Bus Service to Stowmarket

A bus service, VC001, runs 3 x week to Stowmarket and villages on the way [Mon, Weds & Fri  @ 9.52am]. It is operated by Stowmarket Minibus & Coach Hire [01449 614271]. The minibus (white and labelled on windscreen 'VC001') comes to the village green by the post box. People wishing to travel should hail it. Apparently, no-one usually gets on in Wickham Skeith so the driver is not expecting to pick up!  The driver is not supposed to arrive too early in case people miss it, so be patient if he is very slightly later!  Timings were pretty accurate overall. It is a sixteen-seater bus and will arrive from the direction of Finningham, heading in the direction of Mendlesham.

To Stowmarket the cost is £3.70 return or £2.00 single and paid by 'cashless' card transaction or cash.  To catch the bus back from Stowmarket, you need to wait at the bus stop opposite Stowmarket railway station, on the bend near the level crossing. There are other pick-up points and the driver was quite accommodating to the needs of individual passengers.

There is enough time to have a good potter around the town and perhaps a cafe stop too, before the return journey.  The bus also stops at Mendlesham, Mendlesham Green and The Crown, so could be useful for someone who wants to meet up with a friend but not able to drive.

Since the bus starts at Gislingham and goes to Finningham, then to us, you could do the journey in the other direction. This could be useful for anyone wishing to bus out and walk back. No dogs allowed on board due to limited space, however.

Passengers were a friendly crowd; there was one conversation between all - and you get to find out all the local news!  Worth supporting.