Bus services across the Lake District and beyond

The extensive bus network in the Lake District and Cumbria covers many of the most popular routes across the area and is the ideal way for travelling and exploring. Many service routes are specifically designed to maximise the scenery and the attractions. Between Easter and November there are many bus services in operation, including a number of seasonal services. Most services are very regular in the summer. Out of season there are still plenty of bus services, allowing visitors to explore the area and its attractions all year round.

All bus services that pass near Lake District attractions are included. Some of these originate from outside the National Park but details of the full route and the best Cumbrian attractions along the way are included. Bus services that operate in Cumbria but wholly outside the National Park are not included. For all included services, there are details of attractions visited, which days they operate, frequency, plus any other useful information, for example if the bus is open top, has USB charging or audio commentary. Interactive maps show the exact route for each bus service and bus stop locations for each attraction.

A variety of companies operate services across the area, the majority by Stagecoach unless otherwise specified. Operator contact numbers are included. Buses operate in both directions along a route unless otherwise specified.

Current timetables: Summer 2023 – from 27th March to 5th November. All relevant bus timetables for south and east Cumbria plus north and west Cumbria. Some services still affected by staff issues, check websites and timetables.

**As part of a Government initiative, a maximum £2 Single fare will apply on many bus services across Cumbria until end of October 2023**

 

Contents

* Lake District bus service summary including bus service numbers, start and end points.

* Lake District bus service details including main attractions visited.

* Interactive maps showing all year round bus service routes for Southern Lake District and Northern Lake District

* Interactive map showing Seasonal bus services across the Lake District.

* Interactive map showing Lake District attraction bus stops

* Bus operator contact numbers

Lake District bus service details

Only includes bus services that pass near Lake District attractions.

All relevant bus timetables available on the Cumbria County Council website here.

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Service 6.
Service between Windermere and Barrow in Furness which stops at or near the following attractions; Windermere, Bowness, Fell Foot Park, Lakeland Motor Museum, Haverthwaite Railway Station, Ulverston, South Lakes Safari Zoo, Furness Abbey, Barrow in Furness. A few buses daily all year round.

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Service 73. The Caldbeck Rambler.
Seasonal service between Carlisle, Keswick and Patterdale (Ullswater) which travels via Caldbeck and also stops at or near the following attractions; Lake District Wildlife Park, Dodd Wood, Mirehouse, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Aira Force, Glencoyne Ullswater, Glenridding.
Operates on Saturdays only from Easter to November. This is a single bus which takes the following route through the day; Carlisle – Hesket Newmarket (Caldbeck) – Keswick – Patterdale – Keswick – Hesket Newmarket (Caldbeck) – Keswick – Patterdale – Keswick – Hesket Newmarket (Caldbeck) – Carlisle.

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Service 77/77A. The Honister Rambler.
Seasonal service running in a loop from Keswick visiting Borrowdale and Buttermere. The service stops at or near the following attractions; Keswick, Grange in Borrowdale, Bowder Stone, Rosthwaite, Seatoller, Honister Pass, Buttermere, Crummock Water, Whinlatter Forest. Several buses every day from Easter to November. Service 77A clockwise loop, service 77 anticlockwise loop. Travels along western shore of Derwent Water.

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Service 78. The Borrowdale Bus.
Open top service between Keswick and Seatoller through Borrowdale which stops at or near the following attractions; Keswick, Calfclose Bay, Barrow Bay (Ashness Bridge), Grange in Borrowdale, Bowder Stone, Rosthwaite, Seatoller. Daily service all year round. Buses every 30 minutes from Easter to November, hourly outside that period. Travels along eastern shore of Derwent Water. Open top in season, conditions permitting.

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Service 505. The Coniston Rambler.
Service between Windermere and Coniston which stops at or near the following attractions; Windermere, Brockhole visitor centre, Waterhead, Ambleside, Hawkshead, Hawkshead Hill (Tarn Hows), Coniston. Some buses only travel between Ambleside and Coniston. The odd bus also visits Kendal. Frequent buses every day from Easter to November. Outside that period, a few buses daily.

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Service 508. The Kirkstone Rambler.
Service between Penrith, Patterdale & Windermere which always stops at or near the following attractions; Penrith, King Arthur’s Round Table, Mayburgh Henge, Pooley Bridge, Aira Force, Glencoyne Ullswater, Glenridding. From Easter to end October, some buses also continue to Brothers Water, Kirkstone Pass, Townend, Holehird Gardens, Bowness & Windermere. From Easter to November there are several enclosed buses daily between Penrith and Windermere. At weekends and school holidays in that period there are additional open top* services between Penrith and Patterdale. Out of season there are a few enclosed buses daily between Penrith and Patterdale only. * Open top weather permitting.

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Service 516. The Langdale Rambler.
Service between Ambleside, Elterwater and Great Langdale. The odd bus also visits Waterhead, Brockhole visitor centre, Windermere and Kendal. Several buses daily from Easter to November. Outside that period, a few buses daily.

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Service 530/531/532. 
Service between Kendal and Cartmel which stops at or near the following attractions; Kendal, Sizergh Castle, Levens Hall, Grange-over-Sands, Holker Hall, Cartmel. A few buses daily except Sundays. Operated by Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches.
Although not strictly serving Lake District attractions, this bus explores the attractive Cartmel peninsula just outside the National Park. The same bus changes number from 530-531-532 depending which leg of the route it is doing.

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Service 554. 
Service between Carlisle and Keswick which travels via Wigton and the eastern side of Bassenthwaite Lake and also stops at or near the following attractions; Lake District Wildlife Park, Dodd Wood, Mirehouse. A few buses daily all year round.

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Service 555.
Service through the heart of the Lakes between Lancaster and Keswick which stops at or near the following attractions; Levens Hall, Sizergh Castle, Kendal, Staveley, Windermere, Brockhole visitor centre, Waterhead, Ambleside, Rydal Mount, White Moss Common, Dove Cottage, Grasmere, Thirlmere, Castlerigg Stone Circle and Keswick. Not all buses do the whole route. Frequent buses daily all year round. Buses have USB charging and next stop announcements.

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Service 599. 
Open top service through the central Lakes between Bowness, Ambleside and Grasmere which stops at or near the following attractions; Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere, Brockhole visitor centre, Waterhead, Ambleside, Rydal Mount, White Moss Common, Dove Cottage and Grasmere. Daily service all year round. Buses every 20 minutes from Easter to November, hourly outside that period. Also runs on New Years Day. Open top, conditions permitting. Buses have USB charging, audio commentary and can take 2 bikes.

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Service 755. 
Service between Morecambe and Bowness-on-Windermere which stops at or near the following attractions; Levens Hall, Sizergh Castle, Kendal, Windermere, Bowness-on-Windermere. A few buses daily all year round.

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Service 888.
Seasonal service between Newcastle and Keswick which also calls at Penrith. Friday to Monday only. Normally one bus each way per day from the first Friday in July to the last Sunday in September. Operated by Wright Bros Coaches.

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Service X4 & X5. 
Two services through the heart of the northern Lakes between Penrith and Workington which stop at or near the following attractions; Penrith, Rheged, Threlkeld Mining Museum, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick, Mirehouse (X4 only), Dodd Wood (X4 only), Lake District Wildlife Park (X4 only), The Lakes Distillery (X4 only), Cockermouth, Workington. The two routes are very similar, the main difference is at Bassenthwaite Lake where the X4 travels along the eastern shore and the X5 along the western shore. Some buses do not operate the whole route. Frequent X5 buses every day. Several X4 buses every day except Sundays and public holidays. Buses have USB charging.

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Service X6. 
Service between Kendal and Barrow-in-Furness which stops at or near the following attractions; Kendal, Sizergh Castle, Levens Hall, Grange over Sands, Lakeland Motor Museum, Haverthwaite Railway Station, Ulverston, South Lakes Safari Zoo, Furness Abbey, Barrow-in-Furness. Daily service all year round. Frequent buses Monday to Saturday, a few buses on Sundays and public holidays.

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Service X7.
Service between Coniston and Barrow-in-Furness which travels via Broughton-in-Furness. One bus each way on Wednesdays and Fridays only. Not public holidays. Service operated by Blueworks Taxis.

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Service X8.
Seasonal service from Chorley and Preston to Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick. One bus each way on Saturdays from Easter to end October. Designed for a day out in the Lakes from Preston area.

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Service X12.
Service between Ulverston and Coniston which travels via Greenodd and the west shore of Coniston Water. Also stops on request at Blawith Common and Brown Howe. Some buses continue between Ulverston and Barrow in Furness as Service 11. Two buses daily except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Service operated by Blueworks Taxis.

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Cockermouth to Buttermere shuttle bus.
Seasonal service between Cockermouth & Buttermere that travels through Lorton Vale and alongside Crummock Water & Rannerdale. Running every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from 13 May to 28 August 2023. 5 trips per day each way. Can connect with the 77/77A service through Buttermere and Lorton Vale, or the X4/X5 service at Cockermouth.

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Ravenglass to Wasdale Head shuttle bus.
Seasonal service between Ravenglass & Wasdale Head that travels via Gosforth, Nether Wasdale, Wast Water Countess Beck & Wastwater Overbeck Bridge. The bus will run every Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday in June, July and August. There are regular trips through the day from Nether Wasdale to Wasdale Head. Plus two buses in the morning from Ravenglass to Wasdale Head and two in the early evening from Wasdale Head to Ravenglass. Mainline train station at Ravenglass.

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Ullswater shuttle bus.
Seasonal service with 1 small bus doing 3 different routes around northern Ullswater and Lowther valley from Pooley Bridge. Route UB1 is to Bennethead and Leeming, for holiday parks in that area. Route UB2 visits Tirril, Askham & Lowther. Route UB3 visits Howtown half way along Ullswater south east shore. The bus will run every Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday from 1st July to 29th October in 2023. A few trips for each service each day. Pilot service for 2023.