Canterbury to Hastings day trip by bus possible?

[gray1404]

I'm wanting to do a day trip from Canterbury to Hastings using my ENCTS pass either Friday or Saturday. Is this possible?

I gather I would travel from Folkestone maybe but thereafter is there a through service as Stagecoach have a habit of separating longer routes out on the timetable.

 

[Mike99]

I think it's the 102 to New Romney and then the 100 to Hastings some journeys on travel-line show a change in Rye to another 100, I suspect it could be the same vehicle/driver. I drove out of Silverhill (Hastings)depot in the late 90's on the 400 Eastbourne, Hastings, Ashford to Canterbury, and the 711 Dover, Fokestone, Hastings to Brighton. Both routes now broken up into sections. Both lovely routes to drive on with some great vehicles to drive.

 

[duncombec]

I haven't checked the timetables, but the "direct" route, albeit not very frequent, would be via 1 to Ashford, 2 or 2A to Tenterden, then 329 to Hastings. The 329 is only every 2 hours, though.

16 to Folkestone, 102 to New Romney and 100 to Hastings (most journeys are through at Rye) is the most frequent option, but not quick or particularly direct. A mix of the two, via Ashford then the 11 group to new Romney and/or Lydd is also possible.

Unfortunately, cross-Weald and cross-Marsh travel is weak and getting weaker, because it doesn't have many houses to start with, and with the exception of Ashford <> Tenterden, the rail links cover the area faster and more frequently (Canterbury West - Ashford, Ashford - Hastings, one easy change at Ashford International) - although less pretty, I'm lead to believe!

 

[30907]

Traveling or Bustimes.org might help you

 

[James H]

The 329 is only every 2 hours, though

As of this month, reduced to three journeys a day on the Tenterden section

 

[Man of Kent]

I think it's the 102 to New Romney and then the 100 to Hastings some journeys on travel-line show a change in Rye to another 100, I suspect it could be the same vehicle/driver.

With one exception, the 100 is always a through vehicle.

Be prepared to travel for just under 4 hours each way, so it won't be much of a day out in Hastings itself.

 

[OptareOlympus]

Journey times across Kent and East Sussex are ridiculous now. Not Stagecoach's fault obviously, just the population explosion across the area.

As was mentioned a few posts up, the 711 used to cover all stops Dover - Folkestone - Lydd - Rye - Hastings - Eastbourne - Seaford - Brighton every hour all day in just under 5 hours. The 400 covered all stops Canterbury - Ashford - Tenterden - Hastings - Eastbourne in around 3.5 hours every hour albeit it took a very direct route straight along the A28 between Canterbury and Ashford and even only served Wye level crossing omitting the village itself. Between Hastings and Eastbourne, the two routes combined to provide a 30 minute headway.

I too drove the 711 in the late 90s and it was indeed a great route to work with new Volvo Olympians, whilst the 400 got B10M/PS.

In the late 90s it was possible to travel in Volvo comfort from Margate to Southsea changing only twice. First in Dover (200 > 711) and then in Brighton (711>700) and all for £5.

The 200 was the clockwise loop of the 77 mile, 4 hour long Kent Compass circuit that also operated every hour linking Dover - Canterbury - Whitstable - Herne Bay - Margate - Broadstairs - Ramsgate - Sandwich - Deal and back to Dover. It's anti-clockwise loop was the 100. The Kent Compass and 711 connected at Dover Eastern Docks ferry terminal.

 

[gray1404]

Thanks for all your advise and support. I ended up taking the coastal route via Folkestone with Stagecoach in both directions. The journey planned on their website would say to stay on the same bus so that was helpful. Had a nice few hours in Hastings.