Open top buses are back in Torbay with new stop for holidaymakers

Stagecoach South West has re-launched its fleet of open top buses for the summer season with a new service rerouted to Hoburne Devon Bay holiday park. The popular buses now offer a frequent doorstop connection for holidaymakers visiting the area to take in the many attractions Torbay has to offer.

The Golden Hop open tops operate every 30 minutes during the daytime; from 9am until 6pm, seven days a week, connecting the family-run holiday park with St Marychurch, Torquay and Paignton seafront. Passengers will be able to enjoy a sightseeing experience and hop on and off as often as they like to visit destinations and attractions along the route until the end of summer. Buses visit many of the area’s most popular attractions including Babbacombe’s Theatre, Cliff Railway and the Model Village as well as Torquay Museum, Kent’s Cavern and Splashdown Waterpark.

The buses feature a distinctive yellow livery, showcasing fun animal characters including Gary the Rabbit, Chirpy the Cricket, Porter the Penguin, Cango the Kangaroo and Freddie the Frog. The experience is great for the whole family and perfect for travellers who want to stay out in the fresh air.

Stagecoach south west managing director, Mike Watson said: “As restrictions ease, and more people across Britain take advantage of overnight stays, we’re expecting to see more visitors head to our amazing Devon coast.  Our open top buses offer a fun way to see the sights of the glorious Torbay, with the added bonus of taking in the fresh air as you travel.

“We’ve worked closely with the team at Hoburne to provide a regular service for their guests, and in addition to this we’ve also carried out some work on the timetable to ensure that our passengers have plenty of time to take in the scenery along the route.”

Commenting on the new service, Gary Cook, general manager of Hoburne Devon Bay said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Stagecoach South West and to be able to provide our holidaymakers, holiday homeowners and local leisure members access to an open top bus service. It provides an important link for visitors exploring the area and the response we have received from guests has been positive.

“With a busy summer season ahead, we are expected to welcome thousands of holidaymakers, which after a difficult 12 months, is vital for the local economy. The new bus service encourages guests staying on the park to see more of the local area and to support the many tourist attractions and hospitality businesses that we know need local tourism to survive."

Mike added: “We originally launched the service back in 2017 and it has continued to grow in popularity each year.  We’re excited to have the buses back out in Torbay for the summer and to help get people moving around again as restrictions continue to ease. Our buses provide incredible views of the South Devon coastline which we hope will be a memorable part of our visitor’s holiday.”

As well as providing a family-friendly link across the Bay, the Golden Hop122 also supplement the Hop12 and Hop22 to help meet the demands of the busy tourist season.

The company has a range of great value tickets available on bus, online and via their mobile app. A Torbay Dayrider costs £5 for adults and £3.50 for children aged five to 15. If you’re planning a day out with the whole family, a Group Dayrider, allowing up to five people to travel together, costs £10. The Torbay dayrider tickets can be used on all of our buses throughout Torbay from Babbacombe to Brixham

Visit here for more information on the Hop 122