Contentious Caledonian Considerations - 1

Trundling Though The Trossachs

Well that is what it used to do. Once upon a time you could trundle in a Bedford OB ...

... and even buy a bus model as a souvenir of your trundle.

The name "Trossachs" is taken from that of a small woodland glen that lies at the centre of the area ...

... but is now generally applied to the wider region.

On the map above, the actual historic Trossachs is just to the left of the "T" of Trossachs and about the same size. If you blinked you would miss it! 

The wooded hills and lochs of the area may be considered to represent a microcosm of a typical highland landscape, and the woodlands are an important habitat for many species. Much of the Trossachs area is protected by various different conservation designations, including the Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve.

The Trossachs form part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which was established in 2002.

The bus service is now branded "The Trossachs Explorer" and is operated by two proper buses in a smart livery.

It starts on July 7th.

So where does it go? There is no proper map on the web site. It does invite you to click on "map" but this is all you get.

Useless.

But have no fear, dear readers, there is a route diagram which starts (left below) from Alexndria on the Glasgow Electric line to Balloch.

Unfortunately, in fact, Balmaha is north of Drymen and Alexandria just a bit south west! 

The diagram is a misleading straight line ending at Callander, one time home of that glorious Scottish series, Dr Finlay's Bookcase.

Barbara Mullen (Janet), Bill Simpson (Dr Finlay) and Andrew Cruikshank (Dr Cameron) above. fbb's favourite characters were Dr Snoddie (Moultrie Kelsall) and Mistress Niven (Effie Morrison). They don't make telly like that any more - they don't make actors like that any more!

But we digress!

And you guessed it; Killin is north of Callander and Stirling is south.

So wrong again.

In desperation, fbb has drawn his own rudimentary map, showing the core route and advertised connections. How easy and useful are these connections is, in some cases, debatable.

The timetable operates seven days a week but there are four variants, so you need to be on your bus traveling toes to get the right one.

The 309T journeys from Alexandria are operated by the two buses on the Explorer cycle, with similar journeys back in the evening. 

Times on a BLUE background are for sailings on Loch Katrine on board Sir Waltr Scott ...

... a fine and truly historic vessel. 

Times on pale YELLOW are various bus connections. 

Then here is Thursday's and Friday's schedule ...

... with different connections on the "normal" 309. 

Next, Saturday ...

... where 59 to Stirling and C60 to Killin are different. 

Which leaves Sunday ...

... different again.

The promoters of this service have done their best to give the best journey options - but you need a lot of wits about your person to plan and enjoy the service. It would not be pleasant to find yourself stranded at Brig o Turk with a very long walk.

A well-planed ride is worth the effort!

Then there's the fares!

The above set apply all the way from Alexandria to Callander and, presumably, on the connecting 309s as well as the 309T through journeys,

BUT ...

... Why spend £9.50 when you can do much the same for £6? 

Then there is a selection of "other" single fares.

But why pay £7.50 for a single from Drymen to Loch Katrine when the £6 ticket is valid all day?

Maybe fbb has got it all wrong (not the first time?) but it is confusing.

If you can work it all out correctly, this looks like a very splendid service, well worth a ride!

Pity about the inadequate publicity.

Regency Route Re-Stock

The Regency branding has long been applied to buses to Tunbridge Wells with branches to Heathfield (centre of top map above) and Eastbourne (off map bottom right).

A previous geographical map is, perhaps, easier to grasp.

There have been various liveries over the years beginning with basic labels on the standard fleet livery ...

... and moving to a full route specific design.

... the most recent being rather PINK.

Brighton and Hove buses has announced a massive investment in new vehicles for the complex ...

... and a new version of the PINK paint scheme.

So much better that Brighton's multi-coloured clothes peg livery.

 Next D & G blog - Tuesday 1st July