Meeting down south – two nights on the sleeper

Posted on 3rd Sep 2026 by insightndes

Cheapest, most time effective and least stressful way to attend a meeting near Manchester in the south is using the Caledonian Sleeper. Travel while you sleep and no hotel needed.

I go to sleep in the Highlands.

And I wake up near Birmingham.

I get off the sleeper at 0620 at Birmingham International.

The only time a train was late on the trip was the train from Birmingham International to Birmingham New Street. I did not miss my next connection so no harm done. I eat my sleeper breakfast while waiting.

Glad I had the bike with me.

On to my destination.

After a day of work I catch the train to Manchester, with a stop for food.

The train that I am on takes me down to Birmingham International where I wait for the sleeper which comes in at 2240. Then to bed and sleep.

I grab breakfast in Inverness.

Then it’s back to the north.

I chose to get off and on to the sleeper at Birmingham international rather than Crewe as I got an hours more sleep in both directions. I did have to travel further but this was preferable to getting off the sleeper really early and getting on really late.

Why is this cheaper than other methods of travel? I saved two hotel nights, no airport parking no miles in the car, no flights. Easy win.

My carbon footprint was far lower than if I had taken a flight.

And I was relaxed. I had an Ok sleep on the way down and a really good sleep on the way back.

Tourism, Travel

Far North – Manchester – Aberdeen

Posted on 24th Jul 2026 by insightndes

A trip to the south, or the northwest of England as it is known, and then to the northeast of Scotland. This got off to a bad start when the ScotRail app told me at nine in the evening, before I was due to go, that the 0650 train was cancelled as it had broken down. Good that I was informed, bad that it was late in the day. The ScotRail app works well.

Could I catch the later train, and arrive late in Manchester or find an alternative? I went for the alternative, booking the Ember electric bus, meaning an earlier start, arriving an hour earlier in Inverness. The Ember bus is easy to book onto via the web.

The ride experience in the Ember bus was good, but still prefer the train. Early start meant packing a breakfast sandwich for the journey.

The elevation of the bus meant I could see far more than what I normally see from a car.

A wait in Inverness and then on to the next leg, back on track.

It is on to Edinburgh, where I changed trains. The temperature is far higher than further north.

Changed trains at Carlisle. The forecast temperature here is 24 degrees but the temperature in the glass roofed station is more like the mid 30s. It’s a greenhouse.

It was a twelve hour journey.

I am staying at the Premier Inn near the station, which is extremely close and convenient. I am on the ninth floor, a room with a view.

There are lots of canals in the centre of Manchester.

Manchester is an interesting city.

It is off to Crewe to catch the sleeper.

The Caledonian Sleeper is due at 2345, but as ever it arrives late at Crewe. I get to bed just after midnight and I wake up in Scotland.

Travel

Bristol to the far north

Posted on 26th Jun 2026 by insightndes

The longest leg of the journey.

The trains became a bit chaotic as demonstrated by this notice.

The 2006 to Milton Keynes , which I had planned to take, was eventually cancelled. I caught the slower, local train to Birmingham International, but not before its platform was changed.

The Birmingham International station is clean and modern. I had an extended wait due to delays caused by a lorry damaging a bridge near Bedford. This is probably why the Milton Keynes train had been delayed. This was the first time that I caught the sleeper service from Birmingham International.

The notice boards showed the chaos caused by lorry.

I went down to the platform and worked out that my carriage was near the front of the train, so I moved to the correct end, having found out the direction of travel.

The arrival of the sleeper.

When I boarded, I was asked by a trainee Caledonian Sleeper host how I knew to be in the right place.

Straight to bed.

Waked up to breakfast in the Highlands.

I had to wait for the rail replacement bus north. No trains due to work on the far north line. I took some photos from the bus.

Travel

Didcot to Bristol

Posted on 25th Jun 202624th Jun 2026 by insightndes

This was the shortest leg of my journey.

The cycle to the hotel of about a mile took an age due to traffic lights and traffic. Cars really hold cyclists up but not as much as they hold each other up.

Resisted the urge to cycle down the corridor.

Travel

Liverpool to Didcot

Posted on 24th Jun 2026 by insightndes

While I was packing I had some visitors.

Packing

Tourism

Liverpool

Posted on 10th Jun 202610th Jun 2026 by insightndes

I am staying at the Premier Inn at the Albert Docks, a brilliant location,

An amazing view of the Albert Docks, the Mersey and the nearby iconic buildings. The hotel is in a re-purposed warehouse.

I didn’t just stay in my room, as wonderful as it was.

They’re sculptures and monuments near the Tide Dock.

The propeller from the Lusitania, torpedoed in the First World War.

For a day of sight seeing it is worth while getting a day saver ticket. Travel on trains, buses and the ferry.

Looking from the train towards the Tabaco Warehouse.

Had a look around Crosby.

Turbines and Anthony Gormley Sculptures.

Back to the city centre and it’s time to take the Ferry Across the Mersey. With bike.

The ferry is a bit smoky.

Crossed the Mersey and cycled to New Brighton.

Liverpool Docks from the other side of the Mersey.

Cycled towards Birkenhead.

Departing cruise ship.

The ferry.

And it’s back across on the ferry. A band boarded with their instruments, I assume to do a show on the ferry later.

Albert dock with the Anglican cathedral behind.

Cycled a bit around Liverpool on return to the shore.

Visiting the largest Anglican cathedral, anywhere, I believe.

And then visited the Catholic cathedral.

Sunlight being caught on the uni buildings.

Liverpool is a vibrant, interesting city.

Travel

To Liverpool

Posted on 2nd Jun 2026 by insightndes

Too much chat on the train to Liverpool Lime Street to take photos.

Environment, Tourism, Travel

Glasgow

Posted on 1st Jun 2026 by insightndes

I cycled in Glasgow and tried out the buses. Glasgow has some proper cycle lanes, separated from traffic. The drivers are polite and the cyclists obey the traffic lights.

Comprehensive bus service.