Imber bus day

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The village of Imber on Salisbury Plain was taken over on a temporary basis by the army during the second word war.  Until its permanent return when the army no longer need it, residents and other can visit on a few occasions each year and on some of those there's a bus service.

Details:

https://imberbus.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/imberbus-leaflet2016-c.pdf

Runs from Warminster Station via Imber to Brazen Bottom, Gore Cross, New Zealand and Chitterne

[Chris from Nailsea]

Runs from ... Brazen Bottom...

Sorry, but that's what happens if you eat a dodgy curry. 

[grahame]

From Facebook

Saturday, 20th August ONLY.  From Swindon at 08:36, Chippenham at 08:53 and Melksham at 09:02 by train to Warminster at 09:46 (changing at Westbury).  Then on with the "Imber Bus" - a retired London Routemaster - to the village of Imber on Salisbury Plain. The bus leaves Warminster at 10:15 and arrives Imber at 10:45.

The village of Imber was taken over during the second world war to provide an exercise area for troops, and the residents evicted. After the war, villagers were not allowed to return to their homes. The village, which is now part of the civil parish of Heytesbury, remains under the control of the Ministry of Defence despite several attempts by former residents to return. Non-military access is limited to several open days a year.

The only building to survive in a reasonable condition is the church, with the rest becoming derelict or demolished by the Army. Still standing are a pub (the Bell Inn) the manor house (Imber Court), a farmhouse and cottages, schoolroom and four housing blocks built in 1938. The church will be open on Imber Bus day, and you'll be able to puchase tea, coffee, hot chocolate, squash and biscuits at modest cost.

Catch the bus back from Imber at 13:15, 15:15 or 17:15, reaching Melksham via the same route at 15:21, 16:48 or 18:47 via the same route as you took on the way out (changing at Warminster and Westbury). These return trains reach Chippenham 10 minutes and Swindon 27 minutes after Melksham.

Day return train fares on these trains - £4.40 Melksham to Warminster. £6.20 Chippenham to Warminster. £7.20 Swindon to Warminster. Railcard and Groupsave discounts available.  Bus fare - £2 per journey (or £10 for all day ticket to explore beyond Imber too); sorry - senior passes are not accepted on these buses.  No need to book - buy your train tickets at the station or if not available there on the train. Pay your bus fare on the bus.

[rogerw]

I will be going using the 0927 from Trowbridge

[grahame]

I will be going using the 0927 from Trowbridge

Look forward to seeing you ... I think that's the train that the huge crowds (  ) on the 08:36 from Swindon will be changing onto.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for the information about this event, grahame.

I've sort of followed the ongoing story of Imber, from news items prompted by the occasional opening of the site to civilian visitors, but haven't yet found a suitable match between my days off and such fairly limited 'open day' opportunities.

Maybe next year. 

[grahame]

Update to the ImberBus site - https://imberbus.wordpress.com/getting-to-warminster/

For those arriving by public transport, Warminster Rail Station is on the Cardiff-Bristol-Portsmouth rail line which operates approximately every hour, with connections available from London and the West Country at Westbury and Salisbury and also from Melksham, Chippenham and Swindon at Westbury

This one seems a real 'natural' for public transport all the way, noting that the parking in Warminster is mostly away from the railway station, which is where the n=bus goes from.

Last year, the ImberBus ran during the Bath / East blockade - this year it's good from Bristol and Bath by train to Warminster.  And of course by train at 08:36, 10:36 and 12:36 from Swindon, change at Westbury

[grahame]

Hear about some of opportunities to get to Imber tomorrow - (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)%20Inner.m4a" target="_blank">BBC Radio Wiltshire

[grahame]

What is it they say about London buses - running in groups of four at Imber.   Timetabled every half hour and in groups.

I met up with quite a few of our members (and saw the odd lurker or two  ) today, and there was quite a bit of otter interest:


so here are some more pictures:

[bobm]

Thankfully the forecast bad weather largely stayed away.

Here are some more photos from the day.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I met up with quite a few of our members (and saw the odd lurker or two ) today, and there was quite a bit of otter interest ...

Any squirrels? 

[Western Pathfinder]

Thanks for the heads up on this Grahame made for a most enjoyable day out just home from Imber via the Seven Riviera Express having managed not to get wet at all cheers.

[grahame]

I met up with quite a few of our members (and saw the odd lurker or two ) today, and there was quite a bit of otter interest ...

Any squirrels? 

'twas busy and I might have missed them.   Did see a grey one at 06:30 this morning playing with some of my nuts (in the garden, off the hazel tree!)

[Rob on the hill]

Thanks from me too Graham, had a most enjoyable day out by train/bus. I had not been aware of the Imberbus service before you posted about it here. 

[bobm]

One slightly concerning moment came as I was walking to church and a remote controlled drone flew over my head.  It was certainly closer than 50 metres!  They do get some spectacular pictures but having seen a couple of near misses when they crash, it did make me feel a little uneasy.

https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Model-aircraft-and-drones/The-Dronecode/