Trains, Boats and Buses

Whilst walking is always going to be the best way to see the sights, sometimes it can be fun to see the sights in other ways!  We have a selection of Trails to share with you that use different ways to get from A to B (and back again).  And yes they involve trains and boats and buses too!

Trains

There is nothing more evocative of days gone by than travelling by steam train and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Trail provides that experience. Our partners in Yorkshire had enormous fun creating a Trail that involves buying a day rover ticket and travelling by steam train to solve clues at different stations.

Jane said “It was a real treat to ride on the NYMR through the beautiful North York Moors National Park, especially watching the shadow of the steam plume along the embankments and getting up close to the steam engines! We loved the individual charms of the stations too, from setting clues on some of the wonderful railway memorabilia at Pickering, imagining what Goathland station looked like transformed into Hogsmeade Station for the Harry Potter films, and exploring the village of Grosmont, including walking through a very long tunnel to look around the engine sheds. And then of course, we got to enjoy the return train journey at the end of the day!”

Talking of days gone by, funicular railways were all the rage in the Victorian era and we feature two Trails that both have the option of using the one to avoid walking up the steep paths to the top! In Scarborough the Central Tramway will cost 80p and in Bridgnorth the Cliff Railway return ticket is £1.10 and both are worth the trip!

Move along please and mind the gap!  Head underground to try out the Green Run Trail. Kathy our London Trail Partner explained “we wanted to write a Trail for families and adults to do on a rainy or cold day and where better than underground.”

Boats

When the weather is fine, then you know it's a sign for messing about on the river. Combine that with searching for clues and you have found a winning formula to entertain the family. Our partner in East Anglia who has created Trails across the region has included nine different boating Trails for the catalogue.

Dave explained “The Norfolk Broads are a great place to explore by boat but there is much more to see on dry land as well! For those just visiting for a shorter period hire a day boat and try our Murder Mystery Broads 4 Trail. Starting and finishing at Wroxham, this Trail incorporates Horning and Salhouse Broad, covering 9 miles on the water (so is suitable as a canoe Trail as well!) and 2 miles on land.”

The Bristol Harbourside Trail incorporates something for everyone too including fascinating facts about the history and development of the waterside area from the modern vibrant Millennium Square to Brunel’s SS Great Britain.  Our partner for the area Rachel, commented “there is even a chance to play pirates yourself for a brief spell as you hop on the ferry to cross the harbour en route back from 1845 to modern day.”

A little further up from Bristol at Symonds Yat another ferry is incorporated into a Trail experience. This time it is an old fashioned hand ferry.  The Trail writer, David said “this is one of our most rural Trails and crosses the River Wye twice, once on the ferry and then on the foot suspension bridge.”

Buses

What about a hop on hop off experience down on the south coast?  We have two Trails in Bournemouth that use their Yellow Buses. Both Trails use the 1a Yellow bus. Bournemouth Town centre to Christchurch is on Bus 1 Trail and Christchurch back to Bournemouth is on the Bus 2 Trail. Trailers need to stop the bus, hop off solve the clues and hop back on the next bus. Buses run every 10 minutes and there is lots to see along the route.

Have you done a Trail that involved a form of transport other than Shank’s Pony? If you have we’d love to hear from you. 

Look for this photo on Facebook and tell us about your experience.  Funniest will get a free Trail of your choice.