Getting around the Lake District without a car is easier than ever this year, thanks to Stagecoach.
The bus operator launches its summer timetable on March 31, which sees improved frequencies and the return of popular seasonal routes.
With single fares capped at £3 – no matter how far you go – Stagecoach hopes that motorists will leave their cars at home and opt for a more leisurely and environmentally-friendly mode of travel.
Tom Waterhouse, managing director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, said: “We strive to improve our Lakes services every year.
“It’s important that the National Park continues to have a good public transport network.. Traffic congestion and inconsiderate parking are real problems.”
“By taking the bus, you’re helping to alleviate these issues, reduce harmful CO2 emissions and, with the £3 fare cap, you’re saving money too. It can cost more than £11 a day for parking in parts of the Lake District.”
Highlights of the new timetable include:
- Extra journeys on the 555 between Lancaster, Kendal and Keswick, which runs at least hourly every day and twice per hour at the busiest times.
- Open-top double-deckers every half hour on the 78 between Keswick and Borrowdale and every 20 minutes on the 599 between Bowness and Grasmere with additional later journeys on the 599.
- The return of the 77/77A Honister Rambler circular, hourly between Keswick and Buttermere via Whinlatter and Honister, plus the 77C service from Cockermouth to Buttermere between May and August.
- Buses up to every hour from Penrith to Patterdale – some open-top services – with certain journeys continuing over Kirkstone Pass to Windermere including a new early-morning northbound departure.
- The return of the 509 at weekends from Keswick to Patterdale and from Keswick to Penrith via Lowther Castle, with buses now serving Threlkeld, and the UB1 Ullswater Hopper serving sites around the lake.
- Up to eight buses a day between Keswick and Carlisle, some weekend journeys via Caldbeck, and a later last bus from Keswick at 8.25pm.
- Hourly buses from Ambleside to Great Langdale and from Ambleside to Hawkshead and Coniston.
- Buses every half hour, hourly on Sundays, on the X4/X5 between Workington and Penrith via Cockermouth and Keswick.
- Improvements to the 755 between Heysham, Morecambe and Bowness including an additional peak-time journey to and from Kendal.
- Minor changes to the 6/X6 from Barrow to Windermere and Kendal to improve punctuality.
- An opportunity to venture into the Yorkshire Dales on the 567 from Kendal to Kirkby Lonsdale, which extends to Ingleton on Saturdays.
Some enhancements to the X4, X5 and 555 have been funded by Westmorland & Furness Council while the 77C is funded by the Strategic Visitor Management Group and the Ullswater Hopper is supported by SITU.
Stagecoach also offers ‘bus and boat’ tickets in partnership with Windermere Lake Cruises, Keswick Launch, Ullswater Steamers and Coniston Launch.
The Lakes by Bus booklet, containing timetables for all the above services, is widely available or download a digital version at:
The summer timetable remains in force until November 2.
