Thurso to Bucharest and back- the summary

Posted on 6th Mar 20256th Mar 2025 by insightndes

The journey

The map taken from the Interrail app shows just how far the journey was, but misses the far north line and the detour to Oxfordshire.

From the Interrail app: 5784 km distance

15 trains on the Interrail ticket, 20 in total.

Seven countries.

Weather

Sunny almost throughout, but a big variation in temperature. Highest ,around 14 centigrade in Augsburg, lowest -10 in Bucharest.

Food

The food was good, but had to get creative in the meat centric countries. I had my first experience of a Lebanese restaurant in Bucharest, the very good Coin-Vert Libanez.

I had to fight through the snow and ice to get to it. A week later I had my second Lebanese restaurant experience in Paris.

Plenty of good food on this trip.

Hotels

I stayed in three Premier Inn plus rooms, three varieties of Ibis: budget, styles and no moniker, a Radisdon Individuals Schiller Park in Linz and Ramada by Wyndham in Bucharest.

Best bed:Premier Inn plus

Best shower: Premier Inn plus

Best view: Ramada by Wyndham

Best location: Hotel Schiller Park- in central location near the railway station.

Best breakfast: Ramada by Wyndham

Best rooms: Premier Inn plus

Most expensive: Premier Inn St Pancras

Best check out times: Ibis / check out by noon.

I like the simplicity of the Ibis Budget.

Locations

Both Augsburg and Linz were amazing places to visit. Smaller and not as busy as Vienna but interesting buildings and history. Bucharest lacked the beautiful buildings but the lake was beautiful.

Travelling by train emphasised the change in landscape and buildings. Farmhouses are tiny and ramshackled in Romanian but huge and well maintained in Austria and Germany.

People

As well as meeting the natives of each country that I visited I was surprised to meet people from so many other countries. I had conversations with Qataris, Russians, Albanians, Norwegians, New Zealanders, Moldovans, Canadians, Taiwanese and probably more. Talking to Austrians in German with their local accents was a joy, including a woman in her 90s from Vienna,

Cycling

Cycling was awful in Bucharest, but faster than cars. Driving in Bucharest also looks awful. Paris cycle way provision is good in Paris, but blocked by vehicles on the Sunday. Vienna was busy, Augsburg pleasant. I heard a tram hitting a car in Vienna and saw the massive crumpled side of the car, the tram just drove off. The closest I came to an accident was Inverness, where a car was being driven at 60 mph in a 30 zone, as I was turning right. The bike gave a good way to cross cities between stations and to get to hotels. It was also a great luggage trolley.

Travel

Paris to Inverness

Posted on 4th Mar 2025 by insightndes

Is it possible to get from Paris to Inverness in a day by train? Yes, and with only one change.

It’s an early start but not overly early from the hotel. Onto the Gare Du Nord.

Speeding across France

Lunch or second breakfast at Giraffe , Kings Cross

Arrived at Inverness just after 8 having left London at 12 and Paris at 9:10 French time. 90 minutes to change in London, but 12 hours to get from Paris to Inverness.

Travel

Didcot to St Pancras

Posted on 19th Feb 2025 by insightndes

A day book ended by two Premier Inns

Bathroom- shower better than standing in a bath.

A view of the BT tower on the way across London

The cycle route was mainly on protected cycle lanes. Some are very new. This makes the ride far more pleasant. But stop start.

Travel

Didcot to the far north. Snow!

Posted on 20th Nov 2024 by insightndes

Then a cycle to the Great Nepalese Restaurant near Euston station.

Complimentary food is available in the Sleeper Lounge.

Inverness station has a dusting of snow.

Unfortunately the Far North train does not connect well with the Sleeper. I have a two hour wait in Inverness. Not much open at this time so in a moment of inspiration it’s off for a breakfast at Premier Inn. Must get sponsorship.

The Premier Inn is slightly disorganised. The card reader is not working so I get a free breakfast. Due to a low number of staff it takes an age for it to be served. Can’t complain because I am not paying for it.

Slight speckling of snow near Conon Bridge.

There’s proper snowy scenery

Then back to the coast.

Then up the Helmsdale Strath.

Travel

November travels- far north to the south

Posted on 10th Nov 2024 by insightndes

Setting off on the afternoon train with a grey sky.

It was already getting dark. A downside to traveling in November.

This is the standard cabin on the sleeper

The standard cabin has no ensuite, you don’t get breakfast and cannot use the sleeper lounge.

Google maps appeared to put me on the wrong train so I potentially could have ended up in Taunton rather than Didcot. Ticket man pointed out the error and I was able to change at Reading.

Travel

To the south west

Posted on 26th Jul 2024 by insightndes

Looking inland near Invergordan- low clouds

A monstrous cruise liner at Invergordon.

How could someone design such an ugly ship?

Approaching Inverness

I had to catch the lunchtime train to Inverness due to a reduced timetable.Time to kill in Inverness.

At Eden Court

Were they playing or tuning up?

Complementary drinks and snacks at the Sleeper Lounge.

I had a seat booked in this train, which someone sat in- no point moving them as the seat next to it was free.

I caught the Penzance train here. A few issues. Firstly the train rolled past platform 5 to platform 6, leaving everyone rushing over to get on board. And it wax crowded.

Bridgwater is not particularly bonny, but I did find a picture to make it look good.

Environment, Travel

Coast to coast north south north by train

Posted on 26th May 202426th May 2024 by insightndes

This journey, starting in the far north of Scotland, visiting Oxfordshire (twice), London, West Sussex, Poole, Surrey, Cheshire , Liverpool and Inverness.

Change to the Caledonian Sleeper at Inverness.

No dishwasher working on the train, hence the disposable cup.

The only issue on the cycle to Paddington was a close pass from a speeding motorcyclist. Why are they allowed in the bus lanes and why can’t they ride better?

After chatting to the man on the train doing the food trolley he said he would give me a free tea, if he got time before Didcot. Very kind.

First train issue- train to Paddington delayed so caught a different train.

Cycle across London in glorious sunshine, taking in Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, London Eye…

I came across a new menace in London, motorised skateboards exclusively ridden by idiots. These are not legally allowed to be used on pavements, roads or cycle paths. What happens if collide with an illegal vehicle, with no insurance and no sense?

After a stay in London I trained on from south London via London Bridge to Sussex.

The trip included cycling on the wonderful cuckoo trail. Lots of birdsong but no cuckoos heard,

A stop in Poole then back on the train.

Oops, accidentally got on first class at Didcot- on a crowded train

Change at Reading, on to Ash.

Fun at Ash, delayed train from Guildford due to something being thrown on the line.

A stay in Surrey for the weekend.

Another cycle across London.

Things started going pear shaped at Liverpool from where I was trying to travel to Inverness.

Liverpool station

Caught an earlier train , which I was only able to do due to having arrived early at Liverpool.

The train got stopped, so my connection at Haymarket started looking unsafe,

Despite warning the conductor and his best efforts we missed the connection to Inverness. ScotRail refused to hold their train. Splitting up British Rail was not a good idea.

Shoved on a train to Perth.

I did not expect to be going through Kilcardy

After a late taxi ride from Perth to Inverness I eventually got to bed.

Environment, Travel

Weather warnings!

Posted on 9th Feb 20249th Feb 2024 by insightndes

A journey to the south which almost didn’t happen. It’s Monday 5th February. The last train of the day from the far north already cancelled the previous day, in anticipation of bad weather. The early afternoon train also gets cancelled on the day, due to landslides on the Far North line. No trains from Inverness to Edinburgh due to flooding near Kingussie. All looking bleak for a journey south.

This is the result of the rain forecast, the first yellow weather warning of the trip.

A lift to Inverness followed by a replacement bus to Edinburgh means I get to board the sleeper just before midnight. I am then woken up for breakfast at 0415 ready to get off at Crewe. Sleep deprivation!

More weather warnings: rain in South England, snow in mid to North England, snow in North Scotland, ready for the return trip.

The cycle to Didcot on Thursday is wet, as is the ride across London from Paddington to Euston. My feet are soaked.

Outside the new Caledonian Sleeper guest lounge.

This is my first time in the Caledonian Sleeper guest lounge. Limited choice of food, but some is complimentary. A chance to change to dry footwear and use the toilet. There is also speedy boarding passes, making getting on the sleeper far easier. A big plus.

I wake up to have breakfast in the snowy Highlands.

On with the journey on the far north line, which appears to be running. There are more snowy views.

Despite the multiple weather warnings the trip back is without issue.

Travel

Frosty Elgin-Inverness-Far north

Posted on 2nd Dec 2023 by insightndes

A beautiful frosty day.

At Elgin station there was no sign of the 1236 train to Inverness on the displays and confusingly the ScotRail app showed the train already at Forres. It turns out that the train shuttles back and forth between Elgin and Inverness.