Sunderland/Newcastle to Bolton Return (15Aug Outward, Returning 15 or 16 Aug)

14th Sunderland - York 0653-0844 £16.00 return
14th York - Manchester Piccadilly 0928-1049 £10.00
14th & 15th Manchester Piccadilly - Bolton by any train (frequent) £2.90 each way (or for £6.20 you could get a 1st class anytime return, 40p extra and a nicer seat but only for about 20 minutes!).
15th Manchester Piccadilly - York 1342-1506 £10.50 (can be had for £6.50 if you leave 2 and a half hours earlier or before - some sightseeing in York perhaps!)
15th York - Sunderland 1554-1736 included in return above
So, a little less at £42.30 but with better times. Or £38.30 if you take a longer break in York on the return journey. Also, the Sunderland - York and return sectors are on Grand Central Trains which are proper Intercity types.
I hope this is of help.