I got my coffee (from Caffe Nero) and an apricot croissant for my breakfast and I was sitting on the Glasgow-Edinburgh train. This is a day out, I’m jumpy and impatient, waiting for the train to start its journey so I can start my adventures. I’m meeting Alison in Edinburgh where we’re planning a day away. Once I get to Waverley, we’re then taking another train to North Berwick. I’ve never visited before, and I can’t wait, I’m like a child going on holiday.
I met up with Alison in Caffe Nero in Waverley Station, Edinburgh and once we’d said our hellos and caught up, we then headed to the ticket office to buy our tickets for North Berwick (I’ve no idea why I didn’t buy a straight through ticket from Glasgow to North Berwick as it would have been cheapter but I think it must have been because we were buying 2 tickets for the North Berwick leg of the journey).
Clutching our tickets, we stand in front of the departures board, waiting on our train being announced. I saw Berwick on the board and said to Alison “lets go” making our way to the platform and boarding the train. It was a comfy, long-distance train, so we sat back to enjoy the ride. North Berwick is about 25 miles from Edinburgh and should be about 30 minutes on the train. I love travelling down the East Coast main line between Scotland and England as the scenery is spectacular with views out to sea for much of the journey. You don’t get that travelling south from Glasgow as its all inland. It feels like coming home when I see the sea – I guess it comes from a childhood living on the coast in naval bases.
By Achromatic – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3504243
We were chatting and admiring the view when the train crew announced the route of the train, which was Alison’s first indication that there was something amiss. The announcement indicated that we would be stopping at Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Alison is a bit confused as we’re going to North Berwick. Yes, I said, Berwick-upon-Tweed is another name for North Berwick. Poor Alison had to explain to her idiot friend that North Berwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed are, in fact, not the same place. North Berwick is in Scotland, along the coast from Edinburgh. Berwick-upon-Tweed may also be along the coast from Edinburgh, but about double the distance and in England. I’d say I’ve never felt so embarassed – well at least until the next time I do something like this. Fortunately we don’t need a passport to visit England, but I hadn’t planned or expected to be leaving the country.
We were surprised that the Guard on the train didn’t say anything when he checked our tickets, but once we arrived at Berwick-upon-Tweed we went to the ticket office to pay the difference between the ticket costs. We discussed what we could do – get a train back to North Berwick, or stay here. We decided since we’d had to pay extra to get to Berwick-upon-Tweed, we should stay and enjoy the day.
I’d never been to either Berwick-upon-Tweed or North Berwick before this visit, so some time later, we made it to North Berwick. You’ll be pleased to hear Alison was in control of the travel arrangements, so we did get there safely.
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a beautiful town crossing the River Tweed (as the name suggests), so we didn’t really get the seaside town that we were planning to visit, but it was a good day out nonetheless. Just one word of caution if I’m in control of the travel arrangements I can’t guarantee where you’ll end up. I’m not sure how we made it through France for 22 days without getting the wrong trains etc but Alison does talk about seeing how bad my sense of direction was when we were in Lille, but I’ve no idea what she means – I guess I’ve wiped that from my memory.
mattbuck (category), CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
I’m not sure if this will turn into a series – the adventures of Brenda getting lost – but the next one will be me getting lost in Edinburgh recently. At least my curiosity means I go exploring, wondering where this path goes, rather than panicking or getting stressed.
This post was in response to Sadje’s #WDYS193 prompt and I’m demonstrating that even with a map, I can still get lost.
If you want to read about my adventures getting lost in Edinburgh, you’ll need to sign up to my blog if you’ve not already done so, so you don’t miss out on any notifications.
Great take on the ptompt Brenda. I think you will do just fine finding your way around.
Thanks Suzette
Even if it wasn’t planned, I think it was a nice trip, wasn’t it?
It was lovely – it was great just wandering around the town, going for lunch, coffees etc. We’re just happy to explore 🙂
Love the photo of the river! Beautiful! <3
Thank you Tom. Berwick-upon-Tweed is beautiful and after crossing the rail bridge of years looking out over the town, it was delightful to finally be able to visit.
Ok, it’s the coast haha! But the photo is so nice!
now I’m not sure which photo you’re talking about 🙂 – Berwick upon Tweed is the River – North Berwick is on the Firth of Forth/North Sea
Oh….love the pics and the sharing…as if I’m on the train with you and this? “I’m not sure if this will turn into a series – the adventures of Brenda getting lost.” 😂 I hope so! I love getting lost — it’s one of my super skills. I lack all navigational skill but have often found ‘getting lost’ is the best adventure of all when I’m traveling. Thanks for the smiles — enjoy! 🥰
I just think if I go off exploring, just turning left or right on whim, who knows what treasures I might discover. Admittedly taking 50 minutes to get to a cafe that should have taken me 10 minutes might be a new record. 🙂
I’m smiling…can you see me? You were simply taking the ‘scenic route’. 😎
Scenic routes are more interesting
ah… great take and grand adventures, Brenda 😁
always exciting 🤍
Thanks Destiny – and I’m typing again, so it should get better too 🙂
aaaw… that’s such good news. I’m glad you healed… go easy though 😉🤗
I will
A adventure which was meant to be! I’m glad you and your friend enjoyed the detour. I am very bad with directions and like to be able to get to a new place with the help of landmarks. Thanks Brenda for sharing your adventure with us and for joining in.
My pleasure Sadje. I’m glad you enjoyed it
Hopefully you will write more of your adventures?
Of course. Just that North Berwick and Berwick upon Tweed were before blogging …. I might need to make some return visits
Be careful and don’t get lost 😂🥰😍
Hmm. Can’t promise anything beyond having a good time and to write about my adventures
That’s great.
I rather hope this does turn into a series Brenda 😉 Unexpected but lovely outing and it shows that embracing flexibility is not a bad thing!
Definitely Deb. I see them as opportunities to explore 🙂
Love this journey!
Beautifully expressed!
Thank you Philo – it was in the days before blogging, so no photographs – had to rely on Creative Commons
No problem at all!
I can understand.
Wow, Brenda, your adventure to North Berwick turned out to be quite the unexpected journey! It’s funny how sometimes our sense of direction can lead us astray, but it’s great that you and Alison still managed to have a memorable day in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Getting lost can often lead to exciting discoveries and new experiences. I’m curious to hear about your next adventure in Edinburgh. Keep exploring and embracing the unexpected!
Thanks Shahbaz. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I’ve quite a few adventures to follow
My pleasure. Keep following your dreams.
I will
I love this image of the river .Glasgow was an site you visited. Anita
No, I live in Glasgow, Anita
You certainly made an adventure out of it. What fun! Sometimes getting lost makes for a wonderful experience.
Yes, I agree. Sometimes it’s also about mindset
Well, you turned lemons into lemonade. It sounds like you two lost girls had a great time!
We did. But even when we don’t get beyond a cafe or restaurant for lunch, we have a great time 😁
Wow, Great Adventure Brenda. Glad you enjoyed a lot 😊
Thanks Amber. I plan to have a summer of adventures
Both nice towns, but completely different! You made the most of your mistake though.
Definitely
Such a beautiful place❤️
It is. It was a delight to visit
Hehehehe, at least all ended well.
Yes, it did
I’m glad you made the most of your day out, even if it was quite different to what you had planned.
Thanks Laura. It’s still good to get out with friends- thats what’s most important
Beautiful adventure, Brenda.
Thank you Lilly
[…] Brenda; Don’t travel with, we might get lost […]
Fun post! I’ve had a few “lost” adventures in my travel life – always fun after the fact.
Thanks. We decided to laugh at it and make the most of our day. That’s the best approach, I think
Not lost….unscripted! Must have been a reason you went in the ‘wrong’ direction 💞💞💞
Great way to look at it Dawn. 😁 thanks
Looking forward to more unscripted adventures 🙂
😁
I have had trouble navigating through the metro station I daily travelled by… So, I think, you are quite well off in that aspect, and, it WAS a wonderful incident by accident, so there you go!
Aw thank you Blackjack. I’m assuming the metro station is big?
It isn’t very big, but, I get easily confused.
Easily done if your mind is elsewhere
I think I was always in a hurry, those times… Anyway, thinking back, it was hilarious to backtrack all the way😁
North Berwick was one of my favorite spontaneous excursions! Glad you finally made it! Worth the trip. I will have to add Berwick-upon-Tweed to my itinerary next time I am across the pond.
It is beautiful.
I think Edinburgh (btw I really learned how to pronounce the city name the right way) is one of the best cities to get lost. I remember I fell asleep at Portobello beach with my friend, we were exhausted haha
I really is a beautiful city. I think exploring anywhere can be exhausting, but its a happy exhaustion. Conversely, I’ve never visited Portobello, so that’s on my To Do list