Britain's Most Scenic Bus routes

[TheGrandWazoo]

Some routes that I really enjoy are Stagecoach South Wales on the 51 between Rhymney and Bargoed as you climb up the mountain just after Pontlottyn, I always think that area is quite scenic.
Also Stagecoach South Wales 172 on the section between Aberdare and Maerdy but also some stunning views around Penrhys.

Agree with both of these (and sure @RELL6L will too)

The 172 has two stunning climbs/descents as you mention. Best to do it from south to north with the Penrhys climb and drop into the Rhondda Fach (which is fun enough) and then the climb out of Maerdy and across the moors (with views across to the Beacons/Black Mountains) before the hairpins as you fall in Aberdare.

The 51 around Fochriw as you head north is also quite wild and windswept. Similarly, the 31 from Brynmawr to Blaenavon is similarly wonderfully bleak (in a good way) though you will probably have a knackered Phil Anslow e200 to cope with.

 

[RELL6L]

@RELL6L The Clitheroe - Settle bus goes on to horton in Ribblesdale. But there are some extended breaks in Settle.

Indeed I did the whole route, and back to Settle, last September. Report somewhere in the trips thread. The best section is through Bowland and around Slaidburn.

I agree with most of your other suggestions too.

Agree with both of these (and sure @RELL6L will too)

Absolutely!

 

[Skiddaw]

Agree with all the Cumbrian suggestions. I'd also include the 78 (Keswick- Seatoller through Borrowdale) and the 93/93A (Carlisle- Anthorn). The Solway coast is beautiful and far less known (with the added advantage of providing 'birding from the bus' opportunities )

 

[YorkRailFan]

If you want to feel like you're in the Lake District whilst in Yorkshire, I'd recommend the Nidderdale Rambler 821 (Summer Sundays & Bank Holidays only) ran by The Keighley Bus Company (Transdev), the section between Pateley Bridge and Scar House is stunning, running along Gouthwaite Reservoir reminded me of the Lake District.

Moorsbus M4 (Summer Sundays & Bank Holidays only) ran by York & Country (Transdev) and Northstar offers a great north-south connections across the Moors and some stunning views as it runs through the Cleveland Hills, passing close to the Wain Stones and Roseburry Topping.

East Yorkshire's Wolds Explorer 200 (Summer Weekends only) is underrated, every time I've used it I've been the only person onboard, yet it offers great views over the rolling Wolds, and the descend into Thixendale is something to marvel at.

My favourite route in the Moors is the M6 (Summer Weekends Only) ran by York Pullman, the descent down into Rosedale Abbey from Cropton is fantastic, highly recommend. Hoping that the route will be able to continue from Rosedale up to Danby as is currently planned from later this summer, as I would love to do the climb out of Rosedale up to Castleton. Fingers crossed the weight restriction, which prohibits buses, on that road is lifted.

 

[route101]

@RELL6L The Clitheroe - Settle bus goes on to horton in Ribblesdale. But there are some extended breaks in Settle

581 Settle - Kirkby Lonsdale. Actually the 580/581/81 all the way from Skipton to Lancaster isnt bad.
Keighley Bus 57 from Bradford to Kly over the tops.
75 skipton - Malham-Settle summer saturdays only. Bus stop at Malham Tarn!
Its complicated but you can go all round the Isle of Arran by bus. Google Stagecoach-Arran for a pdf Arran bus timetable.
Oldham - Huddersfield.
Keighley-Skipton-ilkley-Keighley is quite nice. 62, 64, 66
Buses alone Morecambe Promenade between Morecambe and Bare give nice views across Morecambe Bay. 100's are frequent but there are other routes including an infrequent 755 to Bowness on Windermere.
Burnley bus M4. between Laneshaw Bridge and Crosshills. If you stay on you get a scenic tour round Airedale Hospital but i dont think that is what this thread is about!!!

Is the 580/581 a through bus from Lancaster to Skipton?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

the 93/93A (Carlisle- Anthorn). The Solway coast is beautiful and far less known (with the added advantage of providing 'birding from the bus' opportunities )

Great call - it is a fabulously underrated area.

 

[Galactic142]

Is the 580/581 a through bus from Lancaster to Skipton?

It used to be (maybe 3-4 years ago) but it's now been split up into the 81/82 (Lancaster-Kirkby Lonsdale, taking alternate sides of the Lune valley) then the 581 (Kirkby Lonsdale - Settle, but oddly this one's missing from the new KLCH website) and finally the 580 (Settle-Skipton). Until recently you could buy a single ticket for the whole through journey (i.e. Lancaster to Skipton for £2), but I gather KLCH has recently changed that - now you need tickets for each separate journey I hear.

I agree it's a scenic route though - possibly not the most scenic out there but certainly a good one.

 

[RELL6L]

Is the 580/581 a through bus from Lancaster to Skipton?

Yes. Buses change numbers Skipton >580 > Settle >581 > Kirkby Lonsdale > 81 or 82 > Lancaster. All scenic. You have to tap your ENCTS pass again as it changes, I suspect you have to pay 3 x £3 but I’m not sure

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2025 ==

Agree with all the Cumbrian suggestions. I'd also include the 78 (Keswick- Seatoller through Borrowdale) and the 93/93A (Carlisle- Anthorn). The Solway coast is beautiful and far less known (with the added advantage of providing 'birding from the bus' opportunities )

The 78 on an open topper is a must, I’ve even got my wife on that. Not done the 93/A, that’s on my to do list. Ideally go right round the loop.

 

[Jimmi]

The 85 (and the twice daily extentions of the 6) in County Durham is reasonably scenic (on the section between Cockfield and Barnard Castle.) Beautiful view of Cockfield fell and the Gaunless Valley, and a couple of rural villages along the way. Its just a shame that the first half of the route is nowhere near as scenic! (From Bishop Auckland)

The 84 which runs the same route as the 85 between Barnard Castle & Cockfield then splits off and heads to Darlington instead to Bishop Auckland is a nice one too.

Some other examples in that same area:

83 Cockfield to Barnard Castle is a good one for views, runs via Woodland (some trips terminate there).

79 Barnard Castle to Richmond winds its way through some picturesque North Yorkshire villages and a few quick blasts on the A66.

95/96 Barnard Castle - Middleton-in-Teesdale - Barnard Castle (circulars) there's some nice bits of Teesdale and this takes in a fair few of those examples.

101/101A/102 Stanhope - 101 between Bishop and Stanhope is a nice ride out but the connecting upper Weardale 101A/102 up to Cowshill (101A) or Rookhope (102) are some spectacular runs as well.

 

[markymark2000]

Agree with both of these (and sure @RELL6L will too)

The 172 has two stunning climbs/descents as you mention. Best to do it from south to north with the Penrhys climb and drop into the Rhondda Fach (which is fun enough) and then the climb out of Maerdy and across the moors (with views across to the Beacons/Black Mountains) before the hairpins as you fall in Aberdare.

The 51 around Fochriw as you head north is also quite wild and windswept. Similarly, the 31 from Brynmawr to Blaenavon is similarly wonderfully bleak (in a good way) though you will probably have a knackered Phil Anslow e200 to cope with.

Thank you. You have explained it far better than I could haha.

 

[NorthOxonian]

The 84 which runs the same route as the 85 between Barnard Castle & Cockfield then splits off and heads to Darlington instead to Bishop Auckland is a nice one too.

Some other examples in that same area:

83 Cockfield to Barnard Castle is a good one for views, runs via Woodland (some trips terminate there).

79 Barnard Castle to Richmond winds its way through some picturesque North Yorkshire villages and a few quick blasts on the A66.

95/96 Barnard Castle - Middleton-in-Teesdale - Barnard Castle (circulars) there's some nice bits of Teesdale and this takes in a fair few of those examples.

101/101A/102 Stanhope - 101 between Bishop and Stanhope is a nice ride out but the connecting upper Weardale 101A/102 up to Cowshill (101A) or Rookhope (102) are some spectacular runs as well.

On a Wednesday you can get even further into Upper Teesdale with the 73 service from Barnard Castle to Langdon Beck (west of Middleton in Teesdale) and High Force - a very pleasant option is to walk from the terminus of the route down to the Tees and then follow the Pennine Way down to Middleton, where you can connect with the 95/96, which takes you past the waterfalls and along some glorious scenery.

 

[mk1979]

Its satisfying to see so many local routes on this list

The 351 Glossop - Holmfirth is very special, I guess thats why it is on the list twice.

A few from me:
Route 12 Newport to Alum Bay (Isle of Wight) - all of the route is picturesque but the bit around Freshwater Bay is truly spectacular
Route 3 Newport to Ryde via Ventnor (Isle of Wight) - chocolate box villages and steep ascent/descent at Ventnor
Needles Breezer (Isle of Wight) - possibly the most spectacular coastal bus route in the UK?
GOLD (Devon) - I've only travelled the section from Paignton to Totnes and it was a cracking journey through narrow country lanes and beautiful Devon scenery
Exmoor Coaster (Somerset) - Porlock Hill has to be experienced to be believed and the descent into Lynmouth is just wow!

 

[anothertyke]

Yes. Buses change numbers Skipton >580 > Settle >581 > Kirkby Lonsdale > 81 or 82 > Lancaster. All scenic. You have to tap your ENCTS pass again as it changes, I suspect you have to pay 3 x £3 but I’m not sure

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2025 ==

according to the Lancaster users bus group you have to pay twice, once Lancaster-Settle, once Settle-Skipton. So 2 x £3.

 

[Ken H]

Is the 580/581 a through bus from Lancaster to Skipton?

Yes. But its 81 from Kirkby Lonsdale to Lancaster. Maybe some are 82's, not sure. Long standing route from Pennine/Ribble days. This from 1966. https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer.php?token=b5338875-66e4-4e09-80a5-a7d2f5ff423d

 

[Killingworth]

I think the route and numbers have changed in tbe 40 years since my father and I did Thurso to John'O Groats in a fierce gale on an old Stagecoach doubledecker. The only passengers on the top deck for the last few miles it was a dramatic experience looking over to the Orkneys.

Although there are no buses over the Snake the hourly summertime open topper up Winnats Pass below Mam Tor is worth a trip.

 

[Stan Drews]

I think the route and numbers have changed in tbe 40 years since my father and I did Thurso to John'O Groats in a fierce gale on an old Stagecoach doubledecker. The only passengers on the top deck for the last few miles it was a dramatic experience looking over to the Orkneys.

Although there are no buses over the Snake the hourly summertime open topper up Winnats Pass below Mam Tor is worth a trip.

It May have been an old double decker 40 years ago, but it certainly wouldn’t have been an ex Stagecoach one. About 20 years too early for that up in Caithness. Most likely just an old Highland Scottish bus, and to be fair that’s really the only type they had!

 

[Killingworth]

It May have been an old double decker 40 years ago, but it certainly wouldn’t have been an ex Stagecoach one. About 20 years too early for that up in Caithness. Most likely just an old Highland Scottish bus, and to be fair that’s really the only type they had!

You're right, found this old picture. As far as age goes it looks more battered than it's registration suggests. My father's travels had finished by 1989.

It was spotted in apparently better condition as late as 2014, see; https://www.flickr.com/photos/66812080@N03/11859043554

 

[Stan Drews]

You're right, found this old picture. As far as age goes it looks more battered than it's registration suggests. My father's travels had finished by 1989.

It was spotted in apparently better condition as late as 2014, see; https://www.flickr.com/photos/66812080@N03/11859043554

View attachment 182274

Although Flickr suggests it was both taken and uploaded in 2014, I think it’s safe to assume it was taken many years earlier. Cracking pics though!

 

[gnolife]

People have already mentioned the 901 Glasgow to Largs, but I'd also throw in a recommendation for the 904 Paisley to Largs, particularly the bit between Kilbirnie and Largs

 

[darloscott]

I see the X93 & the Coastliner are already on the list but I don’t know if Arriva’s X4 has been mentioned? It’s the coastal bus from Middlesbrough through Redcar, Saltburn, Loftus and onto Whitby - deserves a place on the list for sure. Granted parts of it aren’t scenic (Brotton, Loftus) but the bits around Saltburn and especially over the top through the villages of Runswick Bay & Ellerby, then the drop down Lythe Bank into Sandsend is stunning.
Brand new buses coming very soon too!

 

[D1537]

Dales Bus 831 from Richmond to Hawes over Buttertubs pass is spectacular, although it only runs once each way on Summer Sundays and Bank Hols.

831 timetable

There is also the regular "Little White Bus" service 30 which heads up from Richmond through Reeth to Keld.

30 timetable

 

[Ken H]

careful wit the Dalesbuses - many are deemed by NYCC as scenic and NCTS passes not valid

 

[route101]

West Coast Buses - 23 from Lochgilphead to Oban. Took the 23 today and the area between Lochgilphead and Oban is new territory ad new road the A816. The landscape was very lush and green, almost like New Zealand.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

careful wit the Dalesbuses - many are deemed by NYCC as scenic and NCTS passes not valid

Well worth having a look at the fares page on the Dalesbus website; the ENCTS restrictions are not indicative of any wider restrictive fares policy, indeed the tie-ups with Transdev's network on Sundays and Bank Holidays are decent value. And minor correction: since becoming a unitary authority the council no longer refers to itself as a county, ie just NYC.

 

[AndrewE]

Well worth having a look at the fares page on the Dalesbus website; the ENCTS restrictions are not indicative of any wider restrictive fares policy, indeed the tie-ups with Transdev's network on Sundays and Bank Holidays are decent value. And minor correction: since becoming a unitary authority the council no longer refers to itself as a county, ie just NYC.

Interesting... https://www.dalesbus.org/fares.html#ENCTS has

Due to North Yorkshire Council policy [ENCT] passes are however not valid for free travel on some demand responsive services, nor on the following Summer DalesBus services:

• DalesBus 80: Lancaster - Bentham - Ingleton - Ribblehead - Hawes (Saturdays)
• DalesBus 822: Pocklington - York - Ripon - Fountains Abbey - Pateley Bridge - Grassington
• Eastern DalesBus 825: York - Harrogate - Brimham Rocks - Fountains Abbey - Masham - Leyburn - Richmond
• Northern DalesBus 830: Ribblehead - Hawes - Reeth - Richmond
• Northern DalesBus 831: Middlesbrough - Darlington - Richmond - Reeth - Hawes (except for passengers boarding in the Tees Valley area)
• Northern DalesBus 832: Hawes - Settle - Ingleton
• Northern DalesBus 858: Darlington - Richmond - Catterick - Hawes - Ribblehead (except for passengers boarding in the Tees Valley area)
• Eastern DalesBus 859: Richmond - Leyburn

Passholders may purchase a day ticket (Dales Privilege Rover) for £5 for travel on these services.

but it says in the previous paragraph

Single bus fares in England are capped at £3 until at least March 2027 by most bus companies as part of a special offer funded by the Department for Transport.
The offer is available on most scheduled bus services into and around the Yorkshire Dales area,
/snip/
The £3 fare cap does not apply on service 561 operated by Westmorland and Furness Council.

I'm guessing that the £5 day ticket is promoted because it is cheaper than 2 £3 fares...

 

[geoffk]

There’s a bus in Newton Abbot run by CountryBus that runs to Tavistock. 171, goes up to Moretonhampstead then across to Princetown then down to Tavistock, takes about 1hr 30 to get there but on a nice day some gorgeous views.

I recently did the round trip Newton Abbot - Princetown which covers both the 171 and 172 routes. These are summer-only routes, by the way. I should mention the need to plan toilet breaks for those of us of a certain age, when doing long bus trips with tight connections. In this case the 171 has a 5-minute wait at Moretonhampstead and, even though we were a couple of minutes late arriving, the driver said she'd wait for me!

 

[Whisky Papa]

Readers of Buses magazine may have spotted a review of a new book entitled Scenic Bus Routes in West Yorkshire by Eric R Sykes (ISBN 979-8314-124659), which may be of interest to some posters on this thread. I've not seen it and have no connection with the author.

The author apparently does not rank the 30 chosen routes but reckons TLC Travel 596 from Hebden Bridge to Blackshaw Head would be among his favourites - a route I drove for 15 years or so under its H2 guise. I first travelled to the area to ride the local routes as a teenager in 1979, not thinking for a moment that I would eventually live there, let alone drive them!

Personally I would add TLC's 594/5 from Hebden Bridge up to Crimsworth via Dodd Naze and their T6/8 Todmorden - Mankinholes circular.

 

[RELL6L]

Readers of Buses magazine may have spotted a review of a new book entitled Scenic Bus Routes in West Yorkshire by Eric R Sykes (ISBN 979-8314-124659), which may be of interest to some posters on this thread. I've not seen it and have no connection with the author.

The author apparently does not rank the 30 chosen routes but reckons TLC Travel 596 from Hebden Bridge to Blackshaw Head would be among his favourites - a route I drove for 15 years or so under its H2 guise. I first travelled to the area to ride the local routes as a teenager in 1979, not thinking for a moment that I would eventually live there, let alone drive them!

Personally I would add TLC's 594/5 from Hebden Bridge up to Crimsworth via Dodd Naze and their T6/8 Todmorden - Mankinholes circular.

Yes, these are great. The T6/T8 are circular via Mankinholes and Walsden and very scenic.

 

[anothertyke]

Interesting... https://www.dalesbus.org/fares.html#ENCTS has

but it says in the previous paragraph


I'm guessing that the £5 day ticket is promoted because it is cheaper than 2 £3 fares...

Are there other counties which have placed restrictions on routes eligible for ENCTS or is NYC unique?

 

[tommyfromsheff]

Hi all,

I couldn't find a thread on this since 2018, so here goes: what is, in your opinion, the most scenic bus route in Britain? We have so much natural beauty in this country, and are lucky to have pretty good rural buses, which let's us see this beauty (and doing it by bus is far superior!).

I'll start: the 77/A in the Lake District has to be my favourite: incredible views along with narrow country lanes for what I think is the best bus experience in the country. I absolutely can't wait to do it again later this year!


Current list:

Italics: area of country.
(Brackets): Best part of route. No brackets= all of it is great!

77/A- Lake District: Keswick Circular
555- Lake District: Lancaster- Keswick (Keswick- Windermere)
900/ 901- Yorkshire: Huddersfield- Hebden Bridge (Stainland- Cragg Vale)
351- Yorkshire: Glossop - Holmfirth
B3- Yorkshire: Keighley- Hebden Bridge (Oxenhope- Hebden Bridge)
Island Coaster- Isle of Wight
442- Peak District Ashbourne- Buxton
Coastliner 840/843- Yorkshire: Leeds- Whitby/Scarborough (Pickering- Whitby)
Exmoor Coaster
58- Peak District: Macclesfield- Buxton (& to Chatsworth House- Sundays only)
108- Peak District: Ashbourne- Buxton (Leek- Buxton)
X53- Dorset: Weymouth- Bridport
X18- Northumberland: Alnmouth- Berwick
X6 - Lake District: Kendal - Barrow-in-Furness (Haverthwaite station - Grange-over-Sands)
X93/X94 - Yorkshire: Middlesborough to Scarborough
CH1 - Norfolk: Cromer - Wells next the Sea
U1: Cornwall: Newquay - Falmouth via Perranporth
Full Sherpa network: Snowdon
159: Yorkshire: Ripon - Richmond
856 Wensleydale Flyer: Yorkshire: Northallerton- Gayle (Sundays only)
0418: Northumberland: Wooler - Alnwick
12: Sussex: Brighton to Eastbourne
74 (inc. 74A/ 874): Yorkshire: Grassington/ Buckden - Ilkley (York on Saturdays, Leeds & Wetherby on Sundays) (Buckden- Otley)
59: Yorkshire: Harrogate- Skipton (Saturdays only)
24: Yorkshire: Harrogate-Pateley Bridge
31X: Yorkshire: York- Kirkbymoorside (Easingwold- Helmsley)
250 & 350: Yorkshire: Hull- Scunthorpe (Hull - Barton-upon-Humber via Humber Bridge)
X5: Wiltshire: Swindon- Salisbury (Tidworth- Marlborough)
173: Peak District: Bakewell- Castleton (get the infrequent service through Cressbrook!)
508: Lake District: Windermere- Penrith (Patterdale- Windermere)
T2: North West Wales: Bangor - Aberystwyth (Machynlleth- Porthmadog)
Peak Sightseer BLUE: Peak District: Chatsworth House- Castleton (Mam Tor) (Mam Tor- Castleton up Winnats Pass & Hathersage- Grindleford) Open Top
505: Lake District: Ambleside - Coniston
516: Lake District: Ambleside - Dungeon Ghyll
87: Peak District: Holmfirth- Castleton (Wednesdays only)
351: Peak District: Holmfirth- Glossop (Fridays only)
218: Peak District: Sheffield - Bakewell via Chatsworth House
272: Peak District: Sheffield- Castleton
X17: Peak District: Barnsley-Sheffield-Chesterfield-Matlock-Wirksworth (Chesterfield - Matlock)
65: Peak District: Meadowhall- Buxton (Sheffield - Buxton)
170: Peak District: Chesterfield- Bakewell
257: Peak District: Sheffield- Bakewell
X74: Northumberland: Newcastle- Jedburgh
576: Yorkshire: Bradford - Halifax (around Queensbury)
70: Cornwall: Plymouth - Cremyll
184: Yorkshire: Huddersfield - Oldham
129: Yorkshire: Hornsea- Withernsea
15: Yorkshire: Chesterfield - Dronfield
888: Northumberland: Hexham- Alston- Penrith
22: Merseyside: Chester - West Kirby (Chester - Heswall)
62: Peak District: Buxton - Castleton (Chapel-en-le-Frith - Castleton)
95: Cornwall: Bude-Wadebridge
173: Devon: Exeter-Moretonhampstead
50: Dorset: Bournemouth - Swanage Open Top
681: Northumberland: Birdoswald to Alston
AD122: Northumberland: Greenhead- Hexham
685: Northumberland: Carlisle - Newcastle
171: Cornwall: Newton Abbott - Tavistock

Scotland:
918: Oban- Fort William
901: Glasgow- Largs
915 Glasgow - Tyndrum - (Bridge of Orchy - Glen Coe - Ballachullish) - Fort William - Invergarry - (Loch Cluanie - Eilan Donan - Kyle of Lochalsh - Portree- Uig
+ the other Citylink services from Glasgow to Fort William (912, 914)


X62: Edinburgh- Melrose via Peebles and Galashiels
X95: Edinburgh- Carlisle via Galashiels and Hawick
X85: Glasgow- Campsie Glen via Lennoxtown
X10: Glasgow- Stirling via Balfron and Aberfoyle
58: Stirling- Callander
95: St Andrews- Leven via Crail and Anstruther
57A/57C: Skye: From Portree
24/28: Shetland: Lerwick - Baltasound
324: Isle of Arran: Brodick-Blackwaterfoot via North Island
901: Glasgow- Largs

For more Scottish routes, see post #51

Scroll down to see everyone's comments on the above routes.

i am to happy to have been on some of these since i live close to the peak district