Cambridge to Whitby by train / bus

[boingboing]

Hi, I am considering renting a cottage in Whitby for a week in middle of March. The train travel from Cambridge to Whitby is bumping up the price a lot. It seems to be cheaper to train to Scarborough and then bus to Whitby (Arriva?) rather than take train all the way to Whitby. Unfortunately the changeover days for the cottage are Friday but I may be able to negotiate a different day. Also if I book rail tickets do I need to reserve a seat for the Peterborough to York section, the websites I have looked at all recommend this. Have travelled from Peterborough to York before and it was pretty crowded. Any thoughts on this and any ideas greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[HowardKennitby]

This is one for our resident travel guru Chris. I await with bated breath :-)

[pyjamas]

Hi - It will also be better to take the train to Scarborough and bus with Arriva to Whitby (providing there is not a lot of snow on the Whitby to Scarborough road. It gets blocked easily, so check weather forecast first.) The train ride via Middlesborough is OK, but the M'bro - WY bit takes a long time. It is, however, a very scenic train ride. Trains are few and far between also, while the bus is more or less every hour with Arriva - it's also a quite pretty route via Roin Hoods Bay top. The bus stop is right outside the Scarborough train station. If you book via the website, eg The Trainline, it is free for seat reservations and I would recommend reserving. You could also check via Leeds as it is sometimes cheaper this way. I have even bought 2 tickets separately. EG to York and then Yorks to Sc separately. Depending on when you travel it sometimes works out a lot cheaper. Hope this helps a bit and have a good week. (From a Whitby local)

[pyjamas]

Hi - that should be Robin Hoods Bay, not Roin!!!!

[pyjamas]

Am having a brainstorm today!! Middlesborough to Whitby is the entire train journey and takes about an hour and a half in total.

[Buenchico]

You've not stated the prices you've been quoted (or your exact dates). Based upon travelling out on Friday 9th March (and returning a week later), the National Rail website is suggesting a return fare of £85.50 from Cambridge to Whitby but only £2 less (£83.50) to Scarborough.

Those prices are based upon purchasing two 'Advance' tickets, which normally include seat reservations anyway.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Chris

[boingboing]

Thanks to everyone for their answers especially pyjamas. Trainline quoted me over £100 for the journey up but I may not have put in the right info. Still prefer the af Scarborough then bus. I was going to take the train out towards Middlesborough anyway during my stay for the scenery. Will look at ordering separate tickets to York and Scarborough. Cheers! James

[mushroom25]

Cambridge to York on March 9th dep 11h00 (arr 13h31) or 12h00 (arr 14h32), £40.00.
bus 840 from york station to whitby at 14h49 (arr 17h02), £10.00

bus from Whitby to York station on 16th March dep 11h14, arr York 13h35, £10.00
York to Cambridge dep 14h40 (arr 18h02), £20.00.

train tickets from Eastcoast. buy bus ticket from the driver, or book online via Yorkbus.

[mrs_overall]

Who is pyjamas?

I thought I was the only Whitby AB'er in the village lol