A day out on the free Wasdale shuttle bus
31 Jul 2024
Take the Wasdale Explorer and make your visit to Wasdale easier and better for the climate, the community and the landscape. Parking in the valley is very limited, but you can catch the shuttle bus to Wasdale Head. Wasdale Head is the starting point for walks to Scafell, Scafell Pike, Great Gable and other fells as well as Wastwater. This year the bus will be running to Muncaster Castle and Gardens, providing links to this great historic house. We've included more journeys that link up with Ravenglass train station, where you can park and ride or take a train along the scenic Cumbria Coastal Railway line and catch the bus at Ravenglass station.
Check train times before you travel on National Rail.
The bus is a 22 seat vehicle. Dogs are allowed on the bus, but not on the seats.
If walking in Wasdale (and anywhere else) please be adventure smart.
Ask yourself 3 questions before you set off:
– Am I confident I have the KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS for the day?
– Do I know what the WEATHER will be like?
– Do I have the right GEAR?
Note that there is no mobile phone or WiFi coverage in many parts of Wasdale so please do not rely on your phone for navigation and we advise you to download or cache the bus timetable information below before you travel.
Gosforth C of E Primary School sumbitted designs for the free Wasdale Explorer shuttle bus logo. Jessica, year 6 pupil, drew the winning design and took inspiration from Wastwater's iconic backdrop.
The bus departs from the bus shelter in the Lake District National Park Authority car park just west of Ravenglass Station, before going to Muncaster Castle, picking up at the car park entrance, Holmrook, Gosforth (bus shelter in Petton Place), then travels to Nether Wasdale picking up wherever it is safe to do so. It then picks up at the car park in Nether Wasdale, travels to Wasdale Head via Bengarth junction picking up anywhere safe to do so including marked stops at the following: Opposite the entrance to Church Stile camp site, Greendale, Lake Junction signpost, Overbeck car park, Road end of NT Wasdale Campsite and Wasdale Head Green.
Operated by Reays Coaches Ltd.
| Ravenglass, village car park, bus shelter | 0845 | 1045 | 1225 | 1355 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muncaster Castle, car park entrance | 0850 | 1050 | 1230 | 1400 | |||||||
| Gosforth, village bus stop, Petton Place | 0900 | 1100 | 1240 | 1410 | |||||||
| Nether Wasdale, car park | 0920 | 1020 | 1120 | 1220 | 1300 | 1430 | 1450 | 1550 | 1630 | 1730 | |
| Wasdale Head, the Green | 0950 | 1050 | 1150 | 1250 | 1330 | 1500 | 1520 | 1620 | 1700 | 1800 |
| Wasdale Head, the Green | 0950 | 1050 | 1150 | 1250 | 1330 | 1500 | 1520 | 1620 | 1700 | 1820 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nether Wasdale, car park | 1020 | 1120 | 1220 | 1320 | 1400 | 1530 | 1550 | 1650 | 1730 | 1850 |
| Gosforth, village bus stop, Petton Place | 1140 | 1340 | 1710 | 1910 | ||||||
| Muncaster Castle, car park entrance | 1150 | 1350 | 1720 | 1920 | ||||||
| Ravenglass, Village Car Park, bus shelter | 1155 | 1355 | 1725 | 1925 |
Help spread the word about the free shuttle bus service using assets from the toolkit. This includes A4 poster, email banner and social media assets.
Download the A4 PDF poster (541KB)
Download the email banner (PNG 52KB)
Download Facebook asset 1 (PNG 130KB)
Read about Phil's day out with his wife when they hopped on the shuttle bus for a visit to the Wasdale valley.
31 Jul 2024
Our guide to this dramatic valley has easy flat walking routes and hikes up some of the Lake District's highest fells. Where to hire bikes, where to camp and where to stay in Wasdale, Eskdale and Ravenglass.
Map showing walking routes from the Wasdale Shuttlebus - linking the lake to Nether Wasdale.
