Is there much to do in Penzance for about four hours?

[whole diary]

[Mookiemoo]

Have an exam on Monday - as is becoming my habit, the best way for me to revise is to take myself on a train, leaving my mobile dongle at home - with no distractions or otherwise - and see parts of the country I've never been to................

I have worked out I can just about do Ludlow-Penzance and back in a day.
 

I have a choice.

1. Go Saturday and use weekend first upgrades on FGW^▸ (First Great Western)/Cross Country.  But this only give me about 40 minutes in Penzance before having to come home.  Depart 06:15 and return 22:35

2. Go on Friday which will be more costly for the relevant first upgrades (even with my dubious discount) but I can get at least 4 hours in Penzance to get some lunch at a nice pub/restaurant etc.  Depart 06:14 and return 02:12.  Not overly bothered by the early morning return.

3. Go on Saturday and find a nice small B&B to stay in and them come back on Sunday.

If anyone knows of a decent eatery/inexpensive B&B 2 or 3 are more appealing than a sack lunch on saturday.

[amiddl]

I'd be inclined to get off at St Erth and go down the St Ives Branch - several nice places to eat there and a nice trip. Never been agreat fan of Penzance. I've stayed at Jamies Guest House at Carbis Bay which was nice and ^60 a night.

[Mookiemoo]

How hilly is it down there?  Tempted to make a weekend of it and take my bike and maybe cycle down the coast/get the train back on sunday

[Worcester_Passenger]

I too would recommend the St Ives branch. In St Ives you can go to the Tate (if you're feeling cultural), or you can go to the Portminster Beach Cafe (same bay as the station is in, about 20m vertically below the station). Sounds kiss-me-quick, but is actually the best place to eat in St Ives. Restaurant upstairs, beach cafe downstairs. And the wine is chilled in proper bucket-and-spade buckets.

[amiddl]

Totally would agree re Portminster Beach Cafe

[Mookiemoo]

I think the plan is going to be:

Saturday 06:45 ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) ludlow to newport 08:01 - 08:14 FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Newport to BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) 08:52 - 09:15 FGW Newport to St Erth 13:04 - 13:11 - FGW St Erth to St Ives

Stay here for two nights (unless I can find anywhere else at this late stage for the same price that is recomended and I can book on line)

http://www.laterooms.com/en/hotel-reservations/145571_atlantic-hotel-st-ives.aspx

Do this walk on Sunday

http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walks/walk_a/1081/

Get as much revision as I can do around this.  Then travel back on

13:55 FGW St Ives to St Erth 14:09 - 14:11 FGW St Erth to Plymouth 15:57 - 16:25 XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Plymouth to Newport 18:14 - 19:48 ATW Newport to Ludlow 21:03

Intend to take in 1/2 eateries in the St Ives area on saturday and Sunday.

Take exam on Tuesday (not Monday as I thought - getting back fro the states has screwed my calendar completely - only realised it was bank holiday weekend about two hours ago)

Any thoughts from those in the know?

[devon_metro]

My planned revision session on Saturday, also on the train as I too find it less distracting, was not so successful. Then again the need to arrange a BBQ outweiged my desire to revise! Yawn

[caliwag]

Now then. If you enjoy a beer at the same as revision, I understand the Star in Crowlas is superb, a micro-brewery on site, and accommodation. Good bus link to Penzance.

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/27/27655/Star_Inn/Crowlas

[LiskeardRich]

st ives will be mad this weekend being bank holiday weekend and start of half term especially if the good weather carries on, i'd imagine you could get cheaper places to stay than atlantic hotel,

[devon_metro]

st ives will be mad this weekend being bank holiday weekend and start of half term especially if the good weather carries on, i'd imagine you could get cheaper places to stay than atlantic hotel,

Weather looking naf for Bank Holiday at present.

Great another very quiet weekend, thats all the region needs. 

[Mookiemoo]

Now -Since this is now planned and booked - can anyone enlighten me as to what sort of accomodation I will get from St Erth to St Ives

Its short journey so not that bothered to be honest but I'd rather not have a pacer (never been on one but heard enough about em!)

Actually - such a short journey at least I could say I've been on one

[Brucey]

Now -Since this is now planned and booked - can anyone enlighten me as to what sort of accomodation I will get from St Erth to St Ives

Its short journey so not that bothered to be honest but I'd rather not have a pacer (never been on one but heard enough about em!)

Actually - such a short journey at least I could say I've been on one

I believe its normally 150s or 153s.

[gaf71]

It won't be a pacer. 142's and 143's rarely venture west of Newton Abbot!

[jester]

Its booked as two x 150.s presently.

[Brucey]

(never been on one but heard enough about em!)

You can enjoy the wonders of the Pacer (including the great noise of their brakes) in this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8jmgowXlyw