Gingernuts,
Because at the moment with 6 trains an hour I sometimes cannot get on because it is so packed, so a journey which should take me less than 1h door to door end up taking 15/20 minutes longer and sometimes more on a really bad night. Even after I have managed to get on the next train I often still have to be on an overly crowded train so I dread to think what it will be like when we only have 4 trains an hour. Hence trying to see if there are alternative route to give me that flexibility.

Sophie, Thanks for that, it really helps. It sounds like you live really close to me. I think I will do the HOP/LB/CC route in the morning and will try the ladywell route in the evening + P4 or walk (and the walk from Ladywell to my house in the summer should be a nice one too).