Mattybuzz: Trip to Stafford / Rugeley 14-03-2026

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator

66	Stafford BS	Rugeley BS	828	Chaserider
496	Rugeley BS	Armitage, The Croft	63	Chaserider
34	Armitage, Opp Plum	Rugeley BS	63	Bus Link
191	Rugeley BS	Stafford BS	828	Chaserider
25	Stafford BS	Highfields, Bagot's Oak	9	Select Bus
10	Rising Brook, Park Avenue	Stafford, Cope Street	875	Select Bus

Today we decided to re-visit Stafford. We asked Matthew bwhere he wanted to go on the Friday night and he chose Stafford. Research for the trip consisted of just checking the weather, which was for mainly dry with some sunshine and a few showers in the late afternoon. Mathew woke up at 08:00 and had his medication. Matthew got up just before 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. we got in the car Just before 12:00 and we set off through Blurton. We ran along Beaconsfield Drive and 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. We continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the A500. We turned right onto City Road and right onto the Southbound A500. We ran down to Hanford and we joined the A34. We ran through Trentham and Tittensor and to the West of Stone. We continued through Aston-by-Stone and Creswell and we ran into the North end of Stafford. We ran towards the town centre we passed preserved Devon General TTT 781 on Wedding duties. We turned right onto Chell Road and left onto Broad Street and we parked on the cap aprk by the former Wilko store. We had planned on eating in the market, but as we turned into Broad Street we noticed that the Market and adjacent shopping centre had been demolished! After we parked up we stopped at the toilet block on Broad Street and Matthew went to the toilet. After we continued along Broad Street and forwards onto Stafford Street. We turned left onto Gaolgate Street and we stopped at the former Wetherspooms pub. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a glass of Coke. When we had finished eating we went outside and we said goodbye to mum. We continued up Gaolgate Street and we turned right into the bus station. Matthew decided to catch a bus towards the hospital. Whilst we waited we saw Chaserider 5016 on a #74 to Cannock.

Chaserider 5016 in Stafford bus station

We waited for a few minutes and our bus appeared. As it got closer, we saw it was Chaserider 66 on a #828 to Lichfield.

Chaserider 66 in Stafford bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Rugleley before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we joined the A34 and we turned left onto Chell Road. After a brief stop we continued onto Tenterbanks and we headed onto Bridge Street. We ran through the town centre and we crossed over the A34 onto the Northbound A518. We ran out of town for around a mile and we entered the hospital grounds. We returned to the A518 and we turned right onto Hydrant Way. We turned left onto Tixall Road and we crossed over Blackheath Lane. We continued into Tixall and we turned right onto Mill Lane. We turned right onto Main Road and we ran throught Great Haywood. We continued South through Little Haywood into Colwich and we joined A51. We travek South for 1/2 a mile or so and we turned right onto the A460. We turned right onto Plovers Rose and right onto Springfields Road. We followed the road around onto Crabtree Way and we turned left onto Green Lane. We turned right onto the A460 and we ran into town. We turned left onto Elmore Lane and we entered Rugeley bus station where we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Chaserider 66 before it continued towards Lichfield.

Chaserider 66 in Rugeley bus station

Once off the bus we saw Bus Link 73 whiched we considered catching towards Cannock.

Bus Link 73 in Rugeley bus station

As we queued up to get on the bus we saw another bus pull up behind it. Matthew decided he was doing this bus. As we got closer we saw it was Chaserider 496 on a #63 to Uttoxeter.

Chaserider 496 in Rugeley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Uttoxeter. As the bus was empty, Matthew got a picture of the inside of Chaserider 496before we sat down towards the back bus.

Inside Chaserider 496

We set off out of the bus station and onto the A460. We ran under the railway line and after about 1/2 mile we turned right onto Redbrook Lane. We continued onto Birch Lane and we turned left onto Coalpit Lane. We turned left onto the A460 and right onto Lodge Road. We turned left onto Lea Hall Lane and right onto Armitage Road. We crossed over the A51 and we ran forwards on to Rugeley Road. As we travelled East wards we realised if we went too far we would struggle to get back and woiuld not get many bus rides in so we decided to get off somewhere there was something to do. We passed a pub, so we decided to get up and get off at the next stop and walk back to the pub. Once off the bus, Matthew took another picture of Chaserider 496 before as it continued towards Uttoxeter.

Chaserider 496 in Armitage

As we came passed the pub we noticed there was a canal along side the road. SWe decided to head down a side street to get on the canal. We turned right onto Church Lane and a very friendly cat followed us along the lane. We followed the road to the right and we spotted some people at the side of the road and we asked how to get on the canal towpath. They directed us to the end of the lane and we followed a passageway through into a churchyard. We walked thrugh the churchyard and we climbed over a style and we crossed over the Trent and Mersey canal at bridge 60. We headed Westwards along the canal and we passed bridge 61. We passed the pub and we went through Armitage tunnel. We crossed under the A513. and we came up on the other side of the A513. We crossed over the road and we headed to the pub. When we got to the pub, we tried the door and it was locked!. We asked Matthew if he wanted to head back to Rugeley and got to a pub there and he agreed. We crossed over the road and we waited for a bus. The first bus due was Chaserider 66 on a #826 to Stafford. We decided to turn this down and wait for the following bus. This was report as being Bus Link 166 on the bustimes.org map. Whilst we waited Matthew shared a Galaxy Caramel with us. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Bus Link 34 on a #63 to Cannock.

Bus Link 34 in Armitage

We got on the bus and we booked to Rugeley before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A513 and we crossed over the A51 onto Armitage Road. We turned left onto Lea Hall Lane. We turned right onto Lodge Road and left onto the A460. We turned right onto Coalpit Lane and we turned right onto Birch Lane. We turned right onto Redbrook Lane and left onto the A460. We ran the last 1/2 mile into Rugeley and under the railway line. We entered the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we headed through the beer garden and into the rear of the pub on Upper Brook Street. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we headed to the bar, Matthew had a glass of Coke. We sat down at the table and we watched some of the Scotland - Ireland Six Nations rugby union game whilst we had our drinks. When we had finished our drinkd we headed out of the back of the pub to the bus station. We passed the old market hall which now appears to be a charity shop. We sat down and we waited for a bus to Stafford. Whilst we waited we saw Chaserider 52 on a #828A to Rugeley.