With many places to explore, why not extend your journey away from the line using one of the several available bus services?
In 2026 the Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line and the Settle Carlisle CRP are supporting the Sunday 830 Northern DalesBus from Ribblehead to Richmond via Buttertubs Pass and Swaledale. This is a spectacular journey, once featured on the BBC 4 TV programme All Aboard the Country Bus, and is one of the highest bus routes in the country. Meanwhile, from Garsdale Station, the Sunday 857 Wensleydale Explorer runs on to Hawes and Castle Bolton.
Other possible destinations include Dent village, Sedbergh, Malham, Ingleton, and Kirkby Lonsdale. The Leeds – Settle – Carlisle Railway page on the DalesBus website provides links to most current bus services connecting with the line. For bus and rail timetables see www.dalesbus.org or pick up one of the Dales Area Timetable booklets from the stations.
It is vital that the Settle-Carlisle is utilised as part of a rural transport strategy for the area: it is already there and paid for. Whilst the railway runs through one of the most scenic areas of the country, many of the stations are remote such as Dent, Ribblehead and Garsdale. Onward transport would be challenging but for the connecting bus services. In 2025 the Friends published The Case for Integrated Transport on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Line Corridor which takes a close look at the present network and advocates for improvements pus a shift towards increased use of public transport in our National Park. This is a recommended read!
| Skipton: | 72 (Mon-Sat) to Grassington 75 (Sat); 210/211 (Mon-Fri); DalesBus 864 (Sun) to Malham M6 to Burnley 280 to Clitheroe and Preston Other services start from the bus station 500m distant |
| Settle: | 11 (Mon-Sat) to Horton and Clitheroe: starts from Market Place (500m distant) |
| 75 (Sat seasonal) to Malham Tarn, Malham and Skipton: from Market Place (500m distant) | |
| 580 (Mon-Sat) to Skipton: starts from Market Place (500m distant) | |
| 581 (Mon-Sat) to Clapham, Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale: starts from Market Place (500m distant) | |
| Ribblehead: | DalesBus 80 (Saturday seasonal*) to Hawes and Lancaster (connects with YDE service) |
| Northern DalesBus 830 (Sunday seasonal*) to Hawes, Muker, Reeth and Richmond | |
| Northern DalesBus 832 (Sunday and BH seasonal*) to Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale: from Station Inn 200m distant | |
| DalesBus 858 (Sunday seasonal*) to Hawes, Askrigg, Catterick, Richmond and Darlington | |
| Dent | S1 (Sat) to Dent village, Sedbergh and Kendal |
| Garsdale | 113 (Mon-Sat) to Hawes |
| Wensleydale Explorer 857 (Sunday seasonal*) to Hawes, Askrigg and Castle Bolton | |
| Kirkby Stephen | 563 (Mon-Sat) to Kirkby Stephen town, Brough, Appleby and Penrith |
| 571 (Mon) to Kendal via Tebay | |
| 572 (Wed) to Barnard Castle | |
| S1 (Tues and Thurs) to Kendal via Sedbergh | |
| S5 (Friday) to Kendal via Tebay | |
| Appleby | 563 (Daily) to Kirkby Stephen and Penrith (Sunday seasonal): from Appleby Sands (500m distant) |
FREE guided walks for varying levels from stations on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Line – no need for a car and no need to book – just meet us at the station!
Why not plan a visit with your friends, organisation, community group or school party along the line?
We have great little shops at Appleby and Settle as well as an online webshop. Both are delightfully situated on the station platforms and are easily accessible by train, car or on foot.
Here, you’ll find the latest updates on our initiatives, upcoming activities, and exciting events related to this iconic railway route.
