Guest Jack Benson Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Ever the pessimist, the two booked* trips this summer to Germany and France are looking increasingly unlikely and we are becoming increasingly frustrated. However we have look reality square in the face and stay in the UK and as we live in the West Country, we are looking northwards with railways as the common thread. This year, a week in and around York, seems to be a good idea. Apart from a couple of days at the NRM and high tea at Betty’s (Linda’s choice), what railway related attractions are worth seeing in the area using York as a base? Derwent Valley is close to York..... Next year, age restrictions prevent fly/drive and our long distance schleps across Europe will be at an end at the little trains of Wales will be our destination. *booked in 2019, delayed and rebooked in 2020, we live in hope thanks to Astra Zeneca. Thanks to any assistance Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 How are you getting around? Driving it public transport? Obviously the NYMR is in the area, but I've no idea how fast out frequent any bus from Pickering to York/ Malton is. On a smaller scale, there's the Middleton railway in Leeds and the Embsay & Bolton Abbey. The Scarborough miniature railway is worth a ride if you have a day at the beach there, but possibly not a destination in its own right. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium figworthy Posted February 7, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 7, 2021 And don't forget the Keighley and Worth Valley and the Wensleydale railways. Adrian 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted February 7, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 7, 2021 2 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted February 7, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 7, 2021 We love Bettys And the NYMR. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 (edited) https://thesidingshotel.co.uk/ From the breakfast room You can't get much closer to the mainline than this. The bedrooms in the Mk1 coaches have a good novelty value for a couple of nights but no more. Edited February 8, 2021 by Chris M Photos added 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
009 micro modeller Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 2 hours ago, Zomboid said: The Scarborough miniature railway is worth a ride if you have a day at the beach there, but possibly not a destination in its own right. I did Scarborough a couple of years ago (as a day trip from York, with non-railway activities in the morning) and did the cliff railways as well as the North Bay line (Central Tramway and Spa lift still working - the top station of the closed St Nicholas line is now a café and you can take tea in the coaches which have been fixed in place at the top). York to Malton on the main line is nice and scenic. If using public transport, York has fairly frequent bus services towards the outskirts of the city near Murton but when I went to Murton Park I cycled and as far as I can tell the bus service beyond Osbaldwick to Murton isn’t as frequent. However, I can highly recommend a visit to the DVLR (the station building, relocated from elsewhere on the old DVLR, is beautifully restored inside and out) as well as the rest of the (non-railway) Murton Park site - under normal circumstances train rides are free once you have paid the museum entry fee to get in. When I visited in 2019 I did pay extra for a cab ride in the Rowntree’s loco, which was also fun. There may still be issues this summer though, depending on what restrictions remain, as although the DVLR has been running demonstration freight trains and shunting they have not yet attempted to run Covid-secure passenger services in the way that some lines have done. Via public transport it seems to generally be quicker to get to the Worth Valley from York than the NYMR, since it has a direct interchange with a frequently-served line from Leeds rather than a train to Malton and then switching to a Coastliner bus (or bus throughout). I have done Keighley as a day trip from York in this way but not the NYMR yet, because of the transport issue. The carriage museum at Ingrow is very interesting and well-presented. It may also be possible to combine a visit to the Shipley Glen Tramway with either Embsay or Keighley. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 12 hours ago, Jack Benson said: high tea at Betty’s Can I mention Little Betty’s, only a short walk away. Smaller, less crowded, shorter queues, but same menu as it’s the same company. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcD Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 if you fancy a walk on the Moors the old railways at Rosedale are pretty good. They are a little South of Whitby. Marc 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold papagolfjuliet Posted February 8, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2021 Wolds Way Lavender, just off the A64 near Rillington, has a nice miniature railway which is occasionally steam worked. https://woldswaylavender.co.uk/play/miniature-railway/ 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic17 Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 Lots to do in York but in addition:- Rail to Scarborough is a very good - lots to do there especially if the weather is nice Rail to Keighley for KWVR is also a good trip Rail to Knaresborough for a few hours 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
009 micro modeller Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 1 hour ago, deltic17 said: Rail to Knaresborough for a few hours Can definitely recommend Knaresborough, lovely place. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR Chuffer Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 24 minutes ago, 009 micro modeller said: Knaresborough Having travelled through it for many years, stopped over last September to feed hungry son at lunchtime, a gem, many individual specialist shops, easily walkable and with an Ossett pub to boot! Well worth a day, whenever some degree of normality returns. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 Thanks for the suggestions, after the NRM and a trip to Harrogate, we will take a trip to the NYMR and return via the GCR as it is en route and an opportunity to see a double track preserved line. One last question - curry, do we really have to visit Bradford, is there a good curry to be had closer to York? This may well be the only reminder of our lost opportunity for foreign travel. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 5944 Posted February 8, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 8, 2021 Beamish is pretty accessible from York. Train to Chester-le-Street, then bus. You need a full day there though! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/68672-a-long-weekend-in-south-wales-2010/&/topic/68672-a-long-weekend-in-south-wales-2010/?p=959669 Jon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
009 micro modeller Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 (edited) 7 hours ago, Jack Benson said: One last question - curry, do we really have to visit Bradford, is there a good curry to be had closer to York? There’s at least one pretty good place to have a curry in York, as well as in Thirsk and Easingwold (though those may be a little out of your way depending on whether you’re driving or on public transport). I did have one in Bradford once and I think there were a few too many chillis for me... For a slightly obscure railway-themed excursion in York you may like to take a stroll down alongside the Ouse to Fulford Ings and the Millennium Bridge, where you will be able to see the remains of the Imphal Barracks 18” gauge railway. In any case it’s a lovely walk and you can cross over and visit Rowntree Park and walk back on the other side of the river. Nice in summer but not particularly recommended at the moment - much of it is probably underwater around now. Edited February 8, 2021 by 009 micro modeller 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 My experience of the tourist attraction curry places (Brick Lane and the Manchester curry mile) is that you're better off pretty much anywhere else, unless you have a specific recommendation from someone you trust. If they rely on tourism, they don't need to worry about repeat business... No idea if Bradford is like that, but I suspect there are plenty of good restaurants in York. I went to a good one in York but it was 20 years ago, so I won't even bother trying to identify it! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 On the A64 between York and Tadcaster there is the Aagrah which is part of a chain of Indian restaurants from Shipley (near Bradford) the buffet is a good way to try everything. Saltaire is a world heritage site worth a look a mile or two from Shipley. Many of the decent curry houses in Bradford are on the outskirts. Bradford has the Media museum a short walk from both stations. Plenty of Yorkshire pubs serving good food and ales. Look out for the filled Yorkshires, tasty. York has many sights such as the Minster, Shambles (short walk to Monk Bar Models), Jorvik Viking museum, castle museum to name but a few. Nice walk on the walls. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 OK, very many thanks for the suggestions, here are the destinations during our five days. Staying at Premier Inn South West York, A64. York, NRM for one, possibly two days. Harrogate, Betty’s and the Fat Badger (or little Betty’s) Eating at the Aagrah on the A64 GCR as it is en route from the west country Accessibility is an issue, hence limited choices and it is better to think small, everything else is a bonus. We hope that everything is open, our self shielding has been extended until April but we are hopeful. Stay Safe, Stay Home Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 From where you are staying the Aagrah is 19 minutes walk along the wide flat path alongside the A64 - same side as the hotel. Suggest you do that as you can then sample the Kingfisher beer without needing to worry about drink driving. For the centre of York use the Park & Ride just as you come off the A64 at Askham Bar about 4 miles away. Easy access an low floor bendy buses. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcD Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Aagrah restaurants are always worth a visit. food its always excellent. Marc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted March 2, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 2, 2021 Last 2 trips to York involved eating at Akbars. Always busy, always tasty, always good value for money. No problems. https://www.akbars.co.uk/york-akbars Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jack Benson Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 Now that the 'green' list is about to be officially published with its bonus of individual PCRs on each leg of the journey our delayed travels have been yet cancelled again and another UK venue has to be found. As the York trip is planned and booked, SWMBO fancied somewhere different but not Devon/Cornwall (too close to home and outrageously expensive). We thought somewhere with constant torrential rain and interesting trains would be suitable - the Blaenau Ffestiniog, WHR, Barmouth, Harlech accessible by two scenic routes via Chepstow OR the other alternative is Frinton-on-Sea........ If Balenau Ffestiniog, is it worth staying in just one location or move around as we are just planning a five night break and Barmouth does look lovely. Thank and StaySafe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted May 17, 2021 Share Posted May 17, 2021 Blaenau is reasonably well located for most parts of Snowdonia. If you've the budget then a night or two at Portmeirion is well worth it. It takes on a very different character once the day trippers have left at the end of the day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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