Best bus routes

Now operated as service 300 under Stagecoach South West, the Exmoor Coaster is a stunning route that runs from Minehead all the way through to Ilfracombe. Now that Stagecoach operate it, a change of bus is needed at Lynmouth and only the section from Minehead to Lynmouth is open-top. However, the Ilfracombe portion is still worth a visit - maybe to Woody Bay Station or the beach at Combe Martin. There are only 3 buses a day, but it does run every day until the end of August. The scenery is stunning, and the experience is unforgettable so I would recommend doing this route when in the South West

Whilst this is an ordinary bus route to most, head past Rockwell Green (where most buses terminate) and take the two-hourly X22 to Tiverton. The scenery around Uffculme and Willand is absolutely stunning! Although the buses are nothing special, the landscaping is once crossing the border into Devon

If you're lucky enough, take a wild ride on the once a day bus that continues beyond Wiveliscombe to Bampton and Dulverton. Once upon a time, all services use to terminate at Dulverton however all but one service terminate at Wivelisconbe now. The scenery in between Wiveliscombe and Bampton is truely stunning, and the scenery beyond into the heart of Exmoor at Dulverton is breathtaking. Unfortunately, you'll be lucky to see tbis (as the connecting service 26 from Wivelisconbe to Dulverton is a minibus) and in winter it'll be dark by the time the last bus gets past Wiveliscombe

Operated by First Bus and previously known as Weston's Coaster, the Explore Weston & Sand Bay open+top route promises a great experience for all. Whilst the scenery is nothing special, it is a pretty great opportunity to get out and about on an open+topper - especially if you're low on time. The buses are nicely branded, and serve both the bus interchange and railway station in Weston-super-Mare. Whilst it's a shame it doesn't run to other places like Burnham-on-Sea, it's a nice little gem tucked away in this little area of North Somerset

Although when I rode this route it was on a cold and grim winter's afternoon, that did not make the experience less enjoyable. The 95 service skirts the coast from Bude all the way to Wadebridge, and whilst spending 2 hours on an MMC is a little bit too much for me it is well worth it! The bus passes through some great scenic spots like Widemouth Bay, Boscastle and Tintagel. The views are just out of this world and it really does make your day. Because it is part of the Go Cornwall Bus network, you can purchase a Transport for Cornwall network ticket which allows access to other great bus services via one ticket

Whilst this is a little different to the rest of my favourite routes, this service is arguably better than all of them combined. The Coastliner network is a small network of routes operated by Transdev's York & Country operation and operates routes from Leeds and York to Malton and then Scarborough or Whitby. I'd say the 840 to Whitby is better however I've never experienced the Scarborough service beyond Malton. The scenery on the 840 to Whitby is absolute fantastic, especially between Thornton+le-Dale and Whitby where the bus passes over the North Yorkshire Moors. Views of the NYMR can be seen from everywhere, and the buses plush seats, announcements and WiFi makes for an all round 'first class' experience. With the addition of other great scenic routes in the area, the 840 can make for a nice day out to the Yorkshire Coast