From Dipton Mill, in Northumberland, we go across country, in an southeasterly direction, into County Durham. Here we're greeted by the locals of Shotley Bridge.
Dozens of buses ready to leave Consett for the Poor Bairns’ trip to Whitley Bay in 1923.
Northern General had a depot in Consett, with some interesting buses.
Moving on to Consett bus station, around 1975, we find some "Y" types still bearing the Venture fleet name.
Sunderland District and Northern General also served Consett.
A local independent, Armstrongs, ran up to the Hat & Feather.
Clark's of Consett also had an infrequent rural route.
They don't dig for coal, or make steel in Consett any more, but they do brew beer - in the Grey Horse.
Leaving Consett behind, we soon reach Tantobie, where Hunter's Coaches could be found running a stage carriage service.
Let's pay a visit to Hunter's depot in Tantobie.
It's only a short hop from here to Tanfield, the western terminus of the Tanfield Railway.
We'll see more of the Tanfield Railway in the next post, but for the moment, we change direction to the collieries to the west of Stanley.
Into Stanley itself, where we can get provisions at a great supermarket!
I don't think the Blue Boar in Stanley still exists.
Northern General had a depot in Stanley.
Messrs Hammel, part of the Diamond organisation, also kept their buses in Stanley.
Diamond (Hammel) ran at least one service into Stanley bus station.
Other operators included Northern General, Fulton's, Hunter's, Stanley Taxis, Classic Bus, Low Fell Coaches and Star Travel.
Very few of those operators still exist. We now take a Go Ahead bus to No Place - yes, there is such a place!
And here's the reason why - the excellent Beamish Mary pub at No Place.
That seems like a good location to end this post. The next one will find us examining County Durham's history. Here's a link to the map of the route so far.
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