British trains offer organized, relaxing way to see the UK your way

Bruce Keller poses by one of the UK's many efficient and comfortable trains. By using a BritRail pass, we were able to visit several cities during a brief trip, making the most of our time.

TRY A TRAIN ON BRITRAIL FOR YOUR NEXT UK VISIT 

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

IF A VISIT to the United Kingdom is on your bucket list, you might be overwhelmed by the variety of historic places vying for attention.

Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers in Edinburgh's Waverley Station, an easy hop to Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle, many cafes and shops. The two and a Yorkshire friend met with Scottish family.

A visit to Hampshire's Highclere Castle, where "Downton Abbey" was filmed, makes a pleasant train  trip. A package includes a trip on a classic British Pullman, a lovely brunch and castle tour.

We visit England often, and had grown tired of renting cars.  This time, we let BritRail do the "driving" to make the best use of our brief time in a favorite destination.

THE BRITISH rail system is time honored. Our UK cousins really know how to run their trains. Theirs is one of the oldest rail networks in the world.  In the early 19th Century when most

people traveled by horse, ships or carriages, those clever Brits were already riding the rails!  

 On this most recent UK visit, rather than the stress of renting a car and the confusion of driving on the other side of the road, we chose to travel by British Railway. We had several places to go, after crossing the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2. Our BritRail passes made it possible to combine historic landmarks, cities, castles we'd admired on TV, and family visitations.

 In the same UK visit, it is possible to travel from Southampton

Visiting old friend, well known Oxford scholar David Howlett, was a treat. He pointed out historic buildings, Bill  Clinton's student digs, some of the famed university's many colleges and favorite spots on quaint streets. A delightful day trip from London's Paddington Station.

to see friends in Yorkshire, from London to connect with  Oxford friends, spend a day with family in Edinburgh, and  tour an English castle or manor house.

"BritRail," as it is affectionately called, makes it possible to organize smooth train travel between whatever points your itinerary includes. It just takes a bit of planning.

THE COUNTRY'S extensive rail network offers a variety of passes for various amounts of time. Do your homework because there are multiple choices for travel across England, Scotland and Wales. There are some discounts for youth and seniors and watch for promotions which can stretch your pounds with a bit of research and homework.

 Over 20 Train Operating Companies (TOCs) make up the National Rail network of Great Britain. BritRail sells the passes and other companies operate the trains. Our passes were issued through ACP Rail, one of BritRail's star partners. So ACP Rail is where you need to get your BritRail passes, particularly if you are seeking a mobile pass.

Passengers may use selected BritRail passes on all National Rail trains. Just know the boundary of your specific pass zone.

The ease of UK train travel made a family reunion possible.  Bruce Keller, Margaret Ganner, Christene Meyers, Gerrard Ganner, Jane Brodie and Sue Speight met  for a day in Scotland. The Ganner party took the train into Edinburgh from their nearby town, while Cookie Keller and Sue came by train from Yorkshire.

THE HUGE VARIETY of passes and tours allows one to custom design a specific itinerary. Because there are so many choices, you'll have to narrow the field. First, determine what places you really want to see and how many days you have. Then review the options at the website. What's your pleasure? Do you want a scenic trip through Scotland, cultural delights of village life and rural England, a visit to an abbey or castle where a favorite PBS program was filmed? We truly enjoyed seeing where PBS productions were filmed. Access to the famed "Downton Abbey" and "Brideshead Revisited" sites are easily arranged. Perhaps you wish to visit the town of your ancestors to look for family roots and records.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in Yorkshire are the largest of its kind in Europe, a vast ruin  open to the sky, popular with locals and tourists. A train trip from King's Cross to York then a short taxi ride make a lovely day trip.

  TO MAKE the most of your time, arrange your itinerary before and don't be unnerved if your favorite abbey or castle is a few kilometers from the nearest train stop. If you want to see Fountains Abbey, for example, take the train from London to York, then take a taxi or hitch a ride with a friend to see the abbey. 

An amiable steward offers beverages and snacks.

WITH OUR Yorkshire friend, Sue, we booked a train to Edinburgh using our passes. She purchased a single roundtrip ticket from Darlington to Edinburgh, arranging to sit with us.  This enabled us to spend the day with our Scottish relatives. They were eager to show us highlights of Scotland’s magnificent capital city,  treating us to a Scottish meal at a delightful restaurant, regaling us with the city's

Cookie relaxes on BritRail with a splendid view, comfy seat to see the picturesque English country.

history while we strolled Princes Street, bought souvenirs and stopped for a bagpipe trill at Scott Monument, the world's largest monument to a writer. On another trip, we toured the Royal Yacht Britannia and heard the mid-day gun salute from Edinburgh Castle. To do that would have meant overnighting, but we accomplished a lot in a single day's journey.

We're forever fans of BritRail and the variety of passes which save time, money and nerves.

If you want a pass, ACP Rail is the only distributor for BritRail pass especially on the Mobile-Pass.

More information or to book: www.acprail.com/

www.britrail.com/britrail-passes/britrail-pass/

www.visitbritainshop.com/au/en/uk-travel-passes-and-transport-tickets/britrail-passes

Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers in front of the intriguing Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.

COMING UP: A treasure trove of Latin American art, by both famous and emerging artists awaits in the fascinating, user friendly and beautifully curated Museum of Latin American Art. The metal sculpture in front of the Long Beach museum is typical of the work at this extraordinary museum which is the only facility in the United States dedicated to both modern and contemporary Latin American art.  A unique sculpture garden is part of the pleasures of this intriguing and imaginatively curated museum.  We step inside to reflect on the diversity of sculpture, paintings and more.  Meanwhile remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on art, nature, performance, family and more. Thanks for sharing the link, too: www.whereiscookie.com