Two low-cost shuttlebuses have been launched for the Wasdale Valley, to help ease the pressure on Cumbria’s rural road network.
The new service is aimed at getting people out of their cars and reducing traffic volumes to the popular tourist area by providing an alternative transport option.
The new shuttlebus will run daily for the rest of August – and weekends in September – every 30 minutes between 9am and 5pm from the car parking field at Nether Wasdale for a suggested fee of £2 per person.
Operated by Reays, it has been funded by Cumbria’s Tactical Visitor Management Group, which was set up as a collective, countywide response to help manage the flow of visitors around the county and support local residents during the busiest times of year.
Chaired by Cumbria police, TVMG is a collaboration between a range of organisations including the county’s six local authorities, the Lake District National Park, Cumbria Tourism, The National Trust, Cumbria County Council, Cumbria LEP and Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association.
The new bus service will be complemented by a team of traffic marshals who will be stationed at the two entry points to the valley on weekends throughout August and September.
Sustainable Transport Officer for the Lake District National Park Authority, Emma Moody, said: ‘We are delighted to work as part of the multi-agency group to launch this bus, which will help keep beautiful Wasdale special and reduce impacts on residents, whilst still enabling visitors and residents to travel sustainably to Wastwater, Wasdale Head and the start of many popular fell walks.”
Managing director of Cumbria Tourism, Gill Haigh, added:“Summer staycations are in high demand this year and the beautiful Wasdale Valley is understandably very popular with visitors looking to enjoy fabulous scenery or scale England’s highest peak.
“These two shuttlebuses are just one of the practical measures the Tactical Visitor Management Group is taking across the county, enabling visitors to get out of their cars and soak up our outstanding scenery without the hassle of driving. Alongside other park and ride services, increased EV charging points and new rail options it forms part of an ever-growing selection of opportunities to both enjoy and help protect our world-class landscape.”
A free 16-seater shuttlebus is also currently operating five daily return journeys between Cockermouth, Low Lorton and Buttermere Village until September 5 and a discounted Ullswater and Penrith Group Dayrider ticket for Stagecoach’s 508 service currently enables up to five people to travel around the Ullswater and Penrith zone for £17 all day, from now until the end of the school summer holidays – the same price as two full-price adult bus tickets.
