Leave that metal box at home! Why always take the car? Snowdonia, the Lakes and the Peak District are all well supplied with public transport, leaving you to concentrate on the climbing and walking, free from worries about parking spaces, tickets, wheel clamping, and theft.
Alternative Tales
Still not convinced? - Sample the Cuillin ridge without a car
Plan that trip
For times of train services nationwide use the Railtrack Journey Planner
For details and booking of coaches see the National Express pages.
Yorkshire Dales bus service Dalesbus
Your Quick Reference to getting around:
Lake District
Public transport both getting to and travelling within the National Park is very good. There is now a timetable book, "Getting Around Cumbria & the Lake District" and an excellent ‘Journey Planner’ service for all public transport enquiries including bus, boat and train, phone Journey Planner on 0870 608 2608 or check it out online.
Train: To Windermere and Kendal direct from Manchester, or connect from Oxenholme. To Penrith on West Coast Intercity Line. To Ravenglass (Eskdale), the Cumbria coast line connects with Carlisle in the north.
Coach: National Express have a regular and direct coach service to Lancaster and Carlisle from most major cities in the country. For timetable and further details Tel: 0161 228 3881.
Bus: There is an extensive bus network within the Lakes - one booklet with all the timetables is available free, call 01946 63222. A bus leaves every hour from Lancaster Bus station to Kendal, Windermere, Troutbeck, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick. A frequent bus service (at least one bus every two hours) operates between Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick, Cockermouth, Penrith and Carlisle with loads of stops in between.
Snowdonia
The public transport network both getting to and within the national park are excellent and all the information you will ever need is contained in one booklet the ‘Gwynedd public transport maps and timetables’. It lists both train and bus services within the National Park and also includes the main rail and bus links from Chester, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and London.
It is available free from any of the Snowdonia Information Centres. Tel: 01690 710426, 01341 422888, 01766 780658 or 01766 830360.
Train: To Bangor and Llandudno junction from Chester, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and London. It is possible to connect from many other places at Crewe. There are generally 3/4 direct trains a day and there are many that require just one change. In addition to the above booklet, all timetable information available, Tel: 0345 484950 The Blaenau Ffestiniog railway links with Llandudno junction and stops include Betws y Coed. There are 6/7 trains a day that link directly with the Sherpa Bus Service.
Coach: National Express have a regular and direct coach service to Bangor from Leeds, Manchester, Hull, Liverpool, London and Chester. For timetable and further details Tel: 0161 228 3881.
Sherpa Bus:
You can forget about driving and focus on the scenery when you use the Snowdon Sherpa bus service. Whether you are staying on the North Wales coast or in the heart of the country, these services are your best passport to a great day out in Snowdonia National Park. The Sherpa takes you all over a whole range of mountain destinations. The Snowdon Sherpa day ticket allows you to hop on and off the Snowdon Sherpa network all day as many times as you like (on the day of purchase). The ticket is valid between Bethesda, Llanberis, Llanrwst, Porthmadog and Waunfawr. Why not enjoy a linear walk? Use the Sherpa service to travel to your starting point and walk back to your vehicle at your own pace.
The Peak District
Train: A regular train service both weekdays and weekends from Sheffield/Manchester/Chesterfield to Hathersage, Grindleford and Bamford. Trains run roughly hourly. Timetable information available, Tel: 0345 484950. Frequent service from Chesterfield for Sheffield linking with trains to the Peaks.
Bus: Sheffield to Grindleford, Sheffield to Hathersage/Bamford, Sheffield to Ladybower,Manchester to Ladybower. Timetable and further information available: Tel: Buxton 01298 23098, Chesterfield 01246 250450, or Derby 01332 292200, Open Daily between 0700-2000hrs.
The Roaches: There are limited car parking spaces at the Roaches and parking tickets are frequently issued if cars are parked out of the restricted parking areas. A free park and ride scheme runs every 40 minutes on Saturdays, and every 20 minutes on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, from the Tittesworth Reservoir car park direct to the Roaches. Journey time takes approx. 12 minutes.
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