I just love exploring Norfolk’s fabulous Countryside and try to get out every day. However, I do like to visit new places and see new things be it a nature reserve, a historic park or a special garden.
Recently though I’ve been feeling more and more unhappy about using my car to get out and about. Fuel is expensive and one person in a car just doesn’t feel very environmentally friendly. Plus as a walker I get a bit feed up with constantly jumping on verges to avoid cars. Time to start using the bus more and leave the car behind.
Bus inspiration
I was inspired to use the bus more by a member of the Aylsham U3A walking group that I’ve been leading for the last 8 years. Whilst giving him a lift to one of our monthly walks he told me he had walked nearly all of the Norfolk Trails network, mostly without the use of a car. I was fascinated and asked him how on earth he managed it. He introduced me to bus services like Our Bus and dial a ride services, that whilst I had heard about them, I had never thought to use them. He did caution me by saying you have to do your homework and you have to think about what you will do if it goes wrong. He also advised that if you can, plan your walk to end at a location with several travel options. The reason for this, if you arrive for the start of your walk a bit late no problem. If your walk ends at a location with limited bus options and you are late for whatever reason, you may find yourself stranded and have to phone a taxi or find another solution. The final piece of advice – allow a bit more time than you think you’ll need.
The bus departs
So I decided I was going to give it a try. I would start by taking a bus from where I live to the surrounding villages or towns and then use either the Rights of Way or Norfolk trails network to get back home. Quite quickly I was heading up to Cromer and using the coast hopper service to allow me to walk sections of the Norfolk coast path, or to go and visit one of the many reserves for a bit of bird and nature watching. I also realised that without thinking about it I was starting to walk further.
I found out that not only was it easy but I actually enjoyed being on the bus. I could watch the countryside pass by whilst listening to an audio book. I could read a book, I could look up the plants or animals I might have seen that day; I could plan my visit to wherever I was heading. I could even sleep or doze. From the top deck I noticed footpaths or tracks, that I was unaware of and wondered where they led, so I would go home and investigate them on a map. I was getting more and more adventurous. No longer was my first action to reach for the car keys, now I was thinking can I do this by bus and I was loving the challenge. Ok, I do still use the car, Norfolk’s a big county and there are some places where it’s just not possible to get to by public transport. Now however I find myself thinking, OK so I could drive to Dereham or another market town and use that as a hub in the same way I started. Where will that take me?
Why take the bus?
And the advantages well there are quite a few. With fares at the moment capped at £2.00 per single journey, for a single person it’s often cheaper than taking the car. I’m now living my best retired life so with an older person’s bus pass it’s free at weekends and after 9.30 am. The bus is more sustainable and more people using buses could mean fewer cars on some narrow roads, or at already crowded car parks. I think for the most part it’s also a slower pace, more relaxing and for me personally ticks a lot of boxes.
Taking the bus also opens up a range of longer linear walks and trails. This has freed me from the circular walk trap and helped me explore more of Norfolk’s countryside on foot. The bus journey has become part of the adventure. Hey, I may even start crossing the county boundary.
Where will your next bus journey take you?
On any walk don’t forget to dress appropriately for the weather and wear suitable footwear. A small backpack with at the least a fully charged mobile phone, a drink of water, a high energy snack, a flashlight (in winter) and and a small pack of assorted blister plasters is a good idea. My pack also has a foil emergency blanket and if I don’t know the area I’ll include a map.
Want to plan a journey on the bus? Please click on the link below for a fantastic resource for planning your journeys on public transport – Travel Norfolk’s public transport planner.
Public Transport in Norfolk
Pathmakers would love to hear how you are using the bus or other public transport to help you explore the Norfolk Countryside. Please share your favourite public transport accessible walk and tell us which buses you used to get to them.
