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Discover jewels of South Downs on new buses this summer



Discover jewels of South Downs on new buses this summer

July 10, 2015

Some of the South Downs’ finest cultural and historic gems are being opened up to more visitors with two new weekend bus routes in the National Park this summer.

The village where Jane Austen spent the last eight years of her life (Chawton); the home of the world’s first ecologist (Selborne); and the natural amphitheatre where Eisenhower addressed the American troops before D-Day (Cheesefoot Head) are just some of the highlights to be found where the buses stop.

Allison Thorpe, who leads on access and recreation for the South Downs National Park Authority, said:

“The South Downs has so much to offer – glorious landscapes, wildlife and history. But if you’re focusing on traffic to get to the attractions you’ll miss the spectacular views.”

Family Discovery Tickets offering unlimited bus travel across the South Downs National Park and beyond for only £16 per day mean there are more reasons than ever to sit back, relax, and leave your car behind.

The Weekender service runs between Uppark House and Alton Station. The 16-seater, run by Wheel Drive, will call at South Harting, Petersfield, Steep, Sheet, Liss, Greatham, Selbourne, Farringdon and Chawton. Download the Weekender bus timetable 2015.

The South Downs Rambler service runs between Winchester Station and Petersfield Station. Run by Blue Star it will call at Winchester Broadway, Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, Cheesefoot Head Car Park, Hinton Ampner House, The Fox Public House at Bramdean, West Meon crossroads, Shoe Inn at Exton, Old Winchester Hill National Nature Reserve, East Meon High Street and Langrish House. Download the South Downs Rambler timetable 2015.

Both buses will link up with route 37 from Portsmouth to Petersfield.

Other Sunday services reintroduced or extended are also reconnecting villages, market towns and tourist attractions:

West Sussex

1/91     Stagecoach from Worthing to Pulborough and Pulborough to Petersfield

70        Stagecoach from Haslemere to Midhurst

99A      Compass Travel bus from Chichester to Petworth

271      Metrobus from Crawley to Brighton via Ditchling

Hampshire

37        Stagecoach from Portsmouth to Petersfield via Havant, now also stopping at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

Allison Thorpe continued:

“Last year we had a good response to additional weekend services – even receiving thank you letters from residents previously cut off without public transport for one day every week. This year we’re going to be encouraging more visitors and tourists to get on board with leaving their cars behind.

“It’s really important that people keep using the buses because, in the longer-term, both bus companies and community bus groups can only run services that are profitable.”

Find out more about the Discovery Ticket at http://www.southdowns.gov.uk/discoveryticket

The extended services have been made possible thanks to Two National Parks LSTF, a project to improve public transport for residents and visitors to the South Downs National Park and New Forest National Park.

Ends

The Two National Parks LSTF (2NPLSTF) is a Department for Transport funded programme of measures to reduce the impact of traffic on the South Downs and New Forest National Parks. This funding programme, led by Hampshire County Council runs until March 2016.