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Bus services across the Lake District and beyond

Buttermere bus

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.

Patterdale bus

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 2024 – from 23rd March to 3rd November 2024. All relevant bus timetables for south and east Cumbria plus north and west Cumbria.

**As part of a Government initiative, a maximum £2 Single fare will apply on many bus services across Cumbria until end of December 2024**

 

Contents

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

* Lake District bus service details including main attractions visited.

* Map showing all Lake District bus services operated by Stagecoach

* Interactive map showing all other Lake District bus services that are not Stagecoach

* 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.


Fell Foot Park

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. Several buses daily all year round.


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.


Borrowdale from Castle Crag

Service 77C.
Seasonal service between Cockermouth & Buttermere that travels through Lorton Vale and alongside Crummock Water & Rannerdale. Some services also run between Keswick and Buttermere via Borrowdale, following the same route as the 77/77A services and picking up the same attractions, except Whinlatter. Running weekends and public holidays from 4 May to 1 September 2024. 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.


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.


Coniston lakeside

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


Kirkstone Pass towards Brothers Water

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 November, several enclosed buses per day also continue to Brothers Water, Kirkstone Pass, Townend, Holehird Gardens, Bowness & Windermere. At weekends, public holidays 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.


Service 509.
Seasonal service with two different routes operating on weekends and public holidays between Easter and November.
Route one is between Penrith & Keswick, also visiting King Arthur’s Round Table, Mayburgh Henge, Pooley Bridge, Aira Force and Castlerigg Stone Circle. Four services each way each day.
Route two is between Keswick and Patterdale which also visits Castlerigg Stone Circle, Aira Force, Glencoyne Ullswater and Glenridding. Three services each way each day.


Langdale, Elterwater
Great Langdale from Elterwater Common

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.


Service 525.
Seasonal service between Ferry House (Windermere lake) and Hawkshead which also stops at or near Harrowslack & Claife Viewing Station, Hill Top and Esthwaite Water. Frequent buses every day except Fridays from Easter to November. Also runs on Fridays in school holidays. Operated by Mountain Goat. Service forms part of the ‘Cross Lakes experience’, connecting with the Windermere ferry at Ferry House, plus the 505 bus service at Hawkshead.


Holker Hall & Gardens
Holker Hall & Gardens

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.


Service 553. The Caldbeck Rambler.
Seasonal service between Carlisle and Keswick which travels via Caldbeck and also stops at or near the following attractions; Lake District Wildlife Park, Dodd Wood and Mirehouse.
Operates on weekends and public holidays only from Easter to November. Two buses each way each day. Coordinated with service 554 to increase the frequency of buses between Carlisle and Keswick on weekends and public holidays.


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. Several buses daily all year round.


Ambleside, Bridge House
Ambleside, Bridge House

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.


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.


Levens Hall

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.


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.


Service UB1. 
Seasonal service around the northern shores of Ullswater between Aira Force, Pooley Bridge and Howtown. Designed to pick up from the local holiday parks. Operates every weekend and public holiday from Easter to November. A few trips each day.


Keswick centre

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.


Kendal market place

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.


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.


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.


Brown Howe, Coniston Water

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.


Wastwater
Wastwater, Countess Beck

Ravenglass to Wasdale Head shuttle bus.
Seasonal service between Ravenglass & Wasdale Head that travels via Muncaster Castle, Gosforth, Nether Wasdale, Wast Water Countess Beck & Wastwater Overbeck Bridge. The bus will run all Easter weekend then every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday in June, July and August. There are regular trips through the day from Nether Wasdale to Wasdale Head. Plus a few buses from Ravenglass to Nether Wasdale and back during the day. Mainline train station at Ravenglass.

Map of Stagecoach Lake District bus services - summer 2024

Lake District bus services included in the regular Stagecoach timetable.

For more detailed route maps try bustimes.org.

Map of other Lake District bus services

Lake District buses that do not feature in the regular Stagecoach timetable. Exact route may vary slightly depending on direction of travel.

Select icon on left side of top map bar to select only certain routes for greater clarity.

Map of Lake District attraction bus stops

Approximate location of nearest bus stop to each attraction. Bus stops can be in slightly different locations depending on direction of travel.

Bus operator contact numbers

Stagecoach - 01539 722143Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches - 01524 733831
Mountain Goat - 015394 45161Blueworks Taxis - 015395 31995
Wright Bros Coaches - 01434 381200