Around a month ago I travelled the Lake District by public transport and on Monday I set off to the do the same thing in Scotland, it's a journey that will take me more than 260 miles (as the crow flies) or 416 miles (driving distance) to the town of Thurso on the far north coast of Scotland. The great Scottish adventure is something I've always wanted to do, I've been to Inverness twice and every time I get off the train there I wonder just what it's like on the Far North Line.  Although I've yearned to do it for years, I've never had the time or flexibility in my schedule, 13 years of wedding photography doesn't leave a lot of time for anything else but as we all know, 2020 is a very different kind of animal.

Running Philomena's Boutique has given me a much more flexible schedule and with the girls, both grown up I'm no longer needed to be around, even Holly Bobbins has other plans and she's off to the Lake District with my friend Robyn and her family, I've mentioned previously she's a very special dog.  

The Schedule

I'm actually still at the planning stages (and yes, I know, I leave on Monday) but this is the plan so far and I'm going to include the costs, I'm really good at planning travel and often end up with absolute bargain rail fares and hotels - 

Monday - Newcastle to Edinburgh - £13

                 Edinburgh to Inverness - £25 first class

Mon-Wed a guest house stay in Inverness with breakfast included £94 at the Ardentorrie Guest House ( I booked through Booking.com and saved £30 by paying in advance at their genius rate for frequent travellers).  I always check the hotel or B&B's websites before I book as sometimes you can save a few pounds by booking direct and sometimes it's cheaper to go through a hotel booking site, it just depends so do shop around and if you can do it in an incognito window (one which doesn't save cookies) you are more likely to get bargains

Wednesday - Train to Thurso - £35 return ticket, you can do it for £26.40 but the weekend trains were bus replacements so I decided to just stay until Friday.

Wed-Friday - guest house stay - Thurso House, a guest house which you literally open the front door and you're on the beach - £140 (Thurso and Wick were both expensive for accommodation because they're small and it's the summer holidays, in winter you could knock around £20 a night off that price)

Friday - Wednesday - Staying at the Craigmonie Hotel in Inverness so I can base myself there but also explore the whole of the Highlands - £260 including a full Scottish breakfast

Wednesday - Inverness to Newcastle - £45.50

So I make that £612 for a 9-night trip which is cheaper by far than going overseas and the biggest solo adventure I've ever done in my whole life.

Now I should also point out that me, travelling alone is cheap, I can access single rooms, I rarely eat out in the evenings and I take my own bamboo cutlery and just pick up salads and snacks from the supermarkets.  When I was in the Lakes, I rarely even ate lunch and walking is cheap, you can see the most amazing things on big walks and it costs next to nothing.

If you are young you can cut down on costs further with a railcard if you're a student or if you have kids, or even if you're over 50 in some cases, Scotland has a railcard for the over 50's (4 years and counting...).  If you wanted to travel at real bargain prices, you could even stay in a hostel but for me, I'm 46, I'm travelling on my own and I do have chronic anxiety so it's one step too far.  There are also options for bus tickets like in the Lake District but I haven't decided if I'll need one, probably at least one of the days as I want to go to John o Groats although the town of Thurso is actually farther north, it's just that John o Groats gets all of the credit and that's where the "end to enders" start, I should say now, I neither have the time or the fitness to walk from John o Groats to Lands End, I know I like a challenge but...

Whilst some things are the same as the Lake District this time, there's one big difference and that is, I'm taking you all along with me.  I'll be writing each and every day about my adventures, I didn't take my Macbook away when I went to the lakes but I want to write on the go.  When I try and write things afterwards, I get bored, I'm the first to admit that by the time I get back, I'm already planning my next adventure, always keep moving forward I guess.  I also just write better in the moment and so you will be able to follow my adventures on here and also on Instagram where I'll be using Instagram stories as I go about my daily walks and wanders.

I haven't decided when I am coming home yet but I do have a small commitment on the 6th September so I know I have to be back before that, in all probability I'll take 7-10 days and I have some Airbnb  (if you sign up to Airbnb via that link we'll both get £16 off our next journeys) credit to use for the final leg if I don't want to stay in a B&B.

Money-Saving Tips for Travel

* Don't just have the train companies app you're travelling with, sometimes you can find hidden bargains on the Trainline app

* Before you book on Booking.com also check the hotel website in case they can offer a better price, companies pay a lot to be listed on Airbnb etc so sometimes the best prices are going direct but also sometimes it's the exact opposite as sometimes the various aggregator sites have hidden discounts too

* Use Honey, Quidco or similar so you can also get cashback on your purchase, these little things all add up.

* If you are travelling slow, also check the local bus routes as they can work out so much cheaper than the train and Scotland is so beautiful you'd have so much thinking time as you amble through the countryside passed lochs and mountains.

Because I'm going next week, if I do eat out during the day I will definitely be taking advantage of the governments Eat Out to Help Out scheme which is also available in Scotland, if you're just having a sandwich, soup and cake it's pretty easy to bag yourself a lunch for around a fiver.  There are also lots of ways to save on attractions, sometimes regional guides in tourist information shops have vouchers for cheaper tickets.  I'm generally just going to do lots of walking and the best thing about that, it's free, also in Scotland, there is the right to roam which opens up all kinds of possibilities.  Generally, I just stick to well-known routes though as I may be a seasoned traveller but I also have chronic anxiety.

Whatever next week brings I will be writing about it every day, and each day I make it to places I've never been is another virtual kick in the teeth for anxiety, it doesn't matter what happens in life as long as we keep moving forward and that is exactly what I plan to do.

If you have enjoyed this article or found it useful and would like to support my writing, I'd love a cup of virtual coffee

I also have a lovely Facebook group I'd love you to come and join 

How to Holiday in the Lake District using Public Transport

A few weeks ago I went to the Lake District, my first solo trip there and being a non-driver I'm reliant on public transport.  To be honest, I'd always thought you had to have a car to get around the lake district but no, it's totally possible to holiday in the Lake District using public transport and I'm going to tell you how.

Now I must add that when I was there, even though it was July, the buses were still using the winter timetables due to the COVID pandemic so had I have gone a week later I would have had even better options and routes and on a much more regular basis than once an hour.

I started my week away by travelling from Newcastle to Penrith by train on the Northern Rail line, it costs just over £30 for a ticket, takes around 3 hours allowing for connections as you have to change at trains at Carlisle and then Penrith is just one stop.

I feel I must point out that I arrived in Penrith early on a Sunday and the town was shut, there was literally nowhere open and even when we're not mid-pandemic it seems like the Cumbrian town of Penrith really doesn't have a lot going on, especially on a Sunday but in saying that it's a great place to locate yourself if you're looking to explore the northern part of the Lake District.

The number 508 bus goes from the Penrith bus station if you want to visit Ullswater, the northernmost lake in the Lake District, I'd chosen to walk to Aira Force, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the UK, owned and managed by the National Trust, the 508 bus stop is just at the entrance and passes by at least once an hour depending on the time of year.  The waterfall is very popular and can get busy but there is a one-way system in place to help with social distancing.  I'm not going to pretend it's an easy walk up if you, like me, are chunkier than a KitKat Chunky but it's well worth the time to climb right to the top and you'll feel like an elite athlete all day afterwards, you'll even be able to have cake guilt-free!

After I'd climbed Aira Force I was going to get the bus to Glenridding but instead, I decided to walk the 2.5km along the beautiful Ullswater Way, walking along an official walk makes you feel like you've gone semi-professional and it's an easy, well-signposted route you cannot get lost on so perfect if you're just starting out as a hiking enthusiast.  Glenridding is a beautiful little village which looks like a ski-resort and it's from here you can get the Ullswater Steamers to the other edge of the lake where the village of Pooley Bridge lies.  Currently, due to the pandemic, you have to book the day before online and, quite interestingly even if you're a single person you have to pay for 2 adults because of the seating restrictions.  This was a no-brainer to give it a miss this time, I'd already done the same journey in the past with Holly Bobbins and Harriet so it was no loss to give it a miss on this occasion.  If however you're in a couple or a family and you've not done it before then go for it, I really recommend it, it's a beautiful boat ride.

One of my top money-saving tips is that you download the Stagecoach app before you go to the lakes and then look for the Northwest Explorer ticket, a 7-day ticket is going to cost you £30 and it means you have unlimited travel for 7 days all over the northwest and beyond, it even extends down to buses to Chester and up on buses to Newcastle, it's a massive money saver and it's the only ticket you'll need to get around.

Later in the week on my travels, I relocated to a B&B down in Keswick, I got the X5 which takes around 44 minutes and it's a lovely scenic route as most bus routes are in the lakes, it certainly makes a difference to travelling around the city at home, the bus runs once an hour during winter and every half hour during the summer.

Despite Keswick not having its own train station it's one of the best places you can locate yourself when holidaying in the lake district using public transport.  Everywhere is just so convenient whether you're walking, getting the bus or even taking the boat from one side of Derwentwater to the other, I love Keswick, its a town full of dogs, it's got the prettiest gift boutiques (perfect research for Philomena's Boutique) and it's one of the friendliest towns you could ever hope to visit with so many places to eat and drink. 

The best bus route I found was the 555 bus which runs from Keswick to Lancaster stopping at some of the most scenic places in the whole of the Lake District, often the stops might look like deserted places in the middle of nowhere but that's because they're usually on popular walking routes.  There was a day when I got off the bus at Grasmere and decided to just walk to the next place, I felt safe because I knew there was always a bus which could get me back again and on that day I ended up walking to White Moss where I then connected with a walking route around Grasmere Lake back to Grasmere Village which is, of course, famous for Grasmere Gingerbread made to Sarah Nelson's famous recipe and the only place in the world where it's made and sold although if you can't get there right now, you'll be delighted to know that they do have an online shop (you can send me some to thank me).

One of the loveliest places in the lake district for me has to be the scenic town of Ambleside, home to Stock Ghyll Force, another waterfall I accidentally climbed when I got off the bus and just happened to see a sign saying "Waterfalls, this way" I famously accidentally walk up big hills all the time, I hate it too but whenever I reach the top, it's always worth it, even with lashing winds and rains are in my face!

if you get off the bus at Grasmere you can swap to the open-topped 599 bus which takes you all the way down to Bowness on Windermere. If you go there, beware, it gets incredibly busy but do check out the Christmas in Lakes shop, well only if you love Christmas because it's Christmas there all year round, on the day I was there,  the sun was blazing, it was a heatwave and it felt like an out of body experience or like watching a Californian Christmas movie, I'd go there again tomorrow though!! 

In my week on my solo trip to Penrith and Keswick I never once ran out of things to do, there were buses I couldn't get because of the pandemic affecting the timetables and though I didn't have Holly Bobbins with me, if I went back I would love to take her because it's just so dog friendly.  The lakes are so good for clearing your mind, I walked so many miles and I forgave myself for my mistakes as well as eventually coming to terms with the fact that the pandemic and lockdown changed my life, we all know now however that what happened to me, actually, it was for the best because I love running an e-commerce gift boutique with all of my heart, it's diverse, sustainable and totally lush!

if you're feeling bunged up or life is getting you down but you've always thought you could never visit the lakes because you didn't drive, I hope I've proven that not only is it possible but it's also an amazing solo adventure to have for your mind and your body, just don't eat all of the gingerbread!

What's Wrong with Airbnb?

Just to say that the blog you're about to read was written just after we came back from our horrid Airbnb experience but I've had to wait until the review period of 14 days closed before I made this go live to stick to my agreement that I wouldn't leave a review...

There's no doubting that Airbnb has completely changed the face of travel all over the world, it removes the boundaries of accommodation offered and it gives the traveller endless options of unique and interesting places to stay and people to stay with.  It's completely changed the type of person who offers accommodation of course, people keen to meet travellers, swap stories and tales of their own travels as well as offering a clean comfortable bed and often a delicious hearty breakfast.  Sounds perfect right?

Well, that's all good and great except sometimes Airbnb can go terribly wrong, I've heard some tales I can tell you and now it seems I have my own to tell.

I have to start by saying that I was given a refund of some of the money I paid on the condition that I did not leave a review, oh yes, you should always bribe the people who stay with you when things go wrong, oh and don't forget to make a single parent with a puppy and a child feel so uncomfortable that they leave the property quicker than their legs can carry them, paying treble the cost of travel just so they can get home right now.

There are lots of details I can't tell you about for it might come across like I was leaving a review and so I won't mention the owners of the property but I will say don't ever go and stay in an airbnb property in Bo'ness, it's near Lilithgow in Scotland in case you were wondering.

Some points of note -

Paint so yellow it clearly hadn't been touched for years

Toys left stranded in the gardens with cobwebs covering them like the gardens that time forgot

A trampoline so covered in bird poo Looby wouldn't even get on it

A dirt infested bedroom which looked nothing like the photos

A kitchen so grim that it could only be described as a hovel and I refused to cook in it at all

A supposedly dog friendly owner who I asked for suggestions of dog friendly places and was asked if Holly wouldn't just sit outside the places whilst we had a cup of tea etc?

An owner who sat and criticised every single guest who'd been there before me, every single one had something wrong with them, I can only imagine what she's telling people about me

I could go on, really there's even more but I'll stop there because that's quite enough to be going on with but it did bring home to me the risks of booking with airbnb, what you're essentially putting out there along with the lovely owners who don't want you to come to living room recitals and who can provide a proper breakfast that isn't in an outdoor shed with cardboard sugar filled cereal cartons and nothing else, you're also opening it to people who will abuse the system, lunatics, weirdos, the crazies and of course if you are going to ask people to leave and then scare them into not leaving reviews then other people aren't going to find out about the situations they're facing.

My thoughts on this were that at least I have a voice, I don't really need the Airbnb review system because up to 20,000 a month read my blog and they also know that I have a reputation in the world of travel, I travel a lot, I travel alone, I travel with my daughters and I travel with my dog, a dog which is loved and embraced the world over, we are responsible lovely travellers, we like to do good deeds and kind gestures, for the most part we'd never speak ill of anyone but this was the straw which figuratively broke the camels back.  I won't get back that week with my daughter, that holiday which I scraped together enough to pay for it because together time is so precious, I'm only glad that our first week in Edinburgh was so amazing, we were so sad to leave because of the wonderful adventures we'd had and the quite brilliant people we'd met.  The dog friendliness of Edinburgh stands out in Scotland because as a whole Scotland isn't all that dog friendly, it's child friendly but not if you have a dog and it's raining, the licensing laws prohibit children in lots of places that serve alcohol but welcome dogs so you have a strange thing where potentially you could take your dog for a warm sit down but your child would have to be the one tied to a lampost outside, you wouldn't do that would you?  No you wouldn't and that's the same reason I'll never leave Holly tied to a lampost outside a pub/cafe/restaurant.

So, will I travel using Airbnb again?  I've thought about this over and over since I got back on Tuesday night and the answer is that whilst I'll use the service again I'll also make sure that I only ever book somewhere where I get the whole property, I won't ever take a room in someones house again, there's just too much risk of crazy, particularly since I like the quirkier experiences and staying somewhere different.  I will search for commercial based alternatives, after all Airbnb isn't any cheaper than the professional lets out there, it's just that it's handled differently, certainly in this country anyway, it may be different in the rest of the world.

So sorry for the long essay of a post but I felt the world needed to know just what we'd had to deal with, as I said, that's not even half of it...

The lull in the seasons and the promise of summer

After the noise, fun and chaos of Nethermined last weekend, this weekend has been a whole different story, it's been the first weekend in ages where I haven't worked and it took me about 30 minutes yesterday to have that feeling of thumb twiddling and boredom that I get.

Whilst I think I'm much better at having a work/life balance than I used to be I have to admit that I'm not a fan of not working.  I think maybe it has something to do with the fact that to me photography and writing are so much more than just a job to me.  

I was thrilled this week to find out I'd been nominated in the photography category of the Mad Blog Awards 2015, think the Oscars but related to blogging and you're somewhere near to what winning one would mean to me.  I've blogged now for nearing 10 years and to be rewarded for something I just adore doing would mean the world.  The first stage is about getting as many nominations as possible with a view to making the shortlist so if you're reading this and could spare a moment to nominate me that would make my day/month/year.  I've won awards but this one is the one I want to win, I get nervous just thinking about it, it seems those butterflies that live deep within the tummy surface and flutter around my tummy every time I think of the possibilities.

Speaking of blogging and writing, I've had an idea, I don't want to say too much at the moment because I haven't fully worked out the details yet but I think I might have found away to combine my photography and telling stories with the way that I write, I adore photos but I love the stories that go along with them, that's pretty much the way we can accurately preserve history, I guess I've always done that on a personal level with Scrapbooking but if this idea comes to fruition I could see couples not only going away with photographs from the most special day of their lives so far but also some beautiful words which would preserve history forever.

In the photography sense of the word this week has been a welcomed lull before the madness of summer commences, I've always found that April and the beginning of May heralded a quiet time, possibly due to the bank holidays and unpredictable weather we always get but before long we'll be experiencing long summer days with photography moving to mornings or evenings and late afternoon to avoid the harsh midday sun and take advantage of the yummy soft sunshine you get when you shoot earlier or later in the day.

I think sometimes it's always easy to see when spring starts to dawn but spring into summer is a much less noticeable seasonal change, sometimes it sneaks in so softly you barely notice it and then one day you wake up and there it is, summer is waiting for you, long days, bare feet and shoulders, the switching off of the central heating, the de-cloaking of the winter woolens and overcoats and for me at least the longing to be beside the sea every day.  I adore the beach but in summer being near to the water as often as possible is almost an inner calling.  I guess I'm lucky to live so near to the beautiful Northumbrian coastline and I try to get there as often as possible for away days, weekends and holidays.  There's simply nowhere else like Alnmouth beach in the summer, the warm breezes and sheltered coves make it the destination everyone seems to rush to but it bustles with such a gentle pace, charming children and happy puppies make it my favourite place on earth.  Let me also tell you that I went there for my Birthday day out in February when it was still the most beautiful place on earth but colder than the actual North Pole with a keen wind that cut right through us!  I recommend Alnmouth in spring, summer and early autumn and then I want to hide by the fire during winter!

Almouth Beach in summer, there's nowhere I would rather be.

If you are holding events during summer or you would like to speak to me about travel photography please get in touch via my Website/Facebook or Email

Ibis Styles, St Andrews Square, Edinburgh, A Review

As some of you already know I got to be part of something special last week dear reader, I got to go to the Capture Ibis Styles event at the Ibis Styles hotel, Edinburgh Centre which is located in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh.  If you're not sure where that is then let me tell you that it's the square which runs just behind Princes Street right at the top near Waverley Station.

The Historic Scott Monument sits just a short walk from the hotel

Now I don't know about you but for the longest time whenever I arrive in Edinburgh and hear the piper who stands on the street corner just outside of the station my genetic code clicks into gear and tells me that I'm home, there's something quite special about the bagpipes, well I think so anyway.

So a short walk to my hotel and as I'd never stayed at an Ibis Styles before I wasn't really sure what to expect.

An easy check in and the most friendly welcome and up I went in the lift to my spacious room on the 5th floor, to find a tray of chocolates and a gift by my bed was not at all what I expected but what a lovely surprise.  Later when I was speaking with the manager I found out that Ibis Styles has a policy of a present for every child and coming soon, it will be a present for every guest, what a lovely touch, I don't know about you but those are the things that make you want to stay at a hotel repeatedly, going the extra mile is such an important thing.

The view from my window on the 5th floor, so pretty!

I noticed when I was checking in that they had a note about if you were travelling with your pet, it seems the whole Ibis chain is dog friendly and I can't wait to try out more of their hotels with Holly the Beagle, obviously I'm going to give you all a full review of the experience.

Back to last week though and one of the first things you notice about Ibis Styles is the styling, all of the hotels have a theme and are completely individual, something you don't expect to find in a hotel chain, especially one which still sells itself as being at the budget travel end of the spectrum.  The theme of the St Andrews Square Ibis Styles is, well I would personally call it Highland chic, I absolutely loved it because of course I am a huge fan of Scotland and my own house has lots of similar things.

Let me show you some of the things I loved - 

Being located in St Andrews square puts you right in the heart of the thriving bustling city that is Edinburgh and while I was there I was lucky to be able to do a lot of sight seeing including climbing to the top of Calton Hill, something despite visiting Edinburgh on lots of occasions I'd never done.  If you get a chance on your next visit to Edinburgh you must take an hour to climb Calton Hill, Edinburghs first public park has some of the best views of the city you've ever seen.

The thing is, that you don't need to go very far to discover all that is wonderful about Edinburgh, it's a bustling, energetic city and the streets are filled with entertainment.

So lets talk about the important things, firstly the food and drinks (always an important factor when I'm choosing to stay in a hotel), the chef at the Ibis Styles St Andrews Square really knows his stuff, I sampled local produce including Oysters, steak, cinnamon ice-cream with dry ice, I've never been quite so full up and even lunch the next day was a visual delight.

I perused their regular menus and along with a great selection of foods which would even keep fussy old, sugar free me happy I also noticed that food was very reasonable, expect to pay around £10 per main course or less!  The barman certainly also knows his stuff and though I only looked longingly at the cocktails I did sample a strawberry mojito at lunch on Friday and it tasted as good as it looked.

The bedrooms as I've already said are spacious, clean, modern and have lots of quirky design features and if you want to book something really special you can book a suite up on the 6th floor, beautiful, ultra spacious and wow, just look at the view.

A couple of the points of note about the hotel - 

Your stay is all inclusive, you pay one charge and you not only get your breakfast but they have a machine downstairs where you can get complimentary tea and coffee whenever you want and it's good coffee, I know, I sampled it!  You can even get it in a takeaway cup and what's better than saving you the cost of a trip to the local coffee house when you're on your way to sightsee!

Also included in the price is access to the internet in the lounge area and an all you can eat buffet breakfast which contained such delights as cereals, toast, danish pastries, continental meats and cheeses, you could quite easily have a big breakfast, take a coffee to go and be quite full until much later in the day leaving you more time for that all important trip to Edinburgh Castle or a climb up those 284 steps of the Scott Monument (and let me tell you, I've done that climb, it's epic, it hurts but the views at the top are totally worth it).

In conclusion, would I stay at the hotel again?  It's a huge yes from me, I am definitely going to go back with daughter Looby and Holly the beagle because I believe that any hotel who makes a fuss of my daughter and my dog is a hotel chain I would want to stay in again and again.

#captureibisstyles

I must make the disclaimer that I received my room and all meals in exchange for this review but this is still my absolute and honest opinion.

Whilst there I was part of an event to Capture the quirky furniture of the Ibis Styles Edinburgh Central and I have a favour to ask... If I can get enough likes (on Instagram) I could win this amazing stool, so go click on it and you'll be able to give me a like and I'll send you a big squishy cyber hug.

Oh and 1 last thing, Ibis Styles don't have staff, they have Happy Mood Makers, that says it all really!

UK Cityscapes, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry

You find me dear reader feeling ever so slightly sleep deprived, I'm writing this at approximately 3am on Wednesday morning, in 2 hours I leave to get the Megabus to Birmingham.  I am snuffly with hayfever and decided that I should sleep on the sofa so that I didn't wake Mr C when my alarm went off at 4am, it's unfortunate then that I can't actually sleep, I did doze off only to be awoken by a husky tap dancing in her cage, the dog has skills!

You may remember a few weeks ago that the good people of Facebook chose via a public vote chose to send me to Birmingham after a contest of peoples least favourite cities.  I'm actually quite excited because I think all cities have some amazing things in them to explore, especially if you haven't been before.

I've heard many wonderful reports of the Library of Birmingham and just looking at their page is enough to whet my appetite, have you seen that architecture, there's nothing else like it for sure and the views from the top are supposed to be amazing so that's going to be one of the first places I visit when I arrive in Birmingham at lunchtime.

This will be my first UK Cityscapes trip away on my own and I'll miss introducing one of my daughters to something they haven't seen before but of course this means the next time I return mum can be the official tour guide.

On Thursday I'll be taking trains to Coventry and Wolverhampton, worryingly, there isn't actually even an official tourist website for Wolverhampton but I'm sure I'll be able to find amazing things in both of the cities when I spend half a day in each of them.  Interestingly when I googled Coventry I found this article by a local describing it as the armpit of the midlands, maybe I should be slightly more trepidatious about my upcoming 3 days in the Midlands?

My first big adventure which of course I will be reporting back on will be my very first experience of the Megabus, for anyone who doesn't know, one of the most important aspects of my project is that of responsible travel, I am using only buses and trains (and maybe a ferry for Northern Ireland) for this whole project, I believe in slow tourism and green tourism, I think it's a better way to sustain economies, it's better for the planet and life is a nicer thing entirely at a more gentile pace, even though I know this and I am delighted that my fare to Birmingham is £5, yes £5 (a day ticket in Newcastle is £3.80) I am slightly worried about the quality of travel you get for a fiver when compared to the train which was £110 (that is return and you do have to take into account that my trip back was £15) so £20 in comparison to £90.  I suppose first of all there's the time aspect, 4 hours on the train as opposed to 6 hours by bus, the fact that I'm going on a bus at 5.30am in the morning and the bus does not have seat reservations so you could end up next to anyone but I suppose you could say that of the train too.

I'll certainly be tweeting about the experience on the go so if you are on Twitter please do follow me at http://twitter.com/MandyCharlton

Onwards to adventure!