Starting in sunny Thurso.Loch Lucya I believe.View across the Moray FirthWaiting for the next train Near Golspie Cromarty FirthLooking 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.Boarding the sleeper serviceStarted raining just after boarding Breakfast at RugbyEuston Paddington Grand Union CanalGrand Union Canal endWith waterfowl Heading to Bristol
I had a seat booked in this train, which someone sat in- no point moving them as the seat next to it was free.
Bristol
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.
The Penzance train leaving Bridgwater Bridgwater
Bridgwater is not particularly bonny, but I did find a picture to make it look good.
This journey, starting in the far north of Scotland, visiting Oxfordshire (twice), London, West Sussex, Poole, Surrey, Cheshire , Liverpool and Inverness.
Cloud still lowRain has started Change to the Caledonian Sleeper at Inverness.Sunny breakfast on the move
No dishwasher working on the train, hence the disposable cup.
Sunny at Euston
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?
Paddington
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.
Vapour trails Free teaThe ThamesDidcotDidcot again
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.
Eastbourne PierEastbourne Pier from a different angle
The trip included cycling on the wonderful cuckoo trail. Lots of birdsong but no cuckoos heard,
Sunny view of the sea Back on the train again at Eastbourne Early start, so breakfast on the train A green interlude Brighton Brighton station River Itchen Southampton station Near Christchurch
A stop in Poole then back on the train.
Always end up in Reading 🙂A rainy view of the ThamesAfter a wet ride from Didcot Station Oops, accidentally got on first class at Didcot- on a crowded train
Change at Reading, on to Ash.
Ash
Fun at Ash, delayed train from Guildford due to something being thrown on the line.
A stay in Surrey for the weekend.
Leaving FarnhamLondon
Another cycle across London.
Euston stationBerkhamsted?Chester stationCapenhurst Liverpool
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.
Change at Preston for Edinburgh Passing through LancasterBack into Scotland- sun getting low
The train got stopped, so my connection at Haymarket started looking unsafe,
Edinburgh Airport
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.
Sun setting on the ForthI did not expect to be going through Kilcardy
After a late taxi ride from Perth to Inverness I eventually got to bed.
Up bright and early Back at Inverness station Crossing the river NessNear LairgSunny with a blue sea near Brora.River HelmsdaleNear KinbracePreparing to disembark
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.
Wet! At Didcot.
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.
Carrbridge Arrived on time in Inverness.
On with the journey on the far north line, which appears to be running. There are more snowy views.
LairgRogart The sea near Helmsdale is wild.Snowy flow country Thurso River
Despite the multiple weather warnings the trip back is without issue.
Stayed at the Hub by Premier Inn at Kings Cross. Small but perfectly fine.The room has a Brompton drawer.First time of traveling from London to the Far North on daytime trains, starting at Kings Cross.Passing through Durham.And Newcastle.Berwick Change at Edinburgh. It’s busy.On my way again.Murrayfield Edinburgh tramSecond change in Inverness Beginning to darken.
A long day on the train. Scheduled times, 4:42 Kings Cross to Edinburgh, 3:35 Edinburgh to Inverness and the final leg 3:51. Distances 631km, 181 km and 130km. Trains getting slower as I travel north.
Caught a long delayed train instead of the one that I was meant to catch so I thought I’d get to London early. But further delays due to signal issues resulted in long delays on the way into London. But got there in the end. The train was 47 mins late according to the announcements. I was only 20 mins late.
Anecdotally the ULEZ is a success. London smells better. The traffic moves more freely. Pollution has reduced in London and I wonder if the pollution outside London has reduced. Pollution rises into the atmosphere in London and then comes down in Oxfordshire. Has anyone measured this?
In last weeks election the Conservative Party made much of the ULEZ. Unfortunately the primacy of the car still exists for a lot of people and is considered a vote winner. To me health and the environment trumps-why do we still think that poisoning people is acceptable?
A sunny but cool day for the trip on the far north line.
Train arriving
And then on to the Caledonian Sleeper at Inverness.
Dinner
All very civilised, dinner (overpriced) and breakfast in the buffet car.
Breakfast cuppa
This is a very effective way to get to London, set off at 1632 from Thurso, arrive in 0800, 30 minutes earlier than expected. There were meant to be delays due to engineering works.
Arrival at Euston
After leaving Euston station I encountered action by people dressed in orange tabards, who I believe were Just Stop Oil protestors. This did not affect me for two reasons. I was cycling and I was heading in the opposite direction to the blocked carriage way. Traffic stationary on the other side of the road. A minute later I spotted a single police car trying to make its way through the traffic. Then another few minutes on half a dozen police vans with sirens blaring. The vans were struggling to get through the stationary traffic so they crossed over to my side of the carriage way. All very exciting. Why did they not travel from the opposite direction in the first place ?
Hotel des Pyrenees, great location, crazy room shapes.Street art in a tunnel next to the Seine- converted to pedestrian and cycle use.
Cycled to the Tour d’Eiffel. Paris is really cycle friendly and it turns out that this is a really good way to see Paris. I was surprised by the tunnel with the street art.
La Tour d’EiffelArmed military patrols around La Tour d’Eiffel Time to kill before getting on the Eurostar at Gare Du Nord.Église Saint-Vincent-de-PaulView from Église Saint-Vincent-de-PaulSightseeing routeCatching the Eurostar at Gare Du Nord.
No Window seat on the Eurostar means it’s not easy to get pictures from the train.
Back at St Pancras Next train is from Kings Cross
No seat booking but I am booked on the train. Stood up until we reached York.
A long way to go in one day! Early start with the moon in the sky.
A revisit to Reading on the way to London.
Paddington nice and early.
Followed by an almost pleasant bike ride to St Pancras.
Stress at St Pancras as the gate for the 0701 Eurostar was closing. Still had a long wait on the train. Pleasant ride on the Eurostar but the electrical sockets don’t work. No matter, sure there will be opportunities later.
train
Arrived at Gare Du Nord
Ride across Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, followed by lunch, sightseeing, and a return to Gare de Lyon.
The ride from Paris to Barcelona was epic, long, fast and a good selection of French landscapes. Brits, Americans, Australians, Germans, French, Spaniards. A fun mix, and by the end of the journey we felt like we had experienced something together. Six hours travel time on the final leg of today.
Insight 