Narrow roads, traffic jams, limited parking and sat-nav fails – being behind the wheel in Cornwall is no picnic, especially in peak season. Wouldn’t you rather stay in holiday mode and enjoy the journey?
Take a break from driving and discover Cornwall by bus. Here’s how to get started.
Plan
your trip
Step 1. Find your route
Head to travelinesw.com and enter your start point and destination. This will show you which number bus you need, what time to catch it, and where your nearest bus stops are. It will even include the estimated walking time at each end, so you’ll know the full journey time.
Step 2. Pick your ticket
You can purchase tickets on board the bus and pay using a contactless payment method or cash.
Singles are capped at £2 – no matter how far you travel, and our Family Group tickets are great value if you’re taking children along. See our price guide below for more information.
Step 3. Enjoy the ride
When your bus approaches, hold out your arm so the driver knows to stop for you.
Take your seat and make the most of someone else doing the driving.
As you approach your destination, ring the bell so the driver knows you want to get off, then you can stay in your seat until the bus stops moving.
Pick
your ticket
In Cornwall you can use your return, day or week ticket on any bus, no matter which company runs it.*
* Excluding Truro Park & Ride and privately contracted services.
Children and under-19s enjoy reduced fares across all Cornwall’s buses, while under 5s travel free.
Single bus journeys are currently capped at £2 for adults and under-19s – no matter how far you travel.
Family Group tickets are great value, letting two adults and all accompanying children under 16 travel for one fixed price, right across Cornwall. And prices are discounted for Summer 2024!
| All Cornwall | All Cornwall |
|
|---|---|---|
| Usual price | £15.00 | £50.00 |
| Summer 2024 price* | £10.00 | £30.00 |
*Offer valid 20th July to 2nd September 2024
Day and week tickets are available for both adults and under-19s
| All Cornwall | All Cornwall |
|
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £7.00 | £25.00 |
| Child | £4.50 | £15.00 |
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a map of the full Cornwall bus network?
You can see our full bus network map online. If you prefer, you can also download a PDF of the full network map.
Can I get real-time info during my journey?
Visit travelinesw.com to get live updates and departure times when you’re on the move.
Most of the major bus operators have their own app – which will give you live information about where your bus is, show route maps with individual stops marked and list real-time departures for all services from a particular stop.
How will I know when and where to get off?
The easiest way is to ask the driver to let you know when the bus is approaching the best stop of your destination. But you want a bit more reassurance, you can use an app like Google maps to see your current location, relative to your destination.
Can I take my dog on board?
Dogs are welcome on all our buses free of charge. We just ask that they’re on a lead and you keep them sitting safely on the floor.
All recognised assistance animals travel for free, which includes Guide Dogs for the blind (including a Guide Dog in training with a registered puppy walker with their ID card) and Hearing Dogs for deaf people.
Are buses accessible to wheelchair/mobility scooter users?
Most of the buses on the Cornwall network have a space large enough for a one wheelchair, and are low-floor, easy-access vehicles (or have a manual ramp which drivers can use where needed).
‘Class 2’ scooters with 3 or 4 wheels will be accepted provided they are no more than 600mm wide and 1000mm long, with a turning radius not exceeding 1200mm.
Some operators may require you to get a “permit for travel” prior to your scooter being carried on any bus. Please check with the company that runs the service you want to use.
Wheelchair and scooter users must be positioned with their chair back against the ‘ironing board’ upright cushion in order to travel safely. This is why there can only be one wheelchair user on board at a time on most buses.
Who operates my bus service?
When you look up a journey on travelinesw.com it will tell you the company that operates the buses on that route. If you need customer support – such as asking about lost property or accessibility – contact the operator directly. Links to all Transport for Cornwall operators contact information can be found below.
Can I take my bike on board?
We allow non-electric, folding bikes onto our buses; these need to be folded with the chain on the inside of the fold, or carried in a bag. Due to the limited aisle space on buses, we’re unable to carry other bikes.
We are Transport for Cornwall
Transport for Cornwall is the partnership between Cornwall Council and transport operators across the county – including our bus companies.
We’re committed to connecting people and places by working together to bring you a more reliable, cost-effective and straightforward service.
If you need customer support in relation to a specific bus service, please contact the company that operates it directly. Click on their logo to find their contact details.
