Have you looked at your petrol bills recently and felt a tear prick at your eye or a sick feeling roll around in your tummy? Well fear no more, because guest writer Gabi Hadley has planned a great day out for you that’s not going to break the bank.
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With petrol prices and parking fees skyrocketing, we’re all beginning to find family outings a bit of a strain on the purse strings.
So, on a mission to put the ‘fun’ back in a ‘family fun day out’, we’re using Stagecoach’s handy Journey Planner tool to plan a family day out around Devon for less than £40. If you want to treat the kids (and yourself too of course) without burning a hole in your pocket, read on.
Finding Our Route
To get us going, we used Stagecoach’s Journey Planner to browse local bus routes, times and prices. It also provided some inspiration for a family day out when deciding where we could easily go without walking too far from bus stops.
After consulting the Journey Planner, we found a route from Barnstaple to Croyde, running every 30 minutes. At only £12 for a Group Return (1 Adult, 2 Children), what’s not to like?
Enjoy a Morning in Barnstaple
Starting at Barnstaple, we first enjoyed a morning of fun and games at the Junglaroos indoor soft play centre.
For two children and one adult, a couple of hours here will only set you back £15.85.
After Junglaroos, we headed to Tesco and grab some bits for a seaside picnic in Croyde. If you get creative with your picnic snacks, you can keep this at £10-12.
Some great ideas for affordable picnic treats
- Bread Rolls
- Jam Doughnuts
- Veggies
- Family Pack of Crisps
- Hummus
Trying to entertain and placate the kids whilst travelling is always a little challenging.
If you get a bit lost or don’t quite manage to stick to schedule (who does?), you can check live bus times and routes on Stagecoach’s Journey Planner to get you back on track.
Soak up Croyde’s Beauty with a Picnic
With our picnic supplies and return tickets sorted, we hopped on the 21C bus to Croyde and jumped off at stop ‘Downend’. It was an easy ride that was even better without the stress or cost (£16 for the day!) of finding a parking spot.
Croyde is stunning. The coastal haven is ideal for a picnic lunch, relaxing on the beach or strolling along the coastline to National Trust hotspot Baggy Point. That last one has a stunning view over the idyllic scenery of Exmoor and its dramatic coastline.
Like us, if you manage to do your picnic on the cheap, you may even have some cash leftover for a cheeky ice cream!
Home time
After a fab day out and about in Devon, it was time to get the kids back home.
Heading back to Barnstaple was easy using our return tickets. The kids were tired out, the bank account was still intact and we were very chuffed after a fun family day out all with only £40.
Plan your next family day out
Fancy exploring further out than Devon or using buses for a fun and affordable day out in your local area? Why not challenge yourself to a family outing on a budget with Stagecoach buses?
Just head to Stagecoach’s Journey Planner and check out bus routes near you to start planning.
Disclosure: this post is a collaboration with Stagecoach.
