Leaving the car at Carlisle railway station I boarded a train on the scenic Settle and Carlisle railway

An hour later I alighted at Kirkby Stephen railway station, which is a long walk from the town of Kirkby Stephen. Thats the train departed, continuing on its journey to Leeds, here's hoping the bus turns up, its due in forty minutes.

The bus arrived in from Ravenstondale with just a few passengers already on board. Its a 1959 Bristol Lodekka. The 572 service runs once a week, on Wednesdays to Kirkby Stephen, Brough and Barnard Castle.

The bus picked up about thirty passengers from various bus stops in Kirkby Stephen town. Here it is ahead of schedule and waiting departure time at Kirkby Stephen market square.

During the summer months the bus takes a scenic route, passing Selset Reservoir. By now we have crossed over the watershed from the county of Cumbria on the west side of the English North Pennines and are descending into the County of Durham, Land of the Prince Bishops, in the east.

There is a ten minute stop at Middleton-in-Teesdale

From here it is an easy run down the valley of the River Tees to the market town of Barnard Castle. The bus driver and conductor look the part with their black waistcoats and watch chains.

The arched bridge across the River Tees at Barnard Castle was built in the late sixteenth century. Following flooding in 1771 it received substantial repairs and the parapet was rebuilt.

Looking up at Barnard Castle from the river bridge. The castle stands on a plateau above a rocky escarpment at a bend in the river. It is a Norman castle, reputedly built in 1112. It was a stronghold of the Bailliol family for many years and passed to the English royal family through marriage. The castle was sieged in the Rising of the North in 1569 and visited by Oliver Cromwell in 1648.

A steep path brings us up level with the castle walls. Much of the castle has been destroyed and the area within the walls is now mainly occupied by ornamental gardens. More to follow shortly.