Day 176 The TFL route No 271 was cancelled on the 4th Feb this year so on my birthday I decided we would catch the No 271 from Crawley bus station to Brighton.

 So the day began with catching a No 410 bus to East Croydon which enabled us to board the 1047 to Horsham which deposited us at Crawley at 1131. This was ample time for the 1153 bus to Brighton which was already resting ready in the bus station located opposite the exit from the railway station.

Redhill station, the furthest South a TFL route
 goes in this direction.

The Metrobus bus garage as we pass en-route to Three Bridges

Bus station directly across road from railway station

Metrobus 6966 at layover

Bus No 271 arriving 

Bus ticket only £2 each way

We were able to board the Metrobus vehicle at 1147 and departed at the correct time of 1153 heading initially west and then south over the level crossing with signal box still with levers and wheel visible. The road is the A2219 which runs to Southgate Drive where the bus turned right and then left at the roundabout on the A23 and then headed south up the hill past Tilgate Park. 

After crossing the M23 on the roundabout the bus re-crosses the M23 on the next right turn to reach the Black Swan at Pease Pottage before returning back across the motorway the same way and turning south for Handcross.

Southern area of Crawley

Crossing the M23 where it becomes the A23

Showers now spreading briskly across from SW

This road is the B2114 but was a previous road to Brighton following the current A23 very closely at times before swinging away to the east to enter Handcross. Beyond Handcross as the bus headed for Staplefield  and in towards Cuckfield the showers started. In Cuckfield the bus took Broad Street, which meant a sharp turn to the left, and the bus arrived just as an articulated lorry was attempting the opposite manouevre, so there was a hard thump as the bus's wheels mounted the kerb. 

Building being renovated as we enter Cuckfield

Road descends into Cuckfield

The route then took us to Haywards Heath, but on arrival this was by no means a straightforward transition. The bus initially turned left to go down to the railway station and then back up again before turning left and running along the High Street and on to the Princess Royal Hospital at 1232. However, the bus went beyond the hospital at first to circle around a roundabout and then back to the hospital to stop and pick up passengers, despite there being a bus stop indicated on the opposite side of the road.

Haywards Heath bedecked for next day's coronation

Princess Royal Hospital Haywards Heath, 10 buses on from the
Princess Royal University Hospital where I boarded the No 261.

We then took the first turning left instead of returning to Haywards Heath High Street which is -Colwell Road. This then enabled the A272 to be intercepted at a roundabout, where, we went straight over down Fox Hill to Wivelsfield. Beyond the village the bus took the turning right signposted Wivelsfield station just as a deer ran across the road. We were at this stage briefly in East Sussex before a sign welcomed us to Burgess Hill and back into West Sussex. Wivelsfield station is not anywhere near the village of the same name but is actually at a place called World's End. The route from here to Burgess Hill was a very rough road with copious potholes that the bus couldn't avoid.

Burgess Hill where the No 271 stops both ways at same stop.

We descended the hill across the railway at Burgess Hill station and on into the town centre which was bedecked, as many places were, for the coronation on the next day. The route wriggles somewhat out of town before taking the A273 to Hassocks and on over the entrance mouth to Clayton tunnel with its castellated top.

Climbing the South Downs at Clayton

Entering Preston Park north Brighton

Entering Brighton town centre

The bus then climbed the South Downs to reach Pyecombe on a dry valley on the south side for a brief run along the dual carriageway into Brighton. The progress was then quite slow down to the Old Steine where Charmaine alighted at 1331. I remained on the bus as it turned left along the sea front and then after a while turned left and climbed up Eaton Place and then left again to terminate outside the Royal Sussex County Hospital at 1338

Brighton Royal Pavilion

Palace Pier Brighton

After disembarkation at hospital

Royal Sussex

Original outpatient's building

The bus then turned left into Abbey Road and then a second time to layover in St George's Road by St George's church.

Layover point for Metrobus service No 271

I then walked back to the Marine Parade and walked back towards the pier taking in the Volks Electric Railway which has its 140th anniversary this year. I then met up with Charmaine, had a milkshake and some chips while admiring the view before returning the way we had come on the 1614 bus to Crawley.

Volks railway engine shed with Channel behind

Volks Electric Railway Nos 6 and 10,
beach volleyball behind.

Volks Electric Railway Nos 7 and 8

The bus returned us to Crawley in an hour and 50 minutes and we then had to wait for the late running 1829 to take us speedily to East Croydon and thence home on a No 410 bus. A great day trip for a birthday!