This year marks 1,900 years since Emperor Hadrian built his famous wall, making it an ideal time to visit this ancient monument. Bus AD122 runs five times a day from Hexham station to Haltwhistle, stopping at sites like Chesters fort, Brocolitia's Mithraic temple, and Housesteads with its Roman artefacts. In wet weather, the mostly tarmac stretches of the Hadrian's Wall national trail near Newcastle offer cafes and museums such as Segedunum Roman Fort. A day ticket for the AD122 bus costs £12.50.
Harrogate is perfect for a car-free autumn or winter break. A two-mile stroll from the station through Valley Gardens leads to RHS Harlow Carr, where arriving car-free gives 30% off entry (£8.95). The gardens feature colourful winter stems, early snowdrops, and a Bettys café. Harrogate is half an hour by train from Leeds (from £4 single) or three hours from London (from £23.60 single).
The Isle of Bute offers a car-free escape via train and ferry from Glasgow. A 50-minute train to Wemyss Bay connects with a ferry to Rothesay, where visitors can explore a moated castle and dine on fresh langoustines. Regular buses run to Kilchattan Bay, starting point for the West Island Way walk. Bus 490 passes Mount Stuart, a neo-gothic mansion closed in winter.
New research from London North Eastern Railway suggests that switching one leisure trip from car to train could cut UK leisure travel carbon emissions by 16%. LNER's green guides highlight destinations like Harrogate, Inverness, and Lincoln, with tips for food tours, refill shops, and bike hire.
For a coastal break, the Suffolk coast is accessible by public transport, with trains to Ipswich and buses to towns like Aldeburgh and Southwold. The area offers beaches, nature reserves, and historic sites, all without needing a car.
