Trips by Bus and Coach: Your reports

[SouthEastBuses]

Right, key takeaway seems to be that I should have finished the 620 - getting to Bristol was the point of this trip, but will try and get back sometime in the summer! The Y1 was fairly dull, but mercifully quick, and I didn't have any real problems with the bus. The later part of Cheltenham-Stroud is indeed great, but it was rerouted a couple of months ago via some unpleasant housing estates outside Gloucester. The S2 is amazing with deckers, and some journies are now actually fairly busy - almost full the last time I got the evening short to Witney back from Cheltenham.

In fact, seeing the importance of both Cheltenham and Oxford, I wonder if the S2 should be extended to Gloucester via the 94X route, and increased to hourly frequency Monday to Saturdays during the day?

The run from Cheltenham to Stroud is an absolute belter though conversely, that was a service that was usually operated by deckers (as the 46) and I enjoyed a Trident a few years back on that. The 69/620 is another cracker of a service and I might have been minded to stay on past Yate and enjoy the scenery up and over Lansdowne and into Bath, or even a trip to Malmesbury and then across to Swindon that way. However, I can understand the attraction of the trip to Bristol though I bet the two First vehicles were a lot creakier than your Stagecoach Gold e400mmcs, and the Y1 is a pretty dull service.

The reason the X31 has an X prefix is, I think, because it used to head via the Batheaston bypass. However, when First pulled off the route, it now serves the village. It might also have followed a different route in Chippenham but I can't recall now; however, as Faresaver now have to use deckers (rather than minibuses) then they have to follow a convoluted route in Chippenham from London Road in order to avoid the low bridge. TBH, anyone who wants to get from Chippenham to Bath quickly would use the train anyway. Glad you had a good day out.

Talk of which:

25/03/2023 - Cotswolds & Bath

The day starts with Oxford Bus Company Wright StreetDeck 687 (SK17 HHS) on my local route, the City8 from my local stop to City Centre. A StreetDeck so nothing special about this bus, apart from the beautiful City8 orange branding on the exterior.

Next up, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire ADL Enviro400 MMC 11241 (SN69 ZDY) on one of my favourite routes in Oxfordshire - the S2 to Cheltenham! The S2 has a lot of beautiful Cotswold scenery, with my favourite section being between Witney and Cheltenham, and through the small Cotswold town of Northleach!

Spent a few minutes in Cheltenham. A nice town with some lovely Georgian buildings - although not the most exciting in my opinion. Then after that, time to ride on another of my favourite Cotswold routes, albeit a non Cotswold one - the 66 from Cheltenham to Stroud onboard ADL Enviro200 MMC 37629 (SN69 ZGZ). Not quite the same as the original 66 which used double deckers like Scania E400s and Trident ALX400/E400s, which also used to continue to Stonehouse and went direct to Painswick without touching the eastern suburbs of Gloucester, but still a lovely scenic route nevertheless.

I decided to get off in Painswick - another beautiful Cotswold town with elegant stone architecture with the hills in the background making it even more picturesque!

Afterwards I embark on an adventure, and I end up walking approx. 6 km to Stroud via the back roads! Very fun for sure, although also tiring, made worse that it rained in some occasions. However, I'm still proud of it, plus it meant I managed to get some scenic photography (see photos below)!

And here I am in Stroud, didn't have time to see the whole town as my 69/620 to Bath was due in only 15 minutes. However, the few bits I saw were quite nice!

And now, after a lovely time in the Cotswolds including the adventurous walk from Painswick to Stroud, it's time to head over to Bath by catching route 69/620 on ADL Enviro200 36928 (SN63 MYA). It's a rather weird route - the section between Stroud and Old Sodbury is numbered 69, whilst the section between Old Sodbury and Bath is numbered 620. Surely would it not make more sense to just use one number for the entire route? That aside, I will not complain, as these routes were absolutely worth riding, and are yet another of my favourites in the Cotswolds! Both are amazing! On the 69 in particular, I enjoyed the hill climb from Stroud into Minchinhampton, and the town of Tetbury also looked beautiful as well. Then comes Yate, which is just a typical American suburb, so basically just a shopping centre (mall) with a giant park and houses. The driver of my journey surprisingly skipped Chipping Sodbury which was rather strange. Pucklechurch was quite pretty however! Surprisingly, the E200 I had (36928) managed to handle the tough hill climbing sections quite well - this sadly wasn't the case with other Stagecoach E200s I rode in the past.

Time to explore my favourite city in the UK: Bath! Off I go to the beautiful Bath Skyline Park by going via the Pulteney Bridge and Sydney Gardens (yes, the famous challenge in electrifying the GWML Great Western Main Line through Bath!).

And finally to conclude the day I decided to check out Bath's Unibus U1 route operated by First West of England (WoE), although I didn't do the full route - I only went up to the uni and back down to city centre, so no time to check out Lower Oldfield Park. Hope I'm not missing anything special! The bus I have is ADL Enviro400 MMC 33949 (YX66 WFB). On the climb up to the university, I noticed that 33949 did struggle a bit, so I imagine this must be a challenging (but beautiful and scenic!) route to drive. The U1's E400 MMCs are dual door too which is great - although, I have noticed that on the 66 & 67 reg E40D MMCs (33931-33942, 33943-33950 & 33491-33499) at First West of England, the rear door is almost all the way at the back which is quite unusual - all other dual door E400MMCs (including the Scania ones at WoE) have the rear door much more towards the centre of the centre/front which is more typical of E400MMCs. Also I wonder why, despite being the same batch, the Bristol P&R E400 MMCs (33931-33942) have air con but the Bath Unibus ones don't (33943-33950).

Back to Oxford by train. Was supposed to be two, but due to a lack of train crew, the train I had (GWR 800313) from Bath to Didcot Parkway terminated at Swindon. But after a 20 minute wait in Swindon, I safely travelled back to Oxford onboard 802106 to Didcot Parkway then 165133 to Oxford.

Photos coming soon

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

A two part instalment - a 1991 expedition and then a 2023 comparison over some of the same ground, namely around bits of Dorset. Hope you enjoy!

It was June 1991 and I walked out into Bournemouth Interchange from my overnight train from the North East. It was a bright and sunny Saturday morning and I had a big rucksack on my back as I was about to have a week in the South West; an area I'd not visited since a childhood holiday in Cornwall. However, I would be spending my time in Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset in the main. So it was that I wandered out for my first bus in the West. At that time, Wilts and Dorset had two routes (well, three) that ran from Poole via Bournemouth to Ringwood providing a half hourly headway, where they would then split with the X1/X2 heading across the New Forest to Southampton, and the X3 to Salisbury. I was catching the X1 to Ringwood, with a timetabled connection to Salisbury on the X3. So it was that a 17 year old Leyland National 3641 duly arrived though it did have high backed seats. Little did I know that this would be preserved and be a regular rally participant.


3641 - photo from Flickr (Phillip Hambling)

It was a shortish blast up the A338 to Ringwood and the bus stops in Meeting House Lane. I've seen many such facilities called bus stations but this still retains just the name of the road for the row of bus shelters. My connecting bus was waiting for me, having just come from Ringwood depot, in the form of a former Southern Vectis VR. This was when W&D was still in management ownership (as was SV) so no common ownership. Instead, it had been a swap in the 1970s when 6 convertible open toppers moved to the Isle of Wight and six standards moved back, of which this was one. We headed up in glorious sunshine via Fordingbridge and Breamore, and then as we headed to Bodenham, I got my first sight of Salisbury and the cathedral. Even now, it takes my breath away (and I'm not even Russian). It's a fantastic approach to one of my favourite historic cities. I recall the arrival into the old bus station and then a walk into the vibrant market place; I probably got some fruit and then headed back to the bus station before another W&D VR would take me to Amesbury. This was another secondhand example, being a former West Yorkshire/Keighley and District example that they'd acquired the year before. I remember arriving there



3419 (later 4419) - photo from Flickr (David Moth)

Some folks will remember the Amesbury bus station that is now a car park having closed a few years ago. However, as illustrated by the photo below, there was an earlier iteration. I didn't know at the time that the empty site opposite the stands was where the depot had been (now home to Aldi) whilst the office block was clearly indicative of something larger. It would be demolished by the following year but then replaced. I waited for the X19 that was a Saturday only shoppers service. It duly arrived being my second Leyland National in 3737, a bus seated 1978 example. Cue a real thrash through the Wiltshire countryside on a route that I think headed North to Tidworth. I think it then embraced the open road of the A338 via the Collingbournes before heading through Marlborough en route to Swindon - a route that is now curiously a two hourly courtesy of Stagecoach's 80 service yet only had a mix of schools and market day services in 1991. However, unlike the 80, the X19 bombed along the main A346 into Swindon. Also, we tend to complain about modern buses etc but this was a 13 year old National and I remember the raucous engine, vinyl seats, and entrance doors (4 leaf) flapping about! Things weren't always better in the past!


Amesbury bus station (pre 1992) - photo from Flickr (Jeremy Chapter)

It was into Swindon bus station which is the one spot that is probably little changed in 30 years. It was awful then and still is though the multi-storey carpark above the bus parking area (and used to block the sun) has now been demolished. Now I had my only non Wilts and Dorset bus so I guess that either a) I paid or b) there was some inter availability. It was another VR but slightly different in that it was a Swindon and District one in their "Starsky and Hutch" livery (a cultural reference that is almost before my time so ask your dad/grandad). 5088 was a former Bristol example and had been delivered with dual doors in Cheltenham but these had been removed though the centre staircase gave it away. It was a heading back to Marlborough and via the Ogbournes (and so it follows the 2023 service 80). It was a leisurely ride and deposited me into Marlborough high street; a beautiful small town with a very wide high street. It is still a beautiful place to spend a bit of time though, as my records show, I didn't spend too long.


C&G 5088 - photo from Flickr bryanb27m4

Nowadays the main route south from Marlborough was the 5/6 that ran about 5 or 6 times a day from Swindon via the main road or via Avebury before heading to Pewsey from where the headway was hourly. The route is now the X5 (X denotes cross country not express) and it was hourly throughout before Covid but is every 90 mins. Wilts and Dorset had invested in 5 coach seated Olympians in 1984 and the first of the batch (3901) duly arrived. These were fabulous vehicles and were allocated to Salisbury depot. They were often on this route and the X3 to Poole, providing some real luxury compared to the more common VRs. They also featured the unreliable Transign electric destination displays. The route from Marlborough to Pewsey is another lovely trip down and I shortly into Pewsey where I got off for a look around and get lunch. It was here that had one of those missed opportunities. W&D still had their depot at Frog Meadow in Pewsey and I wish I'd taken a photo but it was here that I realised that I didn't actually own a camera (and it was Saturday lunchtime with no prospect of buying one). Thus I never did get a snap of the rustic, ramshackle collection of wooden sheds/barns that it consisted of. By the time I next returned, it had been swept away and replaced by the Coop store that is still there. Still I did have time for a wander and grab something to eat.


3901 - photo from Flickr (Steve Guess)

Pewsey is a very small town. There's not many shops nowadays and there weren't many then. It was more pubs and banks really. It's quite pleasant but not one I'd recommend spending more than an hour in. I got onto the next 5 south, being a standard VR (3429) new to W&D (as Hants and Dorset) and we weaved our way down towards Amesbury and then to Salisbury. Again, we crested the hill near Old Sarum with a view of the city below. I love Salisbury and would always recommend people visit it. Arriving at the bus station, I noticed the Castle Cameras shop opposite (it's still there) on Endless Street (yes, really) so I bought a cheapo camera and some films and then rushed to my last bus of the day.

It was another VR in 3382 that like the previous one, still retained NBC poppy red livery for the time being. There were still a few knocking around. On a warm Saturday afternoon in June, there were quite a few passengers heading for the 184 to Weymouth (which is now split as the 20 to Blandford and the X12 to Weymouth from there). With a decent load, we set off on one of those journeys that is forever in my memory. We left Salisbury and I'd elected to be on the bottom deck (oddly). We passed through Coombe Bissett and then onto the elevated land on the main A354 for a belt along, high pitched transmission whine slicing through the mellow tones of the Gardner 6 cylinder engine. We then came to road junction where we left the main road and headed for Blandford Camp. In those days, the 184 would head off there for a 15 min loop through the army camp and married quarters with an armed soldier on board who would check off the passengers though, in most cases, they recognised the same faces as army wives etc. Leaving the camp, we deposited our escort.

Then we dropped down into Pimperne (now home of Damory - part of Go South Coast) and past Nigel Mansell Sportscars; yes, the moustachioed F1 driver had a (high end) garage in the village. It wasn't far into Blandford and a short stop at Blandford bus depot (again now a Coop) before we went through the beautiful Georgian town. We moved out across the river and past the brewery and then continued our high octane belt along towards Dorchester. I think the road network was substantially altered in the late 1990s so we were on the old roads and into Dorchester. At this time, W&D probably had slightly more journeys to Weymouth than Southern National, running in from Poole, Blandford rather than Bridport. We made our way through the busy centre of Dorchester and out past what I now know to be Maiden Castle, an iron age hill fort. We arrived onto the sunny sea front at Weymouth, dominated by bright yellow Ford Transits of Southern National plus a few leaf green VRs on the Portland route and some Nationals on the Littlemoor service. It was chance to take a few first photos with my camera (not very good) and some sea air before, at 1740, the last bus of the day to Dorchester would be my returning 184. Dorchester would be my first night of a week in the area, bouncing from bus to bus to train and to bus.

Hope this hasn't been too self indulgent and provides an entree to my most recent trip out that again featured visits south of Salisbury. Wilts and Dorset and Nigel Mansell Sportscars no longer exist but let's see what you can do in Dorset


3382 - photo from Flickr (Raymond Smith)

 

[RELL6L]

Wow! More great trips and reports. The S2 is clearly a “must” and it’s encouraging that it sounds to be doing well. I think I mentioned Painswick earlier- although after you had accomplished your long walk. The revised route of the traditional ‘46’ (after the old road number?) was much better than the current one. I also love Minchinhampton (walked from here down to Brinscombe in the valley) and Tetbury, stopped off at both, and of course Bath.

The tour of VRs and Olympians by @TheGrandWazoo sounds great, I think I did all those routes back in the 70s and 80s and more recently. I remember the loud smelly Leyland Nationals ever so well too - a smooth Gardner 6LXB sounded so refined in comparison! I look forward to the next instalment.

Hoping to add to the collection soon…

 

[SouthEastBuses]

A two part instalment - a 1991 expedition and then a 2023 comparison over some of the same ground, namely around bits of Dorset. Hope you enjoy!

It was June 1991 and I walked out into Bournemouth Interchange from my overnight train from the North East. It was a bright and sunny Saturday morning and I had a big rucksack on my back as I was about to have a week in the South West; an area I'd not visited since a childhood holiday in Cornwall. However, I would be spending my time in Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset in the main. So it was that I wandered out for my first bus in the West. At that time, Wilts and Dorset had two routes (well, three) that ran from Poole via Bournemouth to Ringwood providing a half hourly headway, where they would then split with the X1/X2 heading across the New Forest to Southampton, and the X3 to Salisbury. I was catching the X1 to Ringwood, with a timetabled connection to Salisbury on the X3. So it was that a 17 year old Leyland National 3641 duly arrived though it did have high backed seats. Little did I know that this would be preserved and be a regular rally participant.

View attachment 133196
3641 - photo from Flickr (Phillip Hambling)

It was a shortish blast up the A338 to Ringwood and the bus stops in Meeting House Lane. I've seen many such facilities called bus stations but this still retains just the name of the road for the row of bus shelters. My connecting bus was waiting for me, having just come from Ringwood depot, in the form of a former Southern Vectis VR. This was when W&D was still in management ownership (as was SV) so no common ownership. Instead, it had been a swap in the 1970s when 6 convertible open toppers moved to the Isle of Wight and six standards moved back, of which this was one. We headed up in glorious sunshine via Fordingbridge and Breamore, and then as we headed to Bodenham, I got my first sight of Salisbury and the cathedral. Even now, it takes my breath away (and I'm not even Russian). It's a fantastic approach to one of my favourite historic cities. I recall the arrival into the old bus station and then a walk into the vibrant market place; I probably got some fruit and then headed back to the bus station before another W&D VR would take me to Amesbury. This was another secondhand example, being a former West Yorkshire/Keighley and District example that they'd acquired the year before. I remember arriving there

View attachment 133198

3419 (later 4419) - photo from Flickr (David Moth)

Some folks will remember the Amesbury bus station that is now a car park having closed a few years ago. However, as illustrated by the photo below, there was an earlier iteration. I didn't know at the time that the empty site opposite the stands was where the depot had been (now home to Aldi) whilst the office block was clearly indicative of something larger. It would be demolished by the following year but then replaced. I waited for the X19 that was a Saturday only shoppers service. It duly arrived being my second Leyland National in 3737, a bus seated 1978 example. Cue a real thrash through the Wiltshire countryside on a route that I think headed North to Tidworth. I think it then embraced the open road of the A338 via the Collingbournes before heading through Marlborough en route to Swindon - a route that is now curiously a two hourly courtesy of Stagecoach's 80 service yet only had a mix of schools and market day services in 1991. However, unlike the 80, the X19 bombed along the main A346 into Swindon. Also, we tend to complain about modern buses etc but this was a 13 year old National and I remember the raucous engine, vinyl seats, and entrance doors (4 leaf) flapping about! Things weren't always better in the past!

View attachment 133210
Amesbury bus station (pre 1992) - photo from Flickr (Jeremy Chapter)

It was into Swindon bus station which is the one spot that is probably little changed in 30 years. It was awful then and still is though the multi-storey carpark above the bus parking area (and used to block the sun) has now been demolished. Now I had my only non Wilts and Dorset bus so I guess that either a) I paid or b) there was some inter availability. It was another VR but slightly different in that it was a Swindon and District one in their "Starsky and Hutch" livery (a cultural reference that is almost before my time so ask your dad/grandad). 5088 was a former Bristol example and had been delivered with dual doors in Cheltenham but these had been removed though the centre staircase gave it away. It was a heading back to Marlborough and via the Ogbournes (and so it follows the 2023 service 80). It was a leisurely ride and deposited me into Marlborough high street; a beautiful small town with a very wide high street. It is still a beautiful place to spend a bit of time though, as my records show, I didn't spend too long.

View attachment 133218
C&G 5088 - photo from Flickr bryanb27m4

Nowadays the main route south from Marlborough was the 5/6 that ran about 5 or 6 times a day from Swindon via the main road or via Avebury before heading to Pewsey from where the headway was hourly. The route is now the X5 (X denotes cross country not express) and it was hourly throughout before Covid but is every 90 mins. Wilts and Dorset had invested in 5 coach seated Olympians in 1984 and the first of the batch (3901) duly arrived. These were fabulous vehicles and were allocated to Salisbury depot. They were often on this route and the X3 to Poole, providing some real luxury compared to the more common VRs. They also featured the unreliable Transign electric destination displays. The route from Marlborough to Pewsey is another lovely trip down and I shortly into Pewsey where I got off for a look around and get lunch. It was here that had one of those missed opportunities. W&D still had their depot at Frog Meadow in Pewsey and I wish I'd taken a photo but it was here that I realised that I didn't actually own a camera (and it was Saturday lunchtime with no prospect of buying one). Thus I never did get a snap of the rustic, ramshackle collection of wooden sheds/barns that it consisted of. By the time I next returned, it had been swept away and replaced by the Coop store that is still there. Still I did have time for a wander and grab something to eat.

View attachment 133224
3901 - photo from Flickr (Steve Guess)

Pewsey is a very small town. There's not many shops nowadays and there weren't many then. It was more pubs and banks really. It's quite pleasant but not one I'd recommend spending more than an hour in. I got onto the next 5 south, being a standard VR (3429) new to W&D (as Hants and Dorset) and we weaved our way down towards Amesbury and then to Salisbury. Again, we crested the hill near Old Sarum with a view of the city below. I love Salisbury and would always recommend people visit it. Arriving at the bus station, I noticed the Castle Cameras shop opposite (it's still there) on Endless Street (yes, really) so I bought a cheapo camera and some films and then rushed to my last bus of the day.

It was another VR in 3382 that like the previous one, still retained NBC poppy red livery for the time being. There were still a few knocking around. On a warm Saturday afternoon in June, there were quite a few passengers heading for the 184 to Weymouth (which is now split as the 20 to Blandford and the X12 to Weymouth from there). With a decent load, we set off on one of those journeys that is forever in my memory. We left Salisbury and I'd elected to be on the bottom deck (oddly). We passed through Coombe Bissett and then onto the elevated land on the main A354 for a belt along, high pitched transmission whine slicing through the mellow tones of the Gardner 6 cylinder engine. We then came to road junction where we left the main road and headed for Blandford Camp. In those days, the 184 would head off there for a 15 min loop through the army camp and married quarters with an armed soldier on board who would check off the passengers though, in most cases, they recognised the same faces as army wives etc. Leaving the camp, we deposited our escort.

Then we dropped down into Pimperne (now home of Damory - part of Go South Coast) and past Nigel Mansell Sportscars; yes, the moustachioed F1 driver had a (high end) garage in the village. It wasn't far into Blandford and a short stop at Blandford bus depot (again now a Coop) before we went through the beautiful Georgian town. We moved out across the river and past the brewery and then continued our high octane belt along towards Dorchester. I think the road network was substantially altered in the late 1990s so we were on the old roads and into Dorchester. At this time, W&D probably had slightly more journeys to Weymouth than Southern National, running in from Poole, Blandford rather than Bridport. We made our way through the busy centre of Dorchester and out past what I now know to be Maiden Castle, an iron age hill fort. We arrived onto the sunny sea front at Weymouth, dominated by bright yellow Ford Transits of Southern National plus a few leaf green VRs on the Portland route and some Nationals on the Littlemoor service. It was chance to take a few first photos with my camera (not very good) and some sea air before, at 1740, the last bus of the day to Dorchester would be my returning 184. Dorchester would be my first night of a week in the area, bouncing from bus to bus to train and to bus.

Hope this hasn't been too self indulgent and provides an entree to my most recent trip out that again featured visits south of Salisbury. Wilts and Dorset and Nigel Mansell Sportscars no longer exist but let's see what you can do in Dorset

View attachment 133227
3382 - photo from Flickr (Raymond Smith)

Oh wow, that's amazing! I wasn't even born yet when you did this trip! I was born in an era when bus types such as the Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini, Dennis Trident 2 Alexander ALX400, Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer 2 etc. were all being built and entering service brand new!

Anyways, yes the X3 Bournemouth to Salisbury is quite a good route. Interesting that it continued to Poole in 1991! I would imagine the m1 replaced the X1/X3/X3 between Poole and Bournemouth!

Interesting that Swindon still seems the same as it is now. Not keen on that town unfortunately. But yes X5 Salisbury to Swindon is a good route indeed, and let me guess, afterwards to go to Marlborough you did what is now Stagecoach West 80 to Ludgershall, right?

Haven't been to Amesbury yet.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Oh wow, that's amazing! I wasn't even born yet when you did this trip! I was born in an era when bus types such as the Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini, Dennis Trident 2 Alexander ALX400, Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer 2 etc. were all being built and entering service brand new!

Anyways, yes the X3 Bournemouth to Salisbury is quite a good route. Interesting that it continued to Poole in 1991! I would imagine the m1 replaced the X1/X3/X3 between Poole and Bournemouth!

Interesting that Swindon still seems the same as it is now. Not keen on that town unfortunately. But yes X5 Salisbury to Swindon is a good route indeed, and let me guess, afterwards to go to Marlborough you did what is now Stagecoach West 80 to Ludgershall, right?

Haven't been to Amesbury yet.

Yep, it was a different age in terms of bus types. Low floors were still a couple of years away and in 1991, the impact of deregulation and privatisation had meant that fleet replacement had been deferred or that van derived minibuses had been bought in some numbers. The period 1986-1991 was one of few full sized new buses (except in London and a few sundry spots) and really, new bus numbers had been lower on the run up to privatisation anyway. As it was, Wilts and Dorset didn't initially go for minibuses but a competitive incursion by Badgerline/Southern Vectis forced them to buy a load of MCW Metroriders - properly designed minibuses.

It was these MCWs that were employed on the main Poole to Bournemouth services (101/102/103/105) of which only a few continued to Christchurch and Burton - it was these that became the m1/m2 but expanded east of Bournemouth. The fast X1/X2/X3 were on top of those routes but guess that traffic congestion and unreliability eventually saw these westward extensions cut.

The Marlborough to Swindon routes have changed a bit. The Saturday X19 covered the 80 from Tidworth to Marlborough but then followed what is now the X5 route to Swindon. Coming south, I took the 70 via the Ogbournes (which is now the 80 but now every 90 mins rather than hourly) back to Marlborough before then catching the 5 (now X5) to Pewsey. Amesbury is a pleasant enough town but not a huge amount there, but it isn't far from Old Sarum which is really good to explore.

Will sort out part 2 later!

 

[Tetchytyke]

Been out on a Greater Manchester Wayfarer today. I’ll skip the trains and trams and focus on the two bus rides today.

First was the X5 from Warrington to Altrincham. Warrington Buses seem to have a properly ragtag collection of buses these days, but I drew lucky with one of the Cheshire Cats E200 MMCs. I’m not convinced by the “lounge” at the back and was glad to get a proper seat, but it was a lovely run through leafy Thelwall and Lymm. Bonus points to the schoolgirl having a crafty vape on the back seat, kids really are the same everywhere.

Second run was the 58 from Macclesfield to Buxton over the Cat and Fiddle pass. It’s definitely one of my favourite runs, especially on a glorious sunny day like today. Departure from Macclesfield was late after three prams had boarded the bus, two of which were filled with shopping and not children. Those with the shopping-prams then had the gall to be awkward to the woman with a sleeping baby in hers. The driver rolled her eyes and sighed a lot.

Carriage was by a clapped out ex-Arriva D&G- loaned to High Peak- Solo, which in true Centrebus style felt like it was held together with nothing more than sticky tape and positive thinking. But it was as beautiful as always up on the moors, it really is a fantastic run.

 

[RELL6L]

Teaser - I had three days out this week in the mainly sunny but cold North:
Tuesday, starting at R, 483, short walk, X41, M1, 64, 5, 45, 1, HL, 481, WW, HL, 7, 7, 464. Long drive
Wednesday, starting at B, X12, 36, 7, 7, 23, 23, 56, 47, X45, 773, 773, 765, X46, X12
Thursday, starting at M, 96, X75, 72, 73, 155, 156, 156, 159, 79, 96
Pretty urban on Tuesday and much of Wednesday, rural and very scenic late Wednesday and all Thursday.

Reports to follow, plenty to say, photos to sort out, may take much of next week before I complete these.

First part of my three days:

Projected good weather this week and it worked for me to get three days away so on Monday evening I headed north for more bus trips.

First trip was on Tuesday starting at Rawtenstall in Lancashire and covering a fairly compact area which I had not previously been around in much detail. It was barely light when I headed south on the Rosso 483, a Volvo B7RLE, to alight just south of the village of Shuttleworth. I had been hoping for a good morning view of the Peel Tower – when I went to Ramsbottom previously it was impossible to photograph as the sun was right behind it. This time it was impossible because it was in mist – but no matter. I walked down the short distance to the stop by the East Lancashire Railway in Ramsbottom to get my next bus, another Volvo B7RLE on the Transdev Blackburn X41 to Accrington. This route was threatened with withdrawal and may be partly subsidised but the journey towards Manchester that passed through just before my bus came was well loaded and the next journey was a double decker – this seems to be the norm. My journey had quite a few on board in Ramsbottom and more got on and off all the way to Accrington. A quick visit to grab a coffee and roll and stock up for the day and walk around the town centre, somewhere I had never been before. A decent typical northern town hall and an attractive market area.

From Accrington it was on to Padiham on the Transdev Burnley Mainline M1, an Optare Versa with a good load and passengers on and off all the way. A few distant views over the hills but not very attractive. Not a great deal to see at Padiham but another decent town hall and a couple of back streets. Then onwards on the Pilkington 64, only their second day of operating the route. Two new Ilesbus Citymax minibuses have been acquired for this route but my bus was a Solo which didn’t have the route on its blinds. Straight out of Padiham we were into the hills and on a diversion due to a road closure. The diverted route gave a great view down into Sabden before we got there. A few passengers boarded in Sabden but otherwise it was not a well-used route, maybe there are more passengers after 9.30. Attractive scenery then to Whalley where I alighted in time to see one of the Blackburn B10s pass through on the 22, these buses now don’t have long to live but still seem pretty sound vehicles. From here it was onwards on another Pilkington route, the 5 towards Chipping on a Mellor Strata bodied Sprinter. Again only a couple of passengers but probably against the flow for shoppers at this time. I alighted at Ribchester with just 12 minutes allowed there, but this was enough time to walk down to the river and get back to continue towards Longridge, this time on a Preston Bus Optare Solo on the 45. Longridge seemed a pleasant small middle class town but no great focal point that I could see.

I had been checking BusTimes regularly to check buses were running to time but for my next leg I was slightly shocked to see no buses out on the route at all when there should have been seven! Clearly Stagecoach had a tracking problem on Tuesday as no buses tracked on the Preston area route 1 all day – in fact none did for four days until the problem was fixed on Thursday. Looking at the general map for the operator there were buses running around, many showing no route number at all, others showing the 1 to Chester or Liverpool! If you look at the BusTimes record for this route you will see loads of Preston buses which went nowhere near Chester or Liverpool. I think lots of other routes were affected, possibly the whole of the Preston depot. My bus was a Scania E400 which took me into Preston Bus Station. A brief trip over to the square by the town hall which I like and back to the bus station for the next leg.

From Preston it was on the Transdev Blackburn 152, also known as the Hotline, to Blackburn. My bus was the expected Volvo B9TL but there were also a couple of B7TLs and one B7RLE among the allocation of 7 vehicles. A good view crossing the River Ribble but otherwise fairly uneventful on to Blackburn. I have been to Blackburn town centre before and I think it is underrated, there is a splendid cathedral with decent open spaces either side of it and also an open square by the town hall, as well as a shopping street with assorted weird structures in it. I was happy to wander around for half an hour here before heading back to Rawtenstall on the Rosso 481, another B7RLE. Both this journey and my very first journey on Rosso had been with trainee drivers alongside senior drivers so it was good to see recruitment and training ongoing. This is a scenic route heading ‘over the top’ as soon as it gets out of Blackburn, with good views both sides of the bus. A busy journey as well, quite a few students perhaps only with commitments in the morning and heading back towards Haslingden and Rawtenstall. This route divers via Helmshore between these towns.

At Rawtenstall it was now lunchtime and there were many people sitting outside in the sunshine. It might sound a bit grim but the cobbled main shopping street and square outside the bus station are attractive and the hill south of the town gave a good backdrop. I had been here once before in 2014 on a devoted Dad trip when I took my football supporting sons to their team’s first game of the season – Monday night at Burnley. We arrived in time for me to do a short trip from Burnley to Todmorden, Bacup and Rawtenstall before it got dark, I do remember the rain started just as the bus arrived at Rawtenstall! This time it was much better but my onward trip was the same, the Witchway across the moors to Burnley. A very smart E400 arrived from Manchester, dropped off and picked up a few passengers and on we went. It was quite a local service to start with as we dropped off at several stops through Crawshawbooth, then across the excellent moorland scenery to Burnley. I alighted before the town centre as I wanted to explore the area by the Leeds and Liverpool canal which I had traversed in a boat in the early 1980s. Much changed now with money being spent here (levelling up?). Some of the town centre was improved too and the bus station is good.

Once again, from here I took the Hotline to Blackburn – of course this time from the opposite end. This bus, another Volvo B9TL, had been quite late arriving but caught it all up on the way back. We passed the B7RLE on the route and this was packed like sardines. We went through Padiham and then Clayton-le-Moors. I had thought of stopping off here and going on via the 6 but, having just missed one, decided not to bother. At Blackburn I took an Optare Versa on the 7 towards Accrington. I couldn’t resist a short stop at Oswaldtwistle, if only for the lovely name of the town. At Accrington again there were far more people out with the sun around the town centre but I didn’t stay long before taking my last bus of the day, another Optare Versa on the Rosso 464 back to Rawtenstall. This runs every 15 minutes and seems to be pretty reliable and well patronised. Again not all passengers to and from town centres but many boarding and alighting all the way along. Surprisingly when I alighted at Rawtenstall several passengers stayed on so clearly this is used for through journeys.

I had chosen to take this journey as it looked like the cloud would linger much longer in the North East than in the North West. Although it started cloudy the sun broke through as soon as I left Padiham just after 9am and stayed out for the rest of the day. The trip was one that covered as much as possible of the area and had been in my plans for some time. Not the most scenic – the best bits being across the open country at Sabden, Whalley to Longridge, Blackburn to Haslingden and Rawtenstall to Burnley. Interesting places and good loads on many of the routes but I do worry for some of the more rural routes such as the 64 via Sabden and the 5 from Clitheroe to Longridge. Difficult to say if there were many more journeys from the £2 fare cap, I suspect most of the journeys being taken were ‘essential’ for work, education, shopping etc. Lancashire are being supportive of rural routes at the moment but if this ended I think many would be lost.

Days 2 and 3 to follow, meanwhile some pictures from the trip - one even including a bus, another a bus station (but no buses).


Sabden from above


Whalley, with a Transdev Blackburn Volvo B10 just arriving


The River Ribble at Ribchester


View from the Rosso 481 just out of Blackburn


From the Witch Way just north of Crawshawbooth


The canal at Burnley


Blackburn


Accrington town hall


Rawtenstall bus station

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Been out on a Greater Manchester Wayfarer today. I’ll skip the trains and trams and focus on the two bus rides today.

First was the X5 from Warrington to Altrincham. Warrington Buses seem to have a properly ragtag collection of buses these days, but I drew lucky with one of the Cheshire Cats E200 MMCs. I’m not convinced by the “lounge” at the back and was glad to get a proper seat, but it was a lovely run through leafy Thelwall and Lymm. Bonus points to the schoolgirl having a crafty vape on the back seat, kids really are the same everywhere.

Second run was the 58 from Macclesfield to Buxton over the Cat and Fiddle pass. It’s definitely one of my favourite runs, especially on a glorious sunny day like today. Departure from Macclesfield was late after three prams had boarded the bus, two of which were filled with shopping and not children. Those with the shopping-prams then had the gall to be awkward to the woman with a sleeping baby in hers. The driver rolled her eyes and sighed a lot.

Carriage was by a clapped out ex-Arriva D&G- loaned to High Peak- Solo, which in true Centrebus style felt like it was held together with nothing more than sticky tape and positive thinking. But it was as beautiful as always up on the moors, it really is a fantastic run.View attachment 133369

Quality and not quantity is perhaps a good maxim. Can't recall ever doing Warrington to Altrincham on the bus oddly. Mind you, that's a lovely trip into the peak district and tbh, there's quite a few firms with "mature" fleet to enjoy. There's Aimee's and Hulley's with some interesting fleet at times too. Thanks for posting

Tuesday, starting at R, 483, short walk, X41, M1, 64, 5, 45, 1, HL, 481, WW, HL, 7, 7, 464. Long drive
Wednesday, starting at B, X12, 36, 7, 7, 23, 23, 56, 47, X45, 773, 773, 765, X46, X12
Thursday, starting at M, 96, X75, 72, 73, 155, 156, 156, 159, 79, 96
Pretty urban on Tuesday and much of Wednesday, rural and very scenic late Wednesday and all Thursday.

I see you've whipped the veil away from Tuesday's expedition. As for Wed... Reckon a trip to Teesside, bits of East Durham before heading out through Durham City into the North Pennines, across the tops and then back down the Deerness Valley before back to Teesside - that close?

Thursday will be starting somewhere very odd like Mickleton or Middleton in Teesdale and then into my home territory before a descent into the wastelands of North Yorkshire before heading up Yoredale (!) and past the original site of Wensleydale Cheese, then past a castle or two before a late eyetest and back to where you started. On the right lines?

I was already typing and sorting my photos from last week so you've been more efficient than me in producing your trip reports. Still here's mine....

DAAAAARRRSETTT - part two (2023 edition)

I'd threatened to post my 2023 companion to my 1991 journey. Plot spoiler - there's a lot fewer Leyland Nationals and Bristol VRs, and it covers more of the southern part of my 30 year old journey. I hope you enjoy.

It was a bit more than a steady drizzle as I left the house and headed to enjoy a day off. Sadly, I couldn't manage to arrange a better day for weather but I'm not made of sugar so I took the risk.

First port of call was Wilton and the Park and Ride. Now, I've used this quite a few times in the past and found it a well appointed facility and good for saving the cost and hassle of driving into Salisbury. However, on driving into the site, there were only about 4/5 cars in the place... at 0800 in the morning. Then I checked the times... the dedicated park and ride was merged into the main Wilton bus service a few years ago to save money but whilst it was a 15 min headway, it's now half hourly. I was gobsmacked and find it quite shocking that what was such a good service is now just half hourly. Perhaps that explains the paucity of car drivers using it but I awaited my e200. It duly arrived and it was a smartly turned out machine with USBs and internal advertising.

First chariot of the day from Wilton P&R

A very soggy Salisbury market place

Endless Street in Salisbury - one of the main bus stopping points

Pristine but perhaps not unfalliable

The drizzle was now rain and the time I'd allocated to a bit of photography was instead used to shelter in Costa; a far cry from the bright morning of my 1991 initiation to the delights of Salisbury. However, I left the warm confines and wandered over to Endless Street (opposite the posh pensioner flats built on the former bus station) and waited for the 20 - this would take me south to Blandford as per my VR operated 184 of yesteryear. It arrived on time being a rather mature 2006 Omnidekka that has been part of the Damory fleet for some years since its early sale by Reading Buses. It parked up behind a 2006 Solo and, I have to say, both vehicles were immaculately turned out. Just because a vehicle is 17 years old, it doesn't have to be a wreck - Arriva and First please note! We left a few mins late and splashed our way out of the city, through the village of Coombe Bissett (where the swollen brook was looking rather ominous) before depositing a lady walker who clearly had a masochistic streak. The Scania seemed to be doing fine and we stopped at a layby for 5 mins before heading to Sixpenny Handley, all the time acquiring a few more passengers as we traversed the sparse uplands. Passing the now anonymous entrance to Blandford Camp, we dropped into Pimperne and then swung into the entrance of the Damory depot.... and sat. Nothing seemed to be happening and I was conscious that my connection in Blandford (15 mins) was in peril. After 10 mins, it became apparent that something was up and I was about to enquire when we were told that we would have to move onto an e200 that had been readied for us. Our driver was in no hurry and I accepted that my connection wasn't going to happen, as we arrived into Blandford more than 20 mins late; the Omnidekka was clean but not reliable!

Last time I'd been in Blandford, it hammered down and the weather was no better. I had no wish to get soaked so I hunkered down in a bakers that had a cafe and enjoyed a bacon roll and a coffee (rather overpriced). Eventually, I headed out and one of the bizarre confusions... The X8 is a service operated by More liveried e400s but it's actually a Damory service. I was just glad to be leaving Blandford which is a shame as it is a lovely Georgian town but the weather was dreadful. The e400 exited the town by the now former brewery and we headed for Poole which would've been a nice trip if I could've seen what was going on. Poole bus station hasn't changed much in 30 years and More does still have a travel office there. Even more surprising, they publish a full timetable booklet. Actually this was a feature in Wilts and Dorset days in that Dorset had a booklet yet Wiltshire managed with individual and rather poor leaflets. I was going to linger and get a bus to Wimborne but decided to sample a route I'd not done before so it was the X6 to Ferndown with an Omnicity rather than an Omnidekka. Again, it was a nicely appointed vehicle that belied its 2008 vintage. Go Ahead have a lot of these vehicles and I'd "enjoyed" some ropey ones on Metrobus's Sussex routes but this was in good nick with few battle scars or rattles.


Ferndown in the rain

Ferndown is a suburb of the wider Bournemouth conurbation with little of interest though the X6 did bisect the area traversing many watercourses that were struggling to cope with the heavy rain. I had chance for a quick toilet break and was then back out for the 13 to Bournemouth. It was a very luxurious e400mmc with high backed seats and tables (which the X8 would've been more appropriate for) but I leant back at my table seat to relax until a chatty older bloke sat opposite. I listened politely as he recounted a scooter accident that had caused him to have a double shoulder operation... The youngish girl who then sat next to me on the busy journey was able to take on some of the burden as he recounted the story to her as well. Still, it might be the only people he speaks to that day so just time to be kind. I bailed at Bournemouth Square and onto one of the former Yellow Buses routes (there were still some bus stop flags locally showing the former RATP brand) and I had one of the e200mmc. This machine didn't rattle much but the seating capacity seems pretty low. Felt more like a standee vehicle from the late 1960s! Still we carved our way out to Boscombe where I had chance for a short wander as the rain had now abated. To be honest, Boscombe is really a bit of an oddity; a small town cum suburb between Bournemouth and Christchurch with one of the more pointless bus stations I have seen. Many of the services either bypass the bus station or simply pull into the roadside stop.


Boscombe bus station

I was now about to head north and whilst I could have caught the X3 from Boscombe, I had a short hop on the 2 to the Hospital. Another e400mmc of the same batch as earlier but less luxurious with no tables and less legroom. Still, quite nice for a short 15 min hop and I arrived at Bournemouth's hospital. This is a major stopping point with lots of routes passing through. Sadly, the drizzle started again and I had to shelter from the elements with a family who were heading in the Lymington direction who were sharing 2 cigarettes between five of them in some strict rotation! I left them as my X3 duly arrived and yet another mmc and to another different internal spec! We headed off and I was again reliving my 1991 journey though in somewhat soggier conditions. We headed into Ringwood, buses to Southampton being a long lost memory, and then left to head north. We traversed the very swollen river at Fordingbridge and then discovered (through the next stop announcements that were apparent on virtually all More/Reds vehicles) that Breamore is pronounced Bremmer! BTW, Fordingbridge has a range of very odd shops... It could easily be a horror movie location! By now, it had completely stopped raining and it was a lovely if slightly grey entry to Bodenham and then we crested the hill and I saw that view again from 1991... the spire of Salisbury cathedral and the city in the distance. We slipped into town and then through to New Canal where the X3 dropped me off.


Look...the road is DRY! Arrival at Salisbury

The Poultry Cross
The last bus was an alternative to the main PR3 to Wilton with the R8 that heads there via another route. Getting out past the station was awful and that is one thing evident in Salisbury - bus priority isn't good. We grinded up the A36 before we could finally dive off 10 mins late. The route runs parallel to the main road and through Quidhampton which is a narrow road with lots of chicanes and parked cars. I've done the route with a Solo but this was a short e200 that still had one Southern Vectis notice internally highlighting a former life. Still, it was a nice trip in the backstreets and I got off at Wilton roundabout to walk up to the park and ride. There were no more than 10 cars in there at 1630... Something has to change!

Last bus and the traffic congestion already evident

All in all, it was a trip down memory lane (as I've laboured the point). The weather was a shame and I'd have liked to wander around Blandford for longer and perhaps gone to Wimborne but hey ho. Despite the failure of my second bus, I thought that Go South Coast was an impressive operator though the decline in Salisbury's bus provision is quite pronounced and worrying. Can definitely recommend having a wander through the area though I might suggest giving Ferndown a miss! Hope you enjoyed the report.

 

[RELL6L]

I see you've whipped the veil away from Tuesday's expedition. As for Wed... Reckon a trip to Teesside, bits of East Durham before heading out through Durham City into the North Pennines, across the tops and then back down the Deerness Valley before back to Teesside - that close?

Thursday will be starting somewhere very odd like Mickleton or Middleton in Teesdale and then into my home territory before a descent into the wastelands of North Yorkshire before heading up Yoredale (!) and past the original site of Wensleydale Cheese, then past a castle or two before a late eyetest and back to where you started. On the right lines?

Very much the right lines, yes. Thursday spot on with Middleton in Teesdale, two eyetests. Wednesday largely right but only through Durham on the way back to my starting point.

Interesting trip to Dorset, shame it was so wet. Salisbury looked very damp indeed! When I took an Omnidekka on the X8 last year it stopped at the side of the road for 10 minutes as it had a brake warning light. The driver said he'd checked with the engineers and it was OK to carry on - luckily they were right! Fordingbridge is an attractive town and I love Blandford Forum, but would only go there on a better day.

I agree on Salisbury. MoreBus get good press but the level of service in the area, especially rural, has definitely reduced over the years.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Very much the right lines, yes. Thursday spot on with Middleton in Teesdale, two eyetests. Wednesday largely right but only through Durham on the way back to my starting point.

Of course, I had a different 56 in mind!

 

[RELL6L]

The second of my trips started with a short lie-in (relatively speaking) and a drive from my overnight lodging at Scotch Corner up the A1 to Bowburn, arriving around 7am. I chose Bowburn simply because it was the closest location on the X12 to the A1, not for any particular merit, it was a well looked after former mining village. While waiting for my bus I was surprised that a Volvo B7TL on the 56 passed towards Durham followed by an E400 on a northbound X12, first bus out of Middlesbrough in the morning, both these routes being predominantly single deckers. My southbound X12 was the more normal fare of Pulsar, several already on board who mostly alighted at Bowburn and Coxhoe but plenty boarded at the delightful small town of Sedgefield and the service is clearly popular with commuters to Stockton and Middlesbrough. It goes pretty directly to these towns with a high speed run along the A177 then using bus lanes to get into Stockton, where I alighted, quite quickly. An opportunity for a roll and coffee and stock up for lunch and a short break at the town where I spent more time exploring a couple of years ago.

From Stockton it was up the urban and frequent Stagecoach 36 through Billingham to Hartlepool. Not the most scenic of routes although the village of Greatham, just off the main road south of Hartlepool, was quite attractive. The route was solidly operated by E200 MMCs in the ‘full size single decker’ sequence. At Hartlepool, another town I had explored two years ago, I stayed on to the terminus at the Marina from where I took the Stagecoach Hartlepool 7 to the area called Headland, which is a really attractive ‘old town’ area. Going way back I know there were two municipal operators here, Hartlepool and West Hartlepool, and I believe these were separate towns, with what is now just Hartlepool being the former West Hartlepool and the Headland area being formerly Hartlepool. Anyway the area of Headland is well worth an explore, something I had actually done before but not on a bus trip, and there are views across to the main town. Although it was cloudy this was a pleasant stopping place. I then took another 7, both E200s, back to the main town centre.

The next leg was north on the Arriva 23 to Peterlee. BusTimes showed that the expected bus on my journey would be 7417, a Volvo B7TL. But when it turned up it wasn’t, it was 2612, a Plaxton Centro bodied VDL SB120 which BusTimes shows as having been off the road since March. This seemed perfectly capable and had several passengers despite leaving only 9 minutes behind a 24 largely following the same route – which really was a double decker. I was surprised to see any deckers on these routes as they had been pretty much all Pulsars and StreetLites. Half an hour at Peterlee was a good place to have a coffee as I don’t think there is anything to see – quite a sizeable shopping centre but mainly pound shops and the like although Costa was quite busy.

I carried on north on the next 23 as blue skies rolled in from the sea. This one really was a double decker, an E400. Now I found this very odd, there are two Arriva routes from Peterlee to Sunderland, the 22 from Durham and the 23 from Hartlepool, each running every half hour via slightly different routes. But they leave at virtually the same time: the 22 at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour and the 23 at 17 and 47 minutes past each hour. Granted the 22 takes a slightly shorter route but even after that the gap is only 11 minutes. Coming back it is more sensible as the later one waits longer at Sunderland. It’s not perfect either where the 23 and 24 leave Hartlepool 9 minutes apart. Only where the 22 and 24 interwork between Durham and Peterlee is the spacing an even 15 minutes – but this is the section where the two routes diverge most. I totally understand that with the depot at Durham the buses must work Durham > Sunderland > Hartlepool > Durham and vice versa and this precludes a ‘perfect’ solution but the current times do seem odd. As a 23 we headed out through Easington Colliery to Easington Village, both now very attractive and well-looked after communities with clear civic pride. Easington Village includes a bus-only road through the centre which is relatively unusual. After that we were not far behind the preceding 22 which was running late and from Dalton Park we were joined by a Go North East 61, also half hourly to Sunderland at almost exactly the same time. It was clear that some passengers were preferring the 61, either by loyalty or more likely a fare advantage – although with the £2 fare cap this seemed a little surprising.

I had been to Sunderland before but had not strayed from the main street and adjacent park. This time I was at the Interchange and headed out to the city centre streets nearby. I was impressed, the area has no doubt been ‘levelled up’ and was very well presented. My next leg was the Go North East 56 to Gateshead, it appeared that my intended journey was not running so I spent a little longer here than planned which was good as I hadn’t expected it to be so attractive. I returned to the bus station just in time to see a 56 depart, this was the one I thought cancelled running about 12 minutes late. As soon as it left the next one pulled onto the stand and followed on time, just 3 minutes behind. In fact the two buses – both Volvo B9TLs - ran together pretty much all the way with us going ahead at some points and taking the load of boarding passengers and then being overtaken again, we arrived at Gateshead on time where the one in front terminated. Quite an interesting urban journey past the Stadium of Light, Nissan, Concord Bus Station, Bowes railway and Wrekenton. I had not stopped off at Gateshead town centre before so I made time for a short look round before taking an Optare Versa on the frequent X66 to Metrocentre. As well as a valuable link between the two and shopping centre the route passes the Go Ahead Riverside depot and is used for ferrying for crew changes taking place at both ends. A brief entry into the Metrocentre to see what it was like – huge – but not really my cup of tea!

I was then intending to take the Go Ahead 47 to Consett via High Spen. However this was unusually a StreetLite and I could endure this only as far as Rowlands Gill. Nothing to see here but I alighted for 15 minutes before continuing to Consett on an E400 on the following X45. Excellent views to the west as we neared Shotley Bridge but the last section took ages due to horrendously parked cars near a school in Shotley Bridge. I still had half an hour at Consett before continuing to the highlight of my day, the Weardale 773. Now I should mention here that I have had this trip planned for ages, but very differently. The plan was to start early between Peterlee and Sunderland, follow this route and take the morning return trip on the 773, leaving Consett at 10.20. However the weather forecast said there would be cloud for 2-3 hours during the morning and I did not want this cloud for the rural section of the day, so I swapped it round to do the later run on the 773 with the cloudy period between Stockton and Peterlee, which is exactly how it worked out. By now it was cloudless, albeit still windy. Rather than take the 773 the whole way to Hunstanworth and come straight back I elected to alight at the chocolate box village of Blanchland and enjoy 10 minutes there. The bus, a new Iveco Ilesbus i-City MAX, was in the bus station but there were no passengers waiting at the appointed stand. However the bus came over at the due time and I boarded. There were no other passengers! The driver explained that often there were no passengers, there are only two return trips from Consett so the only option is to be in Consett from 11.29 until 16.00, which is not particularly attractive for shoppers unless, perhaps, you want to go on to the Metrocentre or Newcastle. Apparently, only on Thursdays, when there is a third journey in between, does the route see many passengers. Note to Durham County Council – there might be more passengers if the timing was more attractive – why not try swapping the 13.45 to Wolsingham with the 16.00 to Hunstanworth one or two days a week and see if it attracts more passengers? Note to forum members - use it while it lasts – it would be a terrible route to lose! As soon as the bus has passed Shotley Bridge the scenery is absolutely stunning, gorgeous hills either side, an attractive reservoir and the village of Blanchland is sublimely beautiful. To my surprise we did pick up another passenger on the way back in the village of Edmonbyers, he had been out walking for the day – the current timetable is good for a long walk out here. There were a couple more boarding in Shotley Bridge too and these passengers had some banter with the driver about the bus. Apparently it had not been very reliable and they had needed an engineer to come over from Italy to fix it, the doors appeared to have been the main problem. Looking at BusTimes it does seem to have been off the road for 9 days in March but not excessively otherwise.

The bus returned to Consett and I stayed aboard as it now became a 765 heading back across a rural stretch of the A68 with more great views to Tow Law and Crook. In my original plan I would have stopped off at Wolsingham and Tow Law but these didn’t work out this way. There were 3 more passengers between Consett and Tow Law so this route, perhaps mainly in existence as positioning journeys, does appear to have some regular use. At Crook I took an X46 to Durham, an elderly Volvo B7TL. It was a gorgeous evening so instead of taking the planned X12 back to Bowburn I took a few photos around the river area and then got the following 56 to Bowburn. Although BusTimes showed this was an E400 (7514) it was actually an Optare Solo and running a few minutes late, this journey was pretty busy for an evening service. Eventually I was back at Bowburn about 12 hours after leaving it in the morning, a quick run down the A1 back to Scotch Corner and a well-deserved rest.

Overall another really good day. Cloudy as predicted between Stockton and Peterlee but otherwise blue skies and fantastic scenery in the rural parts and interesting all the way round.

Day 3 to follow, some pictures:


Hartlepool (Headland)


Sunderland


Between Rowlands Gill and Consett


Derwent Reservoir


Between Derwent Reservoir and Blanchland


Blanchland


Blanchland


Between Consett and Tow Law


Early evening in Durham

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

As you might have expected, I have a lot to comment on as you were in my homeland! Thanks for the report and the info/photos

While waiting for my bus I was surprised that a Volvo B7TL on the 56 passed towards Durham followed by an E400 on a northbound X12, first bus out of Middlesbrough in the morning

The 56 is not uncommon (being part of the random allocations that Durham depot has). I think the northbound X12 is one of the few Durham depot journeys on there and moves onto something else after that board.

And yes, that was the 56 I thought you were originally referring to, not the GNE one.

At Hartlepool, another town I had explored two years ago, I stayed on to the terminus at the Marina from where I took the Stagecoach Hartlepool 7 to the area called Headland, which is a really attractive ‘old town’ area.

Everywhere looks good in the sun! It used to be really bleak and they have smartened it up. They used to have a small bus station there - well, they called it that but it was a stand, a knackered bus shelter and a grotty public toilet.

Going way back I know there were two municipal operators here, Hartlepool and West Hartlepool, and I believe these were separate towns, with what is now just Hartlepool being the former West Hartlepool and the Headland area being formerly Hartlepool.

Indeed, the football team used to be called Hartlepools United. West Hartlepool existed by a quirk of geography and only ran buses for 14 years until the two undertakings were merged. The fleet totalled 4!

Quite an interesting urban journey past the Stadium of Light, Nissan, Concord Bus Station, Bowes railway and Wrekenton.

I was responding to @SouthEastBuses that whilst I understood his wish to film the Angel of the North, the road up by Bowes Railway and Wrekenton is really quite the hidden gem. I really like it.

Now I should mention here that I have had this trip planned for ages, but very differently. The plan was to start early between Peterlee and Sunderland, follow this route and take the morning return trip on the 773, leaving Consett at 10.20. However the weather forecast said there would be cloud for 2-3 hours during the morning and I did not want this cloud for the rural section of the day, so I swapped it round to do the later run on the 773 with the cloudy period between Stockton and Peterlee, which is exactly how it worked out. By now it was cloudless, albeit still windy. Rather than take the 773 the whole way to Hunstanworth and come straight back I elected to alight at the chocolate box village of Blanchland and enjoy 10 minutes there. The bus, a new Iveco Ilesbus i-City MAX, was in the bus station but there were no passengers waiting at the appointed stand.

I should mention here, to my shame, that I've never done the 773. Not once, even when it was Northumbria who did it! I know it's stunning and lovely but I've not done it so thanks for the photos.

The bus returned to Consett and I stayed aboard as it now became a 765 heading back across a rural stretch of the A68 with more great views to Tow Law and Crook. In my original plan I would have stopped off at Wolsingham and Tow Law but these didn’t work out this way. There were 3 more passengers between Consett and Tow Law so this route, perhaps mainly in existence as positioning journeys, does appear to have some regular use.

I have done the 764 a couple of years back (which is essentially the 765) and once before in the snow a few years back. It's a glorious run - stunning across the tops of the Pennines.

Not mentioned but I really like the run on the X46 to Durham. The ex pit villages are a bit grim in places, but it's a nice trip down. Thanks for sharing

 

[RELL6L]

The 56 is not uncommon (being part of the random allocations that Durham depot has). I think the northbound X12 is one of the few Durham depot journeys on there and moves onto something else after that board.

Yes, oddly it does appear that a Durham based bus, normally an E400, heads to Middlesbrough for a departure at 6.23, while most of the rest of the service is run from Stockton! The X12 looks like it goes off on a school run.

I should mention here, to my shame, that I've never done the 773. Not once, even when it was Northumbria who did it! I know it's stunning and lovely but I've not done it so thanks for the photos.

You must - it is stunning scenery. I could only include one or two photos but there were plenty of scenic spots. And Blanchland is great, probably better for being there at 4.30 pm rather than 10.30 am. Yes the 764 and 765 are much the same although I'd like to have covered the section between Tow Law and Wolsingham, that just wasn't to be last week.

I wasn't particularly enamoured by the X46 to be honest, Willington didn't seem to have much to offer and it misses Brandon. Good approaching Durham though. I agree with you on the Bowes Railway section.

I was actually wrong in my teaser with my last bus on day 2, I had intended it to be an X12 but it was a 56 - just to further confuse with the GNE 56 used earlier in the day.

Thanks for your comments. The final day is also in your patch!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Thanks for your comments. The final day is also in your patch!

Yeah but I bet you didn't enjoy many poppy red LHs and RESLs

I look forward to tomorrow's excursion though I suspect the countryside will be divine, the small towns full of character, a host of castles, abbeys and other notable buildings, yet largely accessed by a depressing selection of Solos, e200s and similar in dealer white.

 

[Kuyoyo]

Yes, oddly it does appear that a Durham based bus, normally an E400, heads to Middlesbrough for a departure at 6.23, while most of the rest of the service is run from Stockton! The X12 looks like it goes off on a school run.

I believe the whole reason Durham operate that particular X12 is down to timings - the return working to Middlesbrough that trip could work onto starts in Chester-Le-Street at 0712. Stockton depot have only been working the majority of the X12 trips since last summer (prior to that Durham still had 2 full boards) due to staffing issues at Durham which have yet to settle. A stark contrast to before Covid when Durham operated the majority of the Monday to Saturday workings.

 

[RELL6L]

And so to the third and final day of my April trips in the north. The previous day I had done a lengthy ‘dead end’ section out to Blanchland on the 773 and made some time at the far end by alighting shortly before the terminus. A couple of different strategies for ‘dead end’ sections this day. Back in February I had visited Middleton by Youlgrave, at the end of a two hourly dead end, by starting and finishing there. This time I did much the same at its northern namesake, Middleton in Teesdale. An early start and I was there with some sunshine soon after 6.30 in time to look around before the bus came at 7.00. A charming village although quite a number of heavy lorries from local haulage companies going through even that early. The two routes out from Barnard Castle to Middleton in Teesdale, 95 and 96, are essentially a circular route with a common section before they diverge to approach Middleton from different directions. My journey on the other hand arrived from the depot at distant Crook and could be tracked all the way as drivers seem to activate the ticket machine as soon as they leave so I was comfortable it was going to turn up on time. It did, an Optare Solo, and we headed back to Barnard Castle pretty much the same way I had driven up there, picking up a handful of passengers on the way.

My connection at Barnard Castle was only 3 minutes but I had always been confident it would work. There was an Arriva Pulsar sitting on the stand but it was not my bus, it claimed to be a 6 to Cockfield. I thought my eyes needed testing! The timetable on the bus stop also claims that the Arriva 6 at 7.30 just goes to Staindrop and Cockfield, neither this nor the bus giving any hint that it might in fact continue to Bishop Auckland and Durham. It doesn’t seem to be a split route and I wouldn’t think it is 50km long, so why the unnecessary confusion? This left and my bus, an X75 turned up. This was one of the MAN gas buses which was a pleasant surprise, the other buses on the route being StreetLites. A decent bus, it seemed powerful and kept up with the traffic on a busy journey with students and commuters boarding all the way into Darlington, we kept to time and arrived by the town hall giving me time to stock up with a much needed coffee and pastry and some lunch. Although it had been pretty sunny at Middleton in Teesdale there had been low cloud for a while but this cleared at Darlington leaving a largely sunny day from there on.

The next leg was on Hodgsons 72 to Northallerton, an E200 in dealer white. Indeed, no Bristol LHs (phew) or RESLs (shame) and nothing remotely near poppy red! A group of six were taking advantage of the £2 fare and clearly heading from Darlington for a leisure trip to Northallerton and we were joined by a few other passengers from the villages on the way south. Several boarded in the lovely village of Brompton, which is effectively a suburb of Northallerton, by which time it was after 9.30 and the passes were out. Into North Yorkshire now, an area with some really attractive towns but frequently spoilt (in my view) by parked cars. Northallerton is one such town, some decent architecture and a dominant church but cars everywhere. I had half an hour to wander round here.

Over the last couple of years I have got to make good use of BusTimes which I have found incredibly valuable keeping in touch while travelling. Now, for a period, I was going off grid as none of the next five legs tracked. So when my 10.05 departure hadn’t turned up by ten past I started worrying - at which point it appeared well laden with incoming passengers. This was the Dales and District 73 to Bedale, run by a pristine Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE with a personalised registration, so I have no idea of its provenance. Fewer passengers heading away from the main travel objective but several did join and we passed the Wensleydale railway at Leeming Bar and on into Bedale. Another attractive Georgian town, decent buildings, a dominant church but…. loads of parked cars. I had half an hour here too before proceeding further west on the North Yorkshire County Council run 155 to Leyburn. A few alighted from the step-entrance small minibus as it arrived but I was the only passenger travelling to Leyburn. The driver was quite chatty and said that they were a bus down and so at the end of his shift on the 155 at Bedale he would be relived by another driver who would rush back to Leyburn to use it for a school run. He said that he only worked the daytime service and other drivers did the school runs, the work they ended up with being largely the ones nobody else wanted or for which decent bids were not received. It seemed odd to me that they wouldn’t routinely use the same bus for the school and daytime runs, if the 155 started and finished its inter-peak works at the Leyburn end instead of the Bedale end it could easily work off a school contract. Still no doubt NYCC know what they are doing….

Leyburn is another potentially attractive small town with some decent buildings, a less dominant church, but IMHO the centre is ruined by the parked cars totally covering the town centre. I suppose this is what the locals want and towns shouldn’t be preserved in aspic but it doesn’t do itself any favours. I only had five minutes here to keep heading west up another ‘dead end’, this time taking another small minibus on the community-operated Little White Bus 156 up Wensleydale to Hawes. Another stunningly beautiful route as we headed mostly up the A684 but with a diversion to Thoralby to set down a passenger, then through Askrigg and Bainbridge on to Hawes. A handful of passengers using the service which is clearly a part of the communities along the valley. The timetable gave me about 45 minutes in Hawes and I explored this pretty town and walked up past the church a short way above the town for more great views. It was lunchtime and pretty busy with visitors and a group of bikers but at least the parking here was off-road out of the way. The return journey, with the same driver, started off the same way but then stayed on the north side of the valley passing through Redmire, again with great views.

Back at Leyburn I had a little more time to explore. A flurry of bus activity saw the 155 appear for its last journey of the day to Bedale, a 159 to Ripon and both of the Little White Bus vehicles taking returning shoppers up to Wensleydale, one each side of the valley. My bus though was the Dales and District 159 to Richmond. A very odd timetable in that there are departures from Richmond to Leyburn at 13.50 and 14.05, the first continuing to Ripon and the second returning to Richmond. Needless to say the incoming bus had no passengers and we only had two. I had done this section before but it is very scenic with views over to Swaledale so I was more than happy to do it again, my bus being another E200 in dealer white. Oddly the timetable on BusTimes now shows these journeys running later but Dales and District’s own website does not and for sure last week they ran at the earlier times. I do not know what the bus does next, presumably something school related before leaving Richmond at 16.30, but it wasn’t in a hurry to move on from the centre of Richmond.

I think Richmond is an adorable town with its castle, the lovely walkway around underneath the castle with views over the river far below, and the splendid town centre with fabulous buildings all around, but of course the middle of it is a car park! There is more space for parking elsewhere around the town and I would have thought it would really benefit by having less in the centre, perhaps backed up by better public transport! I was now back into civilisation as far as BusTimes was concerned and my next leg was Hodgsons 79 back to Barnard Castle. This journey comes up from the school and had a fair load on arrival at the town centre. It seemed to go quite slowly through some of the villages and we were behind a tractor on the A66 before heading off though more attractive villages and then back to Barnard Castle, but it is conservatively timed and we were early arriving. Time for a very short eye test looking at the castle area before the final leg, another 96 back to Middleton in Teesdale. Another Solo, several passengers from the start, this one went the other way from Romaldkirk to Middleton although our driver mistakenly went the wrong way until this was pointed out, whereupon she executed a five-point turn in a layby and return to go the correct way. A lovely early evening in Middleton in Teesdale but time to head home after three glorious days.

Of all the trips I have planned this was the one I was most concerned to get done before crucial legs might be withdrawn or changed to make it impossible. North Yorkshire are not known for generous funding of rural routes and the 155 from Bedale to Leyburn must be at risk, the 159 from Ripon to Richmond could be reduced and the 156 up Wensleydale probably only survives as it is a community service. The Durham services seem better supported and have survived the demise of Scarlet Band without much loss of the timetables.

Thoughts overall? Plenty of passengers on the urban and inter-urban routes and school and college traffic supporting some routes. However the truly rural routes though were woefully short of passengers. The Little White Bus model in Wensleydale seemed to work but I suspect there has to be a genuine community for it to take off and this wouldn’t work elsewhere. The timetable on the 773 from Consett to Hunstanworth does not attract shoppers into Consett (except on Thursdays) although it is quite good for walkers heading out into the country. Some of the routes and operators probably only survive by running at minimal cost, hence small vehicles in dealer white and no investment in the infrastructure needed for BusTimes. Yes we would all love everything to track on BusTimes with all the latest mod cons, next stop announcements etc, but I would rather have a bus without these things than no service at all because they are too expensive! No journeys were missed affecting any of my trips although I know there are still a few cancellations around Burnley and Blackburn but even Arriva in the North East are now improved staffing wise. No significant lateness either or problems with vehicles or drivers. Some fairly old vehicles from Transdev but some modern ones too, mostly old vehicles from Arriva where investment has largely been starved outside a few chosen and presumably profitable areas. Newer vehicles from the independent operators oddly.

For me, despite the relatively poor weather so far this year, I have managed eight trips up to the end of April including seven from my “A list” of most important trips I want to do this year – which is half of the 14 on that list. I am very pleased with that progress but I know I won’t be able to keep up the momentum as I expect to be away for much of May and September. Enjoy our countryside and get out into it on the bus while you can!

Inevitably some pictures:

Middleton in Teesdale


Northallerton

Bedale


Wensleydale


Hawes


View from just above Hawes, two minutes walk through the churchyard


Towards Swaledale from the 159 between Leyburn and Richmond


Looking over the river at Richmond


Barnard Castle

 

[Tetchytyke]

It’s fantastic to see your photos of the north east @RELL6L I must admit I’ve done Blanchland and Derwent Reservoir many times, but always by Ford Fiesta and not by bus because I couldn’t ever get the times to work. The one time I tried for Consett to Tow Law I missed it due to a traffic jam at the MetroCentre. So it goes.

Dales and District not accepting the Explorer North East has likewise restricted my travel south of Richmond in recent years. I made it to Northallerton just before the 72 was relinquished by Arriva, and the Fat Rascal at Bettys was well earned after an hour and a half on a Mini Pointer Dart.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Had a few off-line chats with @RELL6L about his day 3 travels but thought I'd respond "officially". Think most folks are aware of my NE connections and so I have particular interest in this one.

First of all, thanks for the super photographs. Really does capture the beauty of the Yorkshire and Teesdale Dales. I would thoroughly recommend having a trip in the area. Sadly, the retrenchment of Arriva following their closure of Richmond depot some years back, and the general scaling back of their activities, means that it is more difficult to travel around (as @Tetchytyke mentioned) as the Explorer North East was a very handy ticket. Back in the day, I had many a day bouncing around the area on Bristol LHs, VRs, Nationals, and Dodge minibuses (eeek!) before the arrival of Metroriders and then Solos.

Nowadays, you have three reasonable independents in Weardale, Dales & District, and Hodgsons doing much of the work away from the skeletal remains of the Arriva network. Weardale were an early member of Explorer NE but it's probably 10 years or more since they exited the scheme which is disappointing as they now operate much of the work given up by Arriva in SW Durham including the upper Teesdale services. In the interests of fairness, Weardale has also taken on work as Go North East has retreated in Derwentside so it's not solely an Arriva bash session. Sadly, Durham CC has no interest in mandating acceptance and as for North Yorks CC, they have little interest in supporting local bus services at all with everything done on an absolute minimum cost, so the idea of any wider ticket availability is simple not going to happen.

As for the trip itself, I can definitely agree with the take on Richmond (stunningly beautiful in the sun and lots of historic buildings, the falls, the castle, the old station, etc) and Barnard Castle (NE ophthalmology hub) is similarly attractive. Hawes and Leyburn are typical small Dales towns. As for Northallerton... well, I find it just a bit dull. Nice high street but nothing of much historical interest in the town. Not objectionable in the slightest and a fine stopping-off point. I'd suggest that folks get to North Yorkshire whilst they can - the area's demographics can't really support commercial bus operation and NYCC hasn't the slightest interest in stepping into the breach.

 

[GusB]

I've removed a couple of posts from the thread because they weren't really trip reports.

What we're looking for here is an account of a day out, a weekend away or even a longer trip where you've travelled by bus or coach. We're not looking for "Took the bus to Anytown, seats were comfy, nice day out"; you should make a bit of an effort!

Feel free to post photos, but make sure that you have permission to share them if they're not your own and be sure to include a credit. Please also make sure they're of an appropriate size because not everyone has superfast internet connections and massive pictures can take a while to load.

Happy travels

 

[OptareLover]

A great trip which I'll remember was the 78 to/from Keswick!

I walked to Keswick Bus Station from where my holiday house was and did some bus spotting there until the open top Dennis Trident Alexander ALX400 17490 - TSV720 arrived - my bus!

When I got on, I just asked the driver if I could stay on, instead off getting off at Seatoller - the last stop. The driver said that it was completely fine for me to do so.

Although it wasn't the sunniest day ever, it was still absolutely beautiful with amazing views. If you're ever there, give the 78 a try!

The bus was amazing too, the hills didn't seem to really bother 17490!

It was also fun looking dodging trees when they're close to hitting the bus (but obviously can't physically hit you).

Best open top route I've been on by far. I believe the ALXs could now be gone as they haven't tracked in a while on bustimes.org and seems non-open-toppers are on the route quite often now, along with an open-top ADL Enviro400. It'd still be beautiful in a closed-top bus, though!

 

[RELL6L]

A great trip which I'll remember was the 78 to/from Keswick!

I walked to Keswick Bus Station from where my holiday house was and did some bus spotting there until the open top Dennis Trident Alexander ALX400 17490 - TSV720 arrived - my bus!

When I got on, I just asked the driver if I could stay on, instead off getting off at Seatoller - the last stop. The driver said that it was completely fine for me to do so.

Although it wasn't the sunniest day ever, it was still absolutely beautiful with amazing views. If you're ever there, give the 78 a try!

The bus was amazing too, the hills didn't seem to really bother 17490!

It was also fun looking dodging trees when they're close to hitting the bus (but obviously can't physically hit you).

Best open top route I've been on by far. I believe the ALXs could now be gone as they haven't tracked in a while on bustimes.org and seems non-open-toppers are on the route quite often now, along with an open-top ADL Enviro400. It'd still be beautiful in a closed-top bus, though!

The 78 is an absolutely cracking open top route, I’ve even taken my wife on it! It’s a shame if they are allocating close top vehicles to it, hopefully this is temporary. One of the highlights of the Lake District.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The 78 is an absolutely cracking open top route, I’ve even taken my wife on it! It’s a shame if they are allocating close top vehicles to it, hopefully this is temporary. One of the highlights of the Lake District.

Probably is a temporary thing. Got to remember that the fleet is made up mainly of 2000/2001 vehicles so reliability is an issue; think they are looking to update though.

Not had a trip out for a while now.... must be putting that right

 

[RELL6L]

Not had a trip out for a while now.... must be putting that right

Same - OK so I've been in Spain for three weeks but I feel the bus network is calling me. Next week could be promising, just have to work around rail strikes....

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It’s been about six weeks since I had a trip out. However, I had a small window of opportunity of opportunity between being in Torbay in the morning and having to be in Weymouth for 1800. I could’ve opted for a Dorset based Jurassic Coaster trip but elected to head to Devon; I’ve done First Wessex a few times in recent years and whilst North Devon has also been visited, Torbay hasn’t had so much attention. So it was that I stashed the car in a suitably safe spot near Countess Wear roundabout in Exeter.



I had pretentions of sampling some other operators so opted for the county council Devon Bus ticket from my Stagecoach driver. The 57 was a flagship Gold route but whilst the Scania e400s remain the same, they now wear the charmless yellow livery that Stagecoach Devon now use for the Gold routes. I’d last travelled on the route in 2019 when the vehicles were 4 years old and despite them now being middle aged, the Scania seem in decent nick. I sat back and enjoyed the journey as we head through Topsham towards Exmouth. Oddly though, all the interior advertising has now been removed – the only notice being a rather shouty one about using the bell to stop the bus! This absence of marketing is clearly a trait with that part of Stagecoach now.

We arrived into Exmouth and I headed through the town centre to meet up with some friends who were on holiday locally and so met up for breakfast, coffee and conversation. After a good while, I bade them farewell, and did the next leg of the journey, catching the Starcross ferry. It was a fabulous day for a trip over the Exe estuary and I’d recommend it but make sure you have cash; they don’t take cards these days (apparently a dodgy signal to their card machine). On arriving at Starcross, and with the evidence of Brunel’s atmospheric railway clearly on view, it was back on the bus with the 2 that runs from Exeter to Newton Abbot. Another less opulent e400 came and I continued planning my trip.





Now, I was going to head to Newton Abbot and then into Dartmoor to Moretonhampsted and then back to Exeter. However, looking at the connections (eminently doable) and chastened by recent bus no shows, I bottled it. Ordinarily, I’d have risked it but I had to be in Weymouth later and I couldn’t afford to be delayed or stuck in a small Devon town for hours if anything went wrong. It was to be the right decision as the 178 did run but the 173 to Exeter was very late running. So instead, I got off at Dawlish for a short explore. Then onto the train for a quick trip along the coast courtesy of a GWR 800 passing through Newton Abbot and then Torquay before the train disgorged it’s good load of holidaymakers. I walked across the level crossing to Paignton bus station. How dispiriting though. The bus station had been a bit dowdy but was smartened up in the mid 2000s by Stagecoach. However, it really is a needing some TLC. The former travelshop is naturally closed with signage blaming “the current situation” – i.e. closed when Covid hit. The place looks like a time capsule with tourist leaflets (doubtless from 2020) on show. You wonder why an unstaffed info point can’t be fashioned. I understand Stagecoach do some printed materials in Devon and in Paignton, they really should follow First’s lead in providing that in tourist hotspots. The rest of the bus station looked a bit down at heel with clumsily amended notices etc.




I had time to drink this in having just missed the Gold service to Totnes; odd that it’s still named as such when the publicity is no longer used! I waited for the next one which was a late running affair so we were 20 mins late leaving on yet another Scania e400 to Gold spec. We passed Paignton Zoo and then into the rolling countryside before descending into Totnes. This is a beautiful town and I’d hoped to spend a little time here but late running etc meant that this wasn’t possible. Not a shame really as I’ve visited it several times before. Instead, I had the option of the quick 7 or the slow 88 to Newton Abbot. I was bored of the midlife e400s now and opted for a more elderly Solo (yes, really) for the 88 as that embarked on a sumptuous hour long trip around the area. We passed through Buckfast Abbey, chuckling how I imagine monks never imagined their tonic wine would be ritually abused by Scots teenagers. We went through Buckfastleigh and past the open air pool doing a fine trade, and the stunning stannary town of Ashburton. For part of the route, we raced a steam train on the South Devon Railway, which must have been a leisurely trip as our asthmatic Solo easily outpaced it! I noted that several bus stops en route still had covid era notices in timetable cases – really?? We ended up in Newton Abbot which, I confess, I dislike. I think it’s a rather grim little town but I had time to grab some late lunch. The bus stops on Sherborne Road are the defacto bus station though it’s not a great place to wait. Of course, the area was the former bus station until about 30 years ago, with a depot situated next door where I think some office block now sits.

I had chance to check my options with the fast 7 to Exeter… I remember when First operated it as the X64 with Darts but Stagecoach ruthlessly evicted them from the area. Instead, I caught the slower 39 which climbs out of NA and heads to Bovey Tracey on the edge of Dartmoor. It was an unremarkable e200 which was skilfully piloted as we left the town, passing the Country Bus depot at Heathfield; I had no idea they had such a sizeable fleet these days. Up through Bovey and I regretted not having more time to get out and have an explore; it reminded much of Hatherleigh to the north. I’d noticed that the 39 serves Matford park and ride, and so elected to get off and have a quick look at the Stagecoach depot there. I’ve never been there before and it’s a clever concept – car parks unused at night are employed to park buses out working during the day. It means that you can wander into the park and ride car park where the spare buses are domiciled. Be under no illusions, there is a clear fence demarcation between that and the depot proper.



It was a short stop and back onto another standard e200 though the only vehicle with major internal advertising – albeit of the ConnEXions branded service that used to serve Exeter Airport, rather than the city service it was working. We arrived into the city centre, and I made the short walk to the new bus station. I’d not visited Exeter for two years and was surprised to see the old bus station still standing, and all the signage still there. Gobsmacked that Stagecoach wouldn’t have removed all of that from what is now an eyesore! The new bus station is naturally too small but in terms of quality, it is better than the predecessor. I grabbed another “Gold” e400 to head back out of the city, though noting that the stops by the hospital still advertise the First X53… when did that last run? Incidentally, an old chap with a walking stick was walking to the stop and another pedestrian signalled to the driver; our driver waited and ensured the old boy got the bus ok, even helping him onto the bus. Great bit of customer service/honest humanity.



So thoughts… the weather was great as was the scenery. The buses generally ran to time except my Totnes one. However, Stagecoach Devon isn’t what it was – when Michelle Hargreaves was MD, it was a superb business and they destroyed First in both the South Hams and North Devon with superb quality and marketing. Bob Dennison was a decent MD but feels it went a bit off the boil under Mike Watson though he had a tough hand with Covid and the subsequent fall out from that. It’s not bad, but it’s certainly slipped even in the two years since I last visited the area.

Perhaps the marketing side needs to be put to one side; they have had massive staffing and reliability issues and until you get the product right, then marketing comes second. However, there are many things that they really do need to get a grip on – printed and available Torbay timetables, a re-energised Falcon, sorting out some of the oddities of timetabling like the 22. All is achievable. As for the Stagecoach livery, I still hate the yellow. The standard livery is not as objectionable but they can’t seem to apply the fleetname right… the number I saw “on the wonk”. Still, it was a lovely day and I still got to my car, and to Weymouth, in time. Hope this was of interest.

 

[RELL6L]

It’s been about six weeks since I had a trip out. However, I had a small window of opportunity of opportunity between being in Torbay in the morning and having to be in Weymouth for 1800. I could’ve opted for a Dorset based Jurassic Coaster trip but elected to head to Devon; I’ve done First Wessex a few times in recent years and whilst North Devon has also been visited, Torbay hasn’t had so much attention. So it was that I stashed the car in a suitably safe spot near Countess Wear roundabout in Exeter.

View attachment 136185

I had pretentions of sampling some other operators so opted for the county council Devon Bus ticket from my Stagecoach driver. The 57 was a flagship Gold route but whilst the Scania e400s remain the same, they now wear the charmless yellow livery that Stagecoach Devon now use for the Gold routes. I’d last travelled on the route in 2019 when the vehicles were 4 years old and despite them now being middle aged, the Scania seem in decent nick. I sat back and enjoyed the journey as we head through Topsham towards Exmouth. Oddly though, all the interior advertising has now been removed – the only notice being a rather shouty one about using the bell to stop the bus! This absence of marketing is clearly a trait with that part of Stagecoach now.

We arrived into Exmouth and I headed through the town centre to meet up with some friends who were on holiday locally and so met up for breakfast, coffee and conversation. After a good while, I bade them farewell, and did the next leg of the journey, catching the Starcross ferry. It was a fabulous day for a trip over the Exe estuary and I’d recommend it but make sure you have cash; they don’t take cards these days (apparently a dodgy signal to their card machine). On arriving at Starcross, and with the evidence of Brunel’s atmospheric railway clearly on view, it was back on the bus with the 2 that runs from Exeter to Newton Abbot. Another less opulent e400 came and I continued planning my trip.
View attachment 136187

View attachment 136184
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Now, I was going to head to Newton Abbot and then into Dartmoor to Moretonhampsted and then back to Exeter. However, looking at the connections (eminently doable) and chastened by recent bus no shows, I bottled it. Ordinarily, I’d have risked it but I had to be in Weymouth later and I couldn’t afford to be delayed or stuck in a small Devon town for hours if anything went wrong. It was to be the right decision as the 178 did run but the 173 to Exeter was very late running. So instead, I got off at Dawlish for a short explore. Then onto the train for a quick trip along the coast courtesy of a GWR 800 passing through Newton Abbot and then Torquay before the train disgorged it’s good load of holidaymakers. I walked across the level crossing to Paignton bus station. How dispiriting though. The bus station had been a bit dowdy but was smartened up in the mid 2000s by Stagecoach. However, it really is a needing some TLC. The former travelshop is naturally closed with signage blaming “the current situation” – i.e. closed when Covid hit. The place looks like a time capsule with tourist leaflets (doubtless from 2020) on show. You wonder why an unstaffed info point can’t be fashioned. I understand Stagecoach do some printed materials in Devon and in Paignton, they really should follow First’s lead in providing that in tourist hotspots. The rest of the bus station looked a bit down at heel with clumsily amended notices etc.
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I had time to drink this in having just missed the Gold service to Totnes; odd that it’s still named as such when the publicity is no longer used! I waited for the next one which was a late running affair so we were 20 mins late leaving on yet another Scania e400 to Gold spec. We passed Paignton Zoo and then into the rolling countryside before descending into Totnes. This is a beautiful town and I’d hoped to spend a little time here but late running etc meant that this wasn’t possible. Not a shame really as I’ve visited it several times before. Instead, I had the option of the quick 7 or the slow 88 to Newton Abbot. I was bored of the midlife e400s now and opted for a more elderly Solo (yes, really) for the 88 as that embarked on a sumptuous hour long trip around the area. We passed through Buckfast Abbey, chuckling how I imagine monks never imagined their tonic wine would be ritually abused by Scots teenagers. We went through Buckfastleigh and past the open air pool doing a fine trade, and the stunning stannary town of Ashburton. For part of the route, we raced a steam train on the South Devon Railway, which must have been a leisurely trip as our asthmatic Solo easily outpaced it! I noted that several bus stops en route still had covid era notices in timetable cases – really?? We ended up in Newton Abbot which, I confess, I dislike. I think it’s a rather grim little town but I had time to grab some late lunch. The bus stops on Sherborne Road are the defacto bus station though it’s not a great place to wait. Of course, the area was the former bus station until about 30 years ago, with a depot situated next door where I think some office block now sits.
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I had chance to check my options with the fast 7 to Exeter… I remember when First operated it as the X64 with Darts but Stagecoach ruthlessly evicted them from the area. Instead, I caught the slower 39 which climbs out of NA and heads to Bovey Tracey on the edge of Dartmoor. It was an unremarkable e200 which was skilfully piloted as we left the town, passing the Country Bus depot at Heathfield; I had no idea they had such a sizeable fleet these days. Up through Bovey and I regretted not having more time to get out and have an explore; it reminded much of Hatherleigh to the north. I’d noticed that the 39 serves Matford park and ride, and so elected to get off and have a quick look at the Stagecoach depot there. I’ve never been there before and it’s a clever concept – car parks unused at night are employed to park buses out working during the day. It means that you can wander into the park and ride car park where the spare buses are domiciled. Be under no illusions, there is a clear fence demarcation between that and the depot proper.

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It was a short stop and back onto another standard e200 though the only vehicle with major internal advertising – albeit of the ConnEXions branded service that used to serve Exeter Airport, rather than the city service it was working. We arrived into the city centre, and I made the short walk to the new bus station. I’d not visited Exeter for two years and was surprised to see the old bus station still standing, and all the signage still there. Gobsmacked that Stagecoach wouldn’t have removed all of that from what is now an eyesore! The new bus station is naturally too small but in terms of quality, it is better than the predecessor. I grabbed another “Gold” e400 to head back out of the city, though noting that the stops by the hospital still advertise the First X53… when did that last run? Incidentally, an old chap with a walking stick was walking to the stop and another pedestrian signalled to the driver; our driver waited and ensured the old boy got the bus ok, even helping him onto the bus. Great bit of customer service/honest humanity.

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So thoughts… the weather was great as was the scenery. The buses generally ran to time except my Totnes one. However, Stagecoach Devon isn’t what it was – when Michelle Hargreaves was MD, it was a superb business and they destroyed First in both the South Hams and North Devon with superb quality and marketing. Bob Dennison was a decent MD but feels it went a bit off the boil under Mike Watson though he had a tough hand with Covid and the subsequent fall out from that. It’s not bad, but it’s certainly slipped even in the two years since I last visited the area.

Perhaps the marketing side needs to be put to one side; they have had massive staffing and reliability issues and until you get the product right, then marketing comes second. However, there are many things that they really do need to get a grip on – printed and available Torbay timetables, a re-energised Falcon, sorting out some of the oddities of timetabling like the 22. All is achievable. As for the Stagecoach livery, I still hate the yellow. The standard livery is not as objectionable but they can’t seem to apply the fleetname right… the number I saw “on the wonk”. Still, it was a lovely day and I still got to my car, and to Weymouth, in time. Hope this was of interest.

Great trip, report and photos from Devon.

Countess Wear is a great place to start, close to the motorway and easy parking for several out of town and urban routes. I've used it twice.
Never done the Starcross ferry - that looks good. Might try and find a way to fit it in, also the Teignmouth to Shaldon ferry looks rather fun.
Apart from (oddly) Paignton to Totnes I have done all of these routes and stopped at the places you went to (except Matford P&R). Love Dawlish, Paignton is very depressing, love Totnes. I don't really have a strong view on Newton Abbot but I always like going to Exeter. Amazed they haven't demolished the old bus station yet. I would like to stop off at Ashburton, looks worth an explore.

I guess you made the right decision on Moretonhampstead given how late the 173 was running on Saturday. Clearly with holiday traffic on the narrow roads plus Exeter congestion it it too tightly timed. I think you would be safe on the connection though as I am sure the 173 and178 deliberately connect there so that Chagford passengers can travel to shop in Newton Abbot. Indeed in the morning the 173 was late arriving at Moretonhampstead (about 10 mins) and the 178 also departed 10 minutes late. You did miss out on two scenic routes though! If you can get a bit of time at Chagford (eg Okehampton > Chagford > Exeter) it is a lovely village.

 

[padbus]

T

It’s been about six weeks since I had a trip out. However, I had a small window of opportunity of opportunity between being in Torbay in the morning and having to be in Weymouth for 1800. I could’ve opted for a Dorset based Jurassic Coaster trip but elected to head to Devon; I’ve done First Wessex a few times in recent years and whilst North Devon has also been visited, Torbay hasn’t had so much attention. So it was that I stashed the car in a suitably safe spot near Countess Wear roundabout in Exeter.

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I had pretentions of sampling some other operators so opted for the county council Devon Bus ticket from my Stagecoach driver. The 57 was a flagship Gold route but whilst the Scania e400s remain the same, they now wear the charmless yellow livery that Stagecoach Devon now use for the Gold routes. I’d last travelled on the route in 2019 when the vehicles were 4 years old and despite them now being middle aged, the Scania seem in decent nick. I sat back and enjoyed the journey as we head through Topsham towards Exmouth. Oddly though, all the interior advertising has now been removed – the only notice being a rather shouty one about using the bell to stop the bus! This absence of marketing is clearly a trait with that part of Stagecoach now.

We arrived into Exmouth and I headed through the town centre to meet up with some friends who were on holiday locally and so met up for breakfast, coffee and conversation. After a good while, I bade them farewell, and did the next leg of the journey, catching the Starcross ferry. It was a fabulous day for a trip over the Exe estuary and I’d recommend it but make sure you have cash; they don’t take cards these days (apparently a dodgy signal to their card machine). On arriving at Starcross, and with the evidence of Brunel’s atmospheric railway clearly on view, it was back on the bus with the 2 that runs from Exeter to Newton Abbot. Another less opulent e400 came and I continued planning my trip.
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Now, I was going to head to Newton Abbot and then into Dartmoor to Moretonhampsted and then back to Exeter. However, looking at the connections (eminently doable) and chastened by recent bus no shows, I bottled it. Ordinarily, I’d have risked it but I had to be in Weymouth later and I couldn’t afford to be delayed or stuck in a small Devon town for hours if anything went wrong. It was to be the right decision as the 178 did run but the 173 to Exeter was very late running. So instead, I got off at Dawlish for a short explore. Then onto the train for a quick trip along the coast courtesy of a GWR 800 passing through Newton Abbot and then Torquay before the train disgorged it’s good load of holidaymakers. I walked across the level crossing to Paignton bus station. How dispiriting though. The bus station had been a bit dowdy but was smartened up in the mid 2000s by Stagecoach. However, it really is a needing some TLC. The former travelshop is naturally closed with signage blaming “the current situation” – i.e. closed when Covid hit. The place looks like a time capsule with tourist leaflets (doubtless from 2020) on show. You wonder why an unstaffed info point can’t be fashioned. I understand Stagecoach do some printed materials in Devon and in Paignton, they really should follow First’s lead in providing that in tourist hotspots. The rest of the bus station looked a bit down at heel with clumsily amended notices etc.
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I had time to drink this in having just missed the Gold service to Totnes; odd that it’s still named as such when the publicity is no longer used! I waited for the next one which was a late running affair so we were 20 mins late leaving on yet another Scania e400 to Gold spec. We passed Paignton Zoo and then into the rolling countryside before descending into Totnes. This is a beautiful town and I’d hoped to spend a little time here but late running etc meant that this wasn’t possible. Not a shame really as I’ve visited it several times before. Instead, I had the option of the quick 7 or the slow 88 to Newton Abbot. I was bored of the midlife e400s now and opted for a more elderly Solo (yes, really) for the 88 as that embarked on a sumptuous hour long trip around the area. We passed through Buckfast Abbey, chuckling how I imagine monks never imagined their tonic wine would be ritually abused by Scots teenagers. We went through Buckfastleigh and past the open air pool doing a fine trade, and the stunning stannary town of Ashburton. For part of the route, we raced a steam train on the South Devon Railway, which must have been a leisurely trip as our asthmatic Solo easily outpaced it! I noted that several bus stops en route still had covid era notices in timetable cases – really?? We ended up in Newton Abbot which, I confess, I dislike. I think it’s a rather grim little town but I had time to grab some late lunch. The bus stops on Sherborne Road are the defacto bus station though it’s not a great place to wait. Of course, the area was the former bus station until about 30 years ago, with a depot situated next door where I think some office block now sits.
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I had chance to check my options with the fast 7 to Exeter… I remember when First operated it as the X64 with Darts but Stagecoach ruthlessly evicted them from the area. Instead, I caught the slower 39 which climbs out of NA and heads to Bovey Tracey on the edge of Dartmoor. It was an unremarkable e200 which was skilfully piloted as we left the town, passing the Country Bus depot at Heathfield; I had no idea they had such a sizeable fleet these days. Up through Bovey and I regretted not having more time to get out and have an explore; it reminded much of Hatherleigh to the north. I’d noticed that the 39 serves Matford park and ride, and so elected to get off and have a quick look at the Stagecoach depot there. I’ve never been there before and it’s a clever concept – car parks unused at night are employed to park buses out working during the day. It means that you can wander into the park and ride car park where the spare buses are domiciled. Be under no illusions, there is a clear fence demarcation between that and the depot proper.

View attachment 136192

It was a short stop and back onto another standard e200 though the only vehicle with major internal advertising – albeit of the ConnEXions branded service that used to serve Exeter Airport, rather than the city service it was working. We arrived into the city centre, and I made the short walk to the new bus station. I’d not visited Exeter for two years and was surprised to see the old bus station still standing, and all the signage still there. Gobsmacked that Stagecoach wouldn’t have removed all of that from what is now an eyesore! The new bus station is naturally too small but in terms of quality, it is better than the predecessor. I grabbed another “Gold” e400 to head back out of the city, though noting that the stops by the hospital still advertise the First X53… when did that last run? Incidentally, an old chap with a walking stick was walking to the stop and another pedestrian signalled to the driver; our driver waited and ensured the old boy got the bus ok, even helping him onto the bus. Great bit of customer service/honest humanity.

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So thoughts… the weather was great as was the scenery. The buses generally ran to time except my Totnes one. However, Stagecoach Devon isn’t what it was – when Michelle Hargreaves was MD, it was a superb business and they destroyed First in both the South Hams and North Devon with superb quality and marketing. Bob Dennison was a decent MD but feels it went a bit off the boil under Mike Watson though he had a tough hand with Covid and the subsequent fall out from that. It’s not bad, but it’s certainly slipped even in the two years since I last visited the area.

Perhaps the marketing side needs to be put to one side; they have had massive staffing and reliability issues and until you get the product right, then marketing comes second. However, there are many things that they really do need to get a grip on – printed and available Torbay timetables, a re-energised Falcon, sorting out some of the oddities of timetabling like the 22. All is achievable. As for the Stagecoach livery, I still hate the yellow. The standard livery is not as objectionable but they can’t seem to apply the fleetname right… the number I saw “on the wonk”. Still, it was a lovely day and I still got to my car, and to Weymouth, in time. Hope this was of interest.

Thank you, Grand Wazoo, for a report which I found most interesting as I live not far from Countess Wear.

You and I have the same views about the yellow “distance” livery which Stagecoach have applied to three very different parts of the fleet. There may be some logic to using it on the Falcon which is clearly a “distance” route with its own terms and conditions, but the Paignton-Plymouth “Gold” route, whilst lengthy, is part of the ordinary bus network and Exeter-Exmouth is mostly urban in nature, especially if you include the section out to Brixington in the further suburbs of Exmouth.

Using the Exmouth-Starcross Ferry gave you a useful shortcut on your way to Torbay. When crossing, did you notice what appears to be a large timber shed moored in estuary? This contains the River Exe Café which is a restaurant only accessible via pre-booked water taxi from Exmouth, should you fancy a floating meal (possibly without clothes if you choose the right evening).

I agree with your views about Stagecoach being rather lacklustre these days. Naming, rather than numbering, routes is all very well but when (like the Gold service to Plymouth and the Exeter Park & Ride) the reason for the name has gone, it is time to think about changing it. The Falcon is, of course, now part of Megabus. This never made a lot of sense but, presumably, Stagecoach South West now have no particular interest in promoting it.

I note your comment about the X53 being still listed on a bus stop in Exeter but that was a First service so who is responsible? More to the point, none of the bus stop flags in Exeter have been updated since the big cutbacks last year so most are wrong. It would be better to have nothing rather than something which is wrong. To give some credit to Stagecoach the printed departure times on bus stops are generally correct, albeit not that easy to follow.

It is a shame that the Exeter area timetable produced by Devon County Council in conjunction with Stagecoach from 1/1/23 was rendered obsolete by further service changes at the beginning of May. Following the Traffic Commissioner’s ruling relating to the overturned decker on the Gold service, Stagecoach did man the information point in Exeter bus station and the man was usually busy with enquiries whenever I saw him. I suspect enquiry offices and printed information are something which the top brass know the cost of but do not understand the value of.

The small size of the new Exeter bus station is less evident following the service cuts. The old Exeter bus station is the property of Exeter City Council which has plans to demolish it at a cost of £900,000. The council still harbours ambitions to demolish all the shops that form such a depressing backdrop to the old bus station and replace them which new shops, two hotels and a new civic centre (council offices). However, property developers are not exactly queuing up to join in.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Thanks @RELL6L for making me even more disappointed that I bottled it I've not done Dartmoor really, even in the car. I guess another onto the long list, perhaps with a bit of Dartmoor Explorer. Countess Wear or Matford seemed like decent spots to kick off but with a breakfast date in Exmouth, hiding the car at Countess seemed a good location. I do enjoy Devon but it's such a huge county, I end up going to one bit and then not visiting another chunk for eons.

Glad it was of interest to @padbus and thanks for the update on the Exeter bus station redevelopment. The Falcon is a route that was a real success story (on a high risk strategy) and it's a shame to see it looks a shadow of itself.

After a trip to the South West.... where to go next!

 

[RELL6L]

We’ve had some good weather recently so I thought I would go out and about for a couple of days this week. Initially I thought I could go anywhere and get sunshine but it gradually became apparent that I would have to go where the weather was, but also needed to take account of rail strikes and it being half term.

So on Tuesday evening I stayed at a Travelodge on the A55 in North Wales, having not been able to find anywhere suitable at a sensible price any further west. After a brief panic about overnight closures from notices I saw on the A55, when I got up on Wednesday morning these had been lifted, but the cloud had come down. However I trusted the forecasters and headed west, and as soon as I emerged from the Conwy tunnel the skies cleared to blue. I continued to Bangor, my starting point, where I was able to park on the street not far from the bus station and get a morning coffee and bacon roll. A few buses around including the new Volvo B8R / MCV Evora vehicles on the 5 services to Caernarfon and Llandudno and an early departure on the Snowdon Sherpa S2 to Llanberis...

The plan for the day was to cover as much of Anglesey as I could. I had not been there on a bus since the 1980s although we did have a couple of more recent family holidays there so I knew my way around. The first leg was on a plain white Solo (there are many of these on Anglesey) operated by O R Jones on the 42, taking the long way round to Llangefni. I parted with £4 for my 1Bws ticket at the discounted rate for English concessionary pass holders. Good views from here over the Menai Strait towards the mainland and Snowdonia. For a while the Menai Bridge (the suspension bridge) has been closed to HGVs and buses for structural reasons and so they have to use the Britannia Bridge (Brunel’s tubular one). As a result all services to the town of Menai Bridge (which is everything going onto Anglesey) has to go a long way round. Arriva have amended their schedules for this, adding up to 10 minutes, but the 42 was unamended, so we were about 7 minutes late at Menai Bridge, but the driver made all this up quite quickly afterwards. A few passengers from the start, others getting on and off and quite a few on board when we got to Llangefni, I suspect far fewer than on school and college days though. The route includes a double-run to Aberffraw, which is a lovely small town with a beach close to the coast.

I didn’t have long at Llangefni and my next journey was on Eifion’s Coaches 32 to Amlwch. This was a vey new 23-reg front engined vehicle. It had about 30 seats, working USB chargers and was smart, fast and comfortable, I’ve tried to find out what it was on the internet, possibly it is an Ilesbus – certainly no Mercedes identifiers. The 32 goes up through some of the hinterland of the island with decent views in both directions at places and we arrived on time. Amlwch has little to commend it and saying this is being kind. However it is only about half a mile to walk to Amlwch port, once important particularly for the export of copper from a mine nearby. This is a really attractive little place, mainly used for leisure now, well worth a visit. I could have spent just 20 minutes at Amlwch but chose to spend 65 instead to visit the port. The next bus was the Arriva 62 back towards Bangor. Since the Menai Bridge works this route has changed from a 30 minute frequency (4 buses) to a 45 minute frequency (3 buses), I somehow doubt if it will ever change back. Despite the odd frequency the passengers seemed to have got used to the times at which it runs and this was quite busy. In fact I took two journeys, both newish Pulsars displaced from the 5s by the new Volvo B8Rs, the first as far as Molefre and the second on to Menai Bridge. Moelfre is an attractive seaside village although the few visitors on Wednesday did not look prepared for the strong easterly wind which was blowing, I used some of my 45 minutes here to walk round to the lighthouse station on the headland. After Molefre the 62 passes through Benllech, a seaside resort, and mine went close to Red Wharf Bay, alternate journeys do this but it is only apparent from the BusTimes all-stops timetable.

I alighted from the second 62 at Menai Bridge town and walked down to the attractive piece of waterfront where there is a pier and which curves round to pass underneath Menai suspension bridge. This is worth walking round, the rest of the town is not. From there it was sticking with Arriva to get a Solo on the 58. After heading east for a mile or so along the Menai Strait the bus turns inland and uphill through Llandegfan, from where it continues through extremely narrow lanes to Beaumaris. I can certainly see why this route is only run by Solos. Of course we met the other Solo on the 58 in one of these narrow lanes! Both vehicles were running a bit late because, although allowance has been made for the bridge issues, there were still delays. The route now runs every hour and a bit – between 65 and 75 minutes – with various variations to serve rural villages. At Beaumaris I stayed on my bus to enjoy the circuit of some eastern roads, even narrower in places. My journey went via Penmon – although not, as I had hoped, onto the toll road to the north east corner of the island - then round even narrower roads to Glan Yr Afon – although this is not shown on the timetable (even the all stops version on BusTimes) – and on to Llangoed, and then straight back to Beaumaris. On a sunny half term day this was a busy route between Bangor and Beaumaris with plenty on my journey and even more waiting at Beaumaris. We had carried about 8 on the eastern loop, although most just wanted to go to Llangoed.

Beaumaris is probably the jewel of Anglesey, I’m sure it scores as the ‘nicest’ place to live and is very popular with holiday makers. I did think a small ‘big wheel’ rather lowered the tone of the place but there were plenty of people on the beach and on the pier – crabbing here being a particular favourite – not to mention the fairy-tale perfectly formed small castle. The car park was packed and the traffic chaotic, the conditions for visitors being far better than in the wind at Moelfre. I still had 40 minutes enjoying the town before returning to Llangefni on another white Solo, this time on Gwynfor’s 50. This turned up with nothing on the destination and no ticket machine so no fares were collected. There were a handful of passengers boarding even though the service is more obviously for shopping in Llangefni. For some reason the bus goes a longer way back to Llangefni than it does coming, taking the road to Benllech and then inland to Brynteg. Oddly we had two passengers join in Benllech to go to Brynteg even though there is no way they could have got there (or get back) by bus.

I had even less time at Llangefni this time before returning to Arriva to get an X4 to Holyhead, another Pulsar. At Gwalchmai we were delayed for 10 minutes by repairs to some overhead wires dangling down dangerously but by the time we got to Holyhead we had made all this up. The route took us past RAF Valley and quite a bit of new development, plus various retail outlets on the edge of Holyhead. I had hoped to have longer at Holyhead but I had to make do with 20 minutes, going up onto the fine pedestrian bridge which connects the town centre with the area east of the entrance to the ferry terminal. With a rail strike there were several Avanti trains parked up which would presumably not normally have been there. From Holyhead it was along the north west of the island back to Amlwch on the Lewis y Llan 61, a smart blue E200 with a personalised registration. Another pretty scenic stretch with a number of views of the coast but not getting that close until Cemaes Bay, somewhere I would love to have stopped off at with more time. I didn’t let Amlwch detain me for more than 7 minutes before getting Eifion’s smart minibus back on the 32 to Llangefni (for the third time). A couple of other passengers making the through trip and two more alighting on route, not bad for an ‘against the flow’ journey. There isn’t much to do in Llangefni either to be honest, in theory I had 18 minutes but I knew it would be more as my X4 back to Bangor had been delayed earlier - it had been 20 minutes late on its previous journey and about 10 minutes late coming out of Holyhead - but made up time and was barely late back at Bangor. The X4 is not the most scenic of routes and even going through Llanfair PG was not that exciting, but again good views over the Menai Strait. This was an older (58 plate) Pulsar, I don’t think they have different engines from the newer ones but this one sounded lovely and went pretty briskly. At speed down the A5 close your eyes and it could almost have been an 0680 throbbing away at the back…

Overall a great day and I explored most of Anglesey, one of the trips on my ‘A list’ for 2023, in pretty much wall-to-wall sunshine. The more obscure rural routes had fewer passengers but there were a decent number on the 42 and 61, while all the Arriva routes – the 4s, 58 and 62 - seemed well patronised. Having got used to the security of everything tracking I didn’t like it that nothing tracked on BusTimes except Arriva, but then it wasn’t a problem as they all ran on time and Arriva were pretty punctual too. No £2 maximum fare here, notable that fare collection took longer than in England. The only part of Anglesey missing from my trip was Aberffraw to Holyhead. I had planned to include this (at the cost of not doing Holyhead to Amlwch), but the Gwynfor services 25 and 45 vanished from BusTimes and all other sources a few months ago, so I assumed they had been withdrawn. Then on Wednesday I saw a 25 and noted that times for the 25 appeared on stops in Holyhead and for the 45 in Llangefni. Now today they are on BusTimes, not sure when they reappeared or why they were missing! Still, good to leave something to do if I ever return.

From Bangor it was back to my hotel to decide what to do the next day – early next week I will report on this too. In the meantime some pictures from the day.



Early morning in Bangor


Amlwch Port


Moelfre


Menai Bridge


View over to the mainland from near Beaumaris


Beaumaris


Holyhead


Llangefni


Menai Bridge and the Menai Strait

Sorry, three more pictures to add - expecting this will be combined with my previous post. One with real bus interest.


Aberffraw


A decorated wall at Amlwch. Presumably this is the old Crosville depot here. Looks like an RE peering out of the depot.


Beaumaris Pier

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Thanks for the Anglesey write up and photos @RELL6L. Beautiful places and gorgeous photos as ever. I've been to North Wales many, many times (one of my best friends lived there for years) but we seldom travelled over onto Anglesey. There are some stunning places like Red Wharf Bay and Trearddur Bay. Amwlch Port is interesting, and so is Parys Mountain, though perhaps not to the same extent as other local spots (as mentioned) and in Snowdonia.

Menai Bridge (granted, not much to look at) and Beaumaris are the nicest of the towns to visit, and their affluence is apparent... MB does have a Waitrose, after all. The other towns are, in my opinion, pretty grim. Holyhead is a typical port town and not that nice. Amlwch is like El Paso... You expect a gunfight on the street which is probably why they had a Wild West shop for cowboy enthusiasts at one time. Llangefni is just a bit meh. Amlwch did have a Crosville depot (where the Coop now is). Llangefni had one in that same Crosville style which is still standing, and Holyhead's depot was rebuilt in the late 70s/early 80s and is still used by a local firm.

As for the buses... you're right that the dealer white Solo is a staple of North Wales. The Pulsars are a decent machine and well suited to the 4/X4 - I remember doing that when Crosville Wales converted it to Merc 811 operation

My mate has moved so I don't get the chance to visit the area much these days so thanks for the recollections. Really appreciated the photos and words

ps slight correction. The Britannia Bridge was built by Stephenson not Brunel.

 

[RELL6L]

Thanks for the Anglesey write up and photos @RELL6L. Beautiful places and gorgeous photos as ever. I've been to North Wales many, many times (one of my best friends lived there for years) but we seldom travelled over onto Anglesey. There are some stunning places like Red Wharf Bay and Trearddur Bay. Amwlch Port is interesting, and so is Parys Mountain, though perhaps not to the same extent as other local spots (as mentioned) and in Snowdonia.

Menai Bridge (granted, not much to look at) and Beaumaris are the nicest of the towns to visit, and their affluence is apparent... MB does have a Waitrose, after all. The other towns are, in my opinion, pretty grim. Holyhead is a typical port town and not that nice. Amlwch is like El Paso... You expect a gunfight on the street which is probably why they had a Wild West shop for cowboy enthusiasts at one time. Llangefni is just a bit meh. Amlwch did have a Crosville depot (where the Coop now is). Llangefni had one in that same Crosville style which is still standing, and Holyhead's depot was rebuilt in the late 70s/early 80s and is still used by a local firm.

As for the buses... you're right that the dealer white Solo is a staple of North Wales. The Pulsars are a decent machine and well suited to the 4/X4 - I remember doing that when Crosville Wales converted it to Merc 811 operation

My mate has moved so I don't get the chance to visit the area much these days so thanks for the recollections. Really appreciated the photos and words

ps slight correction. The Britannia Bridge was built by Stephenson not Brunel.

Thanks for your comments. Whoops, embarrassing on the Britannia Bridge, appreciate the correction!

Entirely agree with your assessment. When we stayed in Anglesey as a family we stayed near Beaumaris and shopped at Waitrose in Menai Bridge - so middle class! I dragged them for a walk round Parys Mountain but they didn’t much like that and we avoided the town of Amlwch, so depressing! The mural is just down from the Co-op so very near to where the depot was. The bus doesn’t go close enough to Red Wharf Bay to see anything and I didn’t get to Trearddur Bay- got to leave something for another visit!

Second report to follow…