The Dales by bus and train

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

DalesBus timetable and guide
(pdf, 896k - 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.

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 this summer's Sunday and Bank Holiday MetroConnect Dales services from West Yorkshire.

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 Holiday Mondays, DalesBus 870 runs from Leeds to Ilkley, connecting with service 874 to Bolton Abbey, Grassington and Buckden, and service 883 to Malham.
On Summer Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, DalesBus 800 runs from York, Seacroft, Leeds, Otley and Ilkley to Bolton Abbey, Grassington, Buckden, Aysgarth and Hawes
On Summer Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, DalesBus 820 runs from Wetherby, Leeds and Otley to Fewston, Pateley Bridge, Fountains Abbey, Lightwater Valley, Ripon, Masham, Leyburn and Richmond.
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.

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 Holiday Mondays, DalesBus 870 runs from Wakefield to Ilkley, connecting with service 874 to Bolton Abbey, Grassington and Buckden, and service 883 to Malham.

From Wetherby

Catch bus 770 to Harrogate, for onward buses into the heart of the Dales.
On Summer Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, DalesBus 820 runs from Wetherby, Leeds and Otley to Fewston, Pateley Bridge, Fountains Abbey, Lightwater Valley, Ripon, Masham, Leyburn and Richmond.

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 (service 74 on Mondays to Saturdays and service 800/874 on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays).
On Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays 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 Holiday Mondays), weekday bus X59 to Blubberhouses and Harrogate or weekend buses 210/883/884/890 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 Ripon Roweller bus 139 to Fountains Abbey (hourly service on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays, limited service on Mondays to Saturdays all year).
Catch a bus to Masham, Middleham, Leyburn or Richmond (service 159 on Mondays to Saturdays and service 820 on Summer Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays).
On Summer Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays catch Fountains Flyer bus 812 to Fountains Abbey, Pateley Bridge, Stump Cross and Grassington.

Settle-Carlisle Line

Catch a bus from Settle to Clapham and Ingleton (service 581 on Mondays to Saturdays).
Catch bus B1 from Settle to Slaidburn on Mondays to Saturdays.
Catch bus 113 from Garsdale Station to Hawes on Mondays to Saturdays.
Catch bus 832 from Ribblehead Station to Hawes (with connections on bus 831 to Swaledale) on Summer Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.

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 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 - or follow the links below to search through a complete listing of businesses that offer a DalesBus Discount.

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. All you need is a valid public transport ticket when claiming your discount at participating businesses.

All businesses, their discounts and more information are listed on the Travel Dales website.

For more information on public transport in the Yorkshire Dales, why not visit the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group website.

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Updated: April 2011