I take it these are contracted but think the routes below are a better use of public funds...
472 - Rothbury to Shilbottle (via Alnwick) [every 2 hours] (Red)
473 - Wooler to Shilbottle (via Alnwick) [every 2 hours] (Yellow)
*combined freq from Shilbottle to Alwick keeping with the 472s current hourly frequency here. but incorporating the 471/473 as an extension each way.
Light blue is combined hourly route...
could be done with 2 vehicles (if i've worked it out correctly) and can start/finish in Wooler round the corner from the Glen Valley depot, so reduced lost mileage too