Ascertaining valid routes for travel (Oxford-Liverpool)

[whole diary]

[81F]

I am having a couple of days in Liverpool 23-25 November and shall be travelling from / returning to Oxford.
I have looked at possible advance tickets, which are plentiful for Friday 23rd, but there seems to be little around for returning on the afternoon of Sun 25th.
So I shall probably opt for a SVR OFF-PEAK RETURN route 00267 VIA BANBURY  [thanks, BRFARES].
Coming home on Sunday evening I shall opt for the fastest possible journey, so probably changing at Stafford/Birmingham. But I have plenty of time on Friday heading north, so wondered about a scenic route, covering stretches of track I've never travelled before.
I've heard of "mapped routes" but don't know where or how to access this information. Could someone in the know please enlighten me how I find out what routes would be valid using this ticket.
I though of travelling via Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Wrexham, Bidston, being close to the ex GW^▸ (Great Western) route to Birkenhead -- or perhaps via Stoke-Crewe, which is another route I've never travelled.
Thanks in advance for any help.

[JayMac]

An excellent tool is trainscanbecheaper.info

For permitted routes between Oxford and Liverpool:

http://www.trainscanbecheaper.info/permitted.aspx?from=OXF^» (Oxford - next trains)&to=LIV&v1=&v2=&v3=&v4=&v5=&ShowRoute=N&AnalyseMaps=Y

That lists all the permitted routes with links to the relevant Routeing Guide maps. As your ticket is 'Via Banbury' then only routes through Banbury can be traced on the relevant maps.

You can trace any route on the relevant maps (using the maps in order if there is more than one) from origin to destination as long as you don't double back through any station.

Once you've found a route from those maps let me know and I'll double check validity.

Also, a few pounds can be saved by splitting your ticket at Leamington Spa. That changes the routeing on the Leamington to Liverpool ticket to 'Via Crewe'.

[IndustryInsider]

An excellent tool is trainscanbeheaper.info

You're not wrong, BNM - that's a cracking little website.  Duly bookmarked!  Thanks.

[Southern Stag]

The search for cheapest route tool on that site is highly recommended, great for finding the cheapest, if somewhat obscure split ticketing option.

[81F]

Thanks very much to Bignosemac -- I've had hours [well, a couple] of fun with the Trainscanbecheaper site.

It turns out I can get a lift to Liverpool this coming Friday, but shall return by train to Oxford on Sunday, as closely as possible following the original GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) route from Birkenhead Woodside via Chester and Shrewsbury. With a Senior railcard -- and thanks to Trainscanbecheaper --  I can travel from Liverpool stations to Oxford for a very reasonable ^26.95. Just in case anyone is interested, this is made up as follows:

Liverpool - Eastham Rake  ^2.25 Anytime Day Single
Eastham Rake - Capenhurst  ^1.30 Anytime Day Single
Capenhurst - Shrewsbury  ^6.10 Anytime Day Single
Shrewsbury - Leamington Spa  ^9.10 Offpeak Day Single
Leamington Spa - Banbury  ^4.55 Anytime Day Single
Banbury - Oxford  ^3.65  Offpeak Day Single

I assume I can purchase all these tickets on the day at Liverpool Lime Street booking office immediately prior to departure.

Other routings involved splitting tickets at Tackley or Heyford, but these stopping places are served only by infrequent FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services, and I guess Cross-country train managers would not accept ticket splits involving halts where their trains don't call.

[JayMac]

Glad to be of assistance 81F! 

Your journey home following the old GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) route looks good, as does the ticket combination you've plumped for. There shouldn't be any issue buying the tickets you require at Liverpool Lime Street. Just leave enough time to make the purchases and be clear in asking for what you want.

[IndustryInsider]

There shouldn't be any issue buying the tickets you require at Liverpool Lime Street. Just leave enough time to make the purchases and be clear in asking for what you want.

About 20 minutes for that little lot!