I’m travelling the length of the UK on local buses from Land’s End to John O’Groats – it’s costing £250 & taking 8 days
A MAN is travelling the length of Britain – just on local buses – for less than £250.
James White, 42, set off on his journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats on April 22.
Each morning, he will set out at 8am and spends between 10 and 12 hours a day on buses.
The chartered engineer from Richmond, London, said that he will have to catch 49 buses in total.
While he doesn’t know exactly how much the trip will cost yet, he estimated that he will spend less than £250 thanks to the £3 price cap in most areas.
James said: “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.”
Whilst everything has gone to plan so far, James did admit that “it is a strange thing to do”.
He added how those around him have been supportive and that he is enjoying it.
He said: “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.
“With all the changes it has been quite mentally taxing – if catching a bus can be mentally taxing.”
James came up with his bus trip across the UK whilst on a trip in Cornwall last September.
After spotting a Land’s End bus stop, he wondered if John O’Groats would also have one at the other end of the country.
James started to plan his trip and plotted the route each night after work until he finally booked it in February.
He has used his annual leave to carry out his adventure and started by getting a train from Paddington to Penzance and then started from Land’s End.
So far, James is yet to experience a delay or cancellation.
He has also been documenting his journey via Instagram, which he had not used before his trip but now has over 2,800 followers.
Most of the expenses from the trip have come from staying in hotels.
The expedition has seen him pass through major cities including Exeter, Leeds and Edinburgh.
Currently, James is on bus 40 of 49.
He added that the favourite part of his journey so far was Cornwall, where there was “spectacular” scenery.
He has raised nearly £3,000 for mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably – which he picked as “men’s mental health isn’t spoken about enough”.
He added: “The vast majority of people who have donated are strangers. Every time I get the email to say that someone has donated it is incredible.
“I am the type of person where if somebody suggests something then I want to do it for my own curiosity. I never thought that anyone else would be as interested as they are.
“I am very motivated to raise as much money as I can.”
James expects to finish his adventure across the UK on April 30, after travelling around 814 miles from Land’s End.
One woman has also been able to save a fortune using the new £2 bus fares.