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Map and Timetables of the public transport network in Bowland - Mondays to Saturdays Map and Timetables of the public transport network in Bowland - Sundays Maps have live links to current timetables (pdf files) NB. IExplorer may need scripts to be unblocked for links to work |
The Forest of BowlandThe Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covers 803 square kilometres (300 square miles) of some of the wildest and grandest country in the Pennines of Lancashire and North Yorkshire. Internationally recognised for its outstanding heather moorland, woodland and wildflower meadows blanket bog, rare birds, and richly diverse landscapes, this beautiful protected landscape lies intriguingly close to major centres of population. Recent changes in legislation have also made the AONB much more accessible to the walker with large areas of the fell country now open for public access on foot. Both there is also a good network of footpaths and bridleways available to walkers and cyclists, especially along the fellsides and the intimately beautiful valleys. |
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Bowland Transit bus times & leaflet |
Getting there by sustainable transport Not all the AONB is easily accessible by public transport, but there are a number of areas where train and bus services provide excellent links and access. Pride of place must go to the historic market town of Clitheroe, with its award winning bus/rail Interchange. This is not only the terminus of the scenic Ribble Valley Line from Manchester, Bolton and Blackburn, but it is now served by the hourly 280/X80 bus between Preston, on the West Coast main line, and Skipton, on the frequent electrified train service from Leeds. Though just outside the AONB Clitheroe is the focal point of a number of important local Bowland bus services, which, which with its choice of inn, bed and breakfast establishments, places to eat and drink, and good local shopping, makes it an excellent place to stay without a car to explore the AONB. For example there's the Bowland Transit service along the beautiful Hodder Valley, via Whitewell, Dunsop Bridge, Newton, Slaidburn, with some buses continuing through the border village of Tosside and across into the Yorkshire town of Settle. There are direct buses to the lovely village of Downham (5), to Waddington and Sawley (C2) (for Sawley Abbey) Longridge (5) for the charming village of Chipping, (4) and on Sundays on the Pendle Witch Hopper (P70/P71) to Pendleton or Barley for the ascent of Pendle Hill. Chipping, itself a good centre for walks, enjoys a direct hourly bus (4) from Preston, whilst on Thursdays in summer a bus from Clitheroe, the Bowland Transit B12, calls at Chipping and other villages en route to Garstang. The legendary Pendle Hill, a major landmark, and its surrounding villages, form a separate but very special part of the AONB,. It is most easily explored from the industrial town of Nelson (on the East Lancashire rail line) by the little Pendle Witch Hopper P70/P71 service, a circular minibus service through the lanes via Blacko, Barley, and Newchurch, all villages with magnificent local walking opportunities. On Sundays and Bank Holidays this service is extended from Burnley and Nelson through to Clitheroe via Sabden, Nick of Pendle, Chatburn, Waddington and Downham as the Pendle Witch Hopper (70/71), a bus service which can be enjoyed as much for the ride as the many lovely villages it serves and the many walking opportunities it offers. To the west of the AONB lies the M6 and West Coast main line, and limited opportunities to access the AONB - with one exception - the market town of Garstang, easily reached by the half hourly bus 40 between Preston and Lancaster from Preston, has the little Garstang Super 8 minibus to the fascinating, former industrial village of Calder Vale with a demand responsive service to Oakenclough. Sadly the latest return services are before 1500, so that restricts walking opportunities. Over in the Lune Valley, east of Lancaster the situation is very different. There, the excellent Lune Villager 80/81 network of services provides superb local connections, seven days a week, running into the late evening, from Lancaster to Caton, Hornby, with some services going through to Wray and Wennington and a more limited service to Bentham and Ingleton in North Yorkshire. There are some very good walks in this area into the edge of the AONB, but you need to be a strong walker to get from here deep into the high fell country. |
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Leeds Lancaster & Morecambe Railway Dales Rail Lancashire to the Settle Carlisle and Yorkshire Dales by rail Dales and Bowland Community Interest Co. |
The north Bowland Lune - Ribble Cycling corridor North of the AONB is one of the area's most underused assets - the Skipton-Lancaster railway, which with key stations at Wennington, Clapham, Giggleswick, Long Preston and Hellifield, offers a very good means of access to both the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales for both walkers and cyclists . This is cycling country par excellence - a network of meandering lanes (reached from Lancaster to Caton by the excellent Lune Valley Cycle way) with gentle gradients but magnificent views of the nearby summit of the Yorkshire Dales and Bowland, with the train service able to offer a superb means of access to and from the Bowland Forest. Keen cyclists can tackle one of two glorious mountain passes from either Bentham or Clapham Stations - Cross of Greet and Bowland Knott, both meeting in Slaidburn, the latter route also offering access to the magnificent Gisburn Forest with its network of waymarked mountain bike routes. There are very good cycle hire centres in Settle Station and at Dalesbridge, near Austwick, which is close to the regular 581 bus routes between Settle and Ingleton via Austwick and Clapham. |
 
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