Dales Bus timetable and information for 2009 (pdf, 850k)
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, providing many opportunities for a great day out.
These are supplemented by extra bus services direct from West Yorkshire cities into the heart of the Dales on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
You can now use MetroCards on this summer's Sunday and Bank Holiday MetroConnect Dales services. 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 Seacroft, Leeds, Otley and Ilkley to Bolton Abbey, Grassington, Buckden, Aysgarth and Hawes
- On Summer Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, DalesBus 820 runs from Seacroft, Leeds and Otley to Pateley Bridge, Fountains Abbey, Lightwater Valley, 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.
- On Summer Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, DalesBus 850 runs from Bradford to Ilkley, connecting with 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.
- On Sundays throughout the year service 66A extends beyond Skipton to Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales National Park every hour.
- 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
- 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.
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 Holidays).
- On Sundays and Bank Holidays catch Cravenlink bus 884 to Bolton Abbey, The Strid, Halton Heights and Skipton, extending in the summer months to Gargrave and Malham.
- On Summer Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays catch Malham Tarn Shuttle Bus service 890 to Settle, Malham Tarn 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 66A on Sundays and Bank Holidays), weekday bus X59 to Bolton Bridge, 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, Bolton Bridge and Skipton.
- On Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays catch Nidderdale Rambler bus 825 to Brimham Rocks, Pateley Bridge and Upper Nidderdale.
Ripon
- Catch Ripon Roweller bus 139 to Fountains Abbey (hourly service on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays, limited service on Mondays to Saturdays).
- Catch a bus to Masham, Middleham, Leyburn or Richmond (service 159 on Mondays to Saturdays and service 820 on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays).
Settle-Carlisle Line
- Catch a bus from Settle to Clapham and Ingleton (service 581 on Mondays to Saturdays and service 832 on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays).
- 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 Holidays.
- Catch Ingleborough Pony bus 832/833 from Ribblehead Station to Ingleton on 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.
Go to the Dalesbus timetable
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Dales Bus Discount Scheme
Get discounts in shops using your travel ticket.
If you're travelling by public transport to or through the Yorkshire Dales, then take advantage of the Dales Bus Discount Scheme.
Keep your eyes open for the window stickers in participating cafés, pubs, B&Bs and other attractions in the Dales - or use the links below to search through a complete listing of businesses that offer a Dales Bus 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 web site.
For more information on public transport in the Yorkshire Dales, why not visit the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group web site.
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