The Elders Council of Newcastle Transport Working Group

The Elders Council of Newcastle Transport Working Group Introduction For the last five years we have prepared a leaflet giving some ideas for days out using a concessionary bus pass and this has been so successful that we have decided to do it again this year. However, we emphasise again that you must check prices and the details of your journeys before you travel. You can check and get timetable leaflets at the Nexus Travel Centres in Newcastle or by calling the bus operators direct - most journeys from Newcastle are by Arriva or Go North East, start from Eldon Square bus station and times relate to Monday to Saturday unless otherwise stated. Once again, we are again grateful to Mervin for all his hard work and we hope that you find this leaflet useful and that you have many happy days out. Bill Ions Co-ordinator- Transport Working Group Outings in 2014 with a Concessionary Bus Pass Hello again for the sixth year with old favourites brought up to date and a host of new ideas including Darlington, Richmond, Northallerton, Pickering, Bellingham, Newbrough, Cockermouth and Newbiggin. I hope you have some interesting journeys. 1 DARLINGTON is a pleasant town with a good indoor market and, on Mondays, an outdoor one. There is a very good railway museum (entry 3.75) just off the road to Durham near to Morrison s. To get to Darlington take any bus to Durham then service 7 every 15 minutes - total journey time from Newcastle is about 2 hours. For a different way back get the X66 on the hour from Tubwell Row to Stockton (North end of High Street) then the X10 to Newcastle. (Total time 1 hour 50 minutes) 1

2 RICHMOND is a very attractive old town with a castle (English Heritage), also some narrow streets and a square worth exploring. Buses X26/X27 run every 20 minutes from Tubwell Row or try Dales & District 29 leaving Darlington at 1.15pm or Richmond at 4.25pm. Market Day is Saturday. 3 NORTHALLERTON, the county town of North Yorkshire holds a market on Wednesday and Saturday. To get the most out of your visit telephone me for a copy of the Town Trails leaflet. Dales & District 72 leaves Darlington at 1.00 and returns at 4.22pm taking 50 minutes. 4 HARTLEPOOL. Maritime Experience is a dramatic reconstruction of naval life in Nelson s time. It really is worth 8.25 for a visit. Nearby is the town museum free! There is no direct bus from Newcastle but get the X9 at half past the hour and change at Peterlee total journey time 1 hour 20 minutes. Stagecoach service 1 takes an interesting route from Hartlepool to Middlesbrough via Seaton Carew, the Hartlepool atomic power station and Port Clarence, for the Transporter. (see below) 5 STOCKTON holds its famous Street Market on Wednesday and Saturday and a visit to Preston Park is worthwhile for its outstanding museum with a parade of Victorian shops (entry 1.50) just get a service 7 bus. The steamer trip to Yarm on the Teeside Princess is much better than the river trips at Durham or York. Concessionary fares are 7.50 single or 9.50 return. It runs Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 2.00pm. Phone 01642 608038 to check. If you take a single then explore Yarm a little Market town, return to Stockton on the 7 or better, get the X6 to Middlesbrough then the X9 or X10 home. The way to Stockton is on the X10 on the hour taking 1 hour 7 minutes a double decker service going on to Middlesbrough. 6 MIDDLESBROUGH has a good shopping centre, also MIMA, a free gallery of Modern Art. The TRANSPORTER BRIDGE is unique in England and well worth a visit, though it is out of action until July. Get a local bus TR1 or TR2 from stand 5 in Middlesbrough bus station. At the South side of the Transporter Bridge there is a small exhibition and from the North side, Bus A66 departs at 32 minutes past the hour for Billingham (connect to X9 for Newcastle) and Stockton, alternatively you can walk to Port Clarence for service 1 to Hartlepool or Middlesbrough every 30 minutes. Middlesbrough is the starting point for Whitby, Scarborough, Redcar (see the new Vertical Pier ), Saltburn (don t miss the Cliff Lift), Guisborough (Priory Ruins English Heritage) and Stokesley. Buses leave Newcastle on the 2

hour (X10 via Stockton) and the half hour (X9 via Peterlee and Billingham) either takes 1 hour 20 minutes. 7 WHITBY is well worth a visit, both for the harbour area and the Abbey on the East Cliff reached by 199 steps. The only bus to the Abbey is the Open Topper with a concessionary fare of 4 for a day ticket. There are 2 routes from Middlesbrough, X93 (Scarborough bus) across the moors takes 1 hour 5 minutes and leaves at 25 minutes past each hour while the X4/4 via Redcar, Saltburn and the scenic coastal route takes 1 hour 51 minutes, leaving on the hour and half hour. 8 PICKERING a new idea for 2014 is a pleasant small town and the terminus of the North York Moors steam railway. The bus ride from Whitby is lovely and on a double decker. The Leeds Coastline 840 leaves Whitby at 12.09 and 1.49pm with a journey time of 1 hour 03 minutes. Buses return at 2.24 and 4.04pm, the latter arriving Whitby at 5.08pm, in time for the X93 at 5.42pm which should get you back into Newcastle at 8.30pm. Instead of using the 840 both ways you could stay on the X83 to Scarborough then get service 128 to Pickering at 1.40 or 2.45pm arriving one hour later. 9 SCARBOROUGH is as far as you can reasonably go for a day trip. The X93 takes 2 hours 7 minutes from Middlesbrough leaving at 25 minutes past the hour it can be crowded both ways. Buses back are at 40 minutes past each hour until 4.40pm. With a journey time of at least three and a half hours each way you may prefer the earlier start possible on a Saturday. 10 BISHOP AUCKLAND has its market day on Thursday but the main attraction is Auckland Castle, formerly the Bishop s Palace, open daily (except Tuesday) from 10.30am to 4.00pm. Admission 8 but only 4 if you fill in a survey form! The surrounding parkland is ideal for walks and is free! The Town Hall in the Market Place houses the library and information centre. Bus X21 from Newcastle via Durham runs at 5 minutes and 35 minutes past each hour taking 1 hour 20 minutes. On Sundays take service 21. 11 BARNARD CASTLE another nice town, this time with a Wednesday market, has a ruined castle (English Heritage) and the famous Bowes Museum, concessionary entry 8.50 - or take 95 or 96 bus for a pleasant ride up Teesdale to Middleton, just 32 minutes each way buses leave at 12.55, 1.55 and 3.50pm. 3

Direct bus 85 departs from Bishop Auckland at 11.05am or 1.05pm taking 50 minutes, or you could get service 6 at 11.47am, change at Cockfield to service 84 getting to Barney at 12.53pm. Service 85 back to Bishop Auckland is at 3.40 or 5.00pm. 12 STANHOPE, in Weardale, is another attractive small town with a Market on Monday. The Market Place is flanked by 3 interesting buildings; the Castle (really a mansion built in 1798), the Rectory rebuilt in 1821 and St Thomas Church of Norman origin but much altered. In front of the Church is a fossilised tree stump some 320 million years old! Do not miss the Durham Dales Centre a little to the West of the Church and set in the Castle gardens it s free. There are several places to lunch in Stanhope. To explore upper Weardale get the 102 at 1.00pm to Rookhope, back at 1.30pm or the longer 101 up to Cowshill at 1.45 or 2.45pm with an hour round trip. A super way to reach Stanhope (but not on Saturday or Sunday) is to take the X70 at 10.30am to Consett or an earlier bus and look around, you may be pleasantly surprised, continue on the 764 at 11.40am across the moors via Castleside and Tow Law to Wolsingham cross the road and wait for the 101 at 12.30pm to Stanhope. To come back get the 101 at 2.00, 3.15, 4.00 or 5.00pm to Bishop Auckland then the X21 home. 13 HEXHAM, with its Abbey and surrounding parkland, can be reached in less than an hour. X85 departs at 10 minutes past each hour and takes 47 minutes, 85 or 685 runs at 45 minutes past taking 51 minutes, while X84 via Wylam at 40 minutes past takes 1 hour. Double deck service 10 runs via Prudhoe, for its castle (English Heritage), leaving at 25 minutes and 55 minutes past the hour and finally 74, the country route, leaves at 10.35am, 12.35 and 2.35pm; both the 10 and 74 take just over 1 hour 20minutes. 14 BELLINGHAM, a quiet country town, has a very good Heritage centre ( 2.50) in the old station yard. It is a lovely 45 minutes ride up the North Tyne valley from Hexham on service 880 at 11.40am or 1.45pm. Return times are 2.30 and 4.30pm. You can get lunch in Bellingham. 15 NEWBROUGH is a large village North West of Hexham where you can get coffee or an exceptional Pensioners Lunch (Tues, Wed, Thurs) at the Red Lion. It is reached in 20 minutes by bus 683 departing at 40 minutes past the hour. The route is on minor roads via Bridge End and Fourstones. 4

16 ALLENDALE TOWN and ALLENHEADS are in the Allen Valley 25 and 45 minutes South of Hexham respectively. Bus 688 for Allendale Town leaves at 10.38 and 11.43am, 1.43 and 3.43pm with all, except the first, continuing to Allenheads. Take a trip all the way with, perhaps, a break one way in Allendale Town a large village with refreshment facilities. 17 HADRIAN S WALL. This year there is a new version of service AD 122 running from Hexham Bus Station to the Roman Army Museum at Walltown via Chesters, Housesteads, Vindolanda and Haltwhistle. Buses leave Hexham at 11.45am, 12.45 and 3.15pm, also at 1.45pm just as far as Vindolanda. This service runs Saturdays and Sundays until 28th September and daily from 26th May to 29th August. 18 CARLISLE is one of my favourite Cities with its red sandstone Cathedral and intact Castle (English Heritage). There are also two museums, a good shopping centre and some nice parks. Bus service 85/685 takes 2 hours 11 minutes departing from Newcastle at 45 minutes past each hour. Note the Carlisle Hexham version of AD 122 is not running this year. 19 WORKINGTON might seem an uninteresting town but find Workington Hall and the area around Portland Square and you might be pleasantly surprised. Bus 300 from Carlisle at 10 minutes past the hour takes 1 hour 20 minutes via Wigton and Maryport. 20 COCKERMOUTH is the home of Wordsworth Hall, the poet s birthplace (National Trust) and also has an interesting main street. Buses X4/X5 run every half hour from Workington taking just 23 minutes. To get home there are direct buses to Carlisle on service 600 at 4.27pm Saturday and 4.42pm Monday Friday getting you to Newcastle at 8.28pm. 21 KESWICK is worth several visits with a variety of things to do there. A boat trip around Derwentwater takes 50 minutes with boats leaving every half hour 8.75 or a conducted tour of the very interesting Pencil Factory Museum, 3.25. There are three spectacular bus routes from Keswick, the 78 open top service up Borrowdale to Seatoller and back takes just over an hour (check times), then my favourite the 77 and 77A circular route to Buttermere climbing Honister and Whinlatter passes. They leave at half past each hour until 4.30pm taking 1 hour 41 minutes and the last one goes on to Carlisle as service 73A via Mungrisedale and Caldbeck. On Saturday the Caldbeck Rambler 73A at 2.35pm does a circle 5

to the northeast getting back at 4.09pm. To get to Keswick between 4th July and 27th September, Wright Bros Coach 888 leaves Newcastle Coach Station at 9.20am. This is too early for the Concessionary Pass (except on Saturday) but you can board at 9.31am at Lemington Road Ends (Stagecoach buses 10, 39, 40 and X82). The 888 takes a magnificent route which is one of the highest in England (at Hartside Cafe). There is a 20 minutes refreshment stop in Alston, England s highest market town; arrival in Keswick is 12.30pm. On Sunday the 888 leaves Newcastle at 10.05am getting to Keswick at 1.00pm. There is an alternative this year get the 9.45am service 685 to Carlisle then the 554 at 12.10pm getting to Keswick at 1.21pm. To return from Keswick, the 888 leaves at 4.30pm and in Newcastle get off at the General Hospital for local buses. To spend longer in Keswick, the 554 at 5.35pm to Carlisle will get you home at 9.18pm or later still the 73A at 6.15pm will make Newcastle at 10.18pm. 22 KIRKSTONE PASS SPECTACULAR Is available this year Monday to Saturday from 19th July to 2nd September get Wrights 888 to Penrith then the 508 at 1.30pm to Windermere Station and the 555 at 3.07pm to Keswick for 888 back to Newcastle see Keswick for later buses home. 23 KENDAL, the principal town at the south end of the Lake District is about as far as we can get with our Concessionary Bus Pass. It has many places of interest, starting with the information centre in the Town Hall. When walking around the town, note the many wall plaques describing the buildings. To get there, start with the 888 (see Keswick) but get off in Penrith at 12 Noon to catch the 12.10pm service 106 which gets to Kendal at 1.23pm. After exploring Kendal, perhaps with a meal, get the double deck 555 at 3.40pm for a ride through the centre of the Lake District via Windermere and Ambleside arriving in Keswick at 5.02pm, in time to get the 554 at 5.35pm to Carlisle and home to Newcastle at 9.18pm. On the ride from Kendal to Keswick you could see 6 lakes; Windermere, Rydal Water, Grasmere, Thirlmere, Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite. 6

24 ROTHBURY is a pleasant small town in mid-northumberland with a direct bus from HAYMARKET but it s not obvious! Service X14 leaving at 18 minutes past the hour displays Morpeth but, when it gets there, the number is changed to 14 and the destination to Thropton, a tiny village 2 miles beyond Rothbury. I suggest you stay on the bus to Thropton, where it waits for about 10 minutes, then back to Rothbury, which is well worth a wander and perhaps a visit to a cafe. Note the X14 at 48 minutes past the hour does not go on to Rothbury. 25 BERWICK, England s most northerly town, is an attractive Georgian Market Town and one of only three in England where you can walk right round the walls free! There is a notable Town Hall of 1754 and Barracks dating from 1719 (English Heritage). The bridges over the Tweed are impressive - the Old Bridge built in 1610-34, the New Bridge of 1925-28 and Stephenson s Royal Border railway bridge of 1847. The tourist office in Marygate has a free leaflet for a walk around the town. The direct bus is X15 leaving Haymarket at 33 minutes past the even hour (8.33am, 10.33am etc) with a journey time of 2 hours 20 minutes get off at Golden Square, the first stop across the Bridge check return times. Some journeys on X18 also go to Berwick by the very attractive coastal route through Seahouses (for boats to the Farne Islands) and Bamburgh for its Castle - 9.00 admission and the Grace Darling Museum free! The 10.03am gets to Bamburgh at 1.14pm and Berwick at 1.58pm. Southbound X18 s leave Berwick at 2.07, 4.17 (Saturday) and 6.17pm while from Bamburgh they are at 2.46, 4.56 and 6.56pm (all Monday Saturday). Try to travel on the X18 in one direction and the X15 in the other with, perhaps, a break of journey in Alnwick. 26 SCOTLAND. The Tyne & Wear Pass is not officially valid in Scotland but Perryman s will let us travel on service 235 (the St Abbs bus, hourly) as far as Eyemouth; or on service 67 at 11.10am or 1.09pm via Kelso all the way to Melrose and Gallashiels. (1 hour 43 minutes) and on service 60 which also runs to Melrose and Gallashiels but via Duns so come back on this. Note you cannot break your journey in Scotland it must start or finish in England so visits to Duns, Kelso, Melrose and Gallashiels would have to be on separate trips. Except for Eyemouth or Kelso, Scottish trips can only reasonably be made by getting the 8.33am from Haymarket on Saturday. 7

27 ALNWICK Castle is the home of the Duke of Northumberland, visits cost 12. The famous Gardens cost 10.80 to visit. It is an interesting town to walk around and you should visit Barter Books in the old station with a huge collection of 2nd hand books and if you return a book you get half price credit against another purchase. The direct bus is the X15 from Haymarket at 33 minutes past each hour with a journey time of 1 hour 23 minutes but for a more scenic ride the X18 leaves at 3 minutes past each hour taking 1 hour 55 minutes. The route is via Amble; Warkworth, for an English Heritage castle and a nice walk along the River Coquet to the Hermitage; also Alnmouth for pleasant seaside walks. 28 WOOLER a small pleasant town easily reached from Alnwick, ideally by the 470 bus at 12.45pm via Chillingham but also by the 473 at 11.55am and 1.55pm each takes 45 minutes. The best way back to Newcastle, but only on Wednesday, is the Glen Valley coach 710 from Wooler at 3.40pm due in about 5.00pm. You can do the circuit in reverse order leaving ST. THOMAS STREET at 11.30am (Wednesday) getting to Wooler at 12.50pm. Buses from Wooler to Alnwick on Service 470 run at 2.45pm but at 1.45pm on Wednesday in school term. Service 473 runs at 5.05pm. 29 NEWBIGGIN BY THE SEA is near to home but often overlooked. It has a fine beach and promenade to view its famous statue out to sea. The new Maritime Centre, admission 2.50, is at the North end near the Church, the headland and the Cresswell Arms bus stop. Bus X21 leaves Haymarket bus station at 8, 28 and 48 minutes past the hour and takes 1 hour 20 minutes. If you travel on its top deck you might see Northumberlandia, the huge female earth sculpture on the former opencast site to the left about 20 minutes from Newcastle. Note there are route and timetable changes in Newbiggin from 6th July. Until then, Cresswell Arms is served by 35 from Morpeth and Ashington but afterwards by X21 from Newcastle. The 35 on its way back to Morpeth does not go to the bus station in Ashington. For more information and further ideas please phone me:- Mervin Dixon - May 2014 Telephone - 0191 285 5843 Elders Council of Newcastle 2nd Floor, Biomedical Research Building Campus for Ageing and Vitality Nuns Moor Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL Tel. 0191 208 2701 Email. info@qualityoflife.org.uk 8