Trip to Llandudno / Colwyn Bay 12-05-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
63012	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
4546	Llandudno, Mark & Spencers Stop D	Colwyn Bay, Greenfield Road	12	Arriva NW&W
681	Colwyn Bay, Greenfield Road	Llandudno, West Shore roundabout	12	Arriva NW&W
3189	Llandudno, The Oval	Llandudno Junction, Victoria Crescent	5	Arriva NW&W
3190	Llandudno Junction, Victoria Crescent	Llandudno, Victoria Centre Stop X	5	Arriva NW&W

Today was the first day of a short break in Wales. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We saw Shelton Care Group YP70 JYJ outside. We went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street. In the distance we saw Temple Street church minibus RX18 GZW. We carried on along City Road and we saw Afford rent-a-car NX72 HFY outside there yard.

Afford rent-a-car NX72 HFY in Fenton

We continued to the bus stop and we waited for the bus to Hanley. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 63012 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63012 in Fenton

We got on the bus and booked to Hanley before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down City Road and we joined the A52 and ran under the railway line. After crossing over the A500 we ran into Stoke town centre along Church Street. We followed the one-way system around onto Elenora Street and right onto Copeland Street. We turned left onto Glebe Street and we ran under the railway line before turning left onto Station Road. After stopping briefly outside the railway station we turned right onto College Road and we ran up the hill through Shelton. We continued onto Cleveland Road and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we continued along Bethesda Street before turning right onto John Street. We ran up the hill into the bus station and onto stand. Once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. In the bus station we saw First Potteries 67158 on a #7A to Biddulph. We left the bus station and we walked up Lichfield Street. We continued onto Tontine Street and onto Tontine Square. Afterwards we walked back along Tontine Square to the Intu Potteries shopping centre. We had a walk around the shops and afterwards we walked through Tontine Square onto Parliament Row. We stopped at Poundland and Matthew brought a bottle of Coke. After we had been to Poundland we stopped on Upper Market Square and We sat down and Matthew had a bottle of coke. When we had finished we walked along Tontine Street and forwards onto Lichfield Street and we stopped at the bus station to use the toilet. We decided to get a taxi back to Fenton. We got in the taxi on Lichfield Street and we set off along Licfield Street and over the ring road. At Joiners Square we went straight onto Victoria Road. We ran up the hill and we turned right onto the private road past the swimming baths. We turned left onto City Road and right onto Smithpool Road. We got out of the taxi by the chip shop and we ordered dinner. We walked back along Smithpool Rod and we turned right onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs and Matthew had sausage chips and gravy for dinner. Afterwards Matthew chilled out in his room until we came to pick him up at around 13:30. Matthew came downstairs and got in the car. We set off from Temple Street and we turned left onto Smithpool Road. We turned right onto Wheildon Road and we stopped to pick up uncle Dave. We continued down Wheildon Road towards the A500. At Stoke we saw D&G 160 on a #9 to Biddulph. We joined the Northbound A500 and we ran through Etruria and Longport. As we headed Northwards we saw Sporting Stars HX22 BTV, Hollinshead DH15 HOL, ABC Supreme HV22 HKB. We went under the M6 and we continued South of Crewe to the edge of Nantwich. We joined the Nantwich bypass A51 and we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 10575 / 27925(#84), Fenn MR09 FEN and Leger Services BJ15 BDE as we headed towards Reeseheath College. We continued to the edge of town as we were about to turned right we saw white minibus YN07 OZE. We stopped at Snugbury's and Matthew had ab ice cream. We walkked up to and around the bee and we saw the Stagecoach double decker go past. When we had finished we got back in the car and we joined the Westbound A51. As we travalled Westwards we saw an unidentified Paul's of Stoke coach, Lakeland L11 ESU, Anthony's Travel CB14 ANT,Stagecoach Merseyside 27925(#84), green minibus DK58 HSD and D&G bus 43(#82). Just outside of Chester we turned left and joined the A55. On the A55 we saw Veol 776 VC. We had a brief stop near to Abergele. Matthew used the toilet and we brought sausage rolls. We continued past Colwyn Bay and we came off the A55 to run into Llandudno along the B5115. As we tralled towards Llandudno we saw white coach FJ11 GMO, silver minicoach YN03 NHH, Alpine coaches YNZ 3263, Voel 7934 VC and City Sightseeing Tours OFZ 7848. We continued onto St George's Crescent and we stopped outside of the hotel. Whilst mum was booking in we saw Daish's Hoilidays BF68 ZDY. Once mum had check in we went outside and up to our room. Matthew had a room at the front of the hotel and could see the sea. We chilled out for around an hour and had drink before getting ready and going out to catch a few buses. We went out of the hotel and we turned right onto Clonmel Street. We turned right onto Mostyn Street and we walked up to the bus stop. As we got to the stop we saw Arriva NW&W 681 depart on a #14 to Llysfaen.

Arriva NW&W 681 in Llandudno

We had a look on the ma and we saw there was a #12 on the corner of the road about to depart towards Rhyl. We wauited for a few minutes and the bus appeared. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4546 on a #12 to Rhyl.

Arriva NW&W 4546 in Llandudno

We got on the bus and we booked and Arriva Daysaver Duo at £11.50 before going upstairs and sitting down. We set off along Mostyn Street and we past the coach park where we saw and unidentified Happy Als Coach and an unidentified Alfa coach. We continued onto Mostyn Broadway and we turned left onto Carmen Sylva Road. We turned right onto the B5115 and we headed Eastwards out of town. We ran past the Little Orme to the edge of Rhos on Sea and we turned left onto Church Road. We turned right onto Penrhyn Avenue and we ran down to the see front. We turned right onto Rhos Promenade and we continued onto West Promenade. We turned right onto Cayley Promenade and right onto Whitehall Road. At the roundabout we veered slight left onto the B5115 and we crossed over the A55. We continued into Colwyn Bay along the A547 and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4546 as it continued towards Rhyl.

Arriva NW&W 4546 in Colwyn Bay

We crossed the road and we had a look on the map what was due. There was a #12 due first, but it was running a little late. just after that the was a #14 service. Whilst we waited we saw National Express liveried Llew Jones BG65 TGU on a #175 from Manchester to llandudno.

Llew Jones BG65 TGU in Colwyn Bay

A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw Arriva NW&W 681 on a #14 to Llandudno.

Arriva NW&W 681 in Colwyn Bay

We got on the bus and we placed the Daysaver Duo tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A547 and we turned right onto the B5115 and we crossed over the A55. We veerd slight right onto Whitehall Road and we turned left onto Cayley Promenade. We turned left onto West Promanade and we ran forwards onto Rhos Promenade. We turned left onto the B5116 and we turned right onto Elwy Road. We turned right onto Church Road and left onto Penrhyn Avenue. We turned left onto Marine Drive and we ran along the coast. Near to the Little Orme we veered off the coact and we ran forwards onto Glan Y Mor Road. At the roundabout we turned right onto the B5115 and we ran up the hill. By the Llandudno sign we turned left onto Blyn Y Bla Road. We ran to the end and we turned left to rejoin the B5115. We ran along the coast for a short while before turning left onto Carmen Sylva Road. We turned right onto Moston Avenue and we ran towards the town centre. Following the one-way system we turned left onto Tudor Crescent and right onto Conway Road. By North West Gardens we turned left onto Moston Street. We ran a few blocks North Westwards before turning left onto the A546. We ran towards the West Beach and we turned left to follow the A546 and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 681 before the bus continued to the terminal.

Arriva NW&W 681 in Llandudno

We walked around the corner onto the A546 and we walked back up towards the centre of Llandusno to the next stop. There was someone waitinmg for a bus, so we decided to stop and look at the next bus. We had a lok at the timetable and there was a #5 to Bangor in about 15 minutes. Whilst at the stop we saw Arriva NW&W 3189 head towards the terminal. The bus ran around the turning circle and sat at the first stop. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3189 as expected.

Arriva NW&W 3189 in Llandudno

We got on the bus and we placed the tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A546 and we ran to the end before turning right onto Mostyn Street. We ran along the main street and e ran forwards onto Mostyn Broadway. We continued onto Mostyn Avenue, and we turned right onto Queen's Road. We crossed the A470 and we ran fowards onto Conway Road. We ran forwards onto the B5115 and we turned left onto Marl Lane. We turned right onto Victoria Road and we headed Southwards. We ran for about 1/4 mile and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of Arriva NW&W 3189 as it continued towards Bangor.

Arriva NW&W 3189 in Llandudno Junction

We crossed over the road and we waited for the bus back towards Llandudno. The was a bus due in around 5 minutes. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3190 on a #5 to Llandudno.

Arriva NW&W 3190 in Llandudno Junction

We got on the bus and we placed the Daysaver Duo tickets under the scanner for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Northwards up Victoria Drive and we turned left onto marl Lane. We turned right onto the B5115 and we headed Northwards. We ran Northwards for about a mile and we crossed over the A470. We ran forwards onto Queen's Road and we ran to the end. We turned left onto Mostyn Avenue and we ran into town. And we turned left onto Tudor Crescent. We turned right onto Conway Road and left onto Mostyn Street. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked along Mostyn Street and we turned right onto Clonmel Street. We turned left onto St George's Crescent and we met up with mum. The original plan was to go to McDonalds. We got in the car and we ran along St George's Crescent. We turned left onto St George's Place amd left onto Mostyn Street. We ran forwards onto Mostyn Broadway and we entered the retail park. When we realised the voucher we had for McDonalds wasn't worth the bother, we decided to try a chips shop. We left the retail park and we turned right onto Moston Avenue. We turned left onto Pleasant Street and right onto Victoria Street. We found the chip shop but there was nowhere to park, so we decided to go to Asda and get stuff to make sandwiches. We turned left onto Queens Road and left onto the B5115. We turned left onto Ty'n Y Ffrith Road and right onto Mostyn Broadway. We turned left onto Rudor Crescent and we ran forwards into Asda car park. After parking up we went inside and got food. Mum went to the till and Matthew went to use the toilet. We returned to the car and we set off onto Conway Road. We turned left onto Mostyn Street and we turned right Clonmel Street. We turned left onto St George's Crescent and the was no space, so we went around the block and parked on Clonmel Street. We walked back to the hotel and we we went up to the room. We started with a small sausage roll and afterwards had a ham sandwich. Matthew had a bag of Frazzles and then an egg custard. We chilled in the room and we wrote e-mails and did some of the Blog. Matthew had a bottle of Cherry Coke. He got changed for bed and I left for our room around 23:30. Matthew chilled out and went to bed around 00:30... Mark

Trip to Llandudno 25-04-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 246	Longton Hall Road	Mostyn coach park, Llandudno	Charter	Copelands Tours
817	North West Gardens, (NW bound)	Junction, New Road (Stand Z)	14	Arriva NW&W
2276	Llandudno Junction Station Platform 5 (W-bound)	Llandudno, Trinity Square (SW) (SW-bound)	13	Arriva NW&W
818	North West Gardens, (E bound)	Llandudno Junction Station Platform 5 (W-bound)	19	Arriva NW&W
2277	Llandudno Junction Station Platform 5 (W-bound)	North West Gardens, (NW bound)	13	Arriva NW&W
2658	North West Gardens, (NW bound)	Llandudno Palladium (Stand Y)	5	Arriva NW&W
911	Llandudno Palladium (Stand B)	North West Gardens, (E bound)	84	Arriva NW&W
MIB 246	Mostyn coach park, Llandudno	Longton Hall Road	Charter	Copelands Tours

Today we took Matthew out on his first coach trip of the year. We had a choice of Blackpool or Llandudno with Copeland's (the operater which Matthew chose) and he chose to go to Llandudno. Matthew has only been to Llandudno once in recent years, and that was last summer when we did a coach trip to Rhyl and traveled on. In ancient times Matthew has done a pair of class 20's when he was around 2 on a coal day, and also a trip here on Easter Monday in the later 90's with Bakers when buses were still just something that made him lift his head and get excited when in his pram. Planning consisted of downloading all the Sunday timetables for he Llandudno area. As I was getting the car ready to go to meet the coach, I noticed my near neighbours setting off up the road. As we left home we saw them at the local bus stop. When we arrived on longton Hall road we didn't have to wait long for the coach to turn up MIB 246 was power for the day. Matthew loaded onto the coach quickly, and whilst we were waiting for a couple of passengers
I got off to check the car was locked. Behind our coach arrived the Blackpool coach, which was required MIB 236. As it pulled off Matthew's face dropped in disappointment at not getting the coach he wanted. It didn't take him long to forget anout that. Eventually the passengers we were waiting for arrived off a slightly late running PMT bus. It was our near neighbours! We set off around town picking up the other passengers, including a lad the Matthew used to go to school with Anthony Goodrum. After about an hour and a half we pulled into knutsford services for a quick toilet break. Already in the service was MIB 236 on the Blackpool and Matthew spotted this straight away! As soon as he got off our coach he ran and jumped on the other! after taking a picture inside and out, we persuaded him to come off and promised we would get this coach sometime in the future!


The elusive (to us) MIB 236 in knutsford services (matt)

A toilet break later we were back on the coach. A fairly some journey then followed and the driver pointed out a few sights and facts along the way. When in llandudno we parked on the Mostyn coach park and walked into town. Mum unusually had some company in our near neighbours, so she left us to our own devices! We found some toilets and then found a good vantage point for Matthew to take pictures. I then left him with uncle Dave whilst I fought may way to the front of a very busy chip shop queue! by about 12:40 we were ready to start catching buses... The first bus Matthew wanted was the Alexander bodied dart 2277 that was parked up in trinity square. "what's it on?"..."13"..."Where's it going?"..."Prestatyn".."What time is it due off?"..."oh....now!". So we missed that one. Out came the netbook. The 13 goes via Llandudno junction so if we catch somthing to there we'll probably get a similar bus back. The 14 goes to the junction area before going west. "whens the next 14?"..."12:54"..."Where does it go from?"..."Mostyn Street (NW bound)!". So we walked briskly around the corner to the stop and whithin a couple of minutes Arriva NW&W 817 appears from around the corner. We book our NW&W day rovers and sit down. The 14 takes a weird winding route through countryside and eventually as we approach the Conway area we start to see familiar sights we have seen off the train. Getting close to the tunnel and not wanting end up on the other side, we get off near the road and river area.


Arriva NW&W 817 in Llandudno (matt)

We got off at the new road stop and the bus disappeared around the corner. We decided to follow the bus and then we realised that we were only one stop away from the railway station. We walked across to the station where we saw that there was a 13:30 to llandudno on a service 13.Aafter a few minutes the 13 turned up with another ALX200 in the form of Arriva NW&W 2276 in interurban livery.


Arriva NW&W 2276 in Llandudno (Matt)

We did this back to the square in llandudno and watched it go. We realised that there was not another 14 as this service is every 2 hours on a Sunday service. the next Conway bound bus was a service 19 from the main stop on Mostyn Street just after the hour. off this bus there was a return 19 and another 13. we waited for 15 or so minutes and Arriva NW&W 818 turned up on the 19.


Arriva NW&W 818 in Llandudno (matt)

We set off with the intention of getting off on New road and hopefully we would be able to catch one or the of the buses back. As we approached the New Road stop we passed the 19 with a Plaxton bodied Dart. Decided not to get off and carried on to the stop opposite the station. as we approached the railway station we passed the other bus which was another Plaxton bodied Dennis dart. At this point I realised that we were stuck at Llandudno Junction for an hour! to pass the time we took Matthew to Iceland, where he photographed cakes in the store and chose some cans of Vimto. we drank some of the said cans and also visited the toilet in Llandudno junction station. All things considered the time went passed really quickly. We guessed that the bus back would be 2277 and sure enough it was.


Arriva NW&W 2277 in Llandudno (matt)

by the time we got back we realised that Matthew didn't have much time to get in some more buses. We decided to get in a couple of buses really quickly by catching something from Mostyn Street further into town and than catching something out again. the first bus that turned up was 2658 on a number 5.


Arriva NW&W 2658 in Llandudno (matt)

We did this 2 stops up to the Palladium and got off. Virtually straight away there was a bus opposite on a #84. This was ex London 911. A strange short Plaxton bodied Dart with very few seat in it. We did this back to the main stop in Mostyn Street.


Arriva NW&W 911 in Llandudno (matt)

With about an hour to go before the coach left we decided to et some more chips and eat them on the front. Matthew took a few more pictures and then we went back around to Mostyn Street to take more pictures and meet up with mum. Ona #12 Rhyl, we saw our first glimpse of one of the Ex London ALX400 that are being deployed all across the Arriva NW&W Wales area. This was 4041 and it looked very smart in the interurban livery.


Arriva NW&W 4041 in Llandudno (matt)

After meeting up with mum, it was back to the coach to wait for the 17:15 departure. There was a slight delay in departing as our neighbours couldn't find a toilet in the area as the one on the gardens shut just before we got there. Matthew took some more pictures in the coach park before departure.


Happy Days Coaches 214 in Llandudno (matt)

On departure we made good time until we hit the M56. We had a short stop at Chester services and then we slowly progressed along the M56 until we passed the M53 and we managed to travel a little quicker. We reached newcastle just as it started to go dark and we then had another hour around town dropping of passengers. We hit Longton Hall road just after 21:00.


MIB 246 in Longton Hall Road (matt)

After dropping off uncle Dave I came back and we gave our neighbours a lift. It was a tight squeeze getting 5 and a chair into the car considering the boot was full already. Matthew seemed to enjoy the challenge. Quite a good day, but the coach trip wa a bit of an epic. We will be choosing the trip a little more carefully in future (Mark)