Tavistock to Dawlish, the number 113 – Britain's rarest bus But it is a rare beast, running only on fifth Saturday of every month between March and October. The Tavistock Country Bus Service has only one bus, and all staff are volunteers.

The “rarest bus” in the UK can be interpreted in a few different ways, leading to several fascinating contenders. Here’s a breakdown of the rarest types:

1. Rarest Service (Scheduled Route)

This title often goes to the most infrequent, remote, or shortest scheduled bus service. Strong Contender: Scottish Citylink 959 (Fort William to Durness). This is a once-a-week summer-only service that traverses the remote north-west coast of Scotland. Missing it means a very long wait. Other Notable Rare Services: Borderbus 588 (Southwold to Aldeburgh, Suffolk): Runs just three times a year (on Easter, Spring, and August Bank Holiday Mondays). Various “Postbus” or community services: Many rural routes in Scotland, Wales, and England run only one or two days a week, often just a single journey.

2. Rarest Physical Bus (Preserved Vehicle)

This refers to unique surviving models in preservation. Strong Contender: The last rear-entrance, front-engine, half-cab double-deckers. Buses like the AEC Regent RT or Leyland Titan PD2 are now extremely rare in operable condition. Specific survivors with unique bodywork or history (e.g., the only one left of its type) are the rarest of the rare. Unique Prototypes: Experimental buses that never entered mass production, such as the Leyland-DAB Lion (a front-engined underfloor design) or the