Honiton to Sidmouth
When Stagecoach bid for the South West Trains franchise, the company ticked all the boxes, one of which was bus/rail integration. With the help of timetable guru Barry Doe, some brand new bus links were inytoduced from stations to towns unserved by rail. Other services were diverted to call at stations. Such was the Stagecoach hourly route from Honiton to Sidmouth and on to Exeter, now numbered 9.
The link still exists but is poorly advertised as the trains from Honiton are now run by First, but the bus is run by Stagecoach.
But there was (and still is!) a problem with the timetable presentation and its effect on journey planners. You can travel FROM Honiton station ...
... but you cannot travel TO Honiton station.
The journey ends at Lace Walk from where, for example, the 1023 arrival, after a break, leaves at 1028 for a station arrival at 1031.
The fbbs joined their route 9 at Lace Walk after their coffee break ...
... to travel under the railway ...
... and via the station ...
... where the bus manoeuvres itself, skilfully, to serve connecting passengers, right outside the station building.
There were none!
First's South Western Railway has reduced the service through Honiton to a pathetic every TWO hours. The track, which was "fully repaired" after last year's Summer hot-weather troubles, has gone a bit wobbly again. So maybe the bus was passing in a two hour gap?
The estate was developed from the 1960s ...
... but the second railway crossing reveals a narrower, older road.
But you can observe the single track en route to Exeter.
The railway is crossed again back on the main road to Sidmouth, but you cannot see the track from the road ...
... and fbb was not quick enough on the camera button, hence Streetview views.
The next stop serves Tesco, just round the corner.
We now leave the urban sprawl of Honiton ...
... and our service 9 (ORANGE line, above) speeds up the hill to run into open country with "The Pig" off to the west.
Which pig?
It is a posh (VERY posh!) restaurant!
The Hare and Hounds pub at the next crossroads provides excellent nosh and is cheaper than The Pig. The fbbs have indulged.
From here, there are splendid views for miles, looking into the Sid Valley ...
... with the current scorched earth experience mitigated by several fields of maize which, after a grim grass growing summer, will be an autumn treat for the coos.
There is Sand in the left, but every time the fbb's have passed by, Sand is closed.
Sand is not visible from the narrow road that passes the entrance!
Sand is, however, available on parts of the beach at Sidmouth - at low tide.
Weak jokes, but glorious beach - at low tide!
We reach Sidbury, a village that starts off a line of four communities taking their name from the valley's watercourse.
Next we reach Sidford the crossroads on the A3058 to Exeter ...
... where we have met the pub on the corner, on our way to Otterton.
Lunch (pensioners' special) was taken at the White Horse chippy in Sidmouth ...
... before a standard 9A back to fbb mansions.
And the fourth Sid is Sid which lies on a back road between Sidford and Sidmouth.
O.K. It now appears as 'Fortescue' on the map, but when it had an Abbey, it was definitely "Sid"!
A splendid "Adventure", so where next?
Whilst waiting, what is fbb up to here?
It's complicated!
Next Variety blog : Saturday 22nd Aug
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