Your favourite bus routes in Britian & Ireland

[www.buseireann.ie]

I thought this would make a good thread. Name your top 5 bus routes (either from the present or past) and briefly explain why you like them. I've decided to include Ireland due to it's awesome bus routes which some of you may know.

5) 802 (now 820 presently from Seacroft) Leeds - Otley - Patley Bridge - Ripon - Leyburn - Richmond. This bus travels through some of the most diverse scenery around. Past versions of the route traveled through many of the tree lined lakes around the washburn valley, and today it still travels through some. Coupled with Light water valley, and I do believe the Menwith Hill spy base this year, you really get diversity!

4) 61A Huddersfield - Holmfirth - Woodhead/Torside - Glossop - Buxton. This is another route for some interesting diversity. From the lakes of the Woodhead valley to the hills surrounding the peak district, it's a nicely varied route. Wish it still ran!

3) 275 Tralee - Dingle (Ireland). Where the mountians meet the sea! You get to see the sea roll into the Kerry mountians and believe you and me, the sea is blue!

2) 279 Killarney - Castleisland (Ireland). Again, more great sea. Vews from the mountians are just so awesome. A lovely peaceful town at the end where you can sit on the habour and just watch the world go by whilst having breakfast.

1) 599 Ambleside - Windermere - Grasmere. This is one hell of an open top bus ride! You all know how fantastic the lake district countryside is when the weather is good, it's even better up top in the open air!

[77syk7]

I could name many and I will need time to think, but locally I have always liked the 517 Halifax - Burnley. The climb up to Heptonstall village from Hebden Bridge is always impressive in a full sized bus. It then squeezes up through the main cobbled street of Heptonstall and then follows the old moorland road through desolate countryside with impressive views all the way 'on the tops' (up to 1400') via Blackshawhead to cross the border into Lancashire to Mereclough. Back to civilisation down the road and Pike Hill to Burnley.
It only runs 2 journeys on Saturdays and has been run by First (& predecessors) for 38 years since the days of Hebble - it has been remarkably stable in operation and is amazing that it has survived - hence part of the appeal.

[Jack]

Mine has to be the Trawscambria X32 (Bangor-Aberystwyth). You get some amazing views with a bit of everything from Coast to Mountain scenery. Quite a cheap day out too when you get a Red Rover ticket valid the length of the route along with all other services in Gwynedd and Anglesey and those into Conwy as well.

[danielnew]

I can think of many in the West Country but the best in my opinion are the:

400 Minehead-Minehead Circular via Exmoor on a 1956 vintage Quantock Motor Services Open Top Bristol LDL one of the only crew-operated local bus routes left in the UK. Operates Tues, Thurs, Sat & Sun. First Day South West tickets accepted.

X53 Exeter-Poole via Jurassic Coast operated by First on Volvo Wrightbus B9TL

50 Bournemouth-Swanage operated by Wilts & Dorset

[fwybuses]

Now its local to home. Its either the of the following;

X84 right through to Skipton. Run by B9TL with leather seats this could be a nice run out.
36 either to harrogate or Ripon. Eithers nice but a very good route.
Any yorkshire coastliner routes to the coast.

[timelesstable]

Booth & Fisher's service : Halfway to Wales

I just like the link with the names.

It was a real service and the termini were correct operated by Albion Nimbuses

[Matty]

Mine are:

5) The 229 From Huddersfield to Leeds, Only when it has the Spectra's on it (Which is really common). The thrash you get from the Spectra's down Gelderd Road is unbelievable! I have always liked Spectra's because of their similar sound to the MCW Metrobus (Which is what a Spectra is, as the Metrobus was bought by DAF & Optare)

4) The Centrebus 531 service which goes from Halifax to Ripponden Via Mill Bank and Copley, this route has some hard to manouvre bends & Tight roads up Mill Bank. Most of the scrapes & Bump's on the Solo's are mailnly from the 531 service. With Centrebus taking over & making the route extend to Ripponden has made the route a whole lot better.

3) The Centrebus 574 service, the only reason I like this route is because it has Centrebus on it & the buses are good that run up there, The Tempo's are the best because of them grounding very often and have a good turn of pace but even if I got on it with a Solo I would still like the route as them MAN Engined ones are a large improvement from the Merc engined versions, there is some good photo points to get photos of the buses too.

2) K-Line's 900 Service, because of the views & the speeds you can get upto in that Mini Solo YJ57 UFH at Teatime

1) The 517 to Burnley, which goes from Halifax to Hebden Bridge then goes up through Heptonstall village (Which is a really tight road) and goes all over the moors, past the wind turbines then onto Burnley via the 592 route. This only runs one trip on a Saturday leaving Halifax at 12:30 and has always ran the same route at the same time since PTE days.

[77syk7]

I'm pleased to note there are some of my local favourites are listed there - 531/517/900 etc. One I am looking forward to trying out this summer is Centrebus's 951 route over Holme Moss to Glossop (the old 901 Yorks Traction route which went all the way to Crich). This travels over one of the highest roads in the country at 528m (over 1700 ft) - only occasional services in the Durham Dales by Wright Bros Alston - Keswick via Hartside pass (over 1900 ft go higher)
I also like all the 308-315 Holme Valley routes which are great on a double decker and you must not forget all the routes in Peak District / Yorks Dales which are all worth a trip.