tubechallenge.com

LOL let's raise 34 grand so you can do this.

For the third year running, it's Lands End-John O'Groats by local bus. Having studied the latest timetables, I'm hoping to shave 90 mins off my 2016 record of 3 days, 8 hours, 55 mins and not have to resort to an emergency train, like I did last year.

I've completed the logistical nightmare of booking travel and accommodation at reasonable prices. The problem is of course to book a hotel that you will definitely reach but not one that restricts how far you can go in the day. You also need a back up to reach the hotel just in case the buses go wrong. And I'm keeping my fingers crossed that no one closes a bus station. Chester shame on you!

So all I have to do now is arrive in Lands End on the morning of Wednesday 29th August and catch the right bus. I've made a few tweaks to my route and have an 11 mile walk at the end of one of the days. Hopefully the weather will cool down by the end of the month as bus travel can get unbearably hot. Although it's probably cooler than it is in the South East.

Before anyone asks the Stagecoach Falcon service between Plymouth and Bristol is a coach, so I won't be using that.

Wish me luck and I'll let you know how I get on.

Have u got a twitter account we can follow as you go along

tufnellpark wrote: ↑04 Aug 2018, 14:52

Before anyone asks the Stagecoach Falcon service between Plymouth and Bristol is a coach, so I won't be using that.

Wish me luck and I'll let you know how I get on.

I was so tempted to get the Falcon but I’m glad I didn’t.
Best of luck to you!

dstock17 wrote: ↑04 Aug 2018, 15:05 Have u got a twitter account we can follow as you go along

Great idea!

Will you always go South to North or might you reverse it one year?

Just noticed on Wikipedia that John and Kirsty Boyd from Runcorn, Cheshire , travelled from Land's End to John O' Groats in August 2017 using 20 buses, in 3 days, 2 hours and 47 minutes. That's far fewer buses than me so I got a bit suspicious. Looking at their Facebook page reveals they used the Falcon coach from Plymouth to Bristol, a Citylink coach from Glasgow to Inverness and a John O'Groats coach to the end, so I would dispute their definition of buses. These three come under the heading of express coaches.

I'll stick with local bus services as defined by section 3 of the Transport Act 1980. So what is that definition?

"Local service" means a service for the carriage of passengers by road at separate fares, not being an express service.

"Express service" is a service for the carriage of passengers by road at separate fares, where the place where the passenger is set down is 30 miles or more from the place where he was taken up. In practice this means that if the stops are more than 30 miles apart then it is an express service, usually operated by a coach with advance bookings. Otherwise it is a local bus.

dstock17 wrote: ↑04 Aug 2018, 15:05 Have u got a twitter account we can follow as you go along

Sorry no Twitter account for me.

al wrote: ↑04 Aug 2018, 22:31 Will you always go South to North or might you reverse it one year?

Being a traditionalist I will probably stick with Lands End to John O'Groats.

Just when I thought it was all perfectly planned, Stagecoach North Scotland change their timetables from 20th August 2018. My last bus (17:30) to John O'Groats has been withdrawn. Even worse the 77 Wick-John O'Groats now doesn't run at all on Saturdays, so I have to go via Thurso which adds an hour to my journey at the end of my four day trip. No one said it was going to be easy. Thanks a lot Stagecoach.

tufnellpark wrote: ↑04 Aug 2018, 14:52 For the third year running, it's Lands End-John O'Groats by local bus. Having studied the latest timetables, I'm hoping to shave 90 mins off my 2016 record of 3 days, 8 hours, 55 mins and not have to resort to an emergency train, like I did last year.

That's some going - I'm just having a play with timetables now and have only managed to get to Preston in three days! (Overnights at Honiton and Worcester).

Are you having a go at it, RJSRdg? I did it last year and had so much fun! I wasn’t completing it in a hurry though, I took 11 days.

No, just a paper exercise at this point. As it's one of the less energetic challenges, I think I can leave this one until I qualify for a bus pass (and a senior railcard to get me to the start and home again!).

Found 4 days 8 hours 43 minutes so far!

I finished my journey on Saturday evening and despite Stagecoach North Scotland's attempts to scupper my trip by completely withdrawing Saturday services on route 77 (Wick-John O'Groats) just two weeks before my departure, I did it in 3 days, 8 hours and 17 mins, which is 38 mins quicker than my attempt in 2016. A new world record.

My route was very similar to 2016 but included an 11 mile walk at night to connect two bus routes. Perfect weather, cool and sunny for most of the time. Just 16 hours sleep over the three nights. And that is the most difficult thing, keeping focus/going when you're tired.

An enjoyable trip with glorious scenery and only two delays of note. A road closure due to an accident in Cornwall meant I missed a connection and my last bus was 12 mins late due to the driver having to fuel up the bus before departure. Stagecoach North Scotland, sort your act out.

74% of my 31 buses were on time (i.e. within 5 mins of scheduled arrival time) and there were new buses in Scotland courtesy of Stagecoach. At least they got that bit right.

Will I do it again next year? Probably.

That's top going Clive, well done

Good work Clive!