Kingsbridge Event
This year’s Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Running Day returns for its 18th year on Saturday, September 20.
Visitors can choose from 43 buses, dating from 1933 to 2025, including a brand-new electric double-deck bus that entered service with Go-Ahead’s Plymouth Citybus on July 7, 2025. These will run on 24 different routes.
To plan your day, programmes are available from the Kingsbridge Information Centre, the Trust’s gazebo at the bus station on the day, or online at www.tvagwot.org.uk.
The 52-page guide has full details of routes, timetables, buses, and journeys carried out during the day. Programme sales support organisers’ costs and help fund the Trust’s charitable activities.
This Souvenir Programme also features a photographic look back at the 17 previous Running Days, leading to this 18th “coming of age” event. This Souvenir Programme, like the Trust, is about connecting people, places and the past. It is your guide to vintage buses and coaches, offering free trips so you can experience what bus journeys were like back in the day, whether you're travelling to school or work, shopping, or for leisure.
The Coleridge Community Bus is again a highlight of the Running Day. Their 16-seater EVM/Mercedes will run a special route along the coast east of the Kingsbridge Estuary. It will visit Beesands, Hallsands, Start Point, East Prawle, and East Portlemouth, with spectacular views of Start Bay and Slapton Sands. Stops allow for short walks to vantage points and photographs of the bus in these scenic surroundings. As this is the only service visiting much of the area, it is a must if you haven’t tried it before.
Luxury coach tours also run morning and afternoon to the picturesque Blackpool Sands. Courtesy of the owners, passengers can enjoy a 40-minute break to walk the beach or visit the café.
Other services revive historic motor bus routes, as well as later additions to Salcombe, Thurlestone, Soar, Hope, South Pool, Slapton, Totnes, Loddiswell, Loddiswell Station, Goveton, Modbury, Moreleigh, Blackawton, and Bigbury-on-Sea. Short circular routes will also visit Churchstow and Aveton Gifford.
Organiser Colin Billington, who lives near Loddiswell, said: “We are really pleased to be able to put on our Running Day again this year. We have attracted a record entry of 43 vehicles, several making their first visit. We are very grateful for the backing of our principal sponsor, Kingsbridge’s own Tally Ho Coaches, and to other bus companies and local businesses who have supported the event by advertising in our programme.
“All of the roads we are using are former or current bus routes, and we are grateful to other road users for respecting the age and speed of our vehicles. The event is for one day only and gives enormous pleasure to many people while benefitting local businesses. It also shows the environmental benefits to those who may not have travelled by bus before and who are encouraged to do so after their Running Day experience.”
All services are free, with no limit on the number of journeys you can take.
KUO972 Western National Bristol K6B, KUO972-959 at Slapton Sands © William BJ Spencer 2016
Exmouth Event
Eleven vintage buses brought nostalgic travel to the roads in and around Exmouth
on Sunday, August 31 st 2025 as the Devon General Society recreated local bus
routes of the 1960s.
Free bus services ran from Imperial Road around the town, and out to Budleigh
Salterton, Littleham, Lympstone, and Woodbury, whilst an open-top bus provided a
local tour. Altogether, 1,977 passenger trips were made during the day.
Paul Jenkins, Secretary of the Devon General Society, said “We were delighted with
the turnout for our event, with many buses departing with full loads. We would like to
thank everyone who travelled on our buses, the bus owners, and our great team of
volunteers who made it all happen. We also appreciate the support we received from
Exmouth Town Council, East Devon District Council, and Stagecoach South West.
We hope everyone had an enjoyable day experiencing bus travel as it used to be.
Grey Cars TCR890 (890 ADV) Cottons of Saltash have owned and rallied this AEC Reliance with Willowbrook Viking coachwork for many years. It is pictured in Kingsbridge between duties heading for the Tally Ho depot.
Southern National 1460 (OTA 632G) Bristol RELH6G / ECW in Royal Blue livery at Slapton Sands, returning from a tour to Blackpool Sands.
Western National 1157 (AFJ 764T) Bristol VRTSL6G / ECW at Slapton Sands, returning on service 93 from Slapton Village, with Start Bay curving around to Warren Point as the backdrop.
Plymouth Citybus 283 (N283 PDV) Mercedes-Benz 709D / Plaxton Beaver alongside Wright StreetDeck Electroliner 7001 (GO25 ELC), which was the feeder bus to the event from Plymouth. Both were awaiting departure on service 161A to Churchstow.
Tally Ho PN05 DOU Alexander Dennis Dart / East Lancs Myllennium. Withdrawn by Tally Ho in 2024 and donated to the TV&GWOT, this was making its debut as a preserved vehicle. It is pictured departing on service 164 to Totnes, just like it used to when in daily service.
