Trip to Wrexham / Llangollen 14-05-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1009	Wrexham BS	Llangollen, Parade Street	5	Arriva NW&W
374	Llangollen, Parade Street	Chirk, Hand Hotel	64	Tanat Valley
3789	Chirk, Hand Hotel	Acrefair, Willow Court	2A	Arriva Midlands
1004	Acrefair, Hampden Arms	Rhostyllen, Hill Top	5	Arriva NW&W
2156	Rhostyllen, Hill Top	Johnstown, Co-op	4C	Arriva NW&W
1009	Ruabon, Gardden industrial estate	Wrexham BS	5	Arriva NW&W

oday we decided to re-visit Wrexham. Research consisted of looking at the new 1bws ticket and having a look at some of the current bus services in Wrexham. We also researched parking and we found that parking on council car parks was free after 11:00. We also checked the weather which was for warm sunny weather. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast for breakfast. After getting ready we set off just around 11:30 through Blurton onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. As we travelled Northwards we saw Paul S Winson XX15 PSW. We went under the M6 and we travelled to the South of Crewe towards Nantwich. We decided to eat on the way so we turned right onto David Whitby Way. We turned left onto the A532 and we turned left into Cowley Way and to the truckstop. We parked up and we went inside. Matthew wanted the toilet so was walked across the way to the toilet block. Mum had ordered the food whilst we were over there Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Once we had finished we continued towards Wrexham. We set off onto the Southbound A532. We turned right onto David Whitby Way and we joined the Westbound A500. We continued for a further 3 miles or so and we turned right onto the Nantwich bypass, past the new road under construction and we ran around the North side of Nantwich before joining the Westbound A534. We travelled west for around 4 miles and we crossed over the A49. We crossed over the A41 at Croxton and we continued to the eastern edge of Wrexham. We continued onto Holt Street and we ran into the centre of town. We veered right onto Chester Street and we turned left into the library car park and parked up. We said goodbye to mum and we set off on foot to the bus station. We walked along LLwyn Isaf and we turned left onto Rhosddu Road. We turnd right onto Lord Street and we went past the former RBS bank which is currently empty. Wew turned right onto Trinity Street and we walked past the buses on layover. We saw Arriva NW&W 2145 on a #14 to Brymbo.

Arriva NW&W 2145 in Wrexham bus station

Also seen was Stagecoach Merseyside 47513 on a #5 to Chester.

Stagecoach Merseyside 47513 in Wrexham bus station

We cut through onto King Street and we entered the bus station. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards we walked through to the other end of the bus station. We saw Arriva Midlands 3762 on a #2A to Oswestry.

Arriva Midlands 3762 in Wrexham bus station

We dedicded that we would go towards Llangollen. A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 1009 on a #5 to Llangollen.

Arriva NW&W 1009 in Wrexham bus station

whilst we waited for the bus to be redeadied for service we saw Pats Coaches YJ13 HHX on a #146 to Whitchurch.

Pats Coaches YJ13 HHX in Wrexham bus station

We got on the bus and we brought 1bws day tickets at £5.70 each before going upstairs and sitting down in one of the bays of 4 sets around a table. We set off along Trinity Street and we followed the one way system around onto King Street. We joined the A5152 and we ran past Wrexham Central. We headed out of town through Rhostyllen and under the A483. We continued through Pentre Bychan and through Johnstown. We continued into Ruabon and we turned right onto the A539. We ran through Acrefair and Trevor and we entered intl Llangollen from the East side. In the town we turned left onto Castle Street and we crossed over the river Dee. We turned right onto Market Street. We turned right onto East Street and we ran to the end where we got stopped in traffic. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of Arriva NW&W 1009 before it returned to Wrexham.

Arriva NW&W 1009 in Llangollen

Once off the bus we walked along Parade Street past the bus stops and we turned left onto Castle Street. We stopped at The Cottage tearooms and we used the toilet. Afterwards Matthew had a slice of chocolate cake and a can of Coke. When we had finished we re-joined uncle Dave and we crossed over the Dee. We turned left onto Abbey Road and we turned left onto Green Lane. The aim was to get to the other end of the railway station to get a picture of 31271 as it had arrived on a train whilst me and Magtthew were in the tearooms and had subsequently ran around it's train. Green Lane crossed over the railway line and we took a few pictures. Afterwards we notices a gate and ramp which led down to the platform, so we were able to get a closer picture of 31271. We walked back along Green Lane and we cut through St Joun's Church onto Abbey Lane. We turned right onto Castle Street and as we approached Parade Street we saw Arriva NW&W 1012 on a #5 to Wrexham. I had miscalculated the time of the next service because the previous one had left 10 minutes late! We saw Denbigh Council CX21 DZV on a #199 Picturesque Bus Sevice which serves various tourist attractions on a Saturday only.

Denbigh Council CX21 DZV in Llangollen

We had some time to kill before the next bus so we walked down by the river Dee and we walked into Llangollen Park. We found a pavillion and they were selling drinks. We brought a can of Coke and we sat down on bench to drink it. It was quite warm and so the drink was very much needed. When we had finished the drink we set off back through Llangollen Park and onto Parade Street. As we got to the Street we saw Tanat Valley 374 on a #64 to Llanarmon DC.

Tanat Valley 374 in Llangollen

We got on the bus and we placed the 1bws day tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Parade Street and we turned right onto Castle Street. We turned left onto Regent Street and right onto Brook Street and up the hill into a housing estate. We ran forwards onto Pengwern and around the loop and back onto Brook Street. We ran back down the hill and we turned right onto Regent Street. We had a fast run along the A5 to Froncysyllte and we turned left onto Gate Road. We ran down the hill and around the community centre before coming back up Gate Road and re-joining the Eastbound A5. We continued to the A483 and we went straight across towards Holt. We turned left onto Black Park and we ran into the small hamlet. We did a 3 point turn on the end of the road by the bus stop and we waited time before setting off back along Black Park. We ran under the Chirk bypass and we turned left onto the B5070 where we saw Tanat Valley 282 on a T12 to Wrexham. We ran the final mile or so into the centre of Chirk and we got up and got off the bus outside of the Hand Hotel. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Tanat Valley 374.

Tanat Valley 374 in Chirk

Almost immediatley we saw Arriva Midlands 3756 on a #2 to Wrexham.

Arriva Midlands 3756 in Chirk

In theory we shouldn't have made that bus, but we were a couple of minutes early into town and that was running late. At least we knew which direction the buses were running and which side of the road we needed to be. We crossed over the road and we sat down in a sizeable stone built bus stop. It was nice and cool in there. Matthew had a small bottle of Tango Orange and we sat and waited for around 20 minutes for our bus. Whilst we waited we saw silver minibus WU54 FJN.

WU54 FJN in Chirk

A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 3789 on a #2A to Wrexham.

Arriva Midlands 3789 in Chirk

We got on the bus and we placed the 1bws day tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off up the B5070 and we turned right onto Colliery Road. We follwed Colliery Road to the left and we ran through the housing estate before rejoining the Northbound B5070. We turned right onto the A5 and we ran to the A483 where we turned left. We ran fast Northwards over the Dee and we turned left onto the A539. We veered left onto the B5605 and we ran into Rhosymedre. We turned right onto High Street and we ran into Cefn Mawr. We turned left onto Oxford Street and we ran past Tesco. We joined the B5096 and we ran up the hill to the main road. Matthew had previously said that he needed the toilet, so I looked for a stop near to a pub. We travelled eastwards for another 3 stops and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3789 as it continued towards Wrexham.

Arriva Midlands 3789 in Acrefair

We set off up the hill as we had gotten off one stop too early. We got to the pub and Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. The FA Cup game had just started and it was 0-0 between Liverpool and Chelsea. Once we had finishe\d the drink we went outside to uncle Dave and we walked to the bus stop. We sat on a wall and waited for the bus. Whilst we waited we saw Clynnog & Trefor B15 KBC heading towards Llangollen. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 1004 on a #5 to Wrexham as expected.

Arriva NW&W 1004 in Acrefair

We got on the bus and we placed the 1bws day tickets under the scanner before we went upstairs sat down. We set off up the A539 and we crossed over the railay line before turning left onto the B5605. We ran past Ruabon railway station and we crossed back under the railway line. We decided to get off and headed back Southwards to get an extra 2 buses in. We passed through Johnstown and as we headed to the top of the hill we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 1004 as it continued towards Wrexham.

Arriva NW&W 1004 in Rhostyllen

We checked on the map and we saw that there was a bus coming Southwards almost immediately. We crossed over the road and we walked to the stop. A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 2156 on a #4C cirlcular service to Pen y Cae.

Arriva NW&W 2156 in Rhostyllen

We got on the bus and we placed the 1bws day tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down the B5605 and we ran Southwards for a few stops before we turned right into Stryt Las where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture Arriva NW&W 2156 as it continued towards Pen y Cae.

Arriva NW&W 2156 in Johnstown

Once off the bus we walked around the corner onto the B5605. There wasn't a bus due for another 20 minutes or so and then there were 3 together within an few minutes. We decided to walk down the road a couple of stop to see if there was a pub or something that we could go in. As we walked Southwards we passed a pub called The Moreton Inn, but it was all closed fenced off. It appears that the pub is to be demolished to make way for 9 new houses. We continued to the edge of Raubon to a bus top at the entrance to the Gardden industrial estate. Whilst we waited for the bus we saw Arriva Midlands 3761. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. We wanted to catch the Lloyds Coaches bus on the T3, but the Arriva bus cam in front of it. It was Arriva NW&W 1009 on the #5 to Wrexham.

Arriva NW&W 1009 in Ruabon

We got on the bus and we placed the 1bws day tickets under the scanner for the final time today before we went upstairs sat down. We set off up the B5605 and we ran Northwards through Johnstown. We continued into Rhostyllen and we ran under the A483. We ran up the A5152 the last two miles or so into the cente of Wrexham and past Wreham General railway station. We turned right into Regent Street and left into King Street. We turned left into Lord Street and we stopped outside the bus station. where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a piture of Arriva NW&W 1009 before it returned on a #5 service to llangollen.

Arriva NW&W 1009 in Wrexham bus station

We walked into the bus station but the bottom half of the bus station where the toilets are had been closed off. We set off along Lord Street and we turned left onto Rhosddu Road. We turned left onto the path Llwyn Isaf and we headed to the car park to meet mum. We got in the car and we set off onto Chester Street. We followed the road around onto Holt Street and we turned right onto Market Street. We parked up and mum went to the chip shop and me and matthew walked to a pub. We set off along Market Street and we turned left onto Holt Street. We went to Saith Seren and Matthew used the toilet. Matthew had a glass of Coke and afterwards we walked back to the car. Mum got back to the car at the same time. Matthew had a huge bigfoot sausage and chips washed down with a can of Irn Bru. Once I had finished eating we set off along Market Street and we turned right onto Holt Street. We ran to the edge of town and we joined the Eastbound A534. We ran out of town through Rhosnesni and we joined the main A534 and ran Eastwards out of town. We ran up to Nantwich crossing the A41 and A49. We joined the A51 and we passed the site of a new petrol station. We continued Nantwich by-pass and we ran around the North side of town and we joined the A500. As we ran along the single carriageway section of the A500 we passed Big Coach Company TIG 8692 & CX16 WDT coming the other way. We crossed under the M6 and we saw Ausden Clarke AU05 DEN running up the A500 ahead of us. We then passed through a section of roadworks that were very confusing. There were signs for 50mph but the national speed limit signs had been left uncovered so it was very confusing!. We continued through Longport and Etruria into Stoke and we forgot to come off the A500 for uncle Dave. We joined the Eastbound A50 and we headed up to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and left onto Grove Road and we ran into Fenton. We dropped off uncle Dave's house. Matthew used the toilet and added some dates to uncle Dave's calendar. We set off onto Wheildon Road and we ran forwards onto the A500. We turned left onto Church Street and we ran around the one-way system in Stoke. We turned left onto London Road and we stopped at Sainsbury's petrol station to get fuel. We continued along London Road and at Trent Vale we joined the Southbound A34. We ran under the A500 into Hanford and we continued to Trentham. We turned left onto the A5035 and we got back to Blurton around 20:15. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. We watched TV and Matthew got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 00:30... Mark