Route 10: the scenic summer bus from Plymouth to Polperro

A single bus fare now buys one of the South West’s longer scenic day trips. Transport for Cornwall‘s Route 10 links the naval city of Plymouth to the fishing village of Polperro, crossing the Tamar into Cornwall and calling at Saltash, Looe and a string of coastal villages along the way.

Starting in Plymouth

The journey begins on the Devon side, in a waterfront city with plenty to fill a morning before the bus even pulls away. Plymouth packs in history, culture and shopping, from the cobbled Barbican and the wide green sweep of the Hoe to The Box for museum and art exhibitions and Drake Circus for the shops. There is more to browse over at Visit Plymouth if you want to build the city into the day.

Across the Tamar into Cornwall

The bus crosses the Tamar Bridges, and the river opens up beneath you as Devon gives way to Cornwall. Saltash is the first Cornish stop, a relaxed town of independent shops and cafes with riverside pubs looking back over the water. The Visit Saltash guide lists what is on around the town.

Countryside stops and village pubs

From here the route settles into the lanes. Tideford is a quiet village known for the Rod & Line, a pub with a name for local food, live music and a warm welcome. A little further on, Hessenford suits walkers and pub lovers alike, with the Copley Arms for a stop and woodland walks running down towards Seaton Beach and the coast path beyond.

The harbour town of Looe

Looe is the halfway heart of the route, a working fishing harbour wrapped in narrow winding streets with a sandy town beach and easy access to the South West Coast Path. B&Bs, hotels and guesthouses make it a base as much as a stop, and the Visit Looe site covers where to stay and eat. The town also opens onto some of Cornwall’s best-known holiday parks, among them Tregoad Holiday Park and Looe Bay Holiday Park, with The Coddy Shack on hand for a proper Cornish fish and chips.

Into the hills and on to Polperro

From Looe the road climbs into rolling countryside, passing close to walking routes and a cluster of parks and campsites including West Waylands Touring Park, Oaklands Park, Trelawne Manor, Trelay, Killigarth Manor and Caradon Camping. The final stop is Polperro itself, a historic fishing harbour of picture-perfect streets, coastal walks and viewpoints, and independent restaurants, cafes and pubs. Visitor information sits on the welcome to Looe and Polperro site.

Planning your journey

Whether you are commuting, sightseeing or out for the day, Route 10 is one of the most scenic bus routes in the South West. It also connects with other services along the way: route 73 to Liskeard, route 77 to Trago Mills and route 481 to Polruan, with rail links on the Looe Branch Line and main stations at Plymouth, Liskeard and Saltash.

Route 10 runs as a summer service, so it is worth checking the timetable against your date before you set off, or downloading the route map and timetable to plan your stops.

📷The historic fishing village and harbour of Polperro, on the Polperro Heritage Coastline in south Cornwall, UK.