Britain by bus pass: Pensioners travel from Scottish border to Land's End on 33 buses

Pensioners Sally Clarke, 68, and Fran Taylor, 71, used their free bus passes to travel from the Scottish border to Land's End.

During the trip they saw every possible landscape - from rolling countryside to urban sprawls, isolated cottages to council estates.

Britain by bus: Sally Clarke, left, and Fran Taylor travelled the length of the country using their bus passes

The pair also raised £3,000 in sponsorship towards the cost of replacing the heating system at their local church, St Stephen's in Norwich.

Miss Clarke said: 'The trip has been a fantastic experience. We have had a chance to see some beautiful places and scenery and to catch up with friends and family who live across the country.

'The people we have met along the way have been absolutely wonderful as well. When they found out what we were doing lots of them wished us well and gave us a donation.'

Former education training officer Mrs Taylor, a widowed grandmother-of-ten, added: 'We thought we ought to show people we were prepared to do something to raise money rather than just going round with a collection box.

All aboard: Fran Taylor and Sally Clarke get on yet another bus during their heroic 8-day challenge

'Everyone said we would be bored so I took my knitting but we were stimulated by the scenery all the way.

'We were very excited and pleased at the end as it is quite an achievement. It was fun and we enjoyed it but it was quite hard work.'

The friends set off from Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland at 11.01 am on June 2.

Over the next few days they travelled south into Yorkshire before cutting across to Greater Manchester and continuing down the western side of England and then touring through the West Country.

On the way they celebrated Mrs Taylor's birthday outside Exeter Cathedral on Monday and stayed in hotels and bed and breakfast, as well as family or friends on three nights.

They reached Land's End on Tuesday at 1.30pm - eight days, two hours and 29 minutes after setting off.

Miss Clarke, a retired B&B owner, said: 'We did have a few mishaps. In Shrewsbury we got lost and couldn't work out which bus stop to get on and by the time we had the bus went flying by.

'There was also a driver in Huddersfield who wouldn't let us on until exactly 9.30am as our bus passes weren't valid until then.

'But we were amazed it went so smoothly. The buses were all more or less on time and we never waited ages for one and then found three coming along at once.'

She added: 'The last stretch to Land's End was on an open-top double-decker for tourists.

'We were going down these hair-raising lanes with trees skimming over the top. It was exhilarating.'

The national bus pass scheme was introduced on April 1 this year.

It enables all disabled people and those over the age of 60 to use off-peak bus services - although passes for those living in England and Wales are not valid in Scotland.

Hereward Cooke, priest-in-charge at St Stephen's, said: 'These two ladies are great ambassadors for the church and Norwich city.

'We are looking forward to welcoming them home with open arms.'

Gussy Alamein, spokesman for First Buses, which contributed £250 sponsorship money, said: 'This is a fantastic achievement by Fran and Sally. We are proud to be involved in their charity trip.'

Route the two pensioners took on their journey: 

• Day One - Left Berwick and travelled to Newcastle then on to Durham and Darlington.

• Day Two -Travelled to Huddersfield in the midst of pouring rain.

• Day Three - Passed through Manchester and called at Knutsford.

• Day Four - On to Shrewsbury.

• Day Five - Travelled through Hereford and Bristol.

• Day Six -  Made it to Bristol.

• Day Seven - Stayed in Falmouth, Cornwall.

• Day Eight - Reached their end destination, Lands End.

FACT FILE

* Number of counties visited on trip - 17

* Total cost of accommodation - £274

* People spoken to - 24

* Average length of time waiting for bus - 45 minutes

* Luggage - a 'shopper on wheels' each containing two changes of clothes.