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Free Bus Pass Use

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pitdiver

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I have recently received my free national bus pass and want to make use of it. Can anybody point me in the direction of a route that I could take around England to see as much of the country as possible.
Thanks for any assistance.

Rob h

Forgot to add as a bonus I have a PTAC from TfL for reduced rate travel on National Rail at quarter rate.
 
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ooo

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I have recently received my free national bus pass and want to make use of it. Can anybody point me in the direction of a route that I could take around England to see as much of the country as possible.
Thanks for any assistance.

Rob h
Where would you be starting from?
 

higthomas

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Do you want to spend a week doing this and staying in hotels or a day?
 

pitdiver

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Do you want to spend a week doing this and staying in hotels or a day?

Sorry for not including that in my initial request. Both really, I live in Bedford so I know I could get to Oxford or Cambridge but I would like to consider a longer expedition Possibly around East Anglia or even further afield.
 

transportphoto

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Perhaps one for the warmer months, however get the X5 to Cambridge, get a train to Kings Lynn, from where you have Stagecoach's Coasthopper network available, alternatively an X1 to Norwich and destinations beyond.

TP
 

LAIRA

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I have recently received my free national bus pass and want to make use of it. Can anybody point me in the direction of a route that I could take around England to see as much of the country as possible.
Thanks for any assistance.

Rob h

Therory says you can go from Lands End to Berwick-on-Tweed in 5 and a half days but I have not actually done it.
 

ooo

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Therory says you can go from Lands End to Berwick-on-Tweed in 5 and a half days but I have not actually done it.
Someone did it in 4

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...ys-by-bus-from-Lands-End-to-John-OGroats.html

Spending four days and £170 on buses, Adam Mugliston beats the record by nearly a day

A 16-year-old schoolboy has broken the record for the fastest journey from Land's End to John O'Groats - by public bus.

Adam Mugliston spent four days and £170 on tickets travelling 1,167 miles on 36 different buses to beat the previous record by nearly a day.

He spent months poring over bus timetables to plan the quickest route and set off on his epic journey to mark the completion of his GCSEs.

Adam said: "I'm pretty knackered and glad to be home now. I got hardly any sleep, getting in after midnight and up again to get the bus before 6am.

"It was all worth it though. It was a great trip.

"My parents were a little worried about it but they were fine. They dropped me off at Land's End.

"I'm in Year 11 and this is my way of celebrating finishing my exams."

Adam, of Suffolk, started his journey on the number 1 bus from Land's End to Truro on Monday (June 23) at 7.21am.

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He made overnight stops at Bridgwater, Crewe, Newcastle, and Dundee Premier Inns - because the hotel chain was happy to accommodate a 16-year-old without parents.

Four days, 10 hours and 44 minutes later he stepped off the X97 at John O'Groats.

He came close to missing a bus change on his second day as the number 46 from Stroud to Cheltenham, Glos., was running late.

Adam only had nine minutes to spare when he got off the bus - just enough time to get his bearings and board the 801 to Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire.

The schoolboy has a passion for public transport and hopes to work in the industry after university.

He said: "Buses have always been my thing and I read about people trying the challenge so I thought I'd give it a go but do it quicker. After all, why not?

"I don't know why, but I've always had an interest in buses. I want to go to university to study transport and hopefully get work with Transport for London. I've got work experience there this summer.

"I'd love to work in scheduling transport. That has been an issue while planning this trip."

There is no official Guinness World Record for the feat but Adam's time is believed to be almost a day quicker than anyone has completed the journey before.

Adrian Cole, membership secretary of the Land's End John O' Groats Association, said he had not heard of anyone coming close to Adam's time before.

Mr Cole said: "Four days beggars belief. His predictions on bus times must have worked out well.

"From my experience on the buses - and I work for a bus company - that is really quite impressive."

James Aukett, who works for London Buses, completed the journey in five days, seven hours and 25 minutes in 2011.

Steve Gibbs, 74, will be attempting the epic trip in August, but without as much cost as he will use his bus pass. He hopes to raise ?20,000 for Children In Need.

The record breaking route

Monday June 23

7:21 - 1 from Land's End to Penzance, arriving at 8.30.

9.33 - 18 from Penzance to Truro, arriving at 11.16.

11.45 - 594 from Truro to Wadebridge, arriving at 12:55.

14.00 - 510 from Wadebridge to Exeter, arriving at 16.32.

17:00 - 1B from Exeter to Willand, arriving at 17.58.

18.22 - 22 from Willand to Taunton, arriving at 19.12.

19.55 - 21 from Taunton to Bridgwater, arriving at 20.39.

Tuesday June 24

5.48 - 21 from Bridgwater to Weston-super-Mare, arriving at 7.10.

7.32 - X1 from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol, arriving at 8.41.

9.02 - 47 from Bristol to Yate, arriving at 9.47.

10.15 - 84 from Yate to Wotton-under-Edge, arriving at 10.53.

11.30 - 40 from Wotton-under-Edge to Stroud, arriving at 12.10.

12.50 - 46 from Stroud to Cheltenham, arriving at 13.36.

13.45 - 801 from Cheltenham to Moreton-in-Marsh, arriving at 14.55 (did not arrive until 15.06).

15.15 - 22 from Moreton-in-Marsh to Stratford-upon-Avon, arriving at 16.20.

17.05 - X20 from Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham, arriving at 18.37.

19.15 - X51 from Birmingham to Walsall, arriving at 19.47.

20.05 - 2 from Walsall to Cannock, arriving at 20.40.

21.00 - 74 from Cannock to Stafford, arriving at 21.30.

21.53 - 101 from Stafford to Hanley, arriving at 22.47.

23.19 - 20 from Hanley to Crewe, arriving at 00.10.

Wednesday June 25

6.04 - 38 from Crewe to Macclesfield, arriving at 7.00.

7.15 - 130 from Macclesfield to Manchester, arriving at 9.22.

10.28 - 184 from Manchester to Huddersfield, arriving at 12.24.

12.45 - X6 from Huddersfield to Leeds, arriving at 14.07.

14.40 - 843 from Leeds to Scarborough, arriving at 17.37.

18.15 - X93 from Scarborough to Middlesbrough, arriving at 20.23.

20.15 - X10 from Middlesbrough to Newcastle, arriving at 22.23.

Thursday June 26

10.33 - X15 from Newcastle to Berwick-upon-Tweed, arriving at 12.58.

13.55 - 253 from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Edinburgh, arriving 16.08.

18.45 - X59 from Edinburgh to Guardbridge, arriving at 20.27.

21.02 - 99A from Guardbridge to Dundee, arriving at 21.02.

Friday June 27

6.30 - X7 from Dundee to Aberdeen, arriving at 9.01.

9.25 - 10 from Aberdeen to Inverness, arriving at 13.14.

14.40 - X99 from Inverness to Dunbeath, arriving at 16.56.

17.01 - X97 from Dunbeath to John O'Groats, arriving at

18.02. Three minute walk to the John O'Groats sign, arriving at 18.05.
 
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ooo

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But is it not the case that those time period restrictions stated above do not apply on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
I believe so however many routes start later on Saturdays and are considerably limited or non existent on Sundays or Bank Holidays
 

Busaholic

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Look carefully at the Middlesbrough timings on that record-breaking trip!
 

northwichcat

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I believe so however many routes start later on Saturdays and are considerably limited or non existent on Sundays or Bank Holidays

Indeed. The 38 and 130 routes in the Macclesfield area are listed for the start of one day. On a Saturday the first 38 bus from Crewe is 06:45 and the first 130 bus from Macclesfield is 08:08.
 

transmanche

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extendedpaul

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In Wales, thanks to no time restrictions on a concessionary bus pass, it's possible to travel from the South East - Newport or Cardiff - to the North West - Holyhead - in one day. 7am start from Newport or 8am from Cardiff. Some very scenic bus journeys.

I did it myself from Caerphilly as far as Bangor and returned by train the same day on a club 55 ticket. The connection at Holyhead from the bus to the final train back was too tight to risk, also that train doesn't reach Cardiff until 1.20am.
 
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enrag2000

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In Wales, thanks to no time restrictions on a concessionary bus pass, it's possible to travel from the South East - Newport or Cardiff - to the North West - Holyhead - in one day. 7am start from Newport or 8am from Cardiff. Some very scenic bus journeys.

Similarly with a Scottish pass, it is possible to leave Carlisle on service 79 at 0830 and travel via Dumfries (X74)-Glasgow (Citylink Gold G10)-Inverness(X99) to arrive in Thurso at 2040!
 

Statto

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I think it might be quicker Lands End to John O Groats by going from from Crewe to Northwich-Warrington-Wigan direct bus to Preston or Chorley then Preston-Lancaster-Keswick-Carlisle or Penrith to Carlisle-Edinburgh than going via Manchester-Leeds-Whitby.
 

enrag2000

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I think it might be quicker Lands End to John O Groats by going from from Crewe to Northwich-Warrington-Wigan direct bus to Preston or Chorley then Preston-Lancaster-Keswick-Carlisle or Penrith to Carlisle-Edinburgh than going via Manchester-Leeds-Whitby.

Crewe to Preston is probably quicker going 84 to Chester then X8 to Liverpool and X2 to Preston.
 

Busaholic

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transmanche

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The wording is rather imprecise, but I got the impression from it that you would be charged a half fare if you actually got off the bus in Scotland or picked it up there.
No it's definitely free with an ENCTS pass, so long as the journey starts or finishes in England.

Northumberland County Council (i.e. the authority that will pay Perrymans) says:

Holders of English passes are able to travel on parts of some cross-border routes from Northumberland, provided the journey starts or ends in England. Northumberland County Council has agreed additional benefits for free travel in Scotland on the following local bus services, where your journey either starts or finishes in England:

18, 260 - Berwick to Duns
60 - Berwick to Galashiels via Duns
67 - Berwick to Galashiels via Kelso
34, 235, 236, 253 - Berwick to Eyemouth
131 - Newcastle to Jedburgh
Source: Northumberland County Council website

(That page continues to list other some cross-border services where the additional concession does not apply.)
 

duncanp

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[QUOTE (That page continues to list other some cross-border services where the additional concession does not apply.)[/QUOTE]

Quite, otherwise you would be able to use an ENCTS pass to travel on the 253 all the way to Edinburgh.

On the other side of Scotland, Scottish concessionary pass holders can travel from various locations in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders to Carlisle.

Not sure whether ENCTS pass holders can travel from Carlisle to destinations in Scotland.
 

MedwayValiant

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Yes, but only as far as Gretna.

The Scottish scheme has it as contractual that a pass holder can travel to and from England, provided that one end of the journey is in Scotland. The English scheme doesn't have anything comparable, but Northumberland has the local agreement mentioned and Cumbria has a local agreement covering travel between Carlisle, Longtown, and Gretna only.


Twenty or so years ago when I was young and foolish, I travelled from London to Edinburgh by means of multiple buses. I left London at 12 noon on a Monday, and stepped off a bus on North Bridge at about 9 pm on the Wednesday. (I then spent the Thursday in Edinburgh, and came back to London by train on the Friday.)

My route was loosely based on the A1, and the two overnight stops were at Stamford and Thirsk. A route based more on the A6 as far as Derby and then heading north east might enable one to travel later into the evening since it includes more large towns with evening services. So if you were to start at 9.30 instead of at noon, it might just about be possible to get to Berwick in two days going that way.
 
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LAIRA

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My route was loosely based on the A1, and the two overnight stops were at Stamford and Thirsk. A route based more on the A6 as far as Derby and then heading north east might enable one to travel later into the evening since it includes more large towns with evening services. So if you were to start at 9.30 instead of at noon, it might just about be possible to get to Berwick in two days going that way.

Living in Kent I would have thought Ramsgate to Gretna would have been like Lands End to Berwick.
 

MedwayValiant

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I suppose it would have been, but that particular trip was always planned as London to Edinburgh rather than any kind of corner to corner.

Although in fact, if one were travelling from Ramsgate to Gretna, I suspect that the route would have to be the same as far as Newcastle in any case. There used to be half a dozen buses a day between Kendal and Penrith, but by now there are three buses a week. Worse still, those buses leave Kendal at 0910 on those three mornings a week, so you can't use ENCTS on them.

The presence of that "Cumberland Gap" (which would be a good name for a song ...) means that you'd have to go to Newcastle and then across to Carlisle to reach Gretna.
 

Robertj21a

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I suppose it would have been, but that particular trip was always planned as London to Edinburgh rather than any kind of corner to corner.

Although in fact, if one were travelling from Ramsgate to Gretna, I suspect that the route would have to be the same as far as Newcastle in any case. There used to be half a dozen buses a day between Kendal and Penrith, but by now there are three buses a week. Worse still, those buses leave Kendal at 0910 on those three mornings a week, so you can't use ENCTS on them.

The presence of that "Cumberland Gap" (which would be a good name for a song ...) means that you'd have to go to Newcastle and then across to Carlisle to reach Gretna.


Why do you have to go via Newcastle, isn't there a Keswick service ?
 

neilmc

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Why do you have to go via Newcastle, isn't there a Keswick service ?

You can use the 554-556 services to link Lancaster and Carlisle, with a short stop at Keswick on the best connections. (10:20 or 14:20 from Lancaster, can't be done as a through route any later). If you divert from Keswick via Penrith, there are more buses but again the evening service from Penrith to Carlisle (104) exists but is very sketchy.
 

MedwayValiant

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Yes, I should have thought of Keswick. Then again, a journey from Kendal to Penrith via Keswick takes 3½ hours if you're unwilling to rely on a four minute connection at Keswick. It might still be quicker to go via Newcastle.

I just worked out the first day of a hypothetical Ramsgate - Gretna trip. Unfortunately, these forums have an annoying feature that you get logged out if you spend more than about ten minutes writing a post, and so it disappeared when I tried to post it.

But starting in Ramsgate at 0930 on that first day, you only get as far as Luton. That was based on routing Ramsgate - Canterbury - Faversham - Sittingbourne - Chatham - Bluewater - Woolwich - Trafalgar Square - Marble Arch - Edgware - Watford Junction - Luton. Is there a better way?

There is actually a later bus from Luton to Bedford, but it's after 2300 and so out of bounds to an ENCTS traveller.
 
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