| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by grahame at 06:39, 16th August 2025 |     |
Following on from suspicious symptoms, Lisa and I have both taken Covid tests this morning and both have come out positive - i.e. indications that we have covid. So CANCELLING my trip to Imber for today.
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:06, 15th August 2025 | |
Fair enough, Finn: we will miss you, though.
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by JayMac at 21:00, 15th August 2025 | |
I'm another who would've attended were it forecast to be cooler. It wouldn't be wise to take Finn on the busy non air conditioned buses.
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:58, 15th August 2025 | |
Love to see any other members who make Imber next Saturday (16.8.2025) - I'll be catching the bus at 09:25 from home, change onto the 2, X2, 3A or 3C in Devizes and joining the 23A at one of the Lavingtons or Gore Cross Bus Station.
I have been a couple of time before and it is a worthwhile trip, but I fear it will be too hot for me tomorrow.
I've not been able attend this event in previous years, due to my work commitments, but now that I'm retired ...
Agreed it may be hotter later in the day, so I am aiming for a morning / lunchtime excursion. The 08:45 train from NLS should get me to WMN at 10:10, so I'll look out for you there, grahame.
CfN.
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by bobm at 15:52, 15th August 2025 | |
I have been a couple of time before and it is a worthwhile trip, but I fear it will be too hot for me tomorrow.
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:03, 15th August 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Buses to run to the abandoned village of Imber
Nearly 40 routemaster buses will be travelling around Salisbury Plain on Saturday, taking people to the abandoned village of Imber.
Owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the village is only opened on certain days of the year as it is a training area.
Last year, about 4,000 people took the Imberbus trip, which raised £35,000 for charity.
The village is now abandoned after residents were evicted in 1943 to allow the military to use it for training in World War Two. It has remained empty since.
The annual Imberbus day has been going since 2009, when it started with four buses. It now includes vintage and modern red routemaster buses which are donated by companies for the day. Crews from all over the country also donate their time.
While the Imberbus will only run on Saturday, Imber village has other open days during the year where visitors have to find their own way there.
Michael Meilton is one of those overseeing the operation and said buses will start at 9:30 BST from Warminster, but also go to some nearby villages.
There will be buses leaving Warminster Station every 10 to 15 minutes and returning from Imber until 17:30 BST.
Imber will have its church open to see as well as the scenery.
Buses also going to Tilshead, Chitterne, New Zealand Farm Camp, West Lavington, Market Lavington and Brazen Bottom are on at least twice an hour too, with alternative parking at Chitterne.
Tea and cake is available in most of the villages, with historical displays in a couple too and an exhibition on at The Athenaeum in Warminster. Mr Meilton said some travel to multiple villages to test all the refreshments.
There are no in advance tickets - people need to turn up and pay on the day, with cash being the best option. Card payments are only available at Warminster Station. It will cost £10 for adults and £2 for children.
"What's so special is seeing the faces of people who have taken their son or grandson for a ride on the bus to Imber," added Mr Meilton.
Nearly 40 routemaster buses will be travelling around Salisbury Plain on Saturday, taking people to the abandoned village of Imber.
Owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the village is only opened on certain days of the year as it is a training area.
Last year, about 4,000 people took the Imberbus trip, which raised £35,000 for charity.
The village is now abandoned after residents were evicted in 1943 to allow the military to use it for training in World War Two. It has remained empty since.
The annual Imberbus day has been going since 2009, when it started with four buses. It now includes vintage and modern red routemaster buses which are donated by companies for the day. Crews from all over the country also donate their time.
While the Imberbus will only run on Saturday, Imber village has other open days during the year where visitors have to find their own way there.
Michael Meilton is one of those overseeing the operation and said buses will start at 9:30 BST from Warminster, but also go to some nearby villages.
There will be buses leaving Warminster Station every 10 to 15 minutes and returning from Imber until 17:30 BST.
Imber will have its church open to see as well as the scenery.
Buses also going to Tilshead, Chitterne, New Zealand Farm Camp, West Lavington, Market Lavington and Brazen Bottom are on at least twice an hour too, with alternative parking at Chitterne.
Tea and cake is available in most of the villages, with historical displays in a couple too and an exhibition on at The Athenaeum in Warminster. Mr Meilton said some travel to multiple villages to test all the refreshments.
There are no in advance tickets - people need to turn up and pay on the day, with cash being the best option. Card payments are only available at Warminster Station. It will cost £10 for adults and £2 for children.
"What's so special is seeing the faces of people who have taken their son or grandson for a ride on the bus to Imber," added Mr Meilton.
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by Clan Line at 11:27, 15th August 2025 | |
Post box topper, George St, Warminster.
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by grahame at 13:52, 11th August 2025 | |
Love to see any other members who make Imber next Saturday (16.8.2025) - I'll be catching the bus at 09:25 from home, change onto the 2, X2, 3A or 3C in Devizes and joining the 23A at one of the Lavingtons or Gore Cross Bus Station.
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:11, 29th July 2025 | |
To me, that conjures up an image of an artillery officer, looking out over the range and shouting "Open fire! No, that's not an order - it's a warning!!"
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by CyclingSid at 19:33, 29th July 2025 | |
Could also do with some rain. The plain is very dry and a repeat of previous events in the year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70nnnnz0ldo could put the event at risk. Especially the section that goes across the top of the Larkhill/Westdown range to Brazen Bottom and the Lavingtons. The civilian Fire and Rescue Service won't get involved because the risk in military areas. I would imagine with cut backs the nearest MoD fire service will be Boscombe Down, and probably not suited to wild fires on the ranges.
| Re: 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by grahame at 09:24, 28th July 2025 | |
16th August 2025 ...
Our event attracts hundreds of people and can overload the car parks in Warminster town centre if everyone tries to park there. Fortunately Warminster is well served by buses and trains from the surrounding towns, as well as cities such as Cardiff, Bristol, Bath, Salisbury, Southampton and Portsmouth and so we strongly recommend that you use these if at all possible.
These days, I hesitate to agree "well served" - the timetable is good, but recent record on actually running the trains is poor - these graphics from the last 4 weekends as I write. And in recent years, Imber bus day has brought rather more crowds by train than the services that have run could comfortably cope with. My personal view would be that it's fine for public transport officianados, but you'll probably be risking disappointment and frustration if you bring along family looking for a fun day out.
Having made that point, Warminster has far more trains that Melksham (a town of similiar size) in the timetable, and many fewer cancellations.
| 16th August 2025 - Buses to Imber Posted by grahame at 06:40, 26th January 2025 | |
The date for 2025 has been announced!
https://imberbus.org/2025/01/25/the-date-is-set-for-imberbus-2025/
The date is set for Imberbus 2025 !
Posted on 25 January 2025
We are pleased to announce that this year, we are planning to run the Imberbus service on
Saturday 16th August 2025
when several vintage former London Transport Routemaster buses (plus a few newer ones) will again provide a bus service from Warminster Station to Imber and other isolated locations on the Salisbury Plain between 10am and 6pm.
Posted on 25 January 2025
We are pleased to announce that this year, we are planning to run the Imberbus service on
Saturday 16th August 2025
when several vintage former London Transport Routemaster buses (plus a few newer ones) will again provide a bus service from Warminster Station to Imber and other isolated locations on the Salisbury Plain between 10am and 6pm.
Edit note: Minor typo corrected, for clarity. CfN.
