On Wednesday 28th September we will visit the Weardale towns of Stanhope and Wolsingham. The Weardale bus is the 101, operated by Weardale Motor Services and it may be picked up from Bishop Auckland or Crook Market Place. The plan is to get the 101 service which arrives at Stanhope Market Place at 12:45. It leaves Bishop Auckland bus station at 12:00 reaching Crook Market Place at 12:15. We can visit the Bonny Moorhen, Pack Horse and Grey Bull. Leaving Stanhope Market Place at 14:50 we arrive at Wolsingham Market Place at 15:05. In Wolsingham we may visit the Black Bull, Bay Horse and Black Lion (open from 4) and return for Crook at 17:07 arriving at 17:30.
From Durham city centre there are two alternatives to join the 101 service. One is the Arriva X46 leaving at 11:30 and arriving in Crook at 12:01. The other option is to get the Go-Ahead X21 through to Bishop Auckland. The X21 may be preferable for those travelling in to Durham as it may involve less mixing of bus companies and cheaper ticketing. Hopefully we all meet up on the 101 having joined at either BA or Crook. The effort to reach the Weardale towns should be rewarded by the country ambience and good pub gardens with the chance of decent weather before the autumn season is upon us. We should use this outing as a chance to plan for future social events and especially the Wednesday Wanders going forward.