Britain's Most Scenic Bus routes

[peterblue]

It's standard for there to be ENCTS exceptions for premium routes (e.g. Red Arrow), routes intended for a school/works clientele, or routes intended as a tourist/seasonal service.

Unlike other seasonal summer services, the £3 bus fare is valid on all DalesBus routes. So an ENCTS holder will be able to travel on the DalesBus network for £3 single or £5 all day with a Privilege Rover.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jun 2025 ==

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.

I recently traveled Ember Glasgow-Fort William then the 506 from Fort William to Kilchoan. Incredibly scenic, very narrow single track roads snaking the coastline. I wanted to do the 23 from Oban too, and go further south, but ferry connections and a strike in Western Scotland made it somewhat impractical.

 

[route101]

It's standard for there to be ENCTS exceptions for premium routes (e.g. Red Arrow), routes intended for a school/works clientele, or routes intended as a tourist/seasonal service.

Unlike other seasonal summer services, the £3 bus fare is valid on all DalesBus routes. So an ENCTS holder will be able to travel on the DalesBus network for £3 single or £5 all day with a Privilege Rover.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jun 2025 ==


I recently traveled Ember Glasgow-Fort William then the 506 from Fort William to Kilchoan. Incredibly scenic, very narrow single track roads snaking the coastline. I wanted to do the 23 from Oban too, and go further south, but ferry connections and a strike in Western Scotland made it somewhat impractical.

I will need to look into the 506. I have not tried Ember to Fort William but been on Citylink for the stretch. The 23 or 423 is not frequent and only runs 2 x daily on a Saturday.

 

[ian1944]

A long-ago service between Hanley and Sheffield had a very scenic bit on the Leek-Buxton section. If there is still anything running it would be worth taking.

 

[tram21]

A long-ago service between Hanley and Sheffield had a very scenic bit on the Leek-Buxton section. If there is still anything running it would be worth taking.

Yes, operated by D&G bus as the 108

 

[Tetchytyke]

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

ENCTS isn’t generally valid on tourist services. It isn’t valid on Peak Sightseer either.

 

[Open top 80]

4 journey's on a Sunday each way Operate by Ashbourne community transport route number A53 between Leek and Buxton railway station

 

[Omnidekkalover]

The 172 between Bakewell and Matlock is worth a ride. As is almost any bus in the Peak District

 

[Hamma52]

I'm sure it's already been said here, but the T10 between Bangor and Corwen (especially Bangor - Betws y Coed), is beautiful and well worth a trip

 

[PlayedRex]

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!

Nice to hear my colleague was nice for you, I quite like driving that route myself. If you need the loo there is normally a ~15 minute toilet break in Tavistock as well!

 

[Whisky Papa]

Nice to hear my colleague was nice for you, I quite like driving that route myself. If you need the loo there is normally a ~15 minute toilet break in Tavistock as well!

Hi @PlayedRex, I'm afraid you've quoted the wrong post - I'm assuming it should be #116 rather than my #117?

 

[Skiddaw]

I've yet to do it, but I've always fancied having a go on the X95 service from Carlisle to Edinburgh via Langholm, Hawick, Selkirk, Galashiels, etc. It takes a while but it goes through some lovely places. One day....

 

[route101]

I've yet to do it, but I've always fancied having a go on the X95 service from Carlisle to Edinburgh via Langholm, Hawick, Selkirk, Galashiels, etc. It takes a while but it goes through some lovely places. One day....

I have done it a few times but not for a while. Most services now split at Gala.

 

[Skiddaw]

I have done it a few times but not for a while. Most services now split at Gala.

Glad to hear from someone who has done it.

 

[geoffk]

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

I remember, some years ago, using my ENCTS pass on a seasonal heritage bus service from Garsdale to Ripon. There were several of these routes, if I recall correctly, but pass use was stopped some time later as they were treated as "services operated primarily for the purposes of tourism or because of the historical interest of the vehicle" (Gov.UK wording). This was a tough route for a 5-cylinder Bristol MW originally operated by Eastern National and not used to hills! I think NYC and its predecessor NYCC has always been known for spending as little as possible on public transport.

 

[route101]

Glad to hear from someone who has done it.

The southern section on the A7 is the most scenic and remote.

 

[ian1944]

Re. Borders Buses X95, I find the Selkirk - Hawick section particularly scenic, with one stretch having views over distant rolling hills.

If it's not been mentioned yet, add the X74 Jedburgh - Newcastle via Carter Bar. I took it recently, vaguely wondering why a low key, three return trips a day service had that particular number, then realised on arrival at Eldon Square that it's to fit into the city's pattern of rather more frequent X services. A tip - take the northbound journey with declining sun to the NW, and get a wonderful even better view from Carter Bar of distant rolling hills.

 

[NorthOxonian]

I have done it a few times but not for a while. Most services now split at Gala.

Personally I found the stretch from Gala up to Edinburgh a bit of a drag - a good option (and not massively slower) is to change onto an X62 which I found a much more scenic run through Tweeddale and then up past the Pentlands on the approach into Edinburgh. If you were particularly blessed for time then a stop off in Peebles is well worth it; you'll find a very pleasant town and the bus is generally half hourly so journey options are quite flexible!

Heading a little further west, a partial recommendation which has just sprung to mind. While much of the routes concerned are through humdrum Strathclyde industrial towns, the 41 and 240X from Lanark towards Carluke, Wishaw, and Motherwell (then Hamilton or Glasgow) offers some glorious commanding views over the Clyde heading north out of Lanark town. There appears to be a less frequent 317 which more closely follows the river and runs to Larkhall then Hamilton - I can't vouch for it personally but would imagine that is even more scenic!

 

[PlayedRex]

Hi @PlayedRex, I'm afraid you've quoted the wrong post - I'm assuming it should be #116 rather than my #117?

Yeah sorry about that, didn’t proof read well enough ‍♂️

 

[jfowkes]

I'm sure it's already been said here, but the T10 between Bangor and Corwen (especially Bangor - Betws y Coed), is beautiful and well worth a trip

Seconded, I did this route last week. Stunning scenery.

 

[RELL6L]

Personally I found the stretch from Gala up to Edinburgh a bit of a drag - a good option (and not massively slower) is to change onto an X62 which I found a much more scenic run through Tweeddale and then up past the Pentlands on the approach into Edinburgh. If you were particularly blessed for time then a stop off in Peebles is well worth it; you'll find a very pleasant town and the bus is generally half hourly so journey options are quite flexible!

Heading a little further west, a partial recommendation which has just sprung to mind. While much of the routes concerned are through humdrum Strathclyde industrial towns, the 41 and 240X from Lanark towards Carluke, Wishaw, and Motherwell (then Hamilton or Glasgow) offers some glorious commanding views over the Clyde heading north out of Lanark town. There appears to be a less frequent 317 which more closely follows the river and runs to Larkhall then Hamilton - I can't vouch for it personally but would imagine that is even more scenic!

I would absolutely agree with the X62, it is a fabulously scenic route along the river between Gala and Peebles, the section north from Peebles is good too as far as the beginning of Penicuik at least. I think the X95 is less scenic. And Peebles is definitely worth a stop. Try and organise to get double deckers. The better bit for the X95 is south of Hawick towards Carlisle.

Interesting to hear about the route from Lanark towards Motherwell, maybe one day....

 

[route101]

Personally I found the stretch from Gala up to Edinburgh a bit of a drag - a good option (and not massively slower) is to change onto an X62 which I found a much more scenic run through Tweeddale and then up past the Pentlands on the approach into Edinburgh. If you were particularly blessed for time then a stop off in Peebles is well worth it; you'll find a very pleasant town and the bus is generally half hourly so journey options are quite flexible!

Heading a little further west, a partial recommendation which has just sprung to mind. While much of the routes concerned are through humdrum Strathclyde industrial towns, the 41 and 240X from Lanark towards Carluke, Wishaw, and Motherwell (then Hamilton or Glasgow) offers some glorious commanding views over the Clyde heading north out of Lanark town. There appears to be a less frequent 317 which more closely follows the river and runs to Larkhall then Hamilton - I can't vouch for it personally but would imagine that is even more scenic!

Yes, I have done the JMN 41 and 317. Not a million miles away from me. The 317 is a nice run through the Clyde Valley. I once linked up routes from Berwick all the way via the Borders and Biggar to Glasgow in one day.

 

[NorthOxonian]

I once linked up routes from Berwick all the way via the Borders and Biggar to Glasgow in one day.

Coincidentally, I've done the same - the X62 and 91 (Borders route - the Lanarkshire 91 is alright but nothing special) being the best two routes though as I say the 240X had its moments too. I did take a more leisurely route through Lanarkshire than I could have, and I suspect you did - but it was dark by the time I got to places like Cambuslang and Rutherglen; I would be very surprised if I missed much scenery in this area on what are very much urban routes!

 

[Simon75]

441/442 High Peak Buxton to Ashbourne is a nice scenic route

 

[hi2u_uk]

Im looking through a few of these replies and i think we are making a big assumption about what is meant by scenic. In london there are some london buses which go through areas which are very green/open. Believe it or not there are some people in London who have not had the opportunity to ever leave london and im sure they would find these routes "scenic" hopefully someone can mention some of these. Ive seen tiktok videos of people in awe at routes that pass by areas of fields in London
I imagine a similar situation exists in the other great cities of the UK

 

[ian1944]

If it's not been mentioned before, possibly the most scenic of all in their own way are the services between Edinburgh and Fife, e.g. Stagecoach X55. Crossing the Forth on the FRB, with views up and down river with the rail bridge on one side and the new crossing on the other, is the only quality bit but makes up for the unexceptional rest. As an aside, walking across the FRB takes some beating for view, fresh air and a frisson of danger.

 

[Megafuss]

I don't think the S1 through Snowdonia has been mentioned.

The section between Llanberis and Betws-y-Coed is probably the most scenic journey I've ever been on.

Right up there with the Lakes 77, 555 and the 919 between Oban and Fort William

 

[Hamma52]

I don't think the S1 through Snowdonia has been mentioned.

The section between Llanberis and Betws-y-Coed is probably the most scenic journey I've ever been on.

Right up there with the Lakes 77, 555 and the 919 between Oban and Fort William

S1 is a fantastic shout. All of the Sherpa buses are great days out. The S3 down Nant y Betws towards Beddgelert is also stunning, and the S4 goes past Pont Aberglaslyn, which is one of my favourite places in the world. We really are spoiled for stunning bus rides in North Wales.

 

[Skiddaw]

Im looking through a few of these replies and i think we are making a big assumption about what is meant by scenic. In london there are some london buses which go through areas which are very green/open. Believe it or not there are some people in London who have not had the opportunity to ever leave london and im sure they would find these routes "scenic" hopefully someone can mention some of these. Ive seen tiktok videos of people in awe at routes that pass by areas of fields in London
I imagine a similar situation exists in the other great cities of the UK

Yes, town busses can also provide pleasantly rural journeys. Back in the days when we lived in Reading we'd often walk out over the downs to Henley and catch the Arriva 850 bus back to Reading (via Shiplake). That was good value for being scenic.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Yes, town busses can also provide pleasantly rural journeys. Back in the days when we lived in Reading we'd often walk out over the downs to Henley and catch the Arriva 850 bus back to Reading (via Shiplake). That was good value for being scenic.

Another rather scenic urban (ish) service is the E1 in Tyne and Wear. It serves most of the seafront areas in South Shields and on the north side of Sunderland, plus Whitburn which is very pleasant (and has a particularly excellent little pub). While there are somewhat similar routes running roughly in parallel, only the E1 serves Souter Lighthouse, Roker, and South Shields seafront.

 

[Segedunum]

The 689 between Consett and Hexham threw me a bit the first time I did it - you do a bit of ambling through residential areas at both ends, but the middle section is some nice fast running through open countryside with a diversion up to the main entrance of Slaley Hall, dodging the golf buggies on the estate road!