The Dales by bus and train

The beautiful countryside of the Dales is easily accessible from West Yorkshire by bus and train.

Summer 2012 DalesBus timetable and guide
(pdf, 698k - opens in new window)

How to get there

There are many ways to access the beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales by public transport from West Yorkshire, with additional DalesBus services running in Summer 2012.
Good bus and train services run to several towns on the edge of the Dales from where daily buses run to the main towns, villages and tourist attractions of the Yorkshire Dales.
These are supplemented by extra bus services direct from West Yorkshire cities into the heart of the Dales on Sundays and Bank Holidays, serving both the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the neighbouring Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Tickets and passes

You can buy Dales Rover tickets - every paying adult can take two children free on Sunday and Bank Holiday DalesBus services.

MetroCards are also valid on all Sunday and Bank Holiday DalesBus services from West Yorkshire (that’s services 800, 818, 820/821, 823, 870/874, 880, 883 and 884, and also on DalesBus service 871.)

English National Concessionary Senior and Disabled passes can be used on all DalesBus services. More about tickets and passes

> West Yorkshire to the Dales
> Gateways to the Dales
> DalesBus Discount Scheme

West Yorkshire to the Dales

From Leeds

Take the frequent trains on the Airedale line to Skipton or on the Wharfedale line to Ilkley, for onward buses into the heart of the Dales.
Alternatively catch bus X84 from Leeds and Otley to Ilkley or Skipton, or bus 36 from Leeds to Harrogate or Ripon.
On Sundays and Bank Holidays, DalesBus 870 runs from Leeds to Otley, connecting with service 820 to Pateley Bridge, Fountains Abbey and Ripon, service 874 to Bolton Abbey, Grassington and Buckden, and service 883 to Skipton and Malham.
On Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays, DalesBus 800 runs from York, Seacroft, Leeds, Otley and Ilkley to Bolton Abbey, Grassington, Buckden, Aysgarth and Hawes
Experience some of the more rugged scenery of the Dales by taking a ride on the Leeds - Settle - Carlisle railway line. (Read what the Times newspaper had to say about the Settle to Carlisle journey)

From Bradford

Take the frequent trains on the Airedale line to Skipton or on the Wharfedale line to Ilkley, for onward buses into the heart of the Dales.
Catch the train to Shipley, and then take a ride on the Settle - Carlisle railway line to experience some of the more rugged scenery of the Dales.
On Sundays and Bank Holidays, DalesBus 818 runs from Dewsbury and Bradford to Otley and Ilkley, connecting with service 820 to Pateley Bridge, Fountains Abbey and Ripon, service 874 to Bolton Abbey, Grassington and Buckden, and service 883 to Malham.

From Keighley

Take the frequent trains on the Airedale line, or frequent buses 66/66A, to Skipton for onward buses into the heart of the Dales.
Experience some of the more rugged scenery of the Dales by taking a ride on the Settle - Carlisle railway line. (Read what the Times newspaper had to say about the Settle to Carlisle journey)

From Wakefield

Catch the frequent trains on the Wakefield line, or bus 110, to Leeds for onward buses and trains into the heart of the Dales.
On Sundays and Bank Holidays, DalesBus 870 runs from Wakefield to Otley and Ilkley, connecting with service 820 to Pateley Bridge, Fountains Abbey and Ripon, service 874 to Bolton Abbey, Grassington and Buckden, and service 883 to Skipton and Malham.

From Wetherby

Catch bus 770 to Harrogate, for onward buses into the heart of the Dales.
On Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays, DalesBus 823 runs from South Milford, Tadcaster and Wetherby to Harrogate, connecting with Nidderdale Rambler service 825 to Brimham Rocks, Pateley Bridge and Upper Nidderdale.

From elsewhere in West Yorkshire

Take the train to Ilkley, Skipton or Harrogate for onward buses into the heart of the Dales.

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Gateways to the Dales

Ilkley

Catch the daily buses up Wharfedale to Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Grassington and Buckden (bus 74 on Mondays to Saturdays and bus 800/874 on Sundays and Bank Holidays).
On Sundays and Bank Holidays catch Cravenlink bus 884 to Bolton Abbey, Strid Wood, Halton Heights and Skipton, extending in the summer months to Gargrave and Malham.

Skipton

The historic market town of Skipton is known as "the Gateway to the Dales".

From Skipton catch hourly buses to Grassington (service 72 on weekdays, service 872 on Sundays and Bank Holidays), weekday bus X59 to Blubberhouses and Harrogate or weekend buses 210/881/883/884/891 to Malham

Harrogate

Catch bus 24 from Harrogate to Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale, bus 36 to Ripley and Ripon, or bus X59 to Blubberhouses and Skipton.
On Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays catch Nidderdale Rambler bus 825 to Brimham Rocks, Pateley Bridge and Upper Nidderdale, or Cravenlink bus 883 to Ilkley, Skipton and Malham.

Ripon

Catch a bus to Fountains Abbey (bus 139 on Mondays to Saturdays, bus 812 on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays).
Catch a bus to Masham, Middleham, Leyburn or Richmond (bus 159 on Mondays to Saturdays and bus 821 on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays).
On Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays catch Fountains Flyer bus 812 to Pateley Bridge, Stump Cross and Grassington.

Settle-Carlisle Line

Catch a bus from Settle to Clapham and Ingleton (bus 581 on Mondays to Saturdays, bus 881 on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays).
Catch bus 10 from Settle to Slaidburn on Mondays to Saturdays.
Catch bus 831 from Ribblehead Station to Hawes (with connections on bus 830 to Swaledale and bus 856 to Aysgarth and Leyburn) on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Catch Little White Bus from Garsdale Station to Hawes (daily).
Catch bus 564A from Dent Station to Dent and Sedbergh (Saturdays and Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays)

Timetables for most of these services are included in Metro’s DalesBus timetable booklet and online at the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group website.

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DalesBus Discount Scheme

Dales Bus window sticker Get discounts in shops using your bus or train ticket.

If you're travelling by public transport to or through the Yorkshire Dales, then you can take advantage of the DalesBus Discount Scheme.

Keep your eyes open for the window stickers in participating cafés, pubs, B&Bs and other attractions in the Dales.

Whether it's a free cup of tea with your meal, money off your overnight stay, or a discounted entry to one of the Dale's attractions, there's never been a better time to travel by bus or train. All you need is a valid public transport ticket when claiming your discount at participating businesses.

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Updated: March 2012