Thanks Alister, I enjoyed doing this but it’s a bit of a departure from what I normally do and I’m not sure if it’s going to do well or not tbh. If it does, yep I think I’ll do some more 😊
Sadly this year (2023) the Strumble Shuttle has been scrapped altogether. The Puffin Shuttle was too, but may be taken over by another company. Another little excellent bus service around St Davids is the Celtic Coaster. It runs during the summer season only and covers the popular sites on the St Davids peninsula - Whitesands, St Justinians, Porth Clais, St Davids.
Standee is definitely an old bus term, going back to the horse bus days, but the term really came in when the first single deck one 'man' operated buses came in, in the 1960s
Another superb video and in a corner of the country I have no knowledge of what so ever. Made me think about some of the very rural buses we have in the Highlands, will definitely have to go on and explore on one of them one day.
Cheers Marc - yes they serve a purpose don’t they. I often think there are some very large buses doing short rural routes where these smaller Optares would be better suited (Shropshire is a good example of that).
That is such a lovely route. It also reminds me of service no. 201 in Malta, which is also pretty rural, goes on cliff tops and serves a few visiting spots
@@LetsMakeaTrip if you need to know anything more about Malta just ask me 😉. Btw, we also used to have Optare Solo buses like the one you rode on, they were Optare Solo Hybrids which Arriva brought here in 2011, but sadly they were scrapped in 2020
If you want some tight road bus reversing action try the Lands End Open Toppers in the summer. There are some nerve racking moments for sure. Only £5 for a day ticket two. When you think of the mileage all the way round the coast from Penzance to Lands End its a bargain!
This was my former route, as well as the Puffin Shuttle (400). Was also fortunate enough to drive the final days of both services in March using this very Solo. One of the nicest buses I've ever driven. Such a shame these services were cancelled for this year and, judging by the local councils' recent approach, wont return in the future. The new "fflecsi" DRT buses seem to be the way forward
@@LetsMakeaTrip Came down to vehicles, Council refused to pay for newer vehicles as the Solo's were getting closer to EOL (the Puffin Shuttle (EXZ) went through 2 engines during the Summer 2022 season for example). Richards then decided it wasn't worth constantly maintaining the pair just for them to keep going wrong, even though the Strumble (EXW) was as strong as an ox
@@cambriatransport6420 What a shame, DRT is going to be an obvious downgrade, both because passengers won't know how long the bus is going to turn up in when requested, and the vehicles TfW have ordered for Fflecsi are literally vans (unless the ex-Bwcabus vehicles are being used). Imagine how they're going to handle those roads given apparently even going over a speedbump in those is a memorable experience for all the wrong reasons!
@@SWTE728 Both Puffin and Strumble Shuttles returned for the 2024 Summer Season, although not with Solos but new EVM Cityline/Mercedes Sprinters which are an upgrade in some respects but a downgrade in others. (Easier to fit down country lanes but definitely not built for bumpy roads)
Another great video. My favourite little bus in he UK is the service from Leek to Macclesfield operated by Aimee’s. It takes 33 in’s about the same as a taxi and a fraction of the price. I decided to take it after a meeting in Leek to pick up my train to London from Macclesfield. I was on the last run of the day and the only passenger onboard. The driver saw I was taking pictures of the country and offered to stop for me to get better snaps.
Cheers John, haven’t heard of this one tbh. I was working near Leek today and looking out for it and I agree, it is very photogenic there up in the moorlands 👍
Hi Andrew, I’m torn between South west Wales where this video was filmed and North Wales and the amazing scenery of Snowdonia and the Lleyn Peninsula. I love Wales - it’s so close to where I live. Tbh, I would recommend anywhere north or south but if you do head north - Caernarfon and Porto Colmon and the legendary Shell Island! Go for it!
Yes I understand from one or two others there are many like this in Scotland since the demise of the post bus. Might be a future idea to try a few out?
A great video. We are lucky to live close to this route, but drive a car or cycle to get around. Must try a bus one day to do a section of the coast path or another footpath
Hi Kimberley, thanks for the comment. Yeh, I was surprised how fast it sped along! I guess they know the roads. Lovely part of the world, I try and get down there every year so hopefully I’ll get some more buses in in 2023. Cheers 😊
Great trip. Something surprising me is the road is smooth, even though the terrain is bit hilly, and the bus which is Low Entry can passing it without problem.
Yes it bumps along a bit in parts and it certainly zips about when it wants to! Maybe these Optares are designed primarily for rural areas? Not quite sure on that tbh?
Thanks for this, it was very enjoyable. And what a lovely area. Visited Wales once and really liked it. This makes me that much more eager to return and explore more of it. 👍
Ah cheers mate, thanks for the comment. I love Wales but I do live near the border so it’s great to be able to get to the coast in a couple of hours. I definitely recommend more visits! 👍
Looks like exactly the same buses that are used on Jersey's Liberty bus service though they also use double deckers (airport run) and open tops (St Helier to St Brelades Bay - the most popular beach on the island) - the fare is £2 whether you go one stop or from St Helier to the furthest point...wondeful views
I’ve been meaning to get to Jersey for a while now - last time I went was in 1975 so it’s probably changed a bit! Hopefully try and get over next year and try some of these buses out. Thanks 😊👍
Ah, Optare Solos, They can be very hit and miss, but overall, I like them. This route very much reminds me of the 508 route in Cumbria, between Penrith and Patterdale, with similarly comparable beautiful views, and that one is a double deck open top experience - Very scenic indeed. Great little video :)
Hey thanks Kieran - much appreciate the comment. I went on one of those open top buses from Windermere to Grasmere a year or so back and yeh, agree, it’s a fantastic part of the world and I really enjoyed it. I must do some more round there actually. Good shout 👍
Hey thanks Kieran - much appreciate the comment. I went on one of those open top buses from Windermere to Grasmere a year or so back and yeh, agree, it’s a fantastic part of the world and I really enjoyed it. I must do some more round there actually. Good shout 👍
Well worth knowing Strumble Head was where the last real invasion of the GB occurred - a rather motley crew of half-hearted French soldiers and mercenaries. The locals were not hugely impressed, and had already started rounding them up even before the local yeomanry sped on horseback all the way from Carmarthen to deal with it.
Good for buses! We went back on the normal bus (Traws Cymru) along the main road. I think it goes back towards Aberystwyth that one. There are other 'shuttles' calling in to St Davids. No train station though.
😮 wow great little journey Mark hope you all had a great holiday all the best John 😊😊😊
Lovely little trip
Loved this little bus 🚌….thank you…
@@MaureenKelly-p8d it’s a lovely part of the world Maureen 👍
Loved it really enjoy these wee quirky type reports. More please
Thanks Alister, I enjoyed doing this but it’s a bit of a departure from what I normally do and I’m not sure if it’s going to do well or not tbh. If it does, yep I think I’ll do some more 😊
Sadly this year (2023) the Strumble Shuttle has been scrapped altogether. The Puffin Shuttle was too, but may be taken over by another company.
Another little excellent bus service around St Davids is the Celtic Coaster. It runs during the summer season only and covers the popular sites on the St Davids peninsula - Whitesands, St Justinians, Porth Clais, St Davids.
Standee is definitely an old bus term, going back to the horse bus days, but the term really came in when the first single deck one 'man' operated buses came in, in the 1960s
Interesting, thanks a lot for the comment 😊👍
Thanks…going to have to visit this part of the world 🌍
Wow what a great video! As you said, its worth the money
Oh definitely and for me, it doesn’t always have to be about long-distance bus routes either. I really enjoyed it 👍
Another superb video and in a corner of the country I have no knowledge of what so ever. Made me think about some of the very rural buses we have in the Highlands, will definitely have to go on and explore on one of them one day.
Yes I bet there’s some amazing rural buses in the highlands. Post buses would be a good one 😊
Sadly the post buses no longer exist, small bus operators with minibuses fill the gap now, such as The Durness Bus
@@walterfillingham sad, I never knew that! At least there’s still a few options I guess.
Arriva operates Optare Solos in Leicester, usually on the 27/29 to Coalville, they are very nippy and I often enjoy any trips I have on them.
Cheers Marc - yes they serve a purpose don’t they. I often think there are some very large buses doing short rural routes where these smaller Optares would be better suited (Shropshire is a good example of that).
Turned out nice. Hope your daughter cheered up a bit once the sun came out!
Haha, yep it’s a camera thing!
That is such a lovely route. It also reminds me of service no. 201 in Malta, which is also pretty rural, goes on cliff tops and serves a few visiting spots
It is isn’t it! Next time I’m Malta I’ll try a few more of these remote routes. Plenty to explore yet 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip if you need to know anything more about Malta just ask me 😉. Btw, we also used to have Optare Solo buses like the one you rode on, they were Optare Solo Hybrids which Arriva brought here in 2011, but sadly they were scrapped in 2020
I will do mate, thanks very much for the support with the comments and engagement too - always look forward to your thoughts 😊👍
Picturesque journey thank you Mark and stay safe, cheers,
Cheers Simon, yes it’s lovely. I’d recommend a week down there, lots to do 👍
If you want some tight road bus reversing action try the Lands End Open Toppers in the summer. There are some nerve racking moments for sure.
Only £5 for a day ticket two. When you think of the mileage all the way round the coast from Penzance to Lands End its a bargain!
That’s a great price, I’ll look into that for next year. Cheers Ashley 👍
This was my former route, as well as the Puffin Shuttle (400). Was also fortunate enough to drive the final days of both services in March using this very Solo. One of the nicest buses I've ever driven. Such a shame these services were cancelled for this year and, judging by the local councils' recent approach, wont return in the future. The new "fflecsi" DRT buses seem to be the way forward
Yes I heard they'd been cancelled. Can't understand - it was really popular when I was on it.
@@LetsMakeaTrip Came down to vehicles, Council refused to pay for newer vehicles as the Solo's were getting closer to EOL (the Puffin Shuttle (EXZ) went through 2 engines during the Summer 2022 season for example). Richards then decided it wasn't worth constantly maintaining the pair just for them to keep going wrong, even though the Strumble (EXW) was as strong as an ox
@@cambriatransport6420 What a shame, DRT is going to be an obvious downgrade, both because passengers won't know how long the bus is going to turn up in when requested, and the vehicles TfW have ordered for Fflecsi are literally vans (unless the ex-Bwcabus vehicles are being used). Imagine how they're going to handle those roads given apparently even going over a speedbump in those is a memorable experience for all the wrong reasons!
@@SWTE728 Both Puffin and Strumble Shuttles returned for the 2024 Summer Season, although not with Solos but new EVM Cityline/Mercedes Sprinters which are an upgrade in some respects but a downgrade in others. (Easier to fit down country lanes but definitely not built for bumpy roads)
@@cambriatransport6420 That's nice 👍
Another great video. My favourite little bus in he UK is the service from Leek to Macclesfield operated by Aimee’s. It takes 33 in’s about the same as a taxi and a fraction of the price. I decided to take it after a meeting in Leek to pick up my train to London from Macclesfield. I was on the last run of the day and the only passenger onboard. The driver saw I was taking pictures of the country and offered to stop for me to get better snaps.
Cheers John, haven’t heard of this one tbh. I was working near Leek today and looking out for it and I agree, it is very photogenic there up in the moorlands 👍
Great video
Thanks Andrew 😊👍
North Wales is where I never been to and it does look really nice, picturesque and beautiful.
Hi Andrew, I’m torn between South west Wales where this video was filmed and North Wales and the amazing scenery of Snowdonia and the Lleyn Peninsula. I love Wales - it’s so close to where I live. Tbh, I would recommend anywhere north or south but if you do head north - Caernarfon and Porto Colmon and the legendary Shell Island! Go for it!
I have been to the Brecon Beacons and Mid Wales. And South Wales (apart from Newport, Cardiff and Swansea). 😊
Looks a lovely little trip 😊
It was good fun and definitely useful if you’re in the area and want to do some walking 👍
That looks like a super little bus journey and you got the weather for sure.
Yes I understand from one or two others there are many like this in Scotland since the demise of the post bus. Might be a future idea to try a few out?
@@LetsMakeaTrip I'll need to look into that. Sounds like a great idea.
Fantastic video and thanks for adding subtitles again
No problem, glad you enjoyed it 😊
That driver was definetly taking that bus through its paces lol
Yep, looks like the video was speeded up at some points but I can assure you it wasn’t! 😊
@@LetsMakeaTrip haha
A great video. We are lucky to live close to this route, but drive a car or cycle to get around. Must try a bus one day to do a section of the coast path or another footpath
Cheers Ali, you are lucky living down there. I’d love to myself one day and the bus service makes it even more appealing for me 😊👍
I've taken this bus in the opposite direction from Trefin to Fishguard and it was a fun journey. You really do need to hold on tight.
Hi Kimberley, thanks for the comment. Yeh, I was surprised how fast it sped along! I guess they know the roads. Lovely part of the world, I try and get down there every year so hopefully I’ll get some more buses in in 2023. Cheers 😊
What an interesting little route. A very interesting video as always, thanks!
Cheers Myles, yep I’d definitely recommend going down there as there are a couple of other routes like this emanating from St David’s too 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip too many places to visit with so little time ! 😄 work just gets in the way
Great trip. Something surprising me is the road is smooth, even though the terrain is bit hilly, and the bus which is Low Entry can passing it without problem.
Yes it bumps along a bit in parts and it certainly zips about when it wants to! Maybe these Optares are designed primarily for rural areas? Not quite sure on that tbh?
Thanks for this, it was very enjoyable. And what a lovely area. Visited Wales once and really liked it. This makes me that much more eager to return and explore more of it. 👍
Ah cheers mate, thanks for the comment. I love Wales but I do live near the border so it’s great to be able to get to the coast in a couple of hours. I definitely recommend more visits! 👍
Looks like exactly the same buses that are used on Jersey's Liberty bus service though they also use double deckers (airport run) and open tops (St Helier to St Brelades Bay - the most popular beach on the island) - the fare is £2 whether you go one stop or from St Helier to the furthest point...wondeful views
I’ve been meaning to get to Jersey for a while now - last time I went was in 1975 so it’s probably changed a bit! Hopefully try and get over next year and try some of these buses out. Thanks 😊👍
Ah, Optare Solos, They can be very hit and miss, but overall, I like them. This route very much reminds me of the 508 route in Cumbria, between Penrith and Patterdale, with similarly comparable beautiful views, and that one is a double deck open top experience - Very scenic indeed. Great little video :)
Hey thanks Kieran - much appreciate the comment. I went on one of those open top buses from Windermere to Grasmere a year or so back and yeh, agree, it’s a fantastic part of the world and I really enjoyed it. I must do some more round there actually. Good shout 👍
Hey thanks Kieran - much appreciate the comment. I went on one of those open top buses from Windermere to Grasmere a year or so back and yeh, agree, it’s a fantastic part of the world and I really enjoyed it. I must do some more round there actually. Good shout 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip I’d love one of these trip reports but for the X4/X5 between Workington and Keswick, it’s a amazing route and I know you’d love it!
Looks a nice route 👍
It is lovely down there 😊
@@LetsMakeaTrip 👍😊
Brick? Looks like field stone.
I hope you paid the family an appearance fee mate 😉
they look so happy don't they!🤣
Great trip report
Thanks Luis 😊👍
Well worth knowing Strumble Head was where the last real invasion of the GB occurred - a rather motley crew of half-hearted French soldiers and mercenaries. The locals were not hugely impressed, and had already started rounding them up even before the local yeomanry sped on horseback all the way from Carmarthen to deal with it.
One Welsh lady held a dozen of them with a pitchfork I believe!
What is public transport like from St David's?
Good for buses! We went back on the normal bus (Traws Cymru) along the main road. I think it goes back towards Aberystwyth that one. There are other 'shuttles' calling in to St Davids. No train station though.
🥇🥇🥇🍾🍾🍾🍾🥂🥂🥂🥂👊👊👊👊