Last year it became cheaper than ever to travel across Greater Manchester when passenger fares were capped to just £2. The reform introduced by the region's mayor Andy Burnham was brought in to free commuters from a ‘fragmented’ system.
Before the cap, residents were having to contend with more than 830 services run by 30 different operators with 150 different ticket types. The cap has since been introduced nationally.
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In January, the government announced adult single bus tickets across the country will now also cost just £2 in order to help people with the rising cost of living. The following month, the scheme was extended for another three months to June 30 with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying: "Getting more people onto reliable and affordable buses will strengthen communities and help grow the economy,"
So with this in mind, I decided to see exactly how far I could get for £10, taking advantage of the new price cap.
Starting my journey in Leigh, in Wigan, I hoped to reach the Peak District National Park. The area is a popular choice for day trips or mini-breaks, but it can be tricky to reach without a car. My plan was to see just how affordable it would be to get there using only buses.
The route was mapped out for me with the help of the Transport for Greater Manchester journey planner and my day began with a 25-minute walk from where I live to Leigh Bus Station. There I hopped on the V2, which took me through the guided busway that passes through Atherton, Tyldesley and the East Lancs.
After a 48-minute ride, I got off the V2 outside the Manchester Aquatics Centre opposite Manchester Metropolitan University and from there I took the 197 to Stockport, which was around 50 minutes.
If you were starting this journey from Manchester, another option would have been the 192 from Piccadilly Gardens to Stockport.
Once I reached Mersey Square bus station my next bus would be the 199 to Buxton which also took just under an hour.
Catching buses in and around Greater Manchester was pretty seamless. The frequency and variety of services within Leigh, Manchester and Stockport meant that I wasn’t too anxious if I missed a bus or another was taking too long.
My issues began once I’d reached Disley, a small village in Cheshire found at the edge of the Peak District. The bus ride itself was a beautiful journey that saw me pass dainty cottage buildings, peaceful farm animals grazing on fields and stunning views of peaks and valleys that seemed closer than they were.
Unfortunately for me however, I had reached the village during rush hour, so traffic began blighting my journey.
On top of the traffic, I had to contend with a bridge closure that had caused buses in the area to go ‘haywire’ according to a helpful local who was also waiting for their bus.
One of the main routes that linked Whaley Bridge to Buxton was shut due to £5.1m repair works being carried out on a bridge by Network Rail. The works began back in January and weren't due to finish until the end of March.
My trip came to an end in Chapel-en-le-Frith, a quaint little town in High Peak known as the 'Capital of the Peak' (District).
Although it wasn't quite as far as I'd hoped to get (I was six miles from Buxton), I'd managed to travel over 40 miles to the Peak District National Park for just £6.
Would I do it again? Perhaps. Despite the low cost, it took the best part of four hours to get there, so if you were wanting a quick journey option, this is probably not for you.
However, if you have time to kill and are looking to explore the wonderful mixture of green vistas and city-scape that the north has to offer along the way, then I'd definitely give a go.
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