Trip to Matlock / Sheffield 17-08-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
685	Matlock Interchange	Bakewell Stand E	6.1	Trent Barton
636	Bakewell Stand D	Sheffield Interchange	218	TM Travel
1190	Sheffield Interchange	Bents Green, Trap Lane	4	TM Travel

Today we decided to visit Matlock. Matthew had chosen this earlier in the week so we did some research on parking and eating. We also researched what buses we might be able to catch. We downloaded network maps for Yourbus and Trent Barton. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange for breakfast. We set off around 12:00 and we ran onto the A5035. We ran through Dresden into Longton and we joined the Eastbound A50. We ran through Meir Towards Blythe Bridge and we continued towards Uttoxeter. We continued past Doveridge and we turned left onto the A511. We crossed over the A50 and we ran the last couple of Miles to Hatton. We stopped at the Saltbox Cafe for dinner. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw Trent Barton 704 on a V1 Villager service to Burton-on-Trent. When we had finished shopping we got back into the car and we continued Eastwards Hilton. We ran through the village and we joined the Northbound A516. We crossed under the A50 and we headed Northwards up to the A38. We ran to the West of Derby and we joined the Northbound A6. We headed Northwards and we passed through Duffield and Belper. We continued the Cromford and into Matlock Bath. We accidentally turned into Matlock Bath railway stationcar par think it was Matlock. We turned around and we continued Northwards up the A6 for a further mile or so. We ran past Matlock Railwa station and we turned left onto Cawdor Way. We parked up in Sainsbury's car park and we said goodbye to mum. We walked around the side of Sainsbury's and we saw Peak D8 about to depart on the 14:00 to Rowsley. At the other end of the station we crossed over the railway and we saw NCB steam locomotive 72 on the rear of the 14:00 to Rowsley. We walked over to the bus interchange and we were just in time to see Gardiners coach YD17 WXW departing.

Gardiners YD17 WXW in Matlock Interchange

Matthew decided he need the facilities so we walked into the railway station and Matthew used the toilet. After he had used the toilet we walked back into the interchange to see Trent Barton 685 on a #6.1 to Bakewell.

Trent Barton 685 in Matlock Interchange

We got on the bus and we booked a Zigzag Group Day ticket at £14 before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the Interchange and we headed Northward up the A6. We turned right onto the A615 and we headed into the town centre. We turned left onto Bank Road and we turned left onto Imperial Road. We turned left at the back of the Marks & Spencers Food Hall and we entered the bus station. As we came in we saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 11125 on a X17 to Sheffield. At the back of the bus station was a small coach park on which BSS Coaches C20 BSS was parked. We set off onto the Northbound A615 and we passed G-line coach GL17 HOL. We joined the Northbound A6 and we continued Northwards through Darley Dale and Rowsley. We continued Northwards for the last 3 miles or so into Bakewell and as we cam into town most people got up and got off the bus. We ran into the town centre and we did a u-turn at the roundabout where we saw TM Travel 1173 on a #218 to Sheffield. After turning around we headed back South. We got up to get off at the next stop. Matthew took a picture inside Trent Barton 685 before we got off.

Inside Trent Barton 685

Once off the bus we walked up Matlock Street to the roundabout to see if the buses were still at the bus stop. By the time we fought our way up the tourist-busy street the buses had departed. We got to the stop and we saw Hulley's of Baslow 18 on a #178 to Monyash.

Hulley's of Baslow 18 in Bakewell

We walked down Water Street onto Granby Road and we stopped at the toilet by the main car park. Afterwards we walked along Granby Road and we stopped at an ice cream van and Matthew had an ice cream. After we had finished eating the ice cream we walked up a back alley and we came out on Matlock Street. We walked up to Rutland Square and we sat down for a while. We decided to get up and walk around the town for a while. We saw Hulley's of Baslow 4 on a #172 to Matlock.

Hulley's of Baslow 4 in Bakewell

We walked along Bath Street and forwards onto Bridge Street. We crossed over the River Wye and we walked alongside the river. We crossed back over the river on the Love Locks bridge and we spotted a Co-operative Food store onto Market Street and Granby Road. We went in the shop and we brought a can of Coke and a bottle of water, and a few chocolate bars. Once we had finished and paid in the shop the plan had been to walk along Granby Road and turn left to go to the bus stop for the next #6.1 towards Derby. Matthew had other ideas... He decided he wanted to walk back up Matlock Street and wait for the next #218 towards Sheffield. We walked up the street and we sat in the stone bus shelter on Rutland Square. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was TM Travel 636 on a #218 to Sheffield.

TM Travel 636 in Bakewell

We got on the bus which was extremely busy, and we brought TM Travel day tickets at £7 each. We had intended only travelling as far as Baslow and catching something else back. The bus set off onto Bath Street and forwards onto Bridge Street. We crossed over the Wye and we headed Northwards out of town. We veered left onto the B6048 and we headed towards Chatsworth. We turned left onto the B6012 and we turned left into the entrance of the house. We crossed over the River Derwent and we went up to the bus stop near to the house. we saw Back Roads Tours RJ19 HXB, York Pullman YN65 BND, Crusader Travel CRU ????, white minibus DK61 DDN, an unidentified Angus coach, silver minibus KK19 CJF We came out of Chatsworth and we passed Yourbus 1454 on a #217 service. We ran back up to the B6012 and we headed Northwards into Baslow. We turned right onto the A625 and we headed through Froggatt. We turned right onto the B6054 and we ran down to Owler Bar. We turned left onto the A621 and we headed through Totley and Dore station into Sheffield. As we travelled into town we saw First South Yorkshire 63020 on a #97 to Totley. We up abbey lane and onto the Eastbound A625. We veered right onto Psalter Lane and we ran forwards onto Cemetery Road. We joined London Road and we crossed over the ring road into the city centre. We ran past Sheffield Hallam universtity and near to the railway station and we entered the Interchange where we got up and got off the bus. We saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 28677 on layover.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 28677 in Sheffield Interchange

We had a walk around the bus station and Matthew used the toilet. On the East side we found a coach stop area. we saw Johnson Bros National Express liveried coach FJ12 FXA on a #350 to Stanstead Airport.

Johnson Bros FJ12 FXA in Sheffield Interchange

We continued walking around the bus station and we saw First South Yorkshire 63001 on layover.

First South Yorkshire 63001 in Sheffield Interchange

On an adjacent stand we saw First South Yorkshire 60711 on a X54 to Harthill.

First South Yorkshire 60711 in Sheffield Interchange

Matthew attempted to do this bus, but we had already spent loads of money and we didn't have a valid ticket so we had to stop him. Matthew struggled for a little while and he kept trying to go on buses for which we didn't have a ticket. We saw First South Yorkshire 63134 which was going to work a X78 to Harthill. We had to tell him 'You can't go there'. We would have to come back another day and buy the right bus ticket. We had to spend some time sitting down whilst Matthew calmed himself down a little. Once he had calmed we continued around the bus station taking pictures whilst we looked for a TM travel bus that we could catch. We saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 36457 on a #57 to Stocksbridge.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 36457 in Sheffield Interchange

Also seen was First South Yorkshire 37117 on a #74 to Rotherham.

First South Yorkshire 37117 in Sheffield Interchange

We waited at stop B6 for the next TM Travel bus. A short time later we saw TM Travel Solo 1190 on a #4 to Bents Green.

TM Travel 1190 in Sheffield Interchange

We got on the bus and we flashed the TM Travel day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We arranged to meet mum in the centre of Bents Green. We set off out of the bus station and we ran onto Pond Street. We headed Northwards we turned left onto High Street. We turned left onto Arundel Gate and we ran Southwards. We turned right onto Furnival Gate and we followed the road around onto Charter Row. We turned left onto Fitzwilliam Gate and left onto South Lane. We ran forwards over the ring road onto London Road and we turned right onto Cemetery Road. We ran through Sharrow and forwards onto Psalter Lane. We joined the Westbound A625 and we turned right onto Knowle Lane. We turned right onto Ringinglow Road and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of TM Travel before it returned towards Sheffield.

TM Travel 1190 in Bents Green

We sat at the bus stop and Matthew ate a chocolate bar whilst we waited. Mum called to say she was stuck in roadworks and the junction she intended to come off at had been closed so she was going to be delayed. We tried to work out which road she would approach from. We walked to the junction on Knowle Lane and Ringington Road where there was a bench. We saw First South Yorkshire 69246 on a #83 to Bents Green.

First South Yorkshire 69246 in Bents Green

A few minutes later we saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 19032 on a #88 to Ecclesfield.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 19032 in Bents Green

We saw which direction mum was approaching from so we crossed over the road to be in the best place for her to see us. Whilst we waited we saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 19179 on a #88 to Ecclesfield.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 19179 in Bents Green

Mum appeared and we got into the car. There were sausage rolls and Irn Bru for us waiting. We set off onto Bents Road and we turned right onto the A625. We travelled Westwards out of town through to Calver. We ran forwards onto the B6001 and at the end we turned right onto the A6020. We joined the Northbound A6 and we ran up to Buxton. We joined the A53 and we ran out of town though Flash and Winkhill. We ran South through Blackshaw Moor. We entered the east end of Leek and we turned left onto Ball Haye Road. We turned right onto the A523 and we ran into the centre of Leek. We got back onto the A53 briefly, before we turned into Compton and onto the A520. We ran down through Cheddleton passing Aimee's YK07 BFY on a #117 to Leek. We continued through Wetley Rocks and we saw D&G Bus 145 on a #16 to Leek. We continued through Cellaread to Meir. At Meir we crossed over the roundabout onto the A520 and we turned right onto Waterhead Road. We continued onto Grosvenor Road and we followed the road onto Meir Road. We stopped at Premier TRavel and we saw Premier Travel DY63 UCT.

Premier Travel DY63 UCT in Normacot

Also seen was Premier Travel NG08 EKK.

Premier Travel NG08 EKK in Normacot

We ran down Spring Road and we turned left onto Eversley Road. We turned right onto Normacot Road and we joined the Westbound A50. We came off at the next junction and we went to Z Carz to see what was parked up there this evening. The spare ground was empty as is normally the case these days, so we turned left into Willow Row to see what was in the compound. We saw Z Carz Ford minibus YS09 LWV parked up.

Z Carz YS09 LWV in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz Renault minibus PE10 MJK.

Z Carz PE10 MJK in Longton

We turned around and got back onto the A50 and we went Westwards to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We ran forwards onto Church Street and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive where we saw white minibus GR03 DLZ. We turned left on to Finstock Drive and we visited the Co-operative food store. We brought some food and we got back into the car. We continued down Finstock Avenue and we got home around 20:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. We then chilled out at home and uploaded pictures and did some of the Blog. Matthew chilled out om the computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark.