If you are planning on travelling by Imberbus, we hope that the following additional information will help you enjoy your day:

When is the next date that Imberbus be running?

As the primary purpose of the Imber Ranges is military training, there are only a few days each year on which the road through Imber is open to the public. Information on these is often not released by the MoD until the spring and even then can change at short notice. We are only able to operate the Imberbus service once a year and as soon as we have been given the date, it will be published on the front page of this website. You can also keep up to date with future Imberbus events by adding your name to our mailing list – just insert your email address into the box below, then click on the “subscribe” button.

How do I get to Warminster and where can I park?

Advice on how to get to Warminster by bus, train and car (including the location of car parks) can be found on our “How to get to Warminster” page by clicking here. As car parking can be in short supply at times, we strongly recommend that you consider travelling to Warminster by public transport if at all possible.

Can I get a bus to Imber from anywhere else?

You can also travel to Imber on our buses from Chitterne, Tilshead, and the Lavingtons, but this facility is primarily provided to assist local residents as there is very little parking available in those villages. Please note that there is no parking available at Gore Cross Interchange, as that site is part of the Salisbury Plain Military Training Area.

What time will the buses run?

When Imberbus is running, buses normally depart from Warminster to Imber approximately every 15 minutes between 9.45am and 5pm, with at least two vehicles allocated to most departures to ensure that no-one is left behind. On arrival at Imber, many of the buses then continue on to other points on Salisbury Plain, connecting en-route at Gore Cross to enable passengers to change buses.

The exact timetable for our service changes slightly each year and is published on this website approximately one month before the event takes place.

How much does it cost to travel on the Imberbuses and do I need to book a seat?

We have now simplified our fare structure so that there are just two ticket prices – £10 for adults and £2 for children. These tickets will allow you unlimited travel on all the Imberbuses, so you can hop on and off the buses as much as you want and visit all the different places we serve.

Please note that because Imberbus operates just like ordinary old fashioned bus service, there is no facility to pre-book a seat – just turn up and pay the conductor on the bus. We regret, however, that Concessionary bus passes cannot be used to travel free of charge on the Imberbus service.

Can I pay using a Credit/Debit Card?

Whilst you can only pay the bus conductors on the bus in cash, we hope to have a desk outside Warminster Station in the morning where you can purchase tickets using a credit/debit card. Cash machines are also available in Warminster Market Place which is 5 minutes walk away from the rail station.

Where can I go when I get to Imber?

The main attraction at Imber is the 16th century St Giles’ Church which is run by The Friends of St Giles, all of whom are volunteers. This is the only building in the village that is open to the public and is well worth visiting. As our buses run frequently through Imber, most of our passengers spend about 30 minutes to an hour at Imber, then board another Imberbus to view other parts of Salisbury Plain.

It should be noted that during our event, public access in the military area will be strictly limited to the following:

• The “main road” through Imber village, within the boundary of the village;
• Imber Church and the path and field between it and the main road;
• Gore Cross bus Interchange (for the purposes of changing buses);
• The Imber Range Perimeter Path which is a public footpath which passes close to Gore Cross and by New Zealand Farm Camp (open all year round).

Please note that all other roads, paths, buildings and fields are strictly off-limits, no matter interesting and inviting they may look! this particularly applies to the burnt out tanks and the “houses” at Imber, most of which were constructed by the military for training purposes and are not original.

Where will I be able to get something to eat or drink?

Light refreshments will be available inside Imber Church and at the Village Halls in Chitterne and Tilshead. Caspers Cafe on platform 1 at Warminster Station and some of the cafes in the town centre will also be open and cream teas are usually served at the Old School in Market Lavington between midday and 5pm. You might also want to sample one of the country pubs along the route – our route from Brazen Bottom stops right outside the Churchill Arms at West Lavington and our buses pass near to other hostelries at Market Lavington and Chitterne which are expected to be open for all or part of the day.

What other facilities are available at Imber?

The short answer is almost nothing! As Imber is normally closed to the public there are no shops, no permanent toilets, no electricity and no mobile phone or internet signal. We therefore strongly recommend that you prepare for this before you board the bus (the nearest public toilets will be at Warminster Station and alongside Warminster Central Car Park).

Where can I go after visiting Imber?

On leaving Imber, our buses carry on to Gore Cross (on the Salisbury-Devizes road) where they continue either to New Zealand Farm Camp; Brazen Bottom and the Lavingtons, or through Tilshead to the small village of Chitterne. All the buses are designed to meet up at our Gore Cross Interchange to allow passengers to swap between them (and to take a few photographs), so it is easy to visit several villages in one day.

Can I get on or off at other places?

Only on the ordinary public roads. On the military roads the Imberbuses will only stop at Imber village, Gore Cross Interchange and New Zealand Farm Camp. On the public roads the buses will stop at points shown in the timetable and at any normal bus stop in between – just signal clearly to the driver as the bus approaches or if you are on the bus, tell the conductor in plenty of time where you want to get off. However if you are planning to leave a bus at a remote location, please check the timetable carefully for details of the last bus, as we would hate to leave anyone stranded. Please also remember that in the military area, all areas other than the road are out of bounds, however interesting and inviting they may look!

Are any of the buses wheelchair accessible?

Although most of the Imberbuses are vintage ones with steps, there will be a few newer ones with wheelchair spaces operating between Warminster and Imber as well. However be aware that the conditions at Imber are not ideal for wheelchairs and the path up to the church is quite steep in places.

You may also find that travelling beyond Imber takes a bit more planning as not all of the roads that our buses use are suitable for low floor buses and the Gore Cross Interchange is made up of loose gravel which may be difficult for some wheelchairs to traverse. Therefore if you wish to travel with a wheelchair on the Imberbus service, please contact us during the summer so that we can tell you times that the wheelchair accessible buses will operate.

Can I take a Dog or a Pushchair on the buses?

Well behaved dogs are allowed to travel on the Imberbuses at the discretion of the conductor, provided that they remain on the floor and keep off the seats.
We regret, however that as most journeys of our journeys are operated by vintage buses, it will normally only be possible to carry a pushchair if it can be folded up and stowed safely under the stairs.

.

---