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New bus services in Cumbria

For the first time since Covid the Hawkshead to Hill Top (Beatrix Potter) to Windermere Car Ferry bus, run by Mountain Goat, is back the timetable is here-https://legacy.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/buses/525/

Also from 25 March there is a new service from Kendal and Oxenholme Station to Sedbergh, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby and Penrith (a great scenic way between Kendal and Penrith).

This will be great for those staying at the HF House at Sedbergh (avoiding the need for the shared shuttle or a taxi)- it will stop at the property entrance. This will be the first daily service over most of the route in almost 20 years and is an early product of funding released from the HS2 cancellation.
The timetable will be released closer to the service start date. It will run on Mondays to Fridays, as the Western Dales bus runs to Sedbergh on a Saturday from Kendal and Oxenholme.

Westmorland Council are planning other routes to restore with this funding.

Posted by
8134 posts

EDIT- The 525 Mountain Goat bus to Hill Top is to also be included in the £2 maximum bus fare scheme, which is a huge saving on the normal fares- what was quite an expensive bus.
This does not actually seem to be part of the government funding, but (for a nice change) something done in partnership with the National Trust.

Also this is the link to the new 563 timetable- Penrith to Kendal via Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh and Oxenholme- https://legacy.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/Buses/new/563.asp

Posted by
1359 posts

There's a stop approx 300 yds away.
Likely labeled , after the junction with Castlehaw,or Maryfell.

Posted by
86 posts

Richard, I did not do my homework. The bus from Oxenholme to Sedbergh does not run on Mondays.
A very kind gentleman helped me figure that out and drove me to Sedbergh.
I got a lovely geology and history lesson along my journey and an experience I will cherish. I love England. How will I leave?

Posted by
8134 posts

As it happens the bus does run on a Monday. Not sure if that means the County Council have not updated the timetable case, and it is just showing the Western Dales services still.
I will try to remember to look on Thursday when I should be at Sedbergh, then to Kendal.
The 563 runs at 0841, 1111 and 1316 Monday to Friday. The stop is called Thornsbank Estate.
The 1111 terminates at Sedbergh Church.
On Monday to Friday it runs at 1021 and 1446 back to Oxenholme, plus 1135 from the Library.
Tracking shows that all services ran to time today.

The link to the full timetable is in the first post above, but here it is again- https://legacy.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/buses/563/

Posted by
8134 posts

For anyone else reading this I was on the 563 bus today, for a formal visit to the wonderful Vale of Lune Church, St Andrew's Church, the School Chapel, the former URC Church and the Cemetery in Sedbergh.

I can absolutely confirm that the bus stops right outside the HF house- it did exactly that this afternoon for a guest to alight with her suitcase. The stop is totally unmarked, you just ask the driver to stop, locally it is simply known to exist. The next stop is locally called Maryfell (and only has a marked stop in the Kendal bound direction- again this is local knowledge) but the sign on the stop calls it Settlebeck School!! The timetables at Maryfell are currently up to date.

The fire station (and old Ambulance station- now an undertakers!) are between the two stops. I had forgotten how gloriously scenic the road between Kirkby Stephen and Sedbergh via Cautley is. It is one of those "wow" roads.

The stop at the Vale of Lune Church is another unmarked untimetabled stop, one I have used a bizarre number of times over the years, given that it is in the middle of nowhere.

I see that you got your lift today to Grassington.

Posted by
8134 posts

It has taken me 6 weeks to do it, but I have checked the timetable display at Oxenholme Station today.
The one at the Station Approach (on the southbound side) IS correct, and shows the Sebergh Buses. The one at the underpass exit, on the northbound side lacks the space to show Sedbergh buses.
So no complaint to the council is needed, but it had to be checked.

Due to a bridge strike heading northbound on the Cumbria Coast, and engineering work southbound, it took 5 hours to travel the 90 miles by rail (50 by road), but will be either 2 or 3 on the way back.

But I take apparently poor information very seriously.