It’s been a long wait for passengers but the D5 bus between Swanage and Durlston is finally back after a ‘fallow year’ last year.
From Saturday 29th May 2021 the Durlston Explorer service will run half hourly between Swanage and Durlston Country Park from 10 am until 4.30 pm. And this time it’s passing Swanage Hospital on the way down the hill.
That means you can take the bus from Swanage to get to hospital appointments, as well as using it to get to Durlston, the pier, the museum or Swanage town centre.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions, the bus didn’t operate in 2020.
The route will start at the Main Beach car park and then go via the bus station and up to Durlston Country Park, returning via Swanage Hospital
“Ready for large numbers”
Nikki Honer, Morebus head of communications, said:
“We’re tremendously excited to see everyone again – and we’re ready and prepared to welcome large numbers of passengers on-board.”
The service is provided thanks to funding from Durlston Country Park, Swanage Town Council, The Culture Recovery Fund and Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre.
Ali Tuckey, project leader at Durlston Country Park said:
“The bus is a brilliant way for visitors to enjoy Swanage without their cars, as well as a really useful way for locals to get around the town and I’m sure it will be really well used!”
Morebus is also re-introducing for the summer its popular Breezer 30 – which links Swanage, Wareham (including Wareham Railway Station), Wool, Lulworth and Weymouth.
There is also a new Breezer 31 service serving Wareham, Wool, Monkey World, Bovington Tank Museum, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.
The D5 bus runs between Swanage and Durlston Country Park
“Stringent on-board cleaning”
Nikki Honer added:
“Already, we are seeing strong demand for our bus services, following the recent easing of lockdown restrictions – and we are expecting this to increase considerably during the summer.
“With large numbers across the UK planning ‘staycations’ in 2021, we know Dorset will be among the nation’s most popular destinations – which is wonderful news for our tourism and hospitality industries. But our Breezers are also used extensively by those lucky enough to live here.
”We have stringent on-board cleaning regimes – with special focus on touch points with anti-viral wipes. And, of course there are still social distancing measures in place, so there will be more buses to ensure all those wishing to see Dorset’s gems with us can do so.”
Further information
The fares for the Durlston Explorer are:
- Adult – Single £2 and return £3
- Child – single £1.70 and return £2.20
- Bus pass holders travel free
More details are available on the Morebus website, along with the timetable
