A LOCAL woman has been on a 39-mile bus journey to help launch a national competition to inspire more people to make their own 'epic' bus trips.

Sarah Jarman, from Langford, competed against her colleagues from Campaign for Better Transport to see who could travel furthest in one day using just three buses.

Sarah set off on Friday, March 31, kickstarting her journey by taking the 126 from Axbridge to Wells. She then changed buses and carried on towards Yeovil, making a final change of bus there to finish her journey 39 miles away at Bridport Beach in Dorset.

Despite her impressive feat, Sarah was beaten in the competition by her colleague Stephen, who covered 62.5 miles from Reading to Leamington Spa, and Jess, who travelled 60 miles from Ipswich to Cromer. 

Sarah spent just £6 in total, thanks to the £2 single bus fare cap.

Without the £2 cap, it would have cost Sarah much more to complete the journey. Before the fare cap was introduced, a single fare from Axbridge to Wells would have cost £6.80.

The fare cap scheme runs until the end of June. 

Sarah said: “It’s been a wonderful day, and I’m looking forward to doing my epic bus journey again in better weather so I can walk along the coastal path from Bridport Beach to Weymouth.

"The lovely thing about traveling by bus is it gives you time to think, to watch, to pay attention to things that you’d otherwise breeze past at speed in a car or even a train. The £2 bus fare is a great initiative, but not everyone knows about it. Hopefully my journey will inspire other people to make use of the bus and see where they can get to.”  

Sarah's journey marks the launch of Campaign for Better Transport's national competition, which sees how far you can travel by bus in one day. There can be three connecting 'legs', but no leg can cost more than £2.

The winner will receive £150 in National Trust vouchers, enough for a year’s family membership.

The competition runs until the end of April.

For more information about the competition and how you can get involved, please visit the Campaign for Better Transport's website.