Multimodal options with Rover tickets

[redcaboose]

Most years, I take a couple of breaks from the daily grind with a Rover; generally a FOSW in summer to make the most of the daylight, ans a FOSS in the runup to Christmas. The latter is a good way to take in the lights, and have a look at the various Xmas markets (which latterly seem to be trying to outdo each other with outrageous pricing).

To begin with, I'd plan the days using the rail connections, but the last couple of years, I've been looking at what additional possibilities there might be if I include other forms of transport (principally buses, but there are a couple of boat trips on my list now).

I'll start this thread with a few examples of links I've discovered recently that have worked well for me; perhaps folks might add their own ideas, especially for other geographic areas.

On a FOSS rover

Swindon - then bus to Cirencester (lovely market town) - bus to Cheltenham

Frome/Bath/Bristol/Weston - bus to Wells (charming very small city), return to any of the four

Weymouth - bus to Axminster; possible stop off at Bridport / Lyme Regis

Ashchurch - bus to Tewkesbury - bus to Gloucester

On a FOSW rover

Taunton - then bus to Minehead - Exmoor breezer bus to Ilfracombe (high summer only) - bus to Barnstaple

Honiton - bus to Sidmouth - bus to Exmouth

Exmouth - boat to Starcross

Totnes - boat to Dartmouth - steam train to Paignton

 

[Techniquest]

Some fun trips in there, I think you’ll like Tewkesbury. It’s a nice little town, not a big place but visually nicer than Gloucester by a fair margin.

I believe you’d happily have the option to do a bus back to Cheltenham instead, with more onward options, using Route 71. I could be wrong on that, I haven’t looked in a while, so check beforehand. Tewkesbury’s not a long walk from Ashchurch station, so if you’re relatively fit and healthy then it could be a good option.

Be forewarned, when I did the Starcross to Exmouth ferry it was cash only. £5 at the time a couple of years back, one way, so ensure you have cash for it. A nice little trundle on a sunny day though, something different.

Not really investigated the other stuff before, some of it I have done but it was many years ago so probably all changed and my memory isn’t great for the likes of Bridport. Taunton to Minehead on the bus takes a while but it is a decent route to do.