Despite rain and overcast skies, the latest Grand Day Out hosted by Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire brought smiles to the faces of those taking part.
The Grand Days Out are designed to encourage older passengers to make full use of their free bus pass giving them the opportunity to make friends and explore new places. It is supported by Age UK and businesses across the county, combining bus travel with unique experiences.
And those who turned up to catch the X4 from Cockermouth to Keswick last week were surprised with a boat trip on Derwentwater with Keswick Launch Co. and a delicious packed lunch provided by Booths of Keswick.
After a bus ride to Keswick, the passengers walked to the Theatre by the Lake in the pouring rain and from there made their way to the launch. Once under the shelter of the boat everyone enjoyed the dramatic scenery and saw groups of kayakers who were braving the choppy conditions.
Those taking part were all from Age UK Cockermouth, Whitehaven and Workington and Annette Collister was delighted to be part of the latest Grand Day Out. ‘It means a lot getting on that bus. I like to be independent, but I have lost my confidence since Covid’, she said.
Pat Wallbank said that eating her sandwiches on the boat reminded her of picnics in the rain when she was a child.
Age UK runs a wide range of activities for older people in Cockermouth, including a walking group, a singing group and an art club.
Annette Kielland runs the art group where she has been a volunteer for 15 years and she loved her day out in the rain.
Lynn Black, who has volunteered with Age UK for 9 years, agreed that the Grand Days Out are helping to get people out and about. “We wouldn’t have come out today in the rain, we’d have been sitting at home, so it does get people out and they really appreciate that’, she said.
Jim Doyle, who has piloted the launch for 20 years, said that they average 4-8 trips a day no matter what the weather. He and his son Jenson, who is in his sixth season on the boats, have both noticed that numbers have fallen since the pandemic and some people are still reluctant to be in groups of people that they don’t know. They agreed that Stagecoach’s Grand Days Out initiative was a great way to encourage people to use the bus, especially with their free bus passes.
It’s really important for us as a company to support the local community and I’m always really pleased to hear that those people who attend our Grand Days Out have a great day out.
Passengers can board the X4 bus at Workington bus station every day, every half hour, which is free with an older person’s bus pass, and travel the short distance to Keswick.
Tom Waterhouse, Managing Director at Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire
To take advantage of the combined bus and boat ticket Stagecoach offer, please visit: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/cumbria-and-north-lancashire/lake-district-bus-and-boat-travel-tickets
Click or tap an image to view it larger and read more about where it is.