The popularity of the North Lakes inevitably puts pressure on all our scenic roads and car parks especially in the peak holiday periods. Even if you have arrived by car you will find there are many alternative forms of transport to use during your stay.
With a timetable and a little planning you can reach very many places by bus. As walkers you can use the bus to complete a linear walk without the necessity of having to return to where you left the car. You can step on a bus to explore the beauty of Borrowdale or cross the Honister Pass for the breath-taking views of Buttermere and Crummock Water, returning to Keswick through the gentle Vale of Lorton and over the Whinlatter Pass with its Visitor Centre and Osprey CCTV screens. The Osprey outdoor viewpoint above Mirehouse is only a few minutes bus ride from Keswick. Alternatively you can follow beneath the Helvellyn chain to Grasmere, then to Ambleside, Windermere and beyond to Kendal. Often this ride will be by double decker - the scenery is better from the top deck than from the back seat of the car. The market town of Cockermouth and the fell village of Caldbeck are also accessible by bus.
This service runs from Penrith bus station via Penrith railway station to Keswick and then continues to Cockermouth and Workington. It also services the villages of Threlkeld, Thornthwaite, Bassenthwaite and Embleton.
View Penrith to Workington Timetable »
This service runs from Lancaster to Carlisle via Kendal, Windermere railway station, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick.
The Osprey bus will take you on a journey to explore Bassenthwaite Lake. There are stops at Whinlatter Visitor Centre where you can see the ospreys, Thornthwaite Galleries, Dubwath Wetland Nature Reserve, Trotters World of Animals, Mirehouse and Dodd Wood. The Osprey Bus is part of the Bassenthwaite Reflections Programme, which is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
View The Osprey Bus Timetable »
This bus service operates in both clockwise and anti clockwise directions taking in Portinscale, Catbells, Grange, Seatoller, Honister Slate Mine, Buttermere, Lorton and Whinlatter Forest.
View Honister Rambler Timetable »
The Caldbeck Rambler is a circular route from Keswick to Caldbeck. Service 73 runs via Applethwaite, Mirehouse and Dodd Wood, Bassenthwaite village, Uldale and Ireby to Caldbeck and returns to Keswick via Hesket Newmarket, Mungrisdale, Threlkeld and Castlerigg Stone Circle. Service 73A operates the same route in reverse.
View Caldbeck Rambler Timetable »
This service runs from Keswick to Seatoller via Derwentwater Lakeshore, Lodore, Grange in Borrowdale and Rosthwaite.
View Borrowdale Rambler Timetable »
Funded by the Friends of the Lake District this service runs from Keswick to Patterdale via Aira Force and the village of Glenridding.
View Keswick to Patterdale Ullswater Connexion Timetable »
The pass is valid for free transport on buses in Keswick and the Lake District.
Why not see the spectacular scenery around Derwentwater from one of the Keswick Launches. With seven stops around the lake it provides the excellent starting or finishing point to your walk.
View Keswick Launch Timetable »
Your bicycle, or one hired locally, is an excellent way to explore the area. Several long distance cycle routes pass through the area, notably the C2C 71. Some stretches of these routes have alternatives so that you can, for example, ride out from Keswick through Threlkeld almost to Penrith and back along The Old Coach Road to St John's in the Vale and so back to Keswick For the family the old railway line route from Keswick to Threlkeld is an excellent choice.
Do you want to save money, reduce parking problems and help the environment?
Are you on holiday in the area and want to do a linear walk but can’t work it with public transport? Using the Keswick Car Share Scheme you can organise a lift with someone passing the start or finish. Logon to www.keswickcarshare.com. Input your journey details and the system will match you with other people doing the same journey. Share a car and share the cost. You can share as much or as little as you want. This scheme is free, and matches users with other people doing the same journey to enable them to share cars. This reduces the amount of congestion and increases the number of car parking spaces, whilst having a positive effect on reducing environmental impact.
The beautiful Catbells, on the western shore of Derwentwater, has always been a magnet for walkers. But Catbells’ popularity, boosted by recent TV coverage, is causing severe parking and congestion problems on the narrow winding approach road at the foot of the Fell. Emergency vehicles, the Honister Rambler bus, and vehicles with trailers are often finding it impossible to get through parked cars. Cumbria County Council is urging walkers to use BOAT, BUS or BOOTS to access the fell.
Why not follow Julia Bradbury’s example and use the Keswick Launch from Keswick to Hawse End, the foot of the fell. Or take the Honister Rambler bus, which leaves from Keswick Bus Station arriving at the foot of Catbells just 11 minutes later. Or why not walk to Catbells on the beautiful footpath through Lingholm Estate from Portinscale or Keswick – and perhaps catch public transport back?
