Episodes
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EP 34: 96, Telford to Shrewsbury
Here we go with the final instalment of this three-part trip from Stoke-on-Trent to Shrewsbury. It sees us aboard the 96 from Telford, where we squint through murky windows at the crucible of the industrial revolution, meet the sinful monks of Buildwas Abbey and come across Shropshire's most...
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EP 33: 5 & 5A, Stafford to Telford
It's part two of our journey through Staffordshire and Shropshire, this time aboard the 5 and 5A buses from Stafford to Telford, with a quick pitstop in Newport. Along the way, we pass the (possible) birthplace of self-raising flour, get stuck behind a tractor lugging a load of slurry, and…
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EP 32: 101, Hanley to Stafford
We start a new three-part odyssey through Staffordshire and Shropshire with a ride on the 101 bus from Hanley to Stafford. Along the way, we learn about the mathematician who brought Guinness to the masses, marvel at rubbish company names on a business park in Stone, and wonder if my grandad...
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EP 31: 41, Bridlington to Beverley
The final part of our East Yorkshire round-trip sees us on the 41 bus from Bridlington to Beverley, where we encounter road rage mobility scooters, a town with an incredible dogs-to-humans ratio, and out-of-context minor Star Wars characters. To be honest, not a lot happens on this one. ***...
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EP 30: 130, Hornsea to Bridlington
Slower Travel wades into completely new territory with a jaunt along the east coast from Hornsea to Bridlington. Along the way, we earwig on bickering Yorkshiremen, try not to fall off crumbling cliffs, and encounter the menace of Brid's mobility scooters. *** Written, read and edited by...
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EP 29: 25, Beverley to Hornsea
Slower Travel makes its long-awaited return with a dinky East Yorkshire adventure. The first episode of this three-parter takes us from Beverley to Hornsea on the number 25, where a teenager tries to suffocate us all with a bag of crisps, pass through a rare 'Doubly Thankful' village and meet a...
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EP 28: 368, Wythenshawe to Stockport
We head out into the guts of suburbia on the 368, where we encounter someone with a loaf of bread for hair, have a grumble about utopian town planners and relive one of the most monumental results in Hyde United's history (and one of the worst of Stockport County's). In truth, not a lot happens…
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EP 27: 101, Manchester to Wythenshawe
This time, we head off on an urban adventure through the southern arteries of Manchester. We come across Moss Side's most stylish man, teenagers DJing through impractical speakers, and the city's most unlikely homage to the Circus Maximus. *** Written, read and edited by Ian...
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EP 26: 28a, Stokesley to Middlesbrough
It's the final part of our trip to Middlesbrough, in which we swoon over Stokesley, whizz through the birthplace of Captain Cook, and get all nostalgic about Marton and my old uni halls for a few minutes. --- Written, read and edited by Ian Burke. Music by...
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EP 25: 80, Northallerton to Stokesley
In the penultimate part of our journey from Leeds to Middlesbrough, we make friends with a baby blackbird, go through the village where Gazza and Fabrizio Ravanelli used to live, and meet a monk so strict that he grassed the Benedictines up for being too hedonistic. --- Written, read and edited…
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EP 24: 70 & 153, Ripon to Northallerton
It's the second episode of our four-part trip from Leeds to Middlesbrough, as we jump on the #70 from Ripon to Thirsk and the 153 from Thirsk to Northallerton. In this action-packed show, we meet a mayor, learn about Yorkshire's premier egg hoaxer, and make a startling discovery about horses. ---...
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EP 23: 36, Leeds to Ripon
The first in a four-part odyssey from Leeds to Middlesbrough, this episode sees us on the #36 bus from Leeds to England's second smallest city, Ripon. Along the way, we stumble across history's laziest MP, a couple of posh ladies broadcast their holiday plans, and I wax lyrical about a car park....
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EP 22: 1, Fleetwood to Blackpool
Part 2 of our Lancashire coast trip takes us around the northern end of the Fylde peninsula from Fleetwood to the bright lights of Blackpool. Along the way, we encounter a mobile scooter disco, the site of Ozzy Osbourne's first solo gig, and the Blackpool beauty queen who met Stalin. --- Written,...
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EP 21: 89, Lancaster to Knott End
This first part of our latest mini adventure sees Ian & Luke head for the Lancashire coast on the #89 from Lancaster to Knott End. Along the way we find the Fylde's answer to Caractacus Potts, wave to a sailor in a cowboy hat, and almost crush the life out of some lovely ducklings. --- Written,...
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EP 20: 219, Manchester to Ashton-under-Lyne
The 20th episode of Slower Travel sees us aboard the 219 from Manchester to Ashton-under-Lyne. Our run through the east of the city includes Grandad Herbert's tangle with 10cc, Audenshaw's midge clouds, and a womanising fashionista vicar. --- Written, read and edited by Ian...
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EP 19: 412, York to Wetherby
The final episode of this three-part trip sees us on the 412 bus from York to Wetherby. The route features a culinary apocalypse, the crucible of Britain's lavatorial history, and a panto horse triumphing over one gruelling furlong. --- Written, read and edited by Ian...
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EP 18: 42, Selby to York
Part 2 of our journey from Leeds to Wetherby sees us on the #42 between Selby and York. Along the way, we encounter a heavy metal pioneer, a cartoon bear guarding a state secret, and eat a delicious sandwich above a mass grave.
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EP 17: 164, Leeds to Selby
It's the start of a new Slower Travel adventure. This time, it's a three-part solo trip from Leeds to Wetherby, via Selby and York. We kick off on the 164 from Leeds to Selby, where we find Yorkshire's horniest pigeon, our bus driver salivating over a pie, and a kid who doesn't know how to eat...
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EP 16: X4/4R, Bangor to Holyhead
It's the final part of our one-day bus voyage from Macclesfield into the furthest reaches of north west Wales. This time, we're on the X4/4R bus from Bangor to Holyhead. Along the way we bump into Llangefni's finest Shakespearean actor, swoon over the Menai Suspension Bridge, and are challenged…
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EP 15: 5, Llandudno to Bangor
This penultimate part of our Anglo-Welsh bus adventure sees us on the #5 from Llandudno to Bangor. Listen in wonder as Luke comes up with an excellent pun, we gawp at lovely goats and Conwy Castle, while Ian does a smashing job of pronouncing Llanfairfechan. --- Written, read and edited by...
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EP 14: 12, Rhyl to Llandudno
We are past the halfway point of our Macclesfield to Holyhead busathon, with the #12 taking us along the North Wales coast from Rhyl to Llandudno. Along the way, Luke suffers from a lack of provisions, we shake our fists at the North Wales Expressway on Colwyn Bay's behalf, and Ian becomes all...
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EP 13: 11/11C, Chester to Rhyl
Here we go with Part 3 of the one-day bus adventure all the way from Macclesfield to Holyhead. The glamour! This week, Ian and Luke take the 11/11C from Chester to Rhyl, visiting the Lourdes of Wales, a rotting fun ship, and a tangle of electricity pylons in Connah's Quay. -- Written, read and...
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EP 12: 84, Crewe to Chester
Here's part two of our six-part odyssey from Macclesfield to Holyhead, using a £5.75 Arriva day ticket. This time, we're on the 84 from Crewe to Chester. Along the way, Luke reveals that Crewe bus station is the worst place he's ever been, we find OAPs cosplaying as antiques dealers in Tarvin…
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EP 11: 38, Macclesfield to Crewe
We start a new six-part adventure in which we torture a £5.75 Arriva day ticket to its - and our - limits. Me and my friend Luke take the bus from Macclesfield all the way to Holyhead, with the first leg being aboard the #38 from Macc to Crewe. Along the way, we encounter a kid subverting the…
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EP 10: 41, Chester to Whitchurch
The concluding part of our adventure sees us on the Number 41 bus from Chester to Whitchurch. Along the way, we become stranded in the middle of nowhere, marvel at the most accessorised spectacles in Cheshire, and pass the world's largest ice cream parlour. --- Written, read and edited by…
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EP 9: 9A, Warrington to Northwich
In Slower Travel's spookiest episode yet, we encounter a poltergeist in Ian & El's bathroom, find out why Queen Victoria refused to open Manchester Town Hall, and visit the place with UK's highest density of Bullseye speedboat winners. --- Written, read and edited by Ian Burke. Music by...
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EP 8: Cat5, Altrincham to Warrington
The Cat5 flings us through the Cheshire countryside. Our bus resembles a provincial disco, there's a saint canonised for her miracles with geese, and we're treated to some magnificent air drumming. Written, read and edited by Ian Burke. Music by Mesita (http://www.mesitamusic.com/)....
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EP7: 11A, Stockport to Altrincham
It's the start of a new four-part adventure, as me and Eleanor clatter along on the 11A bus from Stockport to Altrincham. Along the way we encounter a disappointing tuna baguette, a traffic jam caused by dead pigeons, and discover the joys of industrial estates.
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EP 6: 12X, Brighton to Eastbourne
Is the 12X from Brighton to Eastbourne really the best bus route in the world? That depends on how much you like Godzilla-levels of snoring, freediving world champions, and yes, the closest Wimpy restaurant to the prime meridian. Written, read and edited by Ian Burke. Music by Mesita...
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Bonus Episode: The Killer Horse
A bonus Easter episode of Slower Travel that has nothing to do with travelling around on buses, and everything to do with escaping the evil hooves of the most terrifying horse in Penzance. Written and read by Ian Burke
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EP 5: 350, Oldham to Ashton-under-Lyne
A ruined lunch leads to an impromptu day out in the hills on the 350 bus from Oldham to Ashton-under-Lyne. It means we get to hear from Oldham's most barred pensioner, relive a messy encounter with a mallard in Uppermill, and discover a fish & chip van run by an Elvis impersonator. Written, read...
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EP 4: X4, Middlesbrough to Whitby
This is the final part of our Wedding Anniversary Bus Extravaganza, where we head from Middlesbrough to Whitby on the X4. Along the way, we encounter a yodelling Elvis in Saltburn, a man innovating with a bumbag in Redcar, while in Middlesbrough, we accidentally gatecrash a fetish night. Written,...
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EP 3: X12, Newcastle to Middlesbrough
It's Day Two of our big trip down to Whitby, and we start off on the X12 from Newcastle to Middlesbrough. Along the way we eat Durham's weirdest breakfast, meet the Victorian era's most heartless aristocrat, and go pun-spotting in Chester-le-Street. Written, read and sort of edited by Ian Burke....
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EP 2: X18, Berwick to Newcastle
Right then, we're on the X18 from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Newcastle-upon-Tyne today. At four hours from end-to-end, this 'Coast & Castles' route is one of the longest bus journeys in the UK, but these edited highlights are a much more digestible length. Along the way we drench a cow, meet a...
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EP 1. 253, Edinburgh to Berwick-upon-Tweed
This is the first episode of the Slower Travel podcast, which, as far as I know, is the only bus travel blog-turned-podcast in the world. Imagine that! Join us as we travel on the 253 bus from the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, to the most northerly town in England, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Along the...