Route 1 - Bob - Benson and Goring
Bob Sillitoe CE12 EFG
How to do it:
Note: the timings on this route are a little optimistic. They start off OK but even in good conditions you can expect to arrive at the final stop about 10 minutes late.
- Start in St Leonard's Square in Wallingford, by the barber's shop and the haberdashery shop. Collect 1 at 07:40.
- Carry on into the centre of Wallingford, turn right at the central traffic lights and out over the bridge. At the little roundabout turn left towards Benson and then emerge onto the main Benson road.
- Shortly after entering the 40 mph limit, take the first right onto Church Road and then at the end of that turn right again and follow the road round into the High Street.
- After passing all the shops, take the second left onto Blacklands Road and stop on the left just before the first turning off it to the left (Westfield Road). Collect 1 (and just occasionally 2) at 07:53.
- You can turn around in the mouth of Westfield Road and re-trace your steps back to Church Road where you stop just before the lychgate on your left (opposite the start of the churchyard on your right). Collect 1 at 07:57.
- Continue to the end of Church Road and turn left onto the A4074, heading back towards Wallingford.
- At the first roundabout take the third exit, signposted Reading. This is slightly right of straight on but surprisingly the correct lane for this is the left lane. It's clearly signposted but expect to find people taking the wrong lane and then cutting in in front of you.
- At the next roundabout take the first exit - straight on - and then immediately afterwards there are three right turns. The first right turn has its own white lined turning space whilst the second and third ones share the same reserved turning space. You want the second of the three (although the first one will do also).
- Go down to the bottom of the road (beware deep pothole at the time of writing) and collect 1 at 08:02.
- You can then either continue on round and come back up the other road (the first right turn after the roundabout) or turn around and go back the way you came. The latter has the advantage of no speed humps (but the pothole again) and possibly a slightly easier exit at the top.
- From either road, turn right out onto the A4074 and then immediately right again (the third right turn from when you came around the roundabout) onto the B4009 signposted for North Stoke, South Stoke and Goring.
- Continue on the B4009 to South Stoke and stop at the bus stop. This will be found just after the second right turn offered for South Stoke village, signposted Shop and Village Hall and just by the start of the houses on your right. (Don't take any of the right turns offered into the village itself.)
- Continue on the same road again into the outskirts of Goring - 30 mph speed limit and humps. Just after W.A. Hine and Son Ltd (Builders) on your right you come to a cross roads (Mill Road and Elvendon Road). Stop just before the cross roads and collect 1 at 08:08.
- Carry on into Goring and just before the right turn to cross the railway line there's a small residential road (Lockstile Way) on your left. Stop at the mouth of that to collect 1 at 08:10.
- Carry on into Goring, turn right to cross the railway line and go down the high street. Cross the river and then turn right at the lights in Streatley to return to Moulsford.
Route 2 - John - Caversham (2023/24)
John Winters - Rabbit's bus
How to do it:
There's a neat trick which you can use to get to your start point in the morning if traffic conditions dictate. The simplest way to get there is simply to follow the A4074 towards Reading, descend into Caversham, turn left at the lights into Church Street and then straight on at the roundabout into Gosbrook Road and follow it until it hits Star Road, but - there is quite often a queue at the bottom of the hill in Caversham.
Because you're driving a minibus you're allowed to use bus lanes and bus gates unless they're marked as being for local buses only. Somewhere in Upper Caversham, turn left and cross over to Kidmore Road which parallels the main road in. (The simplest way to do this is to take the first left turn after entering the 30 mph limit - Shepherds Lane.) Follow that as it becomes The Mount and then Priest Hill. The main flow of the road then does a right-angled turn to the right becoming St Anne's Road but you turn left off it (physically going straight on) to stay on Priest Hill. At the bottom you hit Hemdean Road where you turn right and then go straight on through the buses-only bit and turn left into Church Street. This can avoid a lot of queueing.
- Start at the junction of Gosbrook Road and Star Road. There's a handy place in front of a bin access just to your right in Star Road. Collect 1 at 07:33
- Go north up Star Road until you get almost to the end where there is a bike gate - only bikes can enter it from the north but you can get out coming from the south. Pull up on the left just beyond the entrance to the car park behind the Co-op. Collect 1 at 07:35
- Go straight on at the roundabout into Donkin Hill, up to the top and turn left into Henley Road (A4155). Along there for a few hundred yards to the traffic lights where you turn hard right into Peppard Road.
- Drive up Peppard Road which climbs quite steeply and then just as it's starting to level out you will find Surley Row on your left which has a little triangle of roads into which you can pull. Collect 2 at 07:40
- Turn left onto Peppard Road and go straight on across two roundabouts, and past Budgens on your right. The road does a significant turn to the left as it climbs the hill and then just around the bend there is a bus stop on your left. Collect 1 at 07:41
- Continue on the same road to the next bus stop which is at the far end of the section where there is a parallel residential road on your left (also confusingly called Peppard Road). Your passengers get on there although they may not actually be standing at the bus stop - they tend to sit in parental vehicles until the bus actually appears. One of them is quite prone to being late. If he's not there then I tend to turn into Rosehill Park (the road just beyond the bus stop) and then reverse into the parallel Peppard Road to wait for him. Collect 2 at 07:42
- Continue on the main road to Sonning Common. In the village there will be a car dealership on your right followed by a pelican crossing. Immediately after the pelican crossing, turn right into Widmore Lane, left into Pond End Road and then left into Churchill Crescent. Follow it all the way around and stop in front of the last house on your left. Collect 1 at 07:46
- Turn left into Blounts Court Road until it meets the main road again (now called Gravel Hill) and turn (very sharp) left back onto the main road. Go down the hill and turn right at the bottom into Shiplake Bottom, then left into Newfield Road. About half way up on your left is a house with bigger than average hedge - number 7. Collect 1 at 07:50
- Turn around in Sedgefield Close and go back down Newfield Road, turning left back into Shiplake Bottom. Follow it all the way to the end where it hits Gallowstree Road. Do a right/left wiggle across Gallowstree Road into Chiltern Road. After the first bit Chiltern Road is pretty rough and full of potholes. Proceed slowly up there and you will notice a house on your right which has some large stone dogs sitting in front of it. The next house is Stancroft where you collect 1 at 07:54
- Carry on up Chiltern Road to a large house called Greenways which has two entrances. Collect 3 at 07:55
- Keep on up the road until you come to a t-junction. Turn right into Wyfold Lane and at the end of that where it meets a proper road again collect 1 at 07:56
- Turn right into Stoke Row Road and thus back to Gallowstree Road which you crossed earlier. You then have a choice.
- The marginally quicker route (all other things being equal) is to turn right into Gallowstree Road, then right again when you get to Cane End and thus back to school on the A4074.
- The alternative is to turn left onto Gallowstree Road, left again at the next junction and thus to Nettlebed and back to school on the Henley Road. Only about 3 minutes slower if all is working well but potentially faster if the other route has problems.
Route 3 - Will - Shiplake (2021/22)
Will Munday CV68 BMZ
How to do it:
- Start in Lower Shiplake on Crowsley Road as shown on the map. Collect 15 at 07:30.
- Drive to the end of Crowsely Road and turn left into Station Road. Cross the main road (A4155) into Woodlands Road and follow this to the intersection with Bolney Lane. Collect 1 at about 07:36.
- Carry on on the same road turning right when you get to the junction in Harpsden, and follow it into Henley and thus to school.
Route 4 - Sarah - Henley (2021/22)
Sarah Baynes Clarke CV68 BOJ
How to do it:
- Start in Vicarage Road in Henley, at the junction with St Mark's Road. Depending on the parking, either side of the junction will do. Collect 6.
- Travel south on Vicarage Road to the junction with St Andrews Road (the next road after St Mark's Road) and turn right into St Andrews Road.
- About half way up St Andrews Road, stop on the left, just before Belle Vue Road which is the second left turn after leaving Vicarage Road. There are a couple of white-fronted, castellated houses on your right opposite where you stop. Collect 4.
- Carry on up St Andrews Road and take the first right into Green Lane, then stop at the entrance to Auton Place on your left. You may well coincide with a couple of school coaches here and it's well worth hanging back and letting them get clear. Collect 1.
- At the end of Green Lane, turn right into Greys Road and go down the hill back into town. Pass the end of Deanfield Avenue on your left, then a small alleyway, then pull up in the entrance of Stuart Turner engineering. Collect 2.
- Immediately after Stuart Turner, turn left into the public car park. Oddly for a public car park you can drive straight through this one and it's used as a general through route. Wiggle to the left as you enter, then stop at the public loos on your left. Collect 2.
- Carry on through the car park, turning left at the far end by the Town Hall, then immediately right when you reach the back of the Town Hall. Carry on straight into Kings Road, and follow this until it brings you to the A4130. (2nd roundabout, the first one being for Waitrose car park.)
- Turn left at the roundabout onto the A4130, then immediately left again at the next roundabout to stay on the A4130.
- Carry on out of town as the speed limit changes from 20 mph to 30 mph and then 40 mph. Immediately before the de-restriction signs at the end of the 40 mph limit, turn into Lambridge Wood Road on your left. Collect 1.
- Carry on on the A4130 through Nettlebed and thus to school.
Route 5 - Phillip - Henley (2021/22)
Phillip Smith HX15 BYF
How to do it:
- Start at the top of Valley Road in Henley. You can get here either by driving through Henley, or by going across country through Rotherfield Greys. Collect 3 at 07:40.
- Drive down Valley Road and straight on at the roundabout into Deanfield Road. Stop immediately after the roundabout to collect 1.
- Continue down Deanfield Road, stopping just after Leaver Road on your left to collect 1.
- Continue to the end of Deanfield Road, turn left into Deanfield Avenue which becomes Paradise Road. At the end of this, turn right into Gravel Hill to descend into Henley town centre. N.B. 20 mph speed limit.
- At the Town Hall, turn left behind it and then carry on straight into Kings Road (round the back of Waitrose) following this all the way down until it meets the A4130 at a roundabout.
- Turn left at this roundabout and then immediately right at the next one onto the Marlow Road.
- Take the second left on the Marlow Road into the Swiss Farm campsite. Turn around inside the site and collect 1 from the house which is now on your left immediately inside the site entrance.
- Return to the last roundabout and turn right for Wallingford.
- Stop at the entrance to Pearce's Orchard on your left (4th road on your left, not counting an extended lay-by immediately before it) and collect 1.
- Carry on out of Henley and stop at Lambridge Wood Road, on your left just before the end of the 40 mph limit. Collect 3.
- Carry on on the A4140 to Nettlebed and collect 3 at the bus stop there.
- Continue to school.
Route 6 - Phil - Watlington
Phil Pratt YP69 CEX
How to do it:
- Start in Aston Rowant, on The Green, just beyond the entrance to Aston Gardens. Collect 1.
- Drive forward (heading back the way you came) to a similar distance the other side of Aston Gardens and stop at the house next door to the stud. Collect 1.
- Drive back out of Aston Rowant and just before you reach the B4009 there is a field entrance to a field with jumps in it. Pull up by the entrance and collect 1.
- Turn right onto the B4009, then turn left onto the A40. Drive up the hill. Immediately at the end of the overtaking lane - at the top of the hill - turn right signposted Christmas Common.
- Follow this road until you come into Christmas Common, then take the left fork for Northend
- This road has narrow bits and is very prone to deer crossing. Take extra care. When you come into the 30 mph limit again, you then see a sign saying "NORTHEND" followed by some houses on your left. You want the fifth driveway on your left (the first being pretty much a road) - house name "Kinnaird". However, it seems that this passenger is usually collected on the way back from the centre of North End. Just note the spot as you pass.
- Continue on into Northend proper. The road bends to the left by the pond and then at the far end of the green is the village hall, slightly up a road to the right. You can either drive up to the hall and then reverse back, or reverse up. It's narrow with nowhere to turn, but very quiet. Collect 2.
- Now go back to Kinnaird and Collect 1.
- Re-trace your steps to Christmas Common. As you come to the point where you previously forked left there's a little triangle. It's a good idea to take the left leg even though you want to turn right because then you get a much better view of traffic to your left.
- Immediately after the right turn, take a left turn for Watlington. Follow this road down the hill and into the edge of Watlington. After descending a steep hill the road levels out into a long flat straight stretch. At the far end stop opposite the Spire and Spoke pub and collect 7.
- Continue on that road in the same direction. You are forced to swing round to the left, skirting the edge of town. Towards the end it becomes a one way street before bringing you out onto the B480. Turn right onto the B480 and go past the large right turn into the town centre. The second road on your left is then Barnacre - stop here and pick up 2.<.li>
- There's then a fork in the road where the B480 goes off to the right, but you take the primary road which goes left and becomes the B4009.
- Pass through Britwell Salome which has a 30 mph limit, then after you come out of the limit again take the next right turn, signposted Brightwell Baldwin. Follow this road (quite narrow in places) as it enters a 30 mph limit and then a stretch with houses on both sides of the road. The last house on the right is prominent - large, white and thatched. You want the house before that on the right. Collect 1.
- Continue in the same direction on this road but after only 100 yards or so you will come to a triangle at the end of the houses. Turn left here and follow the road back to the B4009.
- Turn right onto the B4009 towards Benson and return to school.
Route 7 - Richard - Beenham (2021/22)
Richard Smith
How to do it:
- Start at the point A shown on the map, down a slightly bumpy track off Clay Lane. It's very quiet and you can wait in various entrances for your passenger. Collect 1.
- Proceed to Bradfield Southend and stop at the bus stop just inside the 30 mph limit. There is a small lay-by there which you can pull into. Collect 2.
- Continue on that road, ignoring the left turn for Bradfield. When you reach a T-junction, turn right signposted Theale and Reading. At the next T-junction turn left towards Pangbourne on the A340.
- Take the second turning on your left, the first being a private gated drive for Englefield House. The one which you want is signposted just "Englefield".
- Go down this road until you find yourself faced with the deer park (just past the garden centre), then turn around and stop outside the school. Collect 1.
- Return to the A340 and turn left onto it, again towards Pangbourne. Cross the M4 and then enter the 30 mph limit for Tidmarsh. Immediately you enter this there is a road on your left which is not the one you want. Carry on past Tidmarsh Grange on your right and then at the end of some brick buildings hard against the road on your right, turn left into Manor Farm Lane.
- A short distance up this there is an entrance on your left which will give you room to turn around. Collect 2.
- Return to the A340 and carry on towards Pangbourne. Pass the Greyhound pub on your right in the centre of Tidmarsh, and ignore Tidmarsh Lane on your left almost opposite it.
- Take the next left into Strachey Close. Turn around in the fork of the road a little way back, then collect 1 from the slightly wide point.
- Return to the A340 and carry on through Pangbourne to school.
Route 8 - Simon - Upper Basildon (2021/22)
Simon Cook BX21 HXH
How to do it:
The shortest way to the start point is to turn right up Streatley Hill and then left in Aldworth. Having climbed up Streatley Hill you cross a bit of open country before coming to a 30 mph limit for a small village. This then changes to 40 mph, then back to 30 mph for Aldworth. Take the first left turn after it becomes 30 again, then just follow that road until you get to Upper Basildon. Ashampstead Road is the next road on your right after you pass Basildon Primary School, which has a lot of signs outside saying, "Don't park here".
Do not be tempted by your SatNav to use Hook End Lane from Lower Basildon to Upper Basildon. It's narrow and has very few passing places. It's not suitable for mini-buses. (Barely suitable for cars.)
- Start at a house called Greenwood in Ashampstead Road. This is the 4th house on the right as you approach from the west. The house has a large tree next to its driveway with a rope swing hanging from it. There's a large expanse of gravel and a home office in the front garden. You can reverse into the drive to wait for your passengers. Collect 2 at 07:40.
- Turn right out of the drive and then right again onto Aldworth Road.
- Proceed towards Pangbourne, stopping at the lay-by near the bottom of Pangbourne Hill. Collect 5.
- Continue to the bottom of Pangbourne Hill and turn left towards Wallingford. Go straight on at the roundabout then turn left and left again to enter the Pangbourne Village Hall car park. Collect 5.
- Exit the car park turning right then left and proceed to Mouslford.
Route 9 - Steve - Wantage (2021/22)
Steve Neville & Bob Sillitoe YG12 YHS
How to do it:
Note the instruction further down about different behaviour on the middle days of the week.
- Start in the car park at the front of the Charlton Park Garden Centre. Collect 1 at about 07:30.
- Travel east on the A417 out of Wantage and follow this road until it crosses the A34 on a bridge.
- Shortly after that there is a new roundabout where you turn slightly right to stay on the A417.
- The road runs down the hill and then just before the next roundabout it acquires a central reservation. Take the left turn before the roundabout signposted West & East Hagbourne.
- Follow this road - quite narrow and wiggly - through West Hagbourne and on into East Hagbourne. In East Hagbourne it does a sharp swerve to the right, followed by a similar one to the left at a stone cross in the road. (If you didn't swing to the left, you'd hit the stone cross.)
- Immediately behind the stone cross as you approach it is a white house with black woodwork. You want the one to the left of that, called Fletchers. Stop where you can and ring the doorbell. Collect 2.
- Continue on the same road until it comes to a triangle, at which you turn right, signposted Blewbury. Follow this road, still in the village until you see a red pillar box on a post on your left, and then a short white fence on both sides of the road indicating a bridge over a stream.
- On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only, stop just beyond the pillar box and before the white fences. Collect 2.
- Carry on on this road until it brings you back to the A417 at Blewbury, by the BP garage. Turn left here and so to school.
Route 10 - Chris - Drayton
Chris Owen HN60 EVG
How to do it:
- Start at the roundabout on the old A34 at Drayton. Just north of the roundabout there is a bus stop and just before the bus stop there is room to pull in on the left in front of a hardware store. Collect 2 at 07:28.
- Double back to the roundabout and turn left there to head for Sutton Courtenay. Follow this road to the church in Sutton Courtenay and then immediately after the church you will find The George Hotel. Turn right into the road just before the George and collect 2 there at 07:33.
- Go back the way you came, and turn left into Sutton Courtenay High Street, following that all the way down to Didcot. You turn slightly left at the first roundabout then straight on at several more until the road does a 90 degree turn to the left and runs parallel to the railway line between that and the power station.
- Go through one set of traffic lights (entrance to the power station and then turn right at a roundabout to cross the railway line. Immediately over the railway line turn right at the next roundabout onto another road paralleling the railway line on the other side.
- Take the first left turn of this road into Dida Gardens, a small modern housing estate.
- Turn right into the first proper road on your right (not the sort of drive in front of some houses) and then down to the far end of that where you hit a T-junction.
- The house which you want is the one on your right at that junction. The easiest thing to do is turn left at the junction, then reverse back to stop directly in front of the house. Collect 1 at 07:40.
- Re-tracing your steps to leave the estate you really want to turn right back onto the main road but this can be difficult because of heavy traffic in both directions. If there aren't any decent gaps then turn left instead, then left at the traffic lights. Immediately after you've turned left you'll find a little roundabout at which you can turn back on yourself and then emerge onto the main road with the benefit of the traffic lights (again) to help you turn right.
- Turn left at the roundabout to go back over the railway line, then straight on at the next signposted Wallingford A4130.
- Go straight on at the next two roundabouts (travelling around the Dicot bypass, and then turn left at the third, (just after you've crossed the railway line) into Avon Way.
- Go all the way down Avon Way until it brings you to another roundabout where you turn right into Dart Drive.
- Continue on Dart Drive, which involves taking the first right and then the first left and it will bring you to yet another roundabout. Turn left here into Sutherland Beck.
- Follow Sutherland Beck right to the far end, including swinging round to the left and driving into a bit which involves crossing a slightly raised kerb (traffic calming measure). Collect 1 at 07:50.
- Re-trace your steps back out of the housing estate and take whichever route you prefer to school.