........Calling Foxy if you're about , advice needed ......

Going to races on British Rail btw...

Pretty certain he's away for a couple of weeks

Thanks Nineiron ,will try him again nearer the time...

how about newcastle ?
seems pretty central to the tracks you wish to visit

Will have a look Shadder , thanks ...

Workrider
I've had a look on google for you & I think the Durham one will probably be the best for you.It's not badly situated but it's a fair climb upto the station.I know you are into old towns & Durham is somewhere you'll enjoy looking round.
The Darlington one is about 2ml out of town & there's nothing near it & I cann't imagine the bus service will be very good.It would be taxis everytime you wanted to go out & there's nowt at Darlington to see.
The Newcastle ones are too far North for where you want to go except for Hexham.
Thirsk & Redcar are dead easy to get to on the train(10mins walk from the station)whilst if I were you I'd contact the other three to see if they have any buses on & if not could they tell you which buses to catch from the nearest station.Darlington will be the nearest for Catterick but I'm afraid I haven't a clue about Wetherby.If there's no buses on at Hexham,do not attempt to walk it.It's about 2ml from the statiun & about a mile of that is uphill & I mean uphill.
Whatever you decide on enjoy your stay & let's hope you get a fine night for Hexham.This is the most scenic course in the U.K.(that includes Goodwood)but it can be a hole if the weathers bad.
All the best
Allpoints.

Just had another look at your dates,why don't you just hire a car for the last two days?They are the two worst to get to by train but they are both a doddle to get to by car.

You can hire a small car from any of the car hires on cartrawler for about 140.00 euro from 24th to 29th May, from practically any airport. Take out an excess policy to cover any accidental damage, theft etc for 1 year for 50.00 euro and you can use it anywhere in europe up to 23rd May 2016, this is cheaper than paying the car hire for excess cover. I use arguscarhire.com or rentalcars.com there is a whole raft of them around the same money. You might know Argus, I think they started up in Mount Argus years ago.

Thanks for the imput lads , Fat will be coming via boat and train ,not a great flyer tbh , will have a look at that cartrawler thing ..Allpoints stayed in Durham a few years , that country house and golf club hotel , been to Hexham in 1991 ,met Mary Reverly and she tipped me a winner ..Newcastle hotels very pricey for some reason ,maybe its the bank holiday ...Allpoints I'll have a bet with you if you're standing ...Thanks again lads...

usually a bus shuttle service from hexham train station to track

workrider 10 Feb 15 18:14 

Hoping to get over for weeks racing end of may 24 to 30 , I know that includes UK spring bank holiday ..There lies the problem no car hire firms open that w/end ...So cant hire a car
--------------

Is that your assumption - or a fact?

You would think that, "car hire firms," - would be committing business/financial suicide, were they not open on potentially MORE BUSY Bank Holidays Weekends.

Where are you flying to? - Surely every Airport has several Car Hire Firm
------------

A quick search on google came up with this advert ...

Enterprise Car Hire

Extending Your Weekend Over A May Bank Holiday?

Rates starting from £11.99 per day between 30th April and 10th May or between 28th May and 7th June at most neighbourhood locations. Four-day minimum hire, ten-day maximum hire.

FFS will ye stop please.....this man has the brain of a rocking horse......of course you can hire a car.....
You have no idea how stupid this man is......
Hes coming by boat but hes not bringing his car......and then he tells us that car hire companys dont open on bank holidays.....jesus wept....i give up.....

  @  paulie   

Onlooker  24th may, day I arrive is a Sun , followed by a Bank Holiday monday ...Firms not open on Sunday..I will be arriving via boat and train ...Have a look at those dates you gave below again , 30 april to 10 may and 28 may till 7th june ...I might do as Allpoints suggested and hire a car for the last 2 days racing ..Thanks again for your help...

workrider -

Note - That as you will be travelling around by train - and thus, presumably, paying your Train fares ON the DAY ... You will be paying TOP prices for every journey.

For Example: - I booked train travel, on-line, a few months ago, for a couple arriving as foot passengers at Holyhead - and then getting the train to Manchester.

The 'Anytime DAY' Single was £46.60 - But by booking over a week in advance - I got it for just £16.

You have to nominate the train, or trains if booking a Return, though - and there is a fast(er) route and slower (stopper train) route - BOTH requiring a change at Bangor.

I have just checked on the Trainline - and it is £46.60 every journey on Bank Holiday Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday - at present - whereas, you can book for Thursday of next week at £16.
Whether that means that the lower option will become available nearer to the time - or remain at £46, is an open question.

National Rail Enquiries/Booking site only offer prices for up to 3 months in advance - so your dates are not yet covered.

Never ever heard of car rental companies closed on Sundays and bank holidays.....
How do people return cars on these days?.....

You can't drive Paulie, so what the f*ck would you know?

PAULIE,JUST POST THE KEYS THROUGH THE LETTERBOX

And how do you collect one factmachine?.....break down the door is it to get the keys out.....

Pikey Paulie , is a Pony and Trap man....

Paulie just leaving Hertz rental office.

Wonky must have been dealing with the only car hire company in the world that close on Sundays and bank holidays .....who ya dealing with wonky Fred Flintstone Car Hire is it?.....Spit out the truth wonks .... Off the road .... Car repossessed I suppose ....hardly surprising either ....

Workrider
I could be working at any of the tracks you're going to,however I'm not certain to be at any of them.Monday & Wednesday is Cartmel whilst I wont go near Hexham unless there's a cracking forecast.Thursday & Friday I could be studying the pointers,depending on how I get on with that job means whether I go those two days.When you do go look for a bookies joint that gives you a smile or ask the other books if povertys about.They'll know who you'll mean or easier still just ask if Tonys there,if so come over & introduce yourself.I'll be pleased to meet you.

No Problem Allpoints , will ask Foxy if he knows you ,I'm sure he'll point me in the right direction ...Was hoping to go to Cartmel but its a long way from were I intend staying , so will hardly make either day...

workrider

Take my advice and stay well away from Darlo, stop in Durham a good variety of pubs and restaurant's.
re transport once you get to Hexham do not walk to the course unless you take an oxygen tank, I went for the 1st time 30yr ago (when I was fit) and asked someone how far it was they said just up that hill, half an hour later and 1/2 a stone lighter I arrived

Catterick is a nightmare to get to as you have to get a bus to catterick garrison and walk back or a bus to Richmond and then another to the course. Wetherby is even worse you would need to get a train to York then another train on a branch line to a station not far from wetherby then a taxi to the course, its a nightmare.

Ronnie ,remember going on the bus , and for a moment I thought the driver was from NASA and was a test pilot for a space missile...

Ronnie ,remember going on the bus , and for a moment I thought the driver was from NASA and was a test pilot for a space missile...

English bookie vultures have spotted some Irish lamb.....id say these books will come and pick u up from the boat......bring you to the races...and leave you sleep with their wife.....as long as you bet with them for a few days.....

Paulie
I appreciate you're on a wind up( I regularly read your banter between yourself & workrider)however if you're refering to me read what I put.I'm highly unlikely to be at any of the meetings Workrider is going to.I could work them all if I wanted to however as I've said,it's odds against me being at any of those meetings.It's more important to me getting my form done for the points than wasting my time on a racecourse mid week.I can probably make more on one race at the point than I can on the Thursday & Friday meetings.Redcar & Thirsk are not in the same league as Cartmel & as for Hexham on an evening,do me a favour.I've still got both my balls & I don't intend having them frozen off standing at Hexham.
As for mugging a poor Irish Gent coming over here I've certainlly left a few quid at Ballytagart(if that's how you spell it)Racecourse over the years.This course by the way is the most scenic in the British Isles including Hexham which is far & away the most scenic in the U.K.

paulie -

In the case of allpoints .... might I suggest that you could not be more WRONG.

Agree 100%....all points a true gent.

Thanks for those words lads.
As for my spelling of the racecourse I knew I was wrong when I put it up.It should be Ballintaggart not what I'd put.Anyone fortunate enough to be in the S.W. of Ireland when this meeting is on GO.This is the Premier meeting of the pony racing/flapping in the British Isles.This is the place to spot the future champion jockeys.They all want to win here & class usually shines through.Just watching these kids come off that last bend shows you why the Irish kids are so much in front of ours when it comes down to race riding.There's actually a young lad now who when he starts getting rides will make everyone sit up.He'll come out claiming 10lb in big handicaps & he'll be like gold dust.I wont be bothering what he's on,or what form the horse has I'll just be backing him.

Proof again, if it were needed, that wonky is a sad little ATTENTION SEEKER.

allpoints • February 12, 2015 9:12 AM GMT
Thanks for those words lads.
As for my spelling of the racecourse I knew I was wrong when I put it up.It should be Ballintaggart not what I'd put.Anyone fortunate enough to be in the S.W. of Ireland when this meeting is on GO.This is the Premier meeting of the pony racing/flapping in the British Isles.This is the place to spot the future champion jockeys.They all want to win here & class usually shines through.Just watching these kids come off that last bend shows you why the Irish kids are so much in front of ours when it comes down to race riding.There's actually a young lad now who when he starts getting rides will make everyone sit up.He'll come out claiming 10lb in big handicaps & he'll be like gold dust.I wont be bothering what he's on,or what form the horse has I'll just be backing him.

j k

ngu
Yes,if you spot him give me a shout.I'll do likewise for you.
As for going to this meeting I know Benners is an expensive place to stay but it's worth every penny for the craic & information you get in the bar on a night or quite often in the morning by the time you get to bed.Some very clever horse people in there & it isn't just flapping they are genned up on.Trying to shift a breakfast when you've been with them lads isn't easy,god can they sup & they never come up for air once they start.

will do allpoints

and paul geaneys pub and the dingle pub opposite benners

ngu
Paul Geaneys & the Dingle Pub,yes I've used them in the past.At a guess you may be one of those Hawick lads who stay at the Dingle pub.So we'll know each other or may I say you probably know me but I haven't a clue which one of those lads you are.A pub I like to use is Murphys on the front,usually some decent entertainment on in the back room & it starts fairly early.

hello workrider hope your well.

durham is a much nicer place than darlington as already stated ,I notice 3 of your days are night meetings which could bring you a problem regarding the train,wetherby and catterick don't even have railway stations.i have to be honest and say you have chosen some pretty miserable places to go on your tour hexham aside,and whilst theres nothing wrong going national hunt racing at catterick but the flat is woeful.