Birmingham, England suggestions?

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CreationBear	Birmingham, England suggestions?		Lead	[-]
Posts: 95 05/07/2009 13:46	Tags : None I was wondering if any of you gentlemen in the UK (or other well-traveled sorts) might help a (very) anti-social American with a bit of trip planning.... I'll be staying at a hotel right by the New Street Station in Birmingham during the second week of June while my wife attends a conference. Is there any way I could make daytrips to rivers and/or other "natural" areas if I'm reliant on rail travel? I wouldn't bother trying to fish, but just seeing a bit of landscape and maybe a riseform would be worth a train ticket in my book... Any thoughts greatly appreciated...
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Ken M 44		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3015 05/07/2009 14:10 Immoderatus Britannicus	Getting anywhere by public transport and especially by train can be 'convoluted' to say the least but generally the service level and frequency out of Birmingham is good. Here are some maps including a rail network map that will show you the possibilities ; Maps If you do decide to go ahead with this I strongly recommend buying the tickets in advance - it is much cheaper than buying on the day - but may present problems unless you opt to collect your tickets at the station which is an available option. The best site for pre purchasing tickets and checking train times, etc is this one :- Tickets Remember to convert the price to US Dollars - about $1.55 = 1 Pound Most of the areas that are worth visiting are to the west of Birmingham but countryside by train is not so easy unless you stop off at the smaller stations and then the service is not so frequent.
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CreationBear		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 96 05/07/2009 15:12	Ken-- Thanks so much for the links and the advice...I'm looking forward to seeing your part of the world!
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gmflyfish	rutland Water	#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1171 05/08/2009 08:36	Rutland is a larger lake with boat rentals availaible - do not remember what a day ticket costs - close to the midlands - not too far from birmingham
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gmflyfish	Dovedale	#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1172 05/08/2009 08:40	Another location is Dovedale - Izaac Walton country - The Charles Cotton Hotel etc. Dovedale has some great trails where you can observe rising trout A long day trip on a train would be to Winchester - the catheral is where Izaac is entombed and the Itchen flows next to the cathedral - you would cross the Test on the train - Salisbury - the cathedral and the Avon with rising trout right in town Just some ideas Gregg
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Ken M 44		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3022 05/08/2009 08:52 Immoderatus Britannicus	Winchester would certainly be a good idea - 2hr 20minutes each way by train and plenty to see close to the station. iirc there is a stretch of free of charge and open to the public fishing on the Itchen in the middle of the town. Last Edited By: Ken M 44 05/08/2009 11:35. Edited 1 time.
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DoctorFly		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 238 05/08/2009 10:46	Have a word with Andrew Cartwright www.acgameangling.co.uk. Caersws is on the upper River Severn, home of wild Trout and Grayling. And under 2 hours from Birmingham New Street, with no changes. Regards, Doc www.doctor-fly.com Last Edited By: DoctorFly 05/08/2009 10:54. Edited 1 time.
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Ken M 44		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3024 05/08/2009 11:42 Immoderatus Britannicus	Here it is : Winchester City Council owns a stretch of the Itchen and free fishing is allowed between the two weirs in the city centre.The council also allows fishing on the Itchen Navigation immediately south of Winchester from the left bank between Blackbridge and St Catherine's Lock. contact details: 01962 840222. This site will also give you an idea of what is around but could be difficult to access by train ; Wye Usk
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CreationBear		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 97 05/08/2009 14:01	Thanks so much, gentlemen...the Winchester idea sounds grand, especially. "Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages" doesn't have to apply to Canterbury, necessarily.
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DoctorFly		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 239 05/08/2009 15:46	If Winchester is to be your chosen destination, rather than fight the dog-walkers and children on the free town stretches, Orvis have some fishing at Abbots Worthy, just out of town, or you could talk to William Daniel at Famous Fishing http://www.famousfishing.co.uk who has access to a number of local private beats. Otherwise, just take a walk to Abbots Worthy http://www.travelwebdir.com/travelarticles/The-Walk-From-Winchester-To-Abbots-Worthy-938.html, and a beer and lunch while you're there. Regards, Doc www.doctor-fly.com Last Edited By: DoctorFly 05/09/2009 02:20. Edited 1 time.
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CreationBear		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 100 05/08/2009 20:15	Doc-- That sounds like a great idea...thanks!
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Cadnorods	What Jon did on holiday!	#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 206 06/09/2009 17:54	Jon and I met up while he was in the UK - I actually 'rescued' him from Birmingham for a day! Jon managed to negotiate the British train system and got to Abergavenny, where I picked him up and took him down to Usk for a look around Sweet's tackle shop, numerous cups of coffee and half a pack of welshcakes - and a half dozen of Jean Williams' flies...as well as a ticket for the Usk Town water! We got on the river at about one o'clock, Jon using my 'new' 8' JJS Walker Bampton with a 3 1/4" Beaudex and silk line - lovely weather for an hour or two, but the trout were sulking! Jon had been 'in country' for 2 weeks, experiencing the most glorious May weather we have seen for years - until the only day he gets to go fishing...at 2.00pm the heavens opened and it started lashing with rain! In a lull in the storm I managed to raise one nice brownie on the dry fly, but the downpour returned and we beat a hasty and very wet retreat back to Monmouth (via Sweet's for more coffee and welshcakes) where Jon saw just how many rods and reels are cluttering up my house! I succeeded in putting Jon back on the train for Brum in time, and I hope he left wanting to come back and catch some Usk trout himself. Jon, it was great to see you, hope you enjoyed the day despite the wet! Just to tickle your appetite, here's a nice spottie I took this evening from the margins under the tree - where we were casting under the bush... Swansea next year! Stuart
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CreationBear		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 106 06/10/2009 11:16	Thanks to all who replied to this query, and especially to Stuart of course, who took time to show me some of his home water--I'd never met a Welsh ghillie before, but I'd have a hard time imagining a better one. To be honest, though, I've spent the past week feeling incredibly guilty-- much like visiting the Tate Britain, the British Museum, and all the rest made me painfully aware of my lack of historical depth, Stuart's rod/reel collection dating back to the mid-1800's was similarly intimidating...beautiful to be sure, but the nuances surely lost on this wild colonial boy. Fortunately, the Welsh seem to have a gift for taking folks as they are--and, more impressively, not laughing out loud at some of the funky casts I was throwing with that Farlows rod. All in all, I was privileged to glimpse what is a beautiful part of the world--and yes, my wife assured me that the (few) welshcakes that made it back tasted, literally, just like her grandmother used to make.
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