Hopefully doing the Hebridean Way this May.
Does anyone have any experience of the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Glasgow?
The website says to have to turn your bars sideways. This means that on arrival there would be some faffing around while bars are turned back and re-secured. Perhaps more importantly, there's an implication that the bike slots are narrow, suggesting that I'll have to strip off all my camping gear and luggage. I have a silly small bike, so tend to distribute my luggage around it in multiple places, which takes time. Its not like I can whack on one Tailfin and pedal off.
The train to Oban leaves from Glasgow Queen Street 40 minutes after the sleeper is gets in, assuming it arrives on time.
My current plan is to disembark the sleeper in a leisurely fashion, find breakfast and amble down to Queen Street for the next train of the day, overnight in Oban and catch the ferry next morning.
Can anyone share any wisdom about the sleeper and what happens in real life - as opposed to the marketing on the website? Is it possible to re-assemble/re-luggage the bike as we arrive into Glasgow rather than waiting till we're there? and will I really have to do either/both?
And can anyone recommend a nice cafe for breakfast between Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street, where we can safely stow bikes while we eat, assuming we follow the "slow" plan?
Thanks in advance.
There was a thread about this last week I think.
Wetherspoons is on the route from Central to Queen St., there are railings you can lock the bike to, and get a seat overlooking the Square. It opens at 7am.
You will be struggling for sit down breakfast in 40 mins,if you rush , then its possible, its a 3 to 5 min ride from Central to Queen St, around 10 mins walk. There are 2 Greggs on the route, possibly a better option to get a takeaway and eat it on the train?
My experience was that the sleeper part was a misnomer 😂
I work in the city centre - and occasionally grab a breakfast to eat at my desk.
Whilst it's not a sit in, but breakfast in a box, Metro on Bothwell St is 200m away from Central Station - just over a fiver for as many deep fried calories as you might dream of in a scottish breakfast. Doesn't include Haggis, but has most of the proper delicacies that a local might seek....
They are open from before 7, Monday to Friday...
You don't always need to rotate your bars, and if you do, it's seconds with an Allen key. The train staff will tell you if you need to do it.
If you are in the sleeper section, I don't think you can get into the seated carriage where the bikes are. Otherwise the seated passengers could let themselves into spare cabins. So you'll only get to the bike when you've got off the train and walked down to the bike section.
Even when I travelled up to the Dunoon Dirt Dash I think there was only 3 bikes (2 were ours) on the Glasgow section of the train.
The year before when I went to Edinburgh the staff suggested I could just put 2 bikes sideways in the bike locker rather than hang them as we were the only two booked in.
Tom Hortons is below Central on Junkfood Junction but I'd be looking elsewhere for a decent meal.
As for stowing bikes, find a railing and lock them to it.
Here you go
What week in May are you there? First full week there is a red camper trundling south down the outer Hebrides...do wave and I'll put the kettle on.
where we can safely stow bikes while we eat
I wouldn't be leaving my bike anywhere in the city centre to be honest, particularly around either train station. Certainly never out of sight. There was a cycling cafe near George Square which is Queen St station but I heard last week it's closed down.
I'd be expecting to be using those 40 mins to make sure I got on the Oban train...
Lol yeah I missed that. Jump into Greggs on George Square, grab some rolls to go and get on the Oban train.
You can get a good breakfast on the train in the club car if you have a Club cabin. I'd do that - eat at Carstairs then you have time to scurry over to Queen Street and won't miss your next train.
I've never had a lowland Sleeper arrive anything other than early but you don't want to bank on it.
Theres a M&S next to the platform in Queen St, if you want something with the illusion of quality over Greggs. Might be an idea to get straight to Queen St from Central, that way you know how much time you have.
There are a few food options in Central.
Pret
Costa
Gordon St Coffee (best breakfast rolls in my opinion)
Deli Central
