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Travel by bus in the Lake District, Cumbria
Travel by bus in the Lake District, Cumbria
Travel by bus in the Lake District, Cumbria
Travel by bus in the Lake District, Cumbria
Travel by bus in the Lake District, Cumbria

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Buses

Going by bus is arguably the most convenient way to explore Cumbria and the Lake District. Whether sitting back on the top deck of an open-top bus or tackling our mountain passes on a small rambler service, the bus is both versatile and liberating: you can go pretty much anywhere without worrying about getting there – which frees you up to just enjoy the views.

There are loads of bus services running this summer specially designed to help visitors. Please see details below.

Langdale and Little Langdale

On Saturdays and Sundays in July and August a minibus will run from Ambleside to Little Langdale eight times a day, dropping passengers at the Three Shires Inn.

Langdale early mornings and later nights

There are also now early morning service 516 buses between Ambleside and Langdale, with connections possible at Ambleside with buses to or from Kendal, Windemere, Grasmere and Keswick. On Friday and Saturday there are extra later buses, so you can stay in the valley until 10.30pm, or if staying in the valley have a longer day out and return from Ambleside at 9.55pm.

Both Services have been funded through the Westmorland and Furness Bus Service Improvement Plan funding.

View the timetables here

Hawkshead and the West of Windermere

The Cross Lakes Experience is back for this summer, supported by the National Trust.

The Cross Lakes Experience operates daily throughout the summer, from Saturday 24th May 2025 until Sunday 28th September 2025. This service connects Bowness-on-Windermere to Hill Top Farmhouse and on to Hawkshead.

On arrival at Ash Landing, the Mountain Goat bus makes it way up to the hamlet of Far Sawrey home to Pure Lakes. It will continue on to Hill Top Farm, the home of Beatrix Potter in the hamlet of Near Sawrey. Bus and boat or just bus tickets are available.

Find out more about the Cross-Lakes Experience

Ullswater Hopper – UB1

Now in its third year the Ullswater Valley bus service Run by SITU started on Saturday 5th April with an extended service. This includes all Weekends and Public holidays and a daily service from 25th – 30th May (Whit Week) and 30th June – 29th August 2025.

In addition combined tickets for Ullswater Steamers and other Stagecoach services will be available on board and the service will be timed to connect with the existing 508 services.

Find out more about UB1

Wasdale Explorer

Running on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays until 21 September 2025, the Wasdale Explorer departs from Ravenglass station and runs to Muncaster Castle, Gosforth and Wasdale Head. The shuttle bus timetable is designed to connect with trains on the Cumbrian Coast line at Ravenglass station, with buses departing from the station car park.

The Wasdale shuttle bus is provided by the Lake District National Park Authority and funded by the Strategic Visitor Management Group.

Find out more about the Wasdale Explorer

Buttermere Shuttle Bus

This convenient service lets you sit back, relax, and enjoy the breathtaking views—without the hassle of parking. With affordable fares, a park-and-ride option, and easy connections to other bus routes, getting to Buttermere has never been easier. The 77C service runs from Cockermouth to Buttermere on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays 3rd May to 31st August 2025. You can park and ride from the Memorial Gardens in Cockermouth for just £5 for the full day parking.

Find out more about the Buttermere Shuttle Bus

£3 Bus Fares - Never pay more than £3 for a single fare.

Where could your £3 take you?

There are plenty of routes across the Lake District, so there's never been a better time to hop aboard and make the journey part of the experience. Sit back, relax and let someone else do the driving as you admire our beautiful landscapes from your seat.

Simply buy your ticket online or on board, with no discount code needed. The tickets are available with Stagecoach, as well as local bus operators - so you'll be spoilt for choice when choosing where to go.

Stagecoach operates a large number of eligible services across the area, taking you to destinations like Windermere, Grasmere, Hawkshead, Ulverston, Kirkby Lonsdale, Ullswater, the West Coast, Carlisle, Keswick, and so many more.

£3 bus fares are available on all single bus tickets, so there's plenty of time to explore the Lakes for less.

Popular bus routes

Stagecoach 555

Lancaster • Kendal • Windermere • Ambleside • Grasmere • Keswick
1. 1 Jan 202531 Dec 2025
Stagecoach 599

Kendal • Windermere • Bowness • Ambleside • Grasmere
1. 1 Jan 000131 Dec 9999
2. 1 Jan 202531 Dec 2025
Ullswater Bus 509

Keswick - Aira Force - Glenridding - Patterdale - Pooley Bridge - Lowther - Penrith
Stagecoach 6

Stagecoach bus service between Furness and Bowness-on-Windermere wiith stops including Dalton, Ulverston and Newby Bridge.
1. 1 Jan 202531 Dec 2025
Stagecoach 508

Penrith • Aira Force • Glenridding • Patterdale
1. 1 Jan 202531 Dec 2025
Hadrian's Wall AD122

Sit back and relax as we take you to enjoy the sights and sounds of Hadrian's Wall by bus.
Buttermere Shuttle Bus

From Cockermouth every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday. Returning for 2025 this May.
Wasdale Shuttle Bus

Ravenglass - Wasdale Head, Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays 18th April to 21st September 2025.
Ullswater Bus UB1

Operating through the Ullswater Valley on weekends & bank holidays from 31st March - 2nd November 2025, plus daily between 25th – 30th May and 30th June - 29th August.
Cross-lake Shuttle

A combined boat and bus ticket for travel between Bowness and Hawkshead/surrounding villages. The Cross Lakes Experience operates daily throughout the summer, from Saturday 24th May 2025 until Sunday 28th September 2025.
Langdale Rambler 516 and Langdale Hopper 517

516 Ambleside to Dungeon Ghyll until 6th Nov and 517 Ambleside to Little Langdale July & Aug weekends and bank holidays.
Plan your journey

Use our new travel planner to help you plan your journey the smarter way

You may leave the Lake District, but once you’ve been, it’ll never leave you.

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Buses to and through Broughton

Address

Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA20 6JF

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

broughtontic@btconnect.com

Cumbria

Buses to and through Broughton:
X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.

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Ullswater Bus - 509: Keswick - Aira Force - Glenridding - Patterdale - Pooley Bridge - Lowther - Penrith

Address

The bus connects holiday accommodation around the valley with destinations such as Pooley Bridge, Howtown and the Ullswater 'Steamers', and onward transport services already in place.

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Buses to and through Cockermouth

Address

Cockermouth, Main Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9NH

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

cockermouthtowncouncil@btinternet.com

Cockermouth

Buses to and through Cockermouth:
35 Workington - Cockermouth - Slatefell.
36 Workington - Cockermouth - Keswick.
58 Cockermouth - Maryport.
217 Cockermouth - Cleator Moor.
219 Cockermouth - Cleator Moor.
263 Maryport - Workington -…

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Stagecoach 508

Address

Telephone
01228 597222

cumbrianorthlancs.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com

Penrith • Aira Force • Glenridding • Patterdale

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Buses to and through Wetheral

Address

Wetheral, -

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

website@cumbriatourism.org

-

Buses to and through Wetheral:
75 Carlisle - Scotby - Wetheral.

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Buses to and through Carlisle

Address

Carlisle City Centre, Carlisle, CA3 8JW

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

tourism@carlisle.gov.uk

Carlisle

Buses to and through Carlisle:
38 Carlisle - Wigton - Silloth - Skinburness.
39/39A Carlisle - Wigton - Fletchertown.
71 Silloth - Kirkbride - Carlisle.
Caldbeck Rambler 73/73A Carlisle/Keswick - Caldbeck - Keswick - seasonal.
75 Carlisle -…

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Buses to and through Hawkshead

Address

Hawkshead, Cumbria

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

website@cumbriatourism.org

Cumbria

Buses to and through Hawkshead:
505 Kendal - Ambleside - Hawkshead - Coniston. (Coniston Rambler)
Cross Lakes Shuttle 525 Bowness - Ferry House - Hawkshead - Grizedale - Coniston - summer only)

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Buses to and through Whitehaven

Address

Whitehaven, Cumbria

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

website@cumbriatourism.org

Cumbria

Buses to and through Whitehaven: 1 Kells - Parton - Whitehaven - Bransty. 6/X6 Whitehaven - Egremont - Ravenglass - Muncaster Castle - Millom. 22/22C Egremont - Cleator - Whitehave - Bransty. 30/30A/30B Thornhill - Whitehaven - Workington - Maryport…

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Langdale Rambler 516 and Langdale Hopper 517

Address

Langdale Rambler bus and Langdale Hopper minibus services

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Buses to and through Coniston

Address

Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8EH

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

website@cumbriatourism.org

Cumbria

Buses to and through Coniston:
Coniston Rambler 505 Ambleside - Hawkshead - Coniston.
X12 Coniston - Spark Bridge - Ulverston.
Cross Lakes Experience 525 Bowness - Ferry House - Hawkshead - Coniston (seasonal).
X12 Coniston - Ulverston.

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Fellrunner Buses

Address

Eden Valley, Cumbria

Telephone
01768 88232

website@cumbriatourism.org

Cumbria

The Fellrunner Buses are operated and driven by local volunteers for the benefit of the community.They serve most of the villages in the Penrith area with services to Penrith or Carlisle.

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Buses to and through Sawrey

Address

Sawrey, -

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

website@cumbriatourism.org

-

Buses to and through Sawrey:
Cross Lakes Shuttle 525 Bowness - Ferry House - Hawkshead - Grizedale - Coniston - seasonal.

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Buses to and through Kirkby Lonsdale

Address

Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

kltic@southlakeland.gov.uk

Cumbria

Buses to and through Kirkby Lonsdale:
81 Lancaster - Hornby - Kirkby Lonsdale.
567 Kendal - Kirkby Lonsdale.
567A Sedbergh - Kirkby Lonsdale (Thurs only).

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Buses to and through Maryport

Address

Cumbria, CA15 6LW

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

info@thewavemaryport.co.uk

Buses to and through Maryport:
30/30A/30B Thornhill - Whitehaven - Workington - Maryport.
58 Cockermouth - Maryport.
60 Maryport - Silloth - Skinburness.
300 Carlisle - Wigton - Maryport - Whitehaven.
301 Carlisle - Wigton - Maryport -…

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Wasdale Shuttlebus

Address

The Wasdale Shuttle bus is a 22 seat vehicle with space for a pushchair/folding wheelchair. Dogs are allowed on the bus. The service runs during the summer months only.

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Buses to and through Grange

Address

Grange over Sands, Grange-over-Sands

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

informationcentre@grangeoversands.net

Grange-over-Sands

Buses to and through Grange-over-Sands:
530 Kendal - Grange - Cartmel.
532 Grange - Kents Bank - Flookburgh - Cark - Cartmel.
X6 Barrow - Grange - Kendal.

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Buses to and through Sedbergh

Address

Sedbergh, Cumbria

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

website@cumbriatourism.org

Cumbria

Buses to and through Sedbergh:
564 Kendal - Sedbergh - Dent - Kirkby Stephen - Brough.
564B Cowgill - Dent - Sedbergh - Kendal.
567A Kirkby Lonsdale - Sedbergh.

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Ullswater Bus - UB1: Aira Force - Pooley Bridge - Howtown

Address

The bus connects holiday accommodation around the valley with destinations such as Pooley Bridge, Howtown and the Ullswater 'Steamers', and onward transport services already in place.

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Buttermere Shuttle Bus

Address

Buttermere shuttlebus from Cockermouth - summer service running Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays during summer months.

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Buses to and through Grasmere

Address

Grasmere, Cumbria

Telephone
0871 200 22 33

website@cumbriatourism.org

Cumbria

Buses to and through Grasmere:
555 Lancaster - Kendal - Windermere - Ambleside - Grasmere - Keswick - Carlisle.
599 Kendal - Windermere - Ambleside - Grasmere - Lakeside (summer). Open top service during good weather.
599 Kendal - Windermere -…

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Winter in the Lake District, Cumbria

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Buses

Langdale and Little Langdale

Langdale early mornings and later nights

Hawkshead and the West of Windermere

Ullswater Hopper – UB1

Wasdale Explorer

Buttermere Shuttle Bus

£3 Bus Fares - Never pay more than £3 for a single fare.

Where could your £3 take you?

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