A guide for first-time users
This app helps you plan a car-free day out in north Norfolk using Sunbeam's Service 1B bus. It runs on Mondays and Fridays from Aylsham, looping through Blickling, Itteringham, Matlaske and Alby before returning home — all in one day.
The app shows you exactly when the bus arrives at each stop, how long you have before the last bus home, and which footpaths and walks are nearby. Everything you need is in one place, and it works offline in the field.
The bus departs from Aylsham Market Bus Shelter at 10:30 (the full circular route, all stops) and again at 12:10 (Blickling Hall only). There is one return bus each day, departing Aylsham at 13:20 and arriving back from Blickling Hall at 14:01.
| Stop | Bus arrives | Return at | Free time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blickling Hall Entrance | 10:36 | 13:55 | 3h 19m |
| Oulton New Road | 10:38 | 13:50 | 3h 12m |
| Itteringham | 10:42 | 13:49 | 3h 7m |
| Little Barningham | 10:47 | 13:44 | 2h 57m |
| Matlaske Road | 10:49 | 13:40 | 2h 51m |
| Matlaske The Street | 10:51 | 13:40 | 2h 49m |
| Wickmere | 10:55 | 13:36 | 2h 41m |
| Alby Thwaite Hill Farm | 10:57 | 13:31 | 2h 34m |
| Alby Green | 11:01 | 13:30 | 2h 29m |
| Alby Craft Centre | 11:02 | 13:30 | 2h 28m |
The 12:10 departure goes to Blickling Hall only, giving about 1 hour 40 minutes before the 13:55 return. All other stops require the 10:30 departure. The app will tell you this automatically if you choose the wrong combination.
On the first screen, tap "Plan my day out". You'll be asked whether you'd like the full day (10:30, all stops) or a shorter visit to Blickling Hall (12:10). Tap your choice — a tick will confirm it — then tap the orange button to continue.
The map of the route opens. Each numbered pin is a bus stop. Tap any pin to choose where you'd like to get off. A panel slides up from the bottom showing the stop name, your arrival time and how much free time you'll have.
💡 If you chose the 12:10 and tap a stop it doesn't serve, the app will offer to switch you to the 10:30 automatically — no dead ends.Tap "See my countryside plan" to confirm your stop. The panel expands to show your full day: arrival time, last bus home, how much free time you have, suggested walks from that stop, nearby footpath maps, and notes about the stop itself.
The map behind the panel automatically switches to a detailed footpath view, zoomed into your stop. Your GPS position appears as a blue dot. Tap "⛶ Full screen" at the bottom of the screen for an immersive map view perfect for walking.
💡 To exit full screen, tap the "✕ Exit full screen" button that remains at the bottom of the screen.The panel at the bottom of the screen can be moved up and down so you can see as much or as little of the map as you like. It will never disappear completely — the information is always there when you need it.
On the day of travel, a quiet countdown tells you how long you have until the return bus. It turns amber at 30 minutes and terracotta at 15, so you always know when it's time to start walking back to the stop.
Every stop has a curated list of nearby walks, rated Easy or Moderate, with distances and walking times. From a short stroll around Blickling's lake to a longer route to Mannington Hall — there's something for every pace.
Tap "Show footpaths" at the bottom of the screen to overlay every public footpath, bridleway and byway directly on the map. Your GPS position appears as a blue dot so you always know where you are.
The app automatically saves map tiles for the whole route area when you first use it. Once saved, you can use the map and all the information with no phone signal — ideal for the quieter parts of the Norfolk countryside.
Buttons in the panel open OpenStreetMap, OS Maps and Waymarked Trails — all centred on your chosen bus stop (or your live GPS position if available). Each offers a different style of mapping suited to walkers.
Open the "Full timetable" section in the panel, then tap "Print Timetable" for a clean printed copy of both departures and the return journey — useful to carry in a pocket on the day.
When you first open the app, you may be offered the option to add it to your phone's home screen. This makes it open instantly like any other app, with no need to find a browser bookmark each time.
Itteringham Community Shop & Café — a wonderful village shop and café at the heart of the route. Fresh coffee, homemade cakes, light lunches and local produce. Well worth a stop. ourvillagestore.co.uk ↗
The service runs on Mondays and Fridays only, and does not operate on bank holidays. The app shows the next available service day on the welcome screen whenever the bus is not running.
Timetables are verified from official BODS data (April 2026) but services can change. Always check at bustimes.org ↗ or call Sunbeam Luxury Coaches on 01603 754 211 before setting out.
If you want to choose a different stop or change your departure time, scroll to the bottom of the information panel and tap "↩ Start again". Everything resets and you return to the welcome screen.