Jul 18, 2011

Lake District Weekend by Public Transport

I love the Lake District. Until now I had only gone there with somebody who had a car. It’s easy that way, but I was glad to find last weekend that it’s also pretty easy by public transport too. It takes a bit more planning, so here is what we did, and some other ideas I had that might work.

The key components are the National Rail Network, and the Stagecoach Cumbria Bus Network. The national rail network easily gets you to Windermere via Oxenholme, or to Penrith. Particularly useful bus routes within the Lakes are

  • 77/77A/86 for Honister and Buttermere from Keswick
  • 505 for Coniston from Windermere
  • 516 for Langdale from Ambleside
  • 517 for Glenridding from Windermere
  • X5 for Keswick from Penrith

For our weekend, we used Ambleside as a base. Seemed like a good idea, being close to Windermere, and lying on a few of the bus routes. Arrived at Windermere station just past 7pm on the Friday, and took the 599 to YHA Ambleside. Buses don’t run that late, but I expect a taxi between Windermere and Ambleside wouldn’t be too expensive.

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On the Saturday we braved bleak weather to do the Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell, with the help of the 516 bus. Damp and a bit sore, we opted for a shorter walk on Sunday. From Ambleside we did a circular walk to Troutbeck via Wansfell Pike, stopping for a spot of lunch at the Mortal Man. We still had time to catch the 599 to Grasmere and enjoy afternoon tea at Baldrys Tea Room. This was an open-top bus too! The same bus route took us back to Windermere station by 6pm for our train home. Excellent weekend.

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Another thought I had was to go to Keswick via Penrith on Friday night, using the X5 bus. In the morning the 77/77A/86 route could take you to Buttermere for a walk over High Stile and Haystacks to Ennerdale, perhaps Black Sail or alternatively Honister Hause. From there on the Sunday you could have a go at Great Gable, and return home using the 77/77A/86 to Keswick, X5 to Penrith. Maybe next time.

So what I had initially thought wasn’t possible turned out to be pretty easy with a little planning. Just make sure you know what time the last bus is - we cut it fine on Saturday.

While I’m here, let me put in a good word for Ambleside Youth Hostel and Norwood House B&B.

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