Former British Army tank driver happy at wheel of Dartmoor bus

A bus driver who transports passengers along one of Devon’s most scenic routes has got to know Dartmoor via the daily journey.

Previously a tank driver in the British Army, Alan Lake, originally from Plymouth, is now one of the bus drivers for Oakleys Coaches, transferring locals into the heart of the moors.

He drives the bus route 98 which runs Mondays to Saturdays from Tavistock or Yelverton Roundabout, calling at Princetown, Postbridge, Two Bridges, Bellever and back.

Locals describe this route as a “lifeline” as they use the service to get to and from work in remote pubs or hotels in Postbridge or Two Bridges.

During the summer holidays, the bus route is also popular with tourists setting out to explore Dartmoor, as it picks up and drops off at several points where walkers can head to various tors, or Wistmans Wood and Foggintor Quarry, for example.

Alan said: “I’m here for that reason, to get people to where they want to be and it’s been nice (for me) to explore this Dartmoor route. I like to have a daily laugh and a joke with the regulars.

”Although I’m driving the same roads each day I work, I can never get bored of the views. Every day it looks different depending on the weather and time of the year, sometimes I see foxes, deer and other wildlife.

“It’s got to be one of the most scenic journeys on a bus. It looks different every day, the nature, the ponies running around. Some people from other countries are amazed when they first see Dartmoor, they can’t believe all the animals running around freely – and I can give them a tour while they’re on the route.”

Alan, now aged 63, left home when he was 16 years old to join the British Army. He worked as a tank driver, standing him in good stead for his future job as a Dartmoor bus driver.

After six years in the army, Alan had various other roles before becoming a bus driver, starting at Stagecoach before taking up his current role with Oakleys. He’s been on route 98 since April 2024, but has been working as a bus driver for a total of nine years.

As well as driving the bus, Alan’s exceptional customer service offers passengers an insight on Dartmoor landmarks.

He said: “I’ve learnt a lot about the area and a bit of the history, I never knew much about Dartmoor until I drove this bus. Now I know about the tors and other places after speaking to experienced hikers who were taking the bus – and I can pass this information on to other passengers, such as which bus stop to get off at to walk on to Foggintor Quarry.”

One passenger, travelling from Princetown, commutes most days over and back to work at a pub in Postbridge, and she described the 98 bus as a “lifeline”.

She explained that a recent road closure on the route, which went on for two weeks, meant that she “couldn’t get to work” as the bus route was limited while roadworks took place.

The road was closed for new tarmacking, Alan explained, and it has “renewed it all nicely”, making the route a smoother journey now for all.

Another woman travelling from Postbridge said she’d be “lost without this bus” which she uses to commute for shopping trips or to see family.

Alan said: “In summer, the 10.01am from Princetown quite often gets a full bus, with locals and holidaymakers from the campsite. It can also get busy after lunch with everyone going back. But I’d like to see more passengers making the most of this route all year round. Many locals rely on this bus route because they can’t drive.”

Recently, some Dartmoor residents called for more bus services and Lib Dem county councillor Dan Thomas (also Cabinet Member for Highways) agreed that “we absolutely need more buses” – and the government to subsidise more rural bus routes.

The no. 98 bus route is subsidised by Devon County Council and gets daily use. However, Alan said that since the Bellever Youth Hostel closed (in June 2026) only a handful of passengers have alighted or got on the bus at the Bellever bus stop so far this year.

And yet it’s a great alternative to driving to Dartmoor, or an option to explore the moors if you don’t have a car. Passengers can get dropped at Bellever Forest for 10.43am and can then return to Tavistock or Yelverton Roundabout on the 13:21pm bus, giving ample time to explore this beautiful part of the moor.

Before the Bellever Youth Hostel closed down this past summer, Alan said he used to regularly pick up staff from the hostel who’d take the bus to Tavistock and back.

Currently the site of the youth hostel remains closed – and many locals were sad to see this historical premises close down this year. It had provided accommodation for nearly 100 years.

The Youth Hostel Association did not renew its lease on the building which held many happy memories for generations that had stayed in the hostel right on the edge of Bellever Forest.

However, Alan said that the new Gather and Moor at Princetown has been bringing a few new passengers on board the bus since it opened in August (2026).

The Saturday service is often busier, said Alan, as if the sun is shining, heading to the moors is a “cheap day out” for families by bus.

“You can even get a coffee at Bellever Forest on Saturdays,” Alan added, as the Wild Cup Coffee trailer, run by Katie Rogers is situated there. It’s a quirky converted horsebox where people can buy a hot drink or baked goods during their visit (on Saturdays only).

The 98 bus picks up passengers from Tavistock (8.30am) or Yelverton Roundabout (9.15am) for Two Bridges, Postbridge and Bellever – it then loops back around to pick up people returning from those three stops starting at 1.21pm (from Bellever).

Other stops on the 98 route, such as Princetown, have more regular pick up times throughout the day, but for Bellever Forest or Postbridge, it’s just one pick up and drop off each Monday to Saturday. The small bus seats 2027 passengers.

Alan added: “Just make sure you stick your hand out when you see me approaching, so I can see that you want to get on the bus.”