Have any of you toured the UK and Ireland in winter time? Just wondering what the pro's and con's are. Less crowds would be one positive I presume.
Being the time of year when our kids have 6 weeks off school, it would certainly be easier to arrange.

Augusta: I haven't toured the UK in Winter but I was there last January with another BBer and the weather was absolutely frightful. Vicious whipping winds every day, lashings of rain. The wind almost picked up my friend and carried her along the Salisbury Plain. It was very excciting. We were in London and later I went up to Scotland. On the plus side, it was easy to get flights because all the sane people were staying home. I caught a dreadful cold, but that can happen at any time of year. Even though it was Winter, the day coach tours we did were fully booked and we were lucky to find seats.
I have also done a Christmas Markets tour to Germany and France in November and it was extremely cold (and I'm one who prefers cold to heat) but dry until the last day, when it snowed. That was more tolerable than the UK trip. I would never go to Europe in January again, but I think November is fine.
If you're worried about your luggage weight, one thing to consider when doing a Winter tour is that your clothing is substantially heavier, so you must take fewer outfits.

Thanks Caitie. The weather is one of the things that concerns me. Good point about the heavy clothing.

In regards to clothing, why not consider buying lightweight winter clothing from your local camping/outdoor goods shop such as Kathmandu? Yes the clothing might be more expensive but is aves bulking up your suitcase with regular heavy winter gear. Just a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by augusta:
Have any of you toured the UK and Ireland in winter time? Just wondering what the pro's and con's are. Less crowds would be one positive I presume.
Being the time of year when our kids have 6 weeks off school, it would certainly be easier to arrange.

Have you considered the West Coast of USA - it might not be as cold.
We have friends who have just booked a tour of the West Coast at this time.
We have been in San Francisco and Vegas in Feb and the weather has been quite mild during the day but cold at night.

Thanks rmcrf, we really want to go back to UK and also to Ireland for our 20th anniversary. It's in April which is a difficult month to get away so I'm looking at other options.(January isn't as long to wait for either . ) My son has his VCE next year so we have to work around him as well.

Thanks Stinkerbelle for the clothing ideas

quote:

Originally posted by augusta:
Have any of you toured the UK and Ireland in winter time? Just wondering what the pro's and con's are. Less crowds would be one positive I presume.
Being the time of year when our kids have 6 weeks off school, it would certainly be easier to arrange.

Hi Augusta, Although Caitie is right to warn you about the weather, surely no-one visits the UK for that reason - we can experience dodgy weather any time of the year - we are currently having the most miserable August I can remember!! - yesterday (for instance) was particularly cold and wet!! the only thing that keeps us going is the cheerful attitude of the Aussies on this tour
Seriously though, winter tours have thier advantages, the main one being the lack of crowds at venues and in hotels, plus nice warm coaches to return to!
Apart from the weather, another disadvantage is the fact that some venues close over the winter (there are no shows in Edinburgh or Dublin for example), also bear in mind that the days are shorter, making an early start essential, arrival at hotels will almost certainly be in darkness.
Don't let any of the above put you off - we will be delighted to see you - it keeps the mortguage paid!! , also TD's are adept at finding alternative venues, and the clients on these tours are usually well prepared - and you never know, we may be able to provide a warm sunny week, although even I cannot guarantee this!!!

Birdman ~ I think any of us would be pleased to be on one of your tours, your exuberance is infectious and would more than make-up for the lack of sunshine.

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Originally posted by Missie:
Birdman ~ I think any of us would be pleased to be on one of your tours, your exuberance is infectious and would more than make-up for the lack of sunshine.

Yesss! and we might see SNOW again! Now THAT's exciting!

Thanks Birdman. Closures were one of the things I was concerned about. Done the show in Edinburgh (not the tattoo)on the BOB and I'm not too worried about that side of the tour, more the historical stuff. We'd like to go back to Edinburgh and also southern England on our own and do a tour of Ireland.
Hadn't thought about the shorter days, I should have - I've watched Coro St for enough years to know it gets dark early in the winter!

Hope the weather improves soon, I remember our TD last year telling us we had better weather in Sep than the summer tourists had experienced.

Missie, You say the nicest things - Can you imagine a coach-load of BB regulars - now THAT would be a tour to savour

Mallee - SNOW? - Give me a break - I see far too much of the stuff in the Alps over the winter as it is - Seriously though, we had loads of snow last winter - the Scottish ski resorts had thier best season for years.

Augusta, You sound well-prepared, and with your positive attitude you cannot fail to enjoy!!

quote:

Originally posted by augusta:

Hadn't thought about the shorter days, I should have - I've watched Coro St for enough years to know it gets dark early in the winter!

WOW - a Corrie fan - I know you are well behind us in oz, I won't spoil it by telling you what happens to Devil-David (for instance!).

Now you know what sad lives us Drivers/TD's lead, avidly watching the soaps in our rooms in the evenings!!

quote:

Originally posted by Birdman:

quote:

Originally posted by augusta:

Hadn't thought about the shorter days, I should have - I've watched Coro St for enough years to know it gets dark early in the winter!

WOW - a Corrie fan - I know you are well behind us in oz, I won't spoil it by telling you what happens to Devil-David (for instance!).

Now you know what sad lives us Drivers/TD's lead, avidly watching the soaps in our rooms in the evenings!!

We kiwis love our Coro. There is rebellion if the TV network try to cut it back. I was horrified when we moved to Australia to find out they only screened it on pay tv and it was years behind NZ. Nearly didn't move . My mum taped it for me and sent it over regularly but we have now caught up to NZ and are about a year behind UK. That David is horrid - I suppose he started the fire at Ashley's??!

I know you drivers have to behave in the evenings but the TD's? Hmmmmm