Quote: Originally posted by holdol on 16/4/2012
I know this an old post but really am considering doing the same! I do drive but only tootle and am very nervous so it means we only camp at weekends when hubbie home plus main break. I'm considering it cos I've been to riverside at skipton a few times now and it's on the Leeds settle line so very easy to get to. Thinking I coud take kids in the big holidays for a few days as the train station is a few minutes walk. So wondering who did do it last year??!!
Me and 14 year old travel mostly on trains but occasionally get a lift of a friend on here. We actually went to Riverside at Skipton last year on the train. It is doable if you pack correctly. I always make sure we are warm and comfy and we also never go short of food as I tend to pack stuff that is not too bulky. have fun !!
Great effort if you can do it without the car. Personally, I don't think we could cope, knowing how much we take and how much we leave in the boot after unpacking!!
You really will need the bare minimum! No tables and chairs, windbreaks, picnic baskets etc..Wish we could do it!!
Sounds fab. If you're travelling by train and you haven't already booked your tickets a family and friends railcard gives great discounts on trains when travelling with kids. Think it costs £28 a year (but I usually renew mine when the mail do their offer on it usually in may time)
I'm sure it's very doable, if you do think you need a chair to sit on have a look on amazon for blow up chairs, I'll be getting one for my trip and I'm also using public transport, they're not too heavy and of course pack down small. Clothes wise take the bare essentials and wear as much of it as you can traveling, i.e leggings under trousers, jumpers tied around waist if it's warm etc.
Good luck, I think it's sound like a good adventure, one your kids are going to love!
Never carried the gear with me but OH has often took the gear in the skoda and I have got the train with either one or two of the kids and met him there!
When we didn't have a car we used to go by train to Cornwall for hols. Used to cost £2 per child with a family railcard from Manchester to Cornwall. I will never forget the youngest lad sneaking a remote control car in his back pack on the train. Boy did that car travel some miles up and down that train!!!
Of course its doable...That's the way people used to go on holiday before the advent of the car!!! Sometimes our family would travel to Rothsay on the Isle of Bute for the Glasgow Fair(main two week break)7 kids and my mum laden down with all sorts of baggage...Big wicker Basket that the older boys would take turns carrying Took all our clothes and some food...And when you got off the train to catch the ferry to the Island every family around you was kitted out almost exactly the same..Certainly doable...Just needs a bit more thought putting into it....
I applaud your resourcefulness in getting your family off for a holiday...and hope you have a great time...
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
Thanks for the tips guys. Got some blow up chairs half price in Aldis last year and they do pack up small. Have been thinking about the family railcard as you can get one with tesco club card vouchers but the daily mail offer sounds really good. The teenager and the 8 yr old are pretty good and the 3 yr old has a very sturdy pushchair that I could laden to the hilt with 'stuff'!! The canvas will have to stay at home just wondering how convenient the base seconds 4.2 would be on the train or whether it's time for some tent shopping lol!!