trains and Arriva Trains Wales.

• From Manchester there are regular trains changing at Newport, taking 4 hours, and costing from £18.50 each way if available for Advance Singles, or Off-Peak Saver Return £62.90.

By Car

Tintern is 5 miles from Chepstow, 7 miles from the Severn Road Bridge (M48) and 11 miles from Monmouth and the A40. The Royal George is on the opposite side of the road from the river Wye at the northern end of Tintern.

• From the M4/M48, take the A466 to Tintern from Junction 2 of the M48.
• Or from the M5, take the M50 via Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth, pick up A466 to Tintern.

Scotland

West Highland Way - Drymen, Glasgow

This holiday starts from Hawthorns Guest House in Drymen just north of Glasgow. Most women arrive by train or by plane, so we arrange a shared taxi at 4pm from Glasgow Central station to the first night's accommodation at Drymen (costing approx £7 each depending on numbers). Please tell us if you need to share this taxi. The transfer from Fort William back to Glasgow (or Drymen) at the end of the trip is included in the price of the holiday. You will be back at Glasgow Central by 12.00 midday.

Getting to Glasgow by Train

• From London: there are direct trains approx every 2 hours during the day to Glasgow Central with Virgin Trains from Euston, or with NXEC from Kings Cross (journey time from 5 hrs or from 5.45 hrs respectively). Advance singles cost from £15.70 each way on certain trains. Off Peak Saver Return costs £102.90.
• From Birmingham there are trains once or twice an hour to Glasgow, some direct, some changing at Crewe or Carlisle. Advance Singles cost from £18.00 each way.
• From Manchester there are trains approximately once an hour. Advance Singles cost from £11.50 each way. · From Newcastle there are trains approximately every hour. Advance singles cost from £10.50 each way.

Getting to Glasgow by Air

• There are low cost flights to Glasgow from most regional airports in the UK, making it inexpensive to fly if you book early.
• Easyjet flies from Belfast, Luton, Stansted, Gatwick, & Bristol to Glasgow International - see: http://www.easyjet.com.
• Flybe flies from Southampton, Manchester, Jersey, Guernsey, Cardiff, Birmingham, Isle of Man, & Belfast to Glasow Intermational - see: http://www1.flybe.com
• Ryan Air flies from Stansted, Bournemouth & Dublin to Glasgow Preswick (further away from Glasgow).
• From both airports there are good bus services into Glasgow stopping at Glasgow Central station & Buchanan Bus station.

If you arrive much earlier or later than the shared taxi?
If you want/need to make your own way to Drymen by public transport, there are frequent buses from Glasgow Buchanan Street (the central bus station) to Balfron stopping at Drymen on the way. They leave every hour from 09.02 to 18.02 on Saturdays. This service is operated by First Group in 08708 727271 or www.firstgroup.com

If you need to stay an inexpensive extra night in Glasgow?
If your return flight is too early to fit in with our return transfer (which arrives 12.00 at Glasgow Central Station) and you need to spend an extra night in Glasgow, there is inexpensive hostel accommodation at Glasgow Eurohostel (Tel:0141 222 2828) from £12.95 a night.

Getting to Drymen by car

Rum - Scotland

Ferry from Mallaig to the Isle of Rum

Unless you live nearby, the journey to Rum is an adventure - and you have to approach it as such. Often your journey will involve an extra night in Glasgow or Mallaig, depending on how you travel and where you are coming from. The last section on the ferry is certainly magical. There are 2 ferries each day - a short direct ferry leaving Mallaig 07.30, and a longer ferry via other small islands leaving 14.25. The ferry costs £8 each way. On arriving in Scresort port, our luggage will be taken to Kinloch Castle by landrover while we walk there. (NB. we have been advised by Kinloch Castle that the early ferry brings you in too late for Breakfast, and with the late ferry you are too late for dinner! So, please either bring food with you or buy it on the ferry).

Getting to Mallaig for the ferry
Unless you are driving to Mallaig, the last bit must be done by train.

• The 14.24 ferry is served by the 08.20 train from Glasgow Queen Street which arrives shortly before the Rum ferry departs (2009 times maybe slightly different. See www.calmac.co.uk or ring 01475 650100).
• If you want to take the quicker, early ferry, you will have to travel on Friday and stay the night in Mallaig to catch the early ferry in the morning. Some women prefer to do this, and it is necessary to do so if you're coming by plane.

Getting to Scotland (if not driving)
The options unless you are driving are either to catch a plane to one of Glasgow's 2 airports, or to take the train from different parts of the country.

By Train

• From London, there is a sleeper train available with First Scot Rail on the Friday night which gets you to Glasgow Central station in time to shuttle across to Glasgow Queen Street station to catch the 08.20 to Mallaig. Saver/Cheap fare from London is £97.20 or £128 for shared sleeper cabin. We advise you to book a sleeper ticket well in advance to get the best and most affordable prices! Here are the train & ferry times in each direction (2008 times):

• Apart from the Sleeper train, there are direct trains to Glasgow Central every 2 hours from London Euston & Birmingham with Virgin Trains (journey time from 5-6 & 4-5 hours respectively): Advance singles cost £38.50 each way. Virgin: 08457 222333 or www.thetrainline.com
• From Manchester, Newcastle, York and elsewhere in the country there are good train connections to Glasgow, some of which will get you to Glasgow in time for the 08.20 Mallaig train. Failing that, it will be necessary to travel on the day before, stay the night in Mallaig, and take the shorter early ferry to Rum.

By plane

• Easyjet, Flybe, BMIbaby, Ryan Air all have flights to Glasgow from different regional airports, however all will involve an overnight stay in each direction - in Glasgow or in Mallaig.

Getting to Scotland by Car

By car, Mallaig is 3hr 50mins from Glasgow - on the M8 and A82/A830 - a beautiful drive! (You then leave your car in Mallaig as you cannot take it on the ferry. Rum is an almost completely car-free island. Long term parking in Mallaig is not right next to the ferry but is a small distance away).

Extra night needed in Glasgow or Mallaig?

• If you need to spend an extra night in Glasgow, you can do so inexpensively at Eurohostel (0141 222 2828) from £12.95 a night. Glasgow is a fascinating city to spend a little time in.
• In Mallaig, try Shalima B&B (01687 462139) costing £25-£35 per night, or Sea View Guest House closer to the ferry and train station (01687 46 20 59) costing £25-£30 per night.

Mull - Ardachy House Hotel

Getting to Oban for the ferry

Here are all the train, ferry and bus times from Glasgow to Bunessan village (2008 times):

Buses from Glasgow
- Citylink (08705 505050) Citylink run a bus from Glasgow Bus Station via the Airport at 15.00 (leaves Airport at 15.20) and arrives in Oban at 17.45 p.m. just in time to catch the 18.00 ferry.

By Car to Oban

Oban is 2hr 30mins by car from Glasgow - on the M8 and A82/A85 - a beautiful drive! The current cost of taking your car on the ferry to Craignure is £51.00. Alternatively you can leave it parked in Oban at the Pay & Display car park next to the Calmac ferry terminal, or for free Lochavullin Street long term car park (see map) a little walk away from the ferry terminal.

Getting to Scotland
(if not driving)

• By Train to Oban from London Euston
  There is an overnight sleeper leaving London Euston on Friday at 23. 45 that will get you to Glasgow in time for the 08.21 train which arrives in Oban at 11.27. The overnight sleeper is with First Scot Rail, routing via Edinburgh. If you want a sleeper berth it will cost £36 extra. On the return, there is no Saturday night sleeper, though if you want to spend extra time in Oban, there is one on Sunday night. Alternatively, by taking the first bus from Bunessan, you can catch the ferry in time for the 12.11 Glasgow train that with 3 changes will get you back to London by 23.31 (via Glasgow, Edinburgh, & Leeds).
• Daytime train to Oban from Kings Cross You can also leave Kings Cross at 06.26 and arrive in Oban at 15.27 (via Edinburgh & Glasgow Queen Street without going via Glasgow Central). Advance Singles from £41.50 each way or £122 Off Peak/Saver return.
• From elsewhere in the UK There are trains to Glasgow from Birmingham, Manchester, York, Newcastle etc which get to Oban in time for one of the ferries.

• By plane
  Easyjet, Flybe, BMIbaby, Ryan Air all have flights to Glasgow from different regional airports, however some may involve an overnight stay in Oban or Glasgow on the return (Saturday night) if the flight to your nearest airport is early in the day.
• Inexpensive extra night in Oban or Glasgow? If you need to spend an extra night in Oban or Glasgow, you can do so inexpensively at Corran House in Oban (01631 566040) from £14 a night, or at the Eurohostel in Glasgow (0141 222 2828) from £12.95 a night. Or make the extra night part of your holiday - Glasgow is a fascinating city to spend a little time in.

• By coach
  Coach & ferry: There are coaches to Oban arriving in time for the afternoon ferry, for example leaving Manchester at 01.10 (www.nationalexpress.co.uk)

However you plan to travel, please let us know your plans & arrival times well before the holiday starts so that we know which ferry you will be on, and which bus Maggie and Cathy should pick you up from!

Rockcliffe - Barons Craig Hotel

By Car to Rockcliffe
The hotel is 45 minutes drive from M6/M74 motorways, 3 hrs from Manchester and 6 hrs from London.

• Coming from the south via Dumfries leave the M6 at Junction 22, then merge onto the A75, then A780 (following signs for Dumfries & Solway Coast)
• Coming from the north via Dumfries leave the M74 at Junction 11, and take the A74, then A701 & A780 (following signs to Dumfries & Solway Coast).

• From Dumfries, follow signs for Dalbeattie on the A711
• Follow the A711 towards Dalbettie for approx 3 miles, then turn onto A710 signposted to Solway Coast.
• Rockcliffe is well signposted from the A710. · Once in Rockcliffe take the road up the small hill, turn left and entrance to Baron's Craig is 100 away. The hotel is well signposted from the village. Alternatively, you can take the scenic route from Dumfries along the A710 coastal road through New Abbey.

By Train to Dumfries

• From London Euston there are regular Virgin trains up the west coast, changing at Carlisle onto Northern Rail line to Dumfries. The journey takes 4.30 - 5hs and costs from £18.50 each way for the cheapest Advanced Singles.
• From Manchester there are regular Transpennine Express trains to Carlisle again changing onto Northern Rail to Dumfries. The journey takes about 3 hrs and costs from £10.50 each way for the cheapest Advanced Singles, or from £47.10 with an Off-Peak Saver return.
• From Newcastle there are regular trains via Carlisle with Northern Rail & First Scot Rail, or direct Stranraer trains with Northern Rail that stop at Dumfries. Journey time 2-2.30hrs costing £26.30 for an Off-peak Saver Return.
• From Glasgow there are regular trains to Dumfries taking approx 2 hours, either direct with First Scot Rail, or indirect via Kilmarnock with Virgin & First Scot Rail. Cost £16.50 for an Off Peak Saver Return.

• From Dumfries there are buses to Rockcliffe (at 13.25 p.m. and 15.00 p.m.) which take about 1 ¼ hours via the scenic coast road. Buses leaves from Leafield Road a short walk from the station. (Turn left out of station, left onto St Mary's Street, left onto Annan Road and immediately right into Leafield Road).
• A taxi will cost about £25 - advisable to pre-book. (Tel. 01387 250507).
  Let us know what train you are catching in plenty of time before the holiday and we will try to arrange a shared taxi.

Airports

London Gatwick

• Gatwick Airport: 01293 535353
• BAA flight/terminal info: www.baa.co.uk
• National Rail enquiries: 0845 7484950
• Gatwick Express: 0870 5301530 or www.gatwickexpress.co.uk
• Thameslink Information: 020 7620 6333
• Connex Customer Services: 0870 6030405
• NCP Flightpath: 0800 128128 CTS
• Valet Parking: 017377 60558

By Car

London Gatwick is 45kms (28 miles) south of London, directly linked to the M23 motorway at junction 9 and to the A23 London-Brighton road. Just a 10 minute drive away, the M25 further connects with the UK's extensive road and motorway network. Journey time from central London approx. 60-70 mins.

Parking

Parking at Gatwick is increasingly competitive, and it pays to compare prices online - see www.airport-parking-quote.co.uk NCP Flightpath has transfers from their 'on airport' car parks every 10 minutes, 24 hours - which is a consideration for early flights. Tel: 0800 128128.

• Valet Parking: Alternatively you could try one of the 'off airport' companies such as CTS Valet Parking on 017377 60558: 7 days parking £50 in cash or by cheque, they will meet you at Gatwick (North Terminal - outside Departures; South Terminal - outside ground floor Arrivals), take your car 10/15 mins drive away to a secure parking area, then you phone them from Baggage Reclaim on your return and they bring your car back to the airport. (Cheaper than airport parking, happily used by many WW!)

By Coach

Gatwick is connected to over 400 towns and cities across the UK by a variety of frequent, daily coach services. Most airport services are in air-conditioned vehicles. Some of the direct services available include those to Heathrow, London, Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Oxford. Cambridge and Norwich.

• The main coach station is on the ground floor at South Terminal and is accessible by lift, walkway and escalator. A majority of services also call at North Terminal. National Express operate a majority of nationwide services from Gatwick. www.nationalexpress.com or +44 (0) 8705 808080

By Train

Gatwick station is located at the South Terminal - with a train link to the North Terminal.

• From London, the Gatwick Express runs from 03.30 half hourly till 05.00, then every 15 minutes till midnight: Journey time 35mins. Express Return fare approx £26.80 (2007 price) Visit: www.gatwickexpress.com or Phone 0845 6001515.
• The Connex South Central service from Victoria runs hourly after midnight. For information about Connex and other services from elsewhere, visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or phone BR Train Enquiries on: 08456 484950.

Manchester Airport

• Man Airport Flight Info: 0161 489 8000
• Manchester Airport website: www.manchesterairport.co.uk
• National Rail enquiries: 0845 7484950
• BAA flight/terminal info: www.baa.co.uk

By Car

The Airport is accessed by the M56, by getting off at Junction 5. Directions to the terminals are well signposted from all approach roads. Local access is via the A5103 or A34. (Journey time from central Manchester is 20-25 mins)

Car parking
Car parking for the duration of the holiday should cost £39-£45 (2007 price) depending on which parking option you go for - book at https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/ or phone 0871 310 2200 (cheaper if booked in advance).

By Train

Manchester Airport station offers direct rail services, operated by Tranpennine Express and First North Western to over 100 destinations in the UK. There are direct night service trains to and from Sheffield, Leeds, Huddersfield, Manchester, Bolton, Preston and Blackpool.

• From Manchester: During the day there are six trains an hour into the city centre and up to four through the night. Trains run to Manchester Piccadilly rail station and take approximately 15 - 20 minutes and cost approx £5; many continue onto Oxford Road, Deansgate and Salford Central stations.
• From Manchester Piccadilly you can connect onto rail services countrywide.

By Bus/Coach

Frequent service from central Manchester Single fare approx: £3.00 Express service journey time 15-20 mins. Coach and bus connections are available from Major towns and cities in the North-West. National Express operates services from destinations throughout the UK. The bus station is outside Terminal 1 International Arrivals, with an additional stop at Terminal 2 Arrivals.

Gear: what to bring

This is just a basic list for most UK holidays. We will send you a list specific for your holiday when you book.

NB. if the What to Bring list we send you for a foreign holiday says that waterproofs are needed, then waterproofs are needed!

Essential items

• Walking Boots - Leather or waterproof fabric, and they need to be already broken in.
• 2 or 3 pairs of walking socks. Blisters can be avoided by wearing a thin sock underneath (not cotton), or buy a pair of 'guaranteed not to blister' socks which are made up of 2 layers.
• Waterproof anorak
• Waterproof trousers
• Extra fleece or sweater to put on during a stop.
• Walking tops - 'wicking' is best or any synthetic top so that you don't chill when you stop.
• Trousers loose enough not to restrict your movement, and maybe shorts for hot weather. Jeans are not a good idea (stiff, and heavy when wet).
• Gloves, hat, neck warmer or ear warmer, don't underestimate how important these can be on higher walks, even in summer!
• Rucksack to carry spare sweater, waterproofs, packed lunch, water bottle, and other bits and pieces.
• Good sized water flask or a plastic water bottle. A Platipus or similar water system is also very handy.
• Sun screen, sun glasses, sun hat . Sun screen can even be needed in winter on some days.
• Walking poles - not essential, but good for balance on uneven ground and they reduce wear to your knees.
• Towel if staying in a youth hostel or refuge.
• Large strong plastic bag to put inside your rucksack to keep the contents completely dry. No rucksack is waterproof (too many seams!)
• Travel directions & the WalkingWomen office number!

Non essential - but some of these might be important to you!

Slippers- so nice for feet in the evening. Camera, spare film and batteries. Binoculars maybe. Map of the area and compass if you like knowing where you are. A foam mat to sit on - from camping/outdoor shops. Swimming costume maybe. Games for evenings when we haven't the energy to visit the local hostelry! Torch - useful for getting home when we do have the energy to visit the local hostelry!