One Way walks using Public Transport

One of the best ways of enjoying a walk is to hop on a train (or bus…or ferry) for a stop or two and walk back. The blog looks at most of the feasible transport options in the Dales, Lakes & Moors and my favourite walks as a result.

Reasons to take a one way walk

• You cover more new ground without any need to repeat some sections of the walk
• Often (for example the coast) circular walks are not possible
• There are usually easier and harder options.
• The journey itself is often full of interest and alternative views.
• No need to take on the bun fight that is car parking in many popular areas.
• Environmental benefits; the less cars driving around the better.
• Supports the local services, visitors can make a difference as to whether a bus or train service runs or not.
• Many of the bus services are taking advantages of the £2 max fare up to October 2023.

A few Tips

• Take the train/bus on the outward trip. It avoids any stress on making the return service
• Check the timetable carefully, often winter/summer services and Sundays are sometimes excluded on regular services.
• Look for the Volunteer led services such as the ‘DalesBus’ which are most likely to operate on weekends.
• On my walks described below I look for alternatives, often higher or lower options. Its an opportunity to spread out your paper map and discover your own route.

One Way Walks in the Yorkshire Dales

My Favourite One Way Walks in the Yorkshire Dales can be found via this link

• The Settle to Carlisle Railway provides endless walking possibilities including some areas difficult to access via car (Dent Station anyone!).
  • Settle, Horton, Ribblehead, Dent, Garsdale, Kirkby Stephen and Appleby all offer the perfect base for a one way walk.
  • The train line may well be the most scenically beautiful in the country
  • Trains run roughly every 2 hours. Timetable here
• Wensleydale Train service runs from Scruton in the Vale of Mowbray to Redmire in Wensleydale with strong hopes it may be extended to Hawes.
• Dales Bus Wharfedale (Skipton to Buckden). No 72
  • Walks between Skipton, Grassington, Kettewell, Buckden and stops between.
• Dales Bus Wharfedale (Ilkley to Grassington) No 74
  • Walks between Ilkley, Bolton Abbey, Burnsall and Grassington (in essence the Dales Way Long Distance Path)
  • Limited days, at present (summer 2023) Monday, Wednesday, Friday
• Little White Bus, Wensleydale 156.
  • Walks between Leyburn, Bolton Castle, Aysgarth, Askrigg and Hawes with villages between
  • Monday to Saturday but the Dalesbus 256 runs on Sunday.
• Little White Bus, Swaledale 30
  • Walks between Richmond, Reeth, and Keld and stops between
  • Limited number of services during the day
  • Monday to Saturday but the Dales Bus 830 runs on Sunday

One Way Walks in the North York Moors and Coast

My Favourite one Way walks in the North York Moors & Yorkshire Coast can be found via this link

• North York Moors Railway (Pickering to Whitby)
  • A fine heritage, steam railway, one of the finest in the country
  • Walks between Pickering, Levisham, Goathland and Whitby with stations between.
• Esk Valley Railway (Middlesborough to Whitby)
  • Runs through the beautiful Esk Valley with walks between Great Ayton, Danby, Glaisdale, Grosmont and Whitby.
  • 4 services a day Monday to Saturday
• North Yorkshire Coast Bus Service (Scarborough to Saltburn)
  • Note there are 2 services, Scarborough to Whitby (X93/94) and Whitby north to Saltburn (X4)
  • Taking the bus one way is without doubt the best way of walking the Yorkshire Coast. Circular walks are not easy!
• MoorBus (Weekend Service)
  • The bus service in the North York Moors is largely limited to weekends via the excellent MoorBus service.
  • MoorBus covers all the main dales
  • Weekday services are very limited.

One Way Walks in the Lake District

My favourite One Way in the Lake District can be found via this link.

There are no useful train services in the Lake District but a very good network of bus services operating around the area. Some of the most useful are listed below.

In addition use the Ferry services that run around Derwentwater, Ullswater, Windermere and Coniston which provide some excellent lakeside walks.

• Honister Rambler 77/77a
  • Linking Kewick with Buttermere, Honister and Borrowdale in a circular with endless walking combinations.
  • Lack of parking at Buttermere makes this even better.
• Coniston from Windermere 505
  • This service goes from Kendal via Windermere and Ambleside to Coniston
  • Excellent for walks across the more popular south eastern Lake District.
• Keswick to Windermere, The Central Spine 555
  • Regular service through the very busy spine of the Lake District
  • Walks between Keswick, Grasmere, Ambleside and Windermere.
• Ferry Services
  • Derwentwater Timetable based on the Keswick Launch
  • Ullswater Timetable based on the Ullswater Steamers
  • Coniston Timetable based from Coniston Launch Company
  • Windermere Timetable based on Windermere Lake Cruises

For the full list of One Way walks in the Lake District follow this link

Long Term Trends

The congestion on the roads and the car fumes which result will continue to drive climate change at an ever increasing rate. At some stage cars will end up being tolled, restricted and at a future date banned from areas of the countryside. Electric buses will start to run walkers around the area and a cleaner and greener countryside it will be. We may as well start getting used to it.

Heading out on a walk using public transport is enjoyable for so many reasons. Try it.

Enjoy your walking

Jonathan