James White, a 42-year-old chartered engineer from Richmond in southwest London, has embarked on an extraordinary journey travelling the length of Britain using only local buses. The adventure began on Tuesday, 22 April, with White setting off from Land's End, the southwestern tip of England, aiming to reach John O'Groats, situated in the far northeast of Scotland.
White’s unusual expedition is structured around a strict routine; each day he boards his first bus precisely at 8 am and spends between 10 to 12 hours on the road in transit. Over the course of his journey, he plans to ride on 49 different buses, primarily benefiting from the £3 fare cap implemented in many local areas, which keeps his total travel costs estimated at under £250.
In an interview reflecting on his motivation, White admitted, “I don’t know why I am doing it. I just had the idea, planned it, and now I am here. I have no interest in buses whatsoever—I normally get the Tube to work.” Despite his lack of enthusiasm for buses in his everyday life, his journey is progressing smoothly according to his plans. He told the Express, “So far, everything has gone exactly how I planned it. It is a strange thing to do.”
Throughout his travels, White has experienced widespread encouragement from the communities he has encountered. “Everyone has been overwhelmingly positive. It has been great, I am really enjoying it,” he said. Beyond the challenge of the physical journey, White finds the experience revealing, enjoying the opportunity to visit locations he might never otherwise have seen. “It has been quite interesting to visit places that I wouldn’t usually see. England when it is sunny is one of the best places to travel,” he remarked.
The trip is also mentally demanding due to the frequent changes and logistics involved. White commented on this aspect by saying, “With all the changes, it has been quite mentally taxing—if catching a bus can be mentally taxing.”
The idea for this unique journey originated during a visit to Cornwall in September of last year. Upon seeing a bus stop at Land’s End, White curiously wondered if a corresponding stop existed at John O’Groats, sparking the ambitious plan to travel the entire length of Britain exclusively by local bus services. The Express is reporting on the progress and details of White’s extraordinary adventure, which continues to unfold as he travels across the country.
Source: Noah Wire Services