By bus from Yorkshire to Lands End with ENCATS passes.

[D6130]

To celebrate the arrival of the wife's Senior ENCATS pass next year, friends of ours are planning to travel all the way from their home town of Halifax to Land's End by bus, with overnight stops - and possibly daytime transfers - at interesting and/or historical places en route. Could any of you knowledgeable people please suggest a suitable itinerary without going too much off the beaten track? Many thanks in advance!

 

[Parebunks]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eqWOsCWPDWsJp4VEyyYu6rp6IQ8IwFPc/view?usp=sharing This map I made may be of use, pretty much up to date to the end of April now! Some changes coming up in Cornwall that could make the last leg somewhat more difficult - namely the withdrawal of most through trips on the 11.

 

[Steve440]

To celebrate the arrival of the wife's Senior ENCATS pass next year, friends of ours are planning to travel all the way from their home town of Halifax to Land's End by bus, with overnight stops - and possibly daytime transfers - at interesting and/or historical places en route. Could any of you knowledgeable people please suggest a suitable itinerary without going too much off the beaten track? Many thanks in advance!

Well to start with I would use the 587 Halifax-Rochdale, 409 Rochdale-Ashton, 330 Ashton-Stockport, 199 Stockport-Buxton, then TransPeak Buxton-Derby. After that I'm a bit out of my depth!

 

[gc4946]

Looking at the map the biggest issue is the low density/frequency of routes in parts of Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, also Somerset.
After Derby, based on my partial experience, I'd use the Skylink Derby-Leicester, X7 Leicester-Northampton, X6 Northampton-Milton Keynes, X5 Milton Keynes-Oxford, S6 Oxford-Swindon, 55 Swindon-Chippenham, 231/X31 Chippenham-Bath. Beyond Bath I'm not sure.
However, although it's slightly the long way round, the suggested combination of routes together are more frequent, at least hourly, and often more than that.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Looking at the map the biggest issue is the low density/frequency of routes in parts of Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, also Somerset.
After Derby, based on my partial experience, I'd use the Skylink Derby-Leicester, X7 Leicester-Northampton, X6 Northampton-Milton Keynes, X5 Milton Keynes-Oxford, S6 Oxford-Swindon, 55 Swindon-Chippenham, 231/X31 Chippenham-Bath. Beyond Bath I'm not sure.
However, although it's slightly the long way round, the suggested combination of routes together are more frequent, at least hourly, and often more than that.

173/4 Bath to Wells, then 374 Wells to Taunton.

From Taunton, it's a bit tricky with a bit of a dead zone across the Devon border. 30 Taunton to Axminster then 44A to Exeter (though you can go X22 Taunton to Tiverton then 55 to Exeter - its quicker but only a few X22s per day).

From Exeter, you can 38 to Ivybridge then GOLD to Plymouth or 7 to Totnes and GOLD to Plymouth.

 

[gc4946]

Well to start with I would use the 587 Halifax-Rochdale, 409 Rochdale-Ashton, 330 Ashton-Stockport, 199 Stockport-Buxton, then TransPeak Buxton-Derby. After that I'm a bit out of my depth!

Another option - 501/X1 Halifax-Huddersfield, 231/232 Huddersfield-Wakefield, 59 or 96 Wakefield-Barnsley, X17 Barnsley-Chesterfield, Comet service Chesterfield-Derby

 

[RELL6L]

I would think a more westerly route might be more interesting. From Buxton go to Leek if the timings can work on this infrequent service, then to Hanley. Alternatively via Ashbourne and Uttoxeter or via Macclesfield, Congleton and Biddulph.

From Hanley to Shrewsbury then Ludlow, Hereford, Gloucester, Stroud to Bath.

Then via Wells to Taunton as suggested and to Exeter via Tiverton or Honiton or Axminster.

My suggestion then would be Okehampton, Bude, Wadebridge, Truro, Penzance, that might be more interesting, more scenic and easier than further south. If you do go via Plymouth you could always then try via Looe, Polperro, Polruan, ferry to Fowey, St Austell, Truro - definitely more fun.

Loads of options!

 

[peterblue]

To celebrate the arrival of the wife's Senior ENCATS pass next year, friends of ours are planning to travel all the way from their home town of Halifax to Land's End by bus, with overnight stops - and possibly daytime transfers - at interesting and/or historical places en route. Could any of you knowledgeable people please suggest a suitable itinerary without going too much off the beaten track? Many thanks in advance!

It depends how direct you want to be. You have hundreds of options, really, depending on which places you want to stop off at and whether you're after a scenic journey, a quirky journey, or a relatively fast journey.

The absolute quickest way from Halifax to Sheffield (and beyond paralleling the MML) is to take the X1 to Huddersfield, 310/314 to Holmfirth, then 77 or 29 to Meadowhall/Sheffield or Chapeltown/Sheffield (both of these routes are infrequent, and the former is Mondays only)

...Or you could have a bit more fun in the peak district and take a route carving through there.

Gc's suggestion above of avoiding the west midlands and instead going via Northampton / MK / Oxford then heading west will be the fastest and easiest in terms of travel time and fewest buses required, even though it looks farther on a map. I would recommend saving time and just travelling direct through this region.

In the Swindon area (and west), this is perhaps another area I might consider taking an alternative, slower, but more interesting route. You could go via Salisbury/Blandford/Dorchester/Axminster to get to Exeter following the countryside and parts of the Jurassic coast. Another option may be to follow the north Devon coast taking the 28 Taunton to Minehead, then the Exmoor coaster (if it's running this year?) to Ilfracombe and beyond via Barnstaple, Bideford, Bude, Newquay, Truro, Penzance.

 

[D6130]

Thanks all! Some great suggestions there, which I shall pass onto my friends.

 

[Djb1]

Depending on what day of the week they start - could use the Wednesday only 87 (holmfirth to Castleton). This could then either connect via the 173 (Castleton to Bakewell) to the TP (to derby). Another option if they wanted to use the slower we’d midlands route would be to then use the 62 (Castleton to Buxton) to route via leek / stoke.

 

[gc4946]

On Saturdays only, another option is to ride the 351 Holmfirth-Holme-Glossop (three each way) which passes the Woodhead reservoirs and change to the 61 from Glossop to Buxton.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Another option may be to follow the north Devon coast taking the 28 Taunton to Minehead, then the Exmoor coaster (if it's running this year?) to Ilfracombe and beyond via Barnstaple, Bideford, Bude, Newquay, Truro, Penzance.

I did think about the Exmoor Coaster but depends when it starts and the route this year. However, you also did mention the other bit of interesting route so...

You could do Taunton to Tiverton on the X22, then the 346 to South Molton and the 155 to Barnstaple. Then you can do the 319 to Hartland that connects with the 219 to Bude. I've travelled on all of those and they are lovely routes.

 

[mjc]

I don’t know about the rest of the journey but on my ‘patch’ I’d definitely recommend coming through Stoke if you want interesting and/or historical places en route. Birthplace of the UK ceramics industry with multiple revolutionary technologies invested here lots to hold your interest; also a key part of the canal network and a beautiful city to boot.
From Sheffield you can get via Bakewell and/or Buxton, then Leek or Macclesfield/Congleton depending on how meandering you want to be. The Peak District is fantastic and I enjoyed my three years of commuting weekly to Sheffield along that route by bus. Alternatively you can come via Derby, Ashbourne and Uttoxeter, still an attractive route. Onward connections via Stafford or Shrewsbury.

 

[Tetchytyke]

If you've not seen it, @Parebunks UK bus map may help you with inspiration, the most recent version is here:

Great Britain interurban bus map

Wow - looks amazing, great work Few routes / corrections I know of that you could add: 129 operated by Diamond Bus East Midland that connects Ashby-de-le-Zouch with Loughborough From this 9, 19, 401 and X12 (and 129 from above) are operated by Diamond East Midlands (Rotalta Subsidy) yet...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[D6130]

Thanks again folks. Some great info there!

 

[Parebunks]

If you've not seen it, @Parebunks UK bus map may help you with inspiration, the most recent version is here:

Great Britain interurban bus map

Wow - looks amazing, great work Few routes / corrections I know of that you could add: 129 operated by Diamond Bus East Midland that connects Ashby-de-le-Zouch with Loughborough From this 9, 19, 401 and X12 (and 129 from above) are operated by Diamond East Midlands (Rotalta Subsidy) yet...

www.railforums.co.uk

Already put that up the thread - the most recent version is the google drive link rather than any sent directly to that thread!

 

[RELL6L]

It depends so much what sort of territory you want to travel through. The Peak District is fabulous but may be quite like home. From Stockport you can go to Macclesfield, Congleton, Newcastle under Lyme then Shrewsbury and as I suggested above.

It also depends on how long you are prepared to sit on each bus and whether you like breaking journeys at interesting places. For example you can split Stockport to Macclesfield at Bollington, Newcastle to Shrewsbury at Market Drayton, Hereford to Gloucester at Ross on Wye.

If it’s running I agree the Exmoor Coaster provides attractive options. You can do Taunton - Minehead - Lynmouth - Barnstaple - Bideford - Hartland - Bude - Wadebridge - Padstow - Newquay - St Agnes - Redruth - St Ives - Lands End as an option- so many!

 

[JKP]

Already put that up the thread - the most recent version is the google drive link rather than any sent directly to that thread!

The 127a and 128 to Newcastleton, Scottish Borders, should have dotted lines for infrequent services. The 128 should be separate from the X95 as uses a different route south of Hawick. The 127a extends to Carlisle.

 

[gc4946]

Gc's suggestion above of avoiding the west midlands and instead going via Northampton / MK / Oxford then heading west will be the fastest and easiest in terms of travel time and fewest buses required, even though it looks farther on a map. I would recommend saving time and just travelling direct through this region.

In the Swindon area (and west), this is perhaps another area I might consider taking an alternative, slower, but more interesting route. You could go via Salisbury/Blandford/Dorchester/Axminster to get to Exeter following the countryside and parts of the Jurassic coast. Another option may be to follow the north Devon coast taking the 28 Taunton to Minehead, then the Exmoor coaster (if it's running this year?) to Ilfracombe and beyond via Barnstaple, Bideford, Bude, Newquay, Truro, Penzance.

Two years ago I travelled from Leeds to Portsmouth, where I grew up in childhood and youth, using only ordinary local bus services, which took 3 days and travelled on 14 buses in the process. Travelling through the Midlands I left Leicester railway station at 08.11 on the X7 to Northampton and arrived in Salisbury on the X5 from Swindon about 18.10.
This was despite the X6 bus to Milton Keynes breaking down before departure in Northampton and another bus substituted from Stagecoach's Northampton depot causing a 20 minute delay. Consequently I missed the X5 connection at Milton Keynes railway station resulting in a 45 minute wait for the next bus to Oxford. Moreover the S6 bus between Oxford and Swindon got delayed with cancellations due to roadworks at Watchfield near Swindon resulting in a 40 minute delay, but I was able to connect onto the 16.20 X5 to Salisbury at Swindon bus station.
From Salisbury it's possible to travel via Damory bus 20 to Blandford changing there for Damory CR8 to Dorchester for connections to X51 buses along the Jurassic Coast, but there are few buses between those places so needs careful planning, especially with ENCTS concessions.