I'm in need of some help from previous Coasters regarding how to get out of Robin Hood's Bay. We're flying from the States into Manchester and hopping a train to St Bee's but it doesn't seem to be that easy on the back end.

What's the easiest/quickest way to get from RHB to Manchester Airport? I thought there was a train station in Whitby but the Rail Europe website won't allow me to make a connection from Whitby to Manchester.

Would appreciate your guidance. Thanks!

A previous enquiry shows:-

"Robin Hoods Bay is best exited by a bus to Scarborough,then Trans-Pennine trains back to Manchester.
If you have to abort somewhere after half way across,then bus it to Northallerton,get singles to York,then pick up your Trans-Pennine booking."

There are probably other ways, try using the search box near the top left-hand side of the page to find other responses to previous enquiries. Good luck, I hope that you enjoy it.

There are buses between Bay and Scarborough every half hour during the day, but roughly hourly early in the morning and later at night.

The bus drops you outside the railway station where there are direct trains to Manchester airport, again roughly hourly.

Don't bother with the Whitby line .... far too slow and tortuous a journey.

Cheap rail tickets are offered 12 weeks before your date of travel. They can save you a fortune.

I almost made the mistake of going to Whitby, but thanks to advice I got here I did as Slowcoach said. I believe Scarborough is farther from RHB than Whitby which is why we tend to look there, but Scarborough to Manchester airport is a cinch.

Actually I did once take that line from whitby to darlington in the early evening and they were having some sort of event on board. They had some sort of small band with an acordian and were serving beer in plastic glasses. It was a little surreal but far from torturous

Just for a note I got the train from whitby to darlington them from there to manchester airport.

These are "Real Ale" trains which usually run once a week during summer.

http://www.eskvalleyrailway.co.uk/events/index.html

I always try and avoid the 4pm train during term time as it's full of screeching schoolkids on their way home.

This is very helpful. Thanks to all for your advice. A bus to Scarborough it is!

Last question (maybe) - how long is the bus ride from the Bay to Scarborough? I'm buying our rail tickets this wkend and want to be sure I leave us sufficient time to get to the train station.

We leave in 7 weeks!!!

Bay to Scarborough takes about 50 minutes. The timetable is available at

http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceinformation.aspx?id=2244

The bus stops directly outside the station. As the bus service runs from Middlesbrough allow yourself for a delay when booking the train .... ie don't rely on a five minute connection!

Train times

http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/media/127448/tt_north_01apr-14sep2012.pdf

Train times

http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/media/127448/tt_north_01apr-14sep2012.pdf

Thanks Slowcoach!! This is a huge help.

For what is worth, I will give a few hints for those venturing to England for the first time. I will not clam that I know everything, or for that matter, much of anything.

The rail system, even after 15 years of using it is still largely a mystery to me. I know booking in advance is the best way to insure that you won't have to cash in your life savings for a simple few hours ride. I've had the best luck with the rail passes, which can only be purchased before you leave home. They are for a number of trips within a set period of time. There are several options on rides, and time they encompass. They are good for the airport shuttles.

There are few universal truths about any mode of public transportation.
1) It will be full to overflowing.
2) Someone will be sitting in the seat you have reserved.
3) Do not assume anything. Weekends are when construction is performed, so you could end up on a bus for part of your journey.
4) The English people are kind and courteous, but on public transportation it is every man for themselves, and especially when traveling to a match.

The trick to enjoying your holiday is to look at these minor inconviences as part of the adventure. Just be flexible.

One time when departing the train in St. Bees, I went to the wrong end of the train to exit. The damn door would not open, and the train was about to depart. The resulting sprint to the other end of the car, carrying full gear, probably resulted in several injuries to those seated on the aisles.

My several C2C walks have been among the highlights of my life. If you don't mind I'll share a few other experiences at a later date.

Some rail passes can be booked at the station immediately before you purchase your tickets, assuming that you have photo ID. This can be obtained at a photobooth at most stations. I bought my senior railcard like this, although I needed proof of age (which, looking at my age-worn features, is pretty obvious).

I would assume that most railcards can be obtained in a similar way.

The rail pass that seems to be the best deal for those traveling into Britain is the flexipass, which would give you 4 days travel within a 2 month period for about 200 pounds sterling. British citizens are not eligible to purchase this particular pass. First class is quite a bit more, and no big advantage. On some trains the treatrment is indeed first class, while on others the only advantage is less crowding. I don't know if better deals can be found by taking your chance after arrival, but that is the great gamble.

I would imagine (without checking) that it would be possible to do the Coast to Coast related journeys far cheaper than £200 by simply buying the tickets in advance (within 12 weeks of travel).


I can't really imagine that an advanced ticket between Manchester and St Bees or Scarborough and Manchester would cost £100 each.

Just checked on the internet

Manchester Airport to St Bees on a May Monday .....£11 single
Scarborough to Manchester Airport on May Friday ... £17:50 single


Can't really do much better I would have thought.

Seems like really good prices. My problem has always been having go through Gatwick or Heathrow, because the deals on airfare were so much better, then getting to St. Bees through Euston Station. This is further complicated by never knowing how late the flight may be, or how long in getting baggage. Never much of a problem with customs. This all makes it difficult to buy advance tickets. I suppose there is not much logic to a flexipass if the train trips are short. Anyway, thanks for the info. I only hope that the old body (and the economy) will allow me to do another C2C.

Those prices are a shock! I bought our train tickets from Manchester to St Bee's; $155 for the both of us.
Scarborough to Manchester; $68 for the both of us.

Those are American Dollars, not GBP but still! I feel like I've been robbed!!!

I know the feeling all too well!

I feel like I've been robbed!!! [/quote]


Welcome to England!

We live here.
We are used to being robbed.
When you get here, don't try and hire a car and buy petrol. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask and held a gun to your head.

At the exchange rate at the moment we are paying about $9.50 a gallon.
Our gallons are bigger than yours , so probably about $7.

Bring some with you. You will make a fortune. You could even pay for your train tickets with the proceeds.

RT you got a cake! ...another year wiser. All the best!

It's a fact that the average working class family in the USA have more disposable income than those in the UK.
As ageneral rule apart from fuel and transport, which is far cheaper in the States, things costs the same amount in GBP here in the UK as the same things cost in $ in the USA.
Dave.

Useful website that can sometimes save you a bit by finding cheaper split tickets:

http://splitticket.moneysavingexpert.com/

Only useful for walk on fares and free for the moment.