The summer of £2 bus adventures & greener days out

The lovely folk at Campaign for Better Transport have rounded up their favourite day trip destinations, all of which can be reached using the £2 bus fares in England (until 31 October 2023). We've also suggested nearby journeys by train so you can enjoy the ultimate green day out by rail and bus. Take a look below and be inspired to explore further this summer.

Yorkshire

By bus: Whitby via the Coastliner 840

If starting in Leeds, you could travel the 75 miles to this famous slice of the Yorkshire coast for just £2! This is officially Britain's most scenic bus route travelling through the North York Moors to reach its seaside destination.

By train: Esk Valley Railway

Take the train from historic Whitby into the heart of the North York Moors National Park with picturesque views along the way. Stop off at one of the many rural stations and explore further on foot – pick up part of the Esk Valley Walk for views of the countryside, open moorland and riverside pastures.

By bus: The Yorkshire Dales, via Metro DalesBus services

The DalesBuses are the perfect way to access the Yorkshire Dales, with double decker buses to enjoy the views from. Popular places reached by the DalesBus include: Bolton Abbey, Malham, Hawes, Fountains Abbey, Grassington and Ingleton.

By train: The Bentham Line

Connect with the Dales bus with a scenic train journey along The Bentham Line. Pick up the route from the bustling city of Leeds and you’ll soon be leaving the urban sprawl behind as you travel towards Skipton.

Settle to Carlisle Line

From Leeds or connect from The Bentham Line onto the iconic Settle to Carlisle Line for epic views of rolling moorlands from the train window. Stop off at Ribblehead and take the 10-minute walk to the base of the impressive Ribblehead Viaduct before enjoying a bite to eat at the local pub or grabbing a souvenir from the station gift shop.

South West England

By bus: Dartmoor National Park via the Dartmoor Explorer

Reached from Exeter or Plymouth the explorer takes you across the moors through popular towns and villages.

By train: Dartmoor Line

Visit Dartmoor, the Granite Way and Okehampton with a journey along the Dartmoor Line from Exeter. Okehampton Station is at the northern tip of Dartmoor National Park, perfectly placed for moorland walks.

By bus: Padstow and Newquay via the Atlantic Coaster

An ideal way to discover North Cornwall's famous beaches and seaside towns.

By train: Atlantic Coast Line
Travel through the beautiful Luxulyan Valley, across the Goss Moor before glimpsing views of the Atlantic Ocean as you arrive in the popular surf resort of Newquay.

The Lake District

By bus:

Stagecoach have put together this fantastic guide to getting around the Lakes by bus. All buses listed are included in the £2 cap, able to take you from Windemere and Bowness in the South up to Keswick and Buttermere in the North.

By train:

Explore the Lake District by train and connect with scenic bus routes across the national park. Take the Cumbrian Coast Line and leave the train at St Bees to pick up the start of Alfred Wainwright's famous coast-to-coast walk. The Furness Line offers spectacular views of Morecambe Bay fells and skirts the edge of Arnside and Silverdale Area of Natural Beauty (AONB). The Lakes Line takes you through charming rural villages from Oxenholme delivering you to the doorstep of the Lake District fells.

South East England

By bus: Brighton to Eastbourne, via the No.12 Brighton & Hove buses

More seaside exploring made more affordable by the £2 fare cap!

By train: Sussex Downs Line

Enjoy a scenic journey from Brighton through the beautiful South Downs National Park towards the iconic Seven Sisters chalk cliffs at Seaford.

North East England

By bus: Hadrian's Wall via the AD122 Go North East

From Chesters Roman Fort to Walltown Crags, this route takes passengers back to AD122, ideal for exploring our Roman past or hiking in the wild Northumbrian landscape.

By train: Tyne Valley Railway

Travelling through rolling countryside, this historic line follows the River Tyne from Newcastle into the heart of Hadrian's Wall country. Catch the AD122 Go North East bus to explore further from Haltwhistle Railway Station or Hexham Rail Interchange.

Campaign for Better Transport

Campaign for Better Transport’s vision is for all communities to have access to high quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life and protects the environment. They campaign for a cleaner, greener future with more frequent, affordable trams, buses and trains, less traffic and pollution, new and reopened rail lines, fewer domestic flights and a supported, sustainable bus network.

To find out more about Campaign for Better Transport, visit their website here.