When one thinks of public transport in the south west over the years, two names tend to dominate; Western National and Devon General. But as this book with a difference shows, there was much more to it. Whilst it features buses past and present from a variety of operators large and small, it does so by following the route of one of the most well-known walks in England. The South West Coast Path stretches for 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset, through Devon and Cornwall along the north coast to Land’s End, and back along the south coast to Poole harbour in Dorset. It boasts some spectacular scenery and regularly appears in lists of the world’s best walks. So this is not just a book about public transport, it is also a travellers’ guide to things to see and do along the length of the Coast Path. Readers can imagine themselves at the front of their own imaginary tour bus, stopping at key points along the way. The photographs of buses date from the 1920s through to the 2010s, and feature over twenty-five different operators. There are brief notes on the way in which the Coast Path connects these places and the availability of modern-day bus services between them, and should any further encouragement be needed to plan a visit to the area, scenic views of some of the most beautiful locations are also included. It is hoped that this unique volume will appeal not just to bus enthusiasts but to anyone interested in visiting this glorious part of the country. AUTHOR: Andrew Bartlett was born in Leicester in 1951 and can date his interest in public transport back to the age of four. He worked for the Inland Revenue/HMRC for 38 years, latterly as a management consultant; being based in London, and holidaying in Devon for many years, have provided him with the opportunity to write about buses in places other than Leicestershire. Following early retirement in 2007, he has set crosswords for the Financial Times and the New Statesman, and has become an avid amateur genealogist. He is a member of the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust, for whom he has undertaken various research projects, and is a regular contributor to its newsletter. Married to Debbie, he lives near Market Harborough.
110 colour illustration and route map
