Is This the UK’s Most Scenic Bus Trip? Traws Cymru T3, Wrexham to Barmouth. 

Cheers James. Very true words and I reckon it’s a massive indicator of whether you love your job or not. Not everyone does I guess but from a passenger point of view, a friendly welcome really makes a difference and you’re so right - for some it may be their only interaction of the day. Many thanks for the comment, appreciated 😊

Wales is a bit like much of Scotland, you drive by time rather than speed or distance. Once in mid Wales you don't get anywhere fast.

Lots of stone walls, keeps the concentration going! And rain (normally). But it’s a mountain and lakes area isn’t it - a ‘west of the UK thing’! Cheers mate 😊👍

Lol. I visited Wales twice & I wouldn't dare to drive there ,or England ,or Scotland !! Lol. Like Japan where I'm originally from ,too many super narrow streets/ roads there !! Scary !! Lol. And finding parking & all is a drag !! Besides,in an emergency situation ,I'll react like I would as driving over here in the States !! Not sure about the traffic law in U.K.& my whereabouts are bad formula for a disaster cocktail !! Lol. 😅💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿💞

The wales rover tickets covers both trains and provincial buses, during a period of 8 days. If you need more than 8 days (as I did) just buy another one.

@user-gt2ud2gw9e Yes !! I had read that before ! But ,you have to be spending more than 8days in the areas ,in my case I couldn't use it last summer . Hope he could use that ,your suggestion ! 👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶✈️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿💞

Cheers Ifor, I always thought it was but I stand corrected - ta.

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it.

Cheers Keith. Yes I’ve heard about the 20 mph. Though it’s only a few miles to the border for me, I haven’t had the ‘pleasure’ of the reduced speed limit yet!

@@LetsMakeaTrip It's 20 mph only in built-up areas. Imagine, 20 mph on the M4!

I don't get what the fuss is about to be honest as all that has changed is that the default speed limit on those roads where it applies has been reduced to 20mph. That doesn't mean every non motorway road is now 20mph as many seem to think, it just means that if there are no speed limit signs and you are in a built up area with street lighting you should assume the limit is 20mph whereas before you assumed it was 30mph. Road with faster speed limits still have faster speed limits. 40mph roads are still 40mph, 50mph roads are still 50mph, national speed limit roads are still 60mph and motorways are still 70mph.

@@kevinh96 There are also a number of roads in built-up areas that have been given an exemption and remain 30 mph. However, as this is no longer the default, they have 30 mph repeater signs.

You dont understand the issue. Its anger at the arrogant and aggressive way the Welsh Goernment terat anyone who challenges anything they do. 460k names on a petition and the First Ministersays it means nothing. I drove from llandudno to Prestatyn last week and i was torture. 20 mph even in rural areas. Totoal traffic Jam. @@peterdean8009

Yes we are :)

Cheers Tim, it certainly surpassed my expectations even though I know the area quite well. I’ll definitely do one or two more 👍

Cheers Steve, I might give it another go on the buses. As a tourist, I really enjoyed it but I’m not sure what it’s like if you need to rely on it tbh. Thanks for the comment 😊👍

Same thing for East Glamorgan valleys. You hear plenty about poor train service but little about the dire bus service, which is the most used form of public transport in the valleys and should never have been privatised.

All beautiful places those Samantha. Don’t forget though, Barmouth has the best fish and chip shop!

No worries, hope you enjoyed it 😊

@LetsMakeaTrip I did !! And I giggled at your worried face there ! It reminded me of how uncertain I was ( a Japanese gal from Los Angeles ! Lol ) there during my trip in Wales, whenever I took a bus or train in Wales I often got worried if I was at a right place ,or if I really get to my destination on time !! Lol. And you !! You're an English man ,but you weren't sure ,either ! Lol. On trains in Wales, they announced often that we had to change our car to another ,or even get off as it changed to a non direct train from direct one !! LOL And I saw & Brits ( mostly Welsh ) were saying " Where am I !?" So on...talking to a friend ,or family member on their mobile phones !! I was like ,if you guys aren't sure ,what am I supposed to know/ do here !!?? Lol. Laughable memories now ,but I was panicking a bit !! Then one time ,I almost got stranded at a train station in Saundersfoot in pitch darkness !! LOLOLLOL That was my fault ,though ! I knew about it two years beforehand, but because of covid pandemic lockout ,delayed my trip & totally forgot about it !! ( no man operating & no taxi around ! ) A big thanks to Simon ,the train driver who let me jump back on that train & got me off at Tenby station & called a taxi for me on his mobile !! 🙏💕I told this story to other Welsh in Saundersfoot on the bank holiday there ,they just loved it too much !! I felt like I was a talk of the town for a while after that !! LOL They grabbed their friends to tell my story & the one told another & others jumped in the conversation & went on in a big circle of drunk Welsh people at a bus / taxi stop right by the arcade !! I was just laughing with 'em !! Lol. Thank you so much for your reply !! 💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞

Cheers Mark. Yep a great bus, we’ll worth a trip in any weather I reckon 😊👍

It was a nice ride and (he probably won’t remember) but he helped me out in Dolgellau when I wasn’t sure where to get off! Please convey my thanks 😊

Cheers KC, thanks for the comment 😊👍

I’d travel (I have travelled) all the way from Shrews to get fish and chips from The Mermaid. Love it 👍

Yes the old green Crosville buses. We used to get them in Shrewsbury too. I vaguly remember the bus parking in Barmouth - been going there for years. I remember the old double-header summer trains as well and then realise why Barmouth needed such long platforms!

Cheers Paul. Yep I had a similar experience on the Excel bus but the a/c was on coming through the vents which made it bearable. I guess it depends on the bus to an extent 😊👍

Cheers Paul 😊👍

Cheers mate, thanks for the feedback. You should find my more recent videos have a better text format.

Cheers Jim, thanks for watching mate 😊👍

Great story Kevin, thanks. Yep, overall I think the network is pretty decent. As a tourist, I would use it to get about though not sure how good it is from a commuting and/or local pov tbh. Overall though, definitely recommend 👍

Cheers Nigel - wasn’t that confident with the pronunciation tbh (there are lots of pedants out there when it comes to that sort of thing), good to know it wasn’t too bad. I like the Cob as well. Need to get myself back to Porthmadog for a few pints of Purple Moose. I’m sure they did a Glaslyn ale at some point?

@@LetsMakeaTrip I dare say native Welsh speakers would roll their eyes at both our renditions. 😁 But it sounds as if you, like me, have made some attempt to learn the pronunciations. Many don't bother. Yeah. Purple Moose are still advertising Glaslyn Ale on their Web site. Their Snowdonia Ale's very pleasant too! 🙂

Cheers Shaun and thanks for the comment. I’ll make a note of the Clwyd thing for future reference, ta 😊👍

Cheers Katie and thanks for leaving a comment 😊

Cheers Mark. I agree, when you drive the A5 you get a real sense of history I think. Tbh, it used to be a nightmare round Shrewsbury on a summer bank holiday and the bypass really helped with that. But the road’s still there and I love it!

Oh definitely put it on the list Sean, it's right up there in terms of scenery!

Thanks Sue, lovely comment and I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊

Cheers Matthew, yes I was surprised when researching this how many 'T*' routes there were. I definitely plan on doing some more next year. Btw, Texas this friday!

Cheers Lee, yep me too - even when the weather’s a lot worse than this!

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it.

Well thanks very much for the kind words!

Cheers Andy. I agree and carrying n north to the Lleyn Peninsula it gets even better coastal-wise. Llanbedrog for example - lovely there!

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it 😊👍

Cheers mate - I defintely recommend it (and one or two others are on my list for net year too).

Let me suggest that the Western Isles from Vatersay to Port Nis is on your list for next year. The best tour in UK.... 200 miles on small buses and ferries@@LetsMakeaTrip

Cheers Robert. Been meaning to produce this video for a while so it's going back a few months but I had a great day doing it and obviously the weather helped massively.

Cheers Simon, glad you enjoyed it 😊👍

It’s beautiful isn’t it. Love this area 😊

@@LetsMakeaTrip yes it is x

I have a list like that! 😂 Wales is great, right on my doorstep and so varied. Thanks for the comment as always - much appreciated 😊👍

Thanks Sheila. Oh you should go there, admittedly it's right on my doorstep but I love it. The scenery is beautiful any time of year.

Cheers Ian, hope you enjoy it as much as I did 👍

Cheers Robert. Yep the weather certainly made a big difference!

Cheers Arthur, thanks for the comment - appreciate it 😊👍

You should Enrico. Right on my doorstep and within the hour I can be in great scenery like this. I love Wales and fortunately I had great weather. If you ever get here, let me know 😊👍

​@@LetsMakeaTrip in my upcoming trip as I will also be visiting Aberystwyth I will be travelling with Traws Cymru towards Llangollen, which is also another Welsh gem not far from Shrewsbury. Traws Cymru has a lovely and handy day ticket as well for North Wales

I’m thinking of trying that one from Newtown. Doesn’t make much sense for me, living in Shrewsbury but it looks like a nice run on paper.

It was. Cheers Karl

It can get busy that train. Barmouth Bridge is closed atm but when it opens again I would recommend a trip in the winter as the contrast is fantastic and the train is (should be) nice and warm!

Yes I’ve heard the 1bws ticket is good value - I might well use that next time. Sad to hear about the double-deckers but glad you made it onto one. Bustimes is a good website for checking that kind of stuff. Cheers Brian 😊👍

Yes that is one trip I really want to do 👍

What are the chances! Yep, on another subject (somewhere) I was going to ask what the shortest branch line was and I could only really think of this one in Wrexham and the Stourbridge one. There may be others but pretty sure these must be candidates.

Cheers David. Yes, love the scenery from start to finish really. I’d love to do it in the winter with snow on the mountains - would be fabulous 😊👍

Cheers James, thanks for watching 😊👍

Cheers Robert, yep, definitely a bargain I thought.

They are. Definitely recommend the trip 👍

Cheers Adam. Yep, I was pretty lucky with the weather tbh but on a day like this you may well get the jets from RAF Valley (I think) and the Mach loop is the place for that if you ever get the chance.

Thanks very much. I must admit though, I reckon a sidecar ride on this route would be great fun! Well any route really, I’ve never been in a sidecar 👍

Thank you! Good info there on the bus pass usage too. I don't qualify for one yet but one day I'll need to use one in Wales for sure! Sorry I missed your grandmothers house, the road must be a lot busier now though as well.

Cheers mate, thanks for the comment. Much more difficult with public transport in rural areas I agree it ought to be improved where it’s a problem. Not much progress there by the sounds of it.

Cheers Peter, yep, can’t complain atm thanks. Hope you’re good too 👍

I was wondering this as I’ve taken the train on that route many times. Yes that part is nice but Newtown to Shrewsbury’s fairly non-descript. Both got their scenic plus points I think. When the old route between Ruabon and Barmouth Junction was in use, that would’ve been fantastic. Another lost line unfortunately.

Cheers Rick. Yes with most of these trips (the ones I do anyway), you don't want to be in much of a rush tbh! Obviously most of Wales is a bit limited now when it comes to trains but this Traws Cymru network is certainly compensating in some areas.

Cheers Gareth. Yep, plenty of flies about on that day! A/C would’ve been good if I was being picky but as you saw, I just moved down the bus after a while to feel the benefit of he open windows.

Cheers mate 😊

Cheers Kevin, yes I’m hoping this video does well and I can fund one or two more then. I definitely want to do the T4 and T5 👍

I guess you can mainly just go west (and on the English side, east) yes.

That is a fantastic statue that. Always stands out when you're driving through Corwen. And rightly so!

Owain Glyndwr my hero

Cheers mate. Interesting comment that because I was the same a few years back then the older I get, the more I can’t be bothered driving very far anymore. Maybe it’s just me!

Cheers Tony.

@LetsMakeaTrip Your welcome Mark how about a trip to the Scillies in the spring a bit expensive though thanks for the great trips Tony.

I was scheduled to do it a few weeks back Tony but then it all went tits up when storm whatever it was came over. Cancelled all my plans but I have rescheduled the Penzance stay to end of March so hopefully I'll be on it then.

Nothing more than that Craig! Oh maybe a bus pass one day 😂

Cheers Elgan. Yep Bangor to Aber would be a good one to do, I'm also thinking Newtown to Cardiff one day (though it doesn't make much sense for me living in Shrewsbury). Plenty of scope though on this network, I'll definitely do some more!

Hi Alan, yep that sounds about right.

You could take the Eurolines coach (see my recent video on that for info 👍).

thank you for the information....will look into it@@LetsMakeaTrip

Yes that is excellent value. I've heard of it now and will use it next time I go. Cheers

Haha, enjoy mate. I’ll be retired myself soon!

That’s useful to know, thanks for the info 😊👍

Absolutely Mike, what’s the worst that can happen. If you don’t ask you’ll never know 👍

Cheers mate. Yep the 555 I have heard about that one so I shall be expecting a report/video. I hope there's a 'RU-vidrs Society' you can join up there lol!

Yes I’ve already been corrected by Jo! 😂 glad you enjoyed the video 👍

Cheers Neil. Yep, I believe the bridge is out of action for a while unfortunately. £6.50 / £4.50 for a days travel on the bus - you cannot go wrong for that. Might try it myself in the future. 😊👍

@LetsMakeaTrip As I said, great video. Just a shame the bus isn't more like the Stagecoach X2 from Preston to Liverpool with USB points fabric seat covers and tables. I'm sure the E400s leave either Scarborough or Falkirk plants eith built in squeaks and rattles. Epsom Buses -Quality Line (now history thanks to RATP) used them on the 406 and 418. They were the noisiest buses to travel on, especially the panel in front of where you were sitting at the start of your journey. The panel fits like a size 10 shoe on a size 7 foot.

It was and I totally agree. There were rumours the existing heritage line could be extended but I’m not sure anything came of it in the end?

A bit late but a couple of the reasons why the line can go no further than Corwen. The bridge over the road just after the new station has been removed and the line through the old station ( you would see it on your right leaving Corwen) is now under the little industrial estate.

As a child I travelled from Rhuabon to Barmouth by train many times as the last leg when going to visit my grandmother. My over-riding memory is how industrial the first stage of the journey was (I.e. past the coal sidings and chemical works around Acrefair) and the scenery only opened out after Llangollen. After that I remember how slow was the onward journey, stopping frequently and waiting for other trains at passing points. I was usually asleep be Dolgelly (it wasn’t Dolgellau in those days) and had to be woken up at Barmouth. Without that route Barmouth became a less-interesting railway venue, being just a through station. No more engines having to cross and recross Barmouth bridge in order to turn around at the Barmouth Junction triangle (note, not Morfa Mawddach in those days).

Interesting. Tbh, I didn’t really consider speed as a thing on this route given the roads used. As a tourist it was all about the scenery but appreciate that from a locals pov, it would be good to be able to connect a little quicker yes. 👍

I thought the bus station outside the railway station there looked quite good wrt connectivity? I’ll defer to your greater knowledge sir!

Cheers John, yes I thought that must be the case reading some of the comments on here. Thank you 😊👍

Thanks for the idea. This trip definitely won’t be my last on Traws Cymru. Might try something in the winter actually and see what it’s like then. And Betws-y-Coed is lovely too 😊👍

Last winter used T3, change at Corwen onto T10 to Ty Hyll - Ugly House and walked down path alongside river to see Swallow Falls (a mis-translation from Rhaedr ewynnol which really means Foamy Falls) from the path alongside the river you do not pay an entrance fee. Have something to eat inBetws-y-Coed and buses back. Best of luck.@@LetsMakeaTrip

When concessionary bus passes were first introduced I believe they included all three ‘countries’, but excluded Ulster. Since then, like so many ‘benefits’ their value has been limited. It is ridiculous that cross-border travellers are disadvantaged. Where I live (in England) although I have a pass we very rarely see a bus to use it on.

I’m sure I read somewhere that I you live in London, you get your bus pass earlier?

@@LetsMakeaTrip You get issued your concessionary pass at 65 as normal, although you can apply for a 60+ Oyster card when you hit 60 which is essentially identical to a Conc pass, it’s just got a different limit to the times it can be used. However, all London residents can use their Concessionary passes and 60+ Oysters on rail/tube services within Greater London as well as buses.

Yes, only the heritage lines remain in parts unfortunately (and a well-used cycle trail!).

Diolch Peter! It didn’t cross my mind tbh but now you’ve mentioned it 👍

I did, then I realised it was a bit out of date. Strangely enough, not that many have called me out on it - I was expecting more tbh!

Cheers Raymond, good to know, thanks 😊👍

You can get the ariva No1 bus from Wrexham to Chester as long as you coming back to Wrexham on the pass but you can't use it from Chester going further in to England

I will definitely be in Portsmouth again at some point so I’ll have a look. Cheers Finley.

Tried these heritage railways before but unfortunately, no one's interested in them. Don't know why tbh but there you go.

oh and a great video of a great route.

Cheers mate. I see quite a lot of that when I’m out driving - not sure it’s exclusively English who are doing it but you get it around here too (when anywhere rural) some people just can’t do it 😂 Sometimes I’d quite fancy being the bus driver but yep, sure it can come with a load of hassle too! 😊👍

Cheers John! Yep, no bother with the ticket really. Great drivers and beautiful scenery. What more could you ask for? Oh yeh, fish and chips. Sorted 😊👍

The ticket issue was not the drivers fault, it was Marks fault for buying the wrong ticket for the journey he was making. The 12:35 journey is NOT meant to continue to Barmouth, it was always meant to terminate at Dolgellau.

Thanks. Yes it was earlier in the year- June.

It doesn’t cover it (last time I looked anyway) but I believe what I should’ve done is buy a ‘day explorer’ type of ticket which is unlimited travel for only a couple of quid more. That’s certainly what I’ll do next time.

Cheers Ian, yep, if I had the day pass, get off at Llangollen, train to Corwen and get back on 👍

Aye mate if you like out door stuff North Wales is the place 😊

Haha, I knew someone would say that. I’m from Shrewsbury, i couldn’t possibly comment! 😂

I know I live here🤣🤣🤣

@@LetsMakeaTrip Should hv popped - literally around the corner at Wxm bus station - and taken in the 'atmosphere' at what we call 'Top Spoons' (Wetherspoons). Proper _Star Wars Bar_ material in there mate.... 🤣

The bus services around Wrexham (ariva) have tap on ,tap off

I’ll defer to Shaun’s knowledge there 👍

Officially yes on buses in North Wales, they are all meant to be tap on, tap off as the Welsh Govt funded for it to happen (with the high end cap being the 1Bws fare) however some operators are the exception and I have little faith that it works on the smaller operators so it's easier to pay cash.