How do you travel on your days out? Do you have a car? Maybe you let the train take the strain? Or are you more of a bus fan?

I have teamed up with East Yorkshire Buses to show you how taking a bus can enhance your family day out.

I am a huge transport fan of all kinds, both private and public. I think that all forms of transport have their time and place, and they all certainly have their pros and cons. The transport I choose to use for a particular trip depends on a lot of factors, such as ease of parking, bus fare v petrol cost, and how much I feel like driving. Sometimes, I just can’t be doing with it!

Since we moved into a major market town, the options for using both the train and the bus for days have opened up to us. While living in a nearby village was great, the distance to the bus station and train station meant that getting out the car for some part of the journey was inevitable. Now we have choices and I have to say I love it.

This week, we went to Burnby Hall Gardens in Pocklington on the bus. On a previous visit we went by car, like we do for a lot of our days out. However, as the children are getting older and I don’t have to worry about hauling bags of milk, nappies and other baby paraphernalia, or about them having a car seat to nap in properly, days out are becoming less of a military operation and more of an adventure.

Burnby Hall Gardens is on the X46 and X47 route between Hull and York. This is a route which was previously navigable by train but hasn’t been since the 1960s (thank you but no thank you, Dr Beeching) and Pocklington, a few miles south-east of York has thankfully been able to be served by this established bus route provided by East Yorkshire Buses.

On a sunny Sunday in May we took the bus. From Beverley bus station, the X46/47 leaves every hour on a Sunday, and it takes around 40 – 45 minutes to get to Pocklington Bus Station, a five minute walk from Burnby Hall Gardens.

The bus arrived at Beverley bang on time, and we had a Family 3 Day Ticket for one adult and two children (cost £18.00 for a whole day of travel on any East Yorkshire Buses bus. A Family 6 Day Ticket for two adults and four children costs £25.50).

We were very impressed with the bus. They were new and sparkling clean and this one had tables, recharging points, and free WiFi. The WiFi was easy to connect and you don’t have to register or give your email address.

We arrived in Pocklington a few minutes after the advertised time but not too long after. The journey didn’t feel like it had taken 45 minutes though. I enjoyed it. I think the twins did too.

I printed them out my Road Trip Spotters Sheets – you can find a free download at: https://kidsdaysoutreviews.co.uk/free-resources/

They spent some time looking for the items on there and while we didn’t find all of them on this occasion, they were delighted when we found a dog in a car on the journey back. That’s that one ticked!

One of the best things about travelling by bus is not having to worry about driving. As the usual driver for our days out, I was able to look at other stuff apart from the road, and being at the top of the bus made this even more possible. The view from the hill as you approach Market Weighton is always a good one, but from the top of the bus and not having to drive, you can appreciate it all the more.

The journey back over Beverley Westwood, a route we do frequently by car, was also extra special.

I also did not have to worry about parking. I had been to Burnby Hall Gardens previously and I knew the car park was available but I did not know how busy it was going to be. Not having to worry about it one way or the other was good for me!

But the very best thing about going by bus? It feels more like a day out. More of an adventure. You need to plan carefully in terms of times and what you need to bring with you, but it all adds to the fun. It does for me, anyway.

You can read more about our trip to Burnby Hall Gardens here – if you want to visit by bus, the X46 and X47 go right past the main entrance.

Here are some more places you can reach by bus in East Yorkshire…..

Honeysuckle Farm , Hornsea – Get the 240 from Hull, or the 246 from Hull and Beverley.  Get off the bus on the main road and it’s a short walk to the end of Bewholme Road where the farm is.  Be careful walking on the main road. Plan your journey with East Yorkshire Buses at  https://www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk/explore?center=53.910936%2C-0.190157&type=place

Sewerby Hall and Gardens and Bondville Model Village – From Bridlington, take service 14. On Summer weekends and school holidays, you can also take the Beachcomber open top bus.  Both stop right outside the gates.  Plan your bus trip to Sewerby Hall

Bugtopia, Beach Cove and Hornsea Freeport – From Hornsea, service 550 goes to Hornsea Freeport – Plan your trip to Hornsea Freeport

For access to Goole including The Junction – Service 55/X5 goes to Goole town centre from Hull via Brough and Howden – Plan your trip to Goole

For all Hull city centre attractions, such as Hull Truck Theatre, Ferens Art Gallery, the Streetlife Museum, RockUp and the Deep, there are a wide range of options for getting the bus or train to Hull Paragon Interchange. All city centre attractions are within walking distance of the interchange.

The trains to Hull come from Doncaster and Goole to the south-west, Leeds from the West, York from the north, and Bridlington and Scarborough from the North-east coast. East Yorkshire Buses run services from all the major towns including Beverley, Driffield, Filey, Scarborough, Withernsea, and Hornsea, travelling down the main routes through Hull on the way.

Burton Agnes Hall – service 45 or 121 stops on the main road right outside the Hall  – plan your journey at – Plan a bus trip to Burton Agnes Hall

East Park, Hull – Services 56/57 (ran by Stagecoach) pass the gates on Holderness Road every few minutes.  Getting a bus to East Park, Hull

Pearson Park, Hull  – Service 104 (Stagecoach)  or the 121, 122, 246, X46 by East Yorkshire Buses go along Beverley Road Taking the bus to Pearson Park, Hull

Beverley has lots of attractions such as Inflatanation, the Beverley Town Trail and The Treasure House – Services 121, 122, 246 & X46 all go to Beverley, and it’s only a five minute walk from the bus station to each of these – Plan your bus trip to Beverley

Filey Bird garden and animal park  – the Coaster Service 12/13 stops on the main road right outside: Plan a bus trip to Filey Bird Garden

There is lots to access in York, including a trip on York Boat, Jorvik, the National Railway Museum, and York’s Chocolate Story – the EastRider Services X46 or 45 go to York from Hull, Beverley, Market Weighton and Pocklington, and it will drop you right in York city centre. You can also get off the bus near the station to go to the National Railway Museum.  Learn more at Getting the bus from East Yorkshire to York

There are lots of options for using a family day travel pass with East Yorkshire Buses – how about the Moors Explorer, a Sunday and Bank Holiday bus which leaves from Hull and rides up through the picturesque North Yorkshire Moors? – more information at https://www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk/moors-explorer-returns-may

Or the Beachcomber which run daily in both Bridlington and Scarborough taking in the seafront and the main attractions? They are open topped! Perfect for (some days of) the British summer. More info at https://www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk/beachcomber-open-top-buses-are-back

Can you think of any more attractions in Hull and East Yorkshire that are easy to get to by bus?

Disclosure – This is a sponsored post