You are here: Getting here
Getting here
By Bus and Coach
Leeds, Harrogate, York, Ripon and Thirsk are served by National Express coaches and have links to local bus services. Coaches also run from Heathrow and Manchester airports to Leeds coach station, with frequent buses on to Skipton, Ilkley, Harrogate and Ripon.
Leeds, Harrogate, York, Ripon and Thirsk are served by National Express coaches and have links to local bus services. Coaches also run from Heathrow and Manchester airports to Leeds coach station, with frequent buses on to Skipton, Ilkley, Harrogate and Ripon.
There are a number of buses that run throughout the AONB
giving access to a range of great days out for all the
family.
- Transdev Harrogate & District Service 24: runs seven days a week from Harrogate to Pateley Bridge through the villages of Lower Nidderdale including Hampsthwaite, Birstwith, Darley, Dacre, Summerbridge, Low Laithe and Wilsill. This is one of Yorkshire's prettiest bus services and a free booklet called "The Nidderdale Branch" has been produced to offer suggestions of things to see on your journey, special places to visit, a bit of history, and a range of splendid linear walks. It is available to download from the link above or hard copies are available from the bus company's offices, tourist information centres and libraries throughout the area. Buses run hourly throughout the day on Mondays to Saturdays, with a more limited service on Sundays and on Friday and Saturday evenings.
- Fountains Abbey Shuttle Service 139: runs from Ripon to Fountains Abbey and surrounding villages. This service runs Monday to Saturday all year round, and on Sundays and Bank Holidays during summer 2011. All these journeys connect at Ripon Bus Station with Transdev Harrogate & District Service 36 to/from Harrogate and Leeds.
- Dales & District service 139: links Ripon and the World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal on Mondays to Saturdays.
- Dales & District service 159: runs along the eastern side of the AONB between Ripon, Masham, Jervaulx Abbey, Leyburn and Richmond. This service runs approximately every two hours on Mondays to Saturdays.
- Fountains Flyer service 812: runs from Easingwold and York to Ripon via Boroughbridge and enters the AONB in the East calling at Fountains Abbey and Pateley Bridge. It then continues past Coldstones Cut, through the village of Greenhow and over the moors into Wharfedale, terminating at Grassington. This service runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays (including Jubilee Tuesday) from 6th May until 21st October 2012.
- Eastern Dalesman service 820: runs from Otley (with connecting DalesBuses from Wakefield, Leeds, Dewsbury and Bradford) up the Washburn Valley and into Nidderdale to Pateley Bridge, Fountains Abbey and Ripon. From here the bus continues on to Masham, Jervaulx Abbey, Leyburn and Aysgarth Falls. This service runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays (including Jubilee Tuesday) from 6th May until 21st October 2012.
- Nidderdale Rambler service
825: runs from Harrogate (with connecting DalesBus from
South Milford, Tadcaster and Wetherby) to Ripley and then through
the AONB to Brimham Rocks and Pateley Bridge. From Pateley Bridge
it continues up the Dale to Lofthouse and Middlesmoor, with one
journey running to Scar House Reservoir. This service runs on
Sundays and Bank Holidays (including Jubilee Tuesday) from 6th May
until 21st October 2012, continuing on the first Sunday of each
month throughout the winter.
For further information and timetables visit the Traveline, Harrogate & District or Dalesbus websites or ring traveline on 0871 200 22 33.
By Rail
There are frequent trains between Leeds, York, Harrogate and Ilkley. Trains operate between London and Edinburgh with connecting services provided to Harrogate from York and Leeds, and from Leeds to Ilkley.
The Wensleydale Railway operates a regular service between
Northallerton and Bedale station close to the AONB's north east
boundary. Telephone 08454 50 54 74 for ticket sales or for further
information visit www.wensleydalerailway.com
National rail enquiries can be contacted on 0845 7484950 or by
visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk
Tickets can be purchased from www.thetrainline.com
or by ringing 0845 7222333
By Air
The nearest airport is Leeds/Bradford which is about 12 miles/30 minutes from Harrogate. There are bus links from the airport to Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate.
Further Information
For more information on exploring the Yorkshire Dales by
public transport visit the Traveldales
website
The Traveline north east
Journey Planner will allow you to plan any bus, coach, rail and
ferry journey anywhere in North East England. It covers all buses
and ferries in North Yorkshire and Cumbria, and travel anywhere in
the UK on the national rail and coach networks.
