Buses

NORDCAT Community Transport is no longer available as the Charity closed on the 14th February 2025

Wriggle Valley PlusBus Service (Plus Bus)
If you’d like to visit Sherborne or Yeovil, go to the shops or the supermarket – or to simply get out and about, then the new Wriggle Valley PlusBus could be just what you’ve been looking for. A new community transport bus service that serves residents of Yetminster and surrounding villages. Since the villages in the Wriggle valley lost their regular daily bus service 8 years ago, there has been no affordable alternative means of public transport for many people who want to visit Sherborne and Yeovil. With the help of a Dorset Council starter grant this is a new weekly service that picks up at Chetnole,Leigh, Yetminster, Thornford and Bradford Abbas and enables people to make a weekly visit into town for shopping, appointments or just to get out for the morning.

When does it run?
The new service – a trial funded by a Dorset Council grant – runs every Friday alternating between Yeovil and Sherborne.

Where does it stop?
Each week it starts at Chetnole, then picks up in Leigh, Yetminster, Ryme Intrinseca, Thornford (and, for Yeovil, at Bradford Abbas).

Sherborne: Every other Friday, the service then drops off at the Digby Road bus stop in Sherborne, calling at local supermarkets by request.

Yeovil: Every other Friday, the service will drop off at the South Street/Library bus stop in Yeovil, calling at local supermarkets by request.

How Much Does it Cost?
A return fare is £5. Card payments accepted. National bus passes are not valid for travel on the service.

Register before booking
To use the service, you’ll need to register first. It’s free to join and all you need to do is follow these instructions to get things started.

How to register for PlusBus
• You can call 01258 287 987 to request a simple form and they’ll post it out to you.
Complete the form and return it to:
PlusBus, Dorset Community Transport, 25e Sunrise Business Park, Higher Shaftesbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8ST.
• You can download the form yourself here, print it out, complete it and return it to the same address as above.
• You can download the form here, complete it on your computer and then send it to us via email as an attachment to dorset@ectcharity.co.uk

How to book
To book your place for a particular Friday, simply call or email PlusBus. Once registered, you can book up to one month in advance but no later than 14:30 on the previous working day.

A word on timings
The timetable below is our best estimate, please allow +/- 5 minutes either way.

The Timetable
Wriggle Valley PlusBus, every Friday, departs:
Chetnole, The Chetnole Inn…………………………09:30
Leigh, Village Hall………………………………………..09:35
Leigh, Village Store……………………………………..09:40
Yetminster, Brister End (Shearstones)………..09:45
Yetminster, Sussex Farm Way (Scout Hut)….09:47
Yetminster, Opposite White Hart……………….09:49
Ryme Intrinseca, Church……………………………09:52
Yetminster, Thornford Road (Coles Lane)….09:57
Thornford, The Kings Arms……………………….10:05
Then, either
Sherborne, fortnightly
Arr: Sherborne, Digby Rd………………………….10:20
Return dep: Sherborne, Digby Rd……………..12:30
(drop off or pick up at local supermarkets by request)
or
Yeovil, fortnightly
Dep: Bradford Abbas, Rose and Crown…….10:10
Arr: Yeovil, South Street/Library……………….10:25
Return dep: Yeovil, South Street/Library…..12:30
(drop off or pick up at local supermarkets by request)

Additionally there is already a Car Share scheme in Dorset and this may help those who need to make a journey on a non bus day. Details of this, together with how to register etc. can be found by clicking here which will connect you to the Liftshare log in page – if you are a driver and want to offer a lift you can also register here and there is an App for a mobile phone to make things more flexible and details of this are available on the website.

Trains

The South West Rail Partnership Line (formerly known as the Heart of Wessex Line), also known as the Bristol to Weymouth Line, is the scenic railway from Bristol to Weymouth connecting communities, cities, market towns and beautiful countryside for visitors and businesses. The line line runs from Bristol Temple Meads to Westbury and Weymouth in England. It shares the Wessex Main Line as far as Westbury and then follows the course of the Reading to Taunton Line as far as Castle Cary. More details about the line and the various villages it connects with are available here on the “About Us” pages reached from the Parish Website’s “Welcome” page. 

The HoW Line Yetminster station is located at the end of the High Street when travelling towards Leigh. Other nearby stations are at Thornford and at Chetnole. The line connects with Dorchester in the South (where you can change and connect with the Weymouth to London Line ) and Yeovil in the North. Castle Cary connects with the main line to London Paddington. Sherborne Station is on a separate line and connects with London Waterloo but it is necessary to drive or take a taxi to reach this station. Please note that Yetminster is a “request” stop and the driver must be made aware that you require the train to stop. 

The available South West Train timetable can be viewed here SWTP Line TImetable  – you will need to provide your journey details to view the train times.

Journey time to Dorchester approx  20 minutes ; Journey time to Yeovil approx 10 minutes; journey time to Bristol approx 1 hour 40 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes.

For further details contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484950 or you can plan your journey  here 

Last Updated 23/02/25 – DIT