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| Service 555 in the Lakes |
Lancaster is blessed with being the southern terminus of one of the country's most scenic bus routes: Stagecoach 555 to Keswick via the central Lake District. It must be admitted though the the best of the scenery is to be found north of Kendal as the bus passes through Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and then over Dunmail Raise to the northern terminus at Keswick. In fairness, the southern section cannot really compete!
Faster Buses
But on Summer Saturdays - and "summer" for Stagecoach lasts from the end of March to early November! - it's possible to cut out the boring bits and get straight to the beauties of the Lakes as extra journeys are introduced that run from Lancaster directly to Kendal via the M6, cutting 40 minutes off the journey.
The fast buses, still numbered 555, leave Lancaster bus station at 0815, 0925 and then every hour until 1525.
They return from Keswick at 1100 and every hour until 1800 calling at Grasmere 30 minutes later; Ambleside 49 minutes later and from Kendal at 1245 and hourly until 1945.
Follow this link for the full 555 timetable
In 2023 there are even more reasons to enjoy a ride on the 555 as the all-England £2 maximum fare also applies to the motorway buses, meaning that a full day out in the Lake District need cost no more than £4 per passenger (adult or child) (£2 per person each way).
As an added bonus, a new fleet of buses, equipped with comfortable seating and modern, low-emission diesel engines, is due to enter service on the 555 early in the season.
More Summer Buses
Between 3rd July and 29th September the extra buses also run on Monday to Friday, giving plenty more opportunities to enjoy one of England's most scenic bus rides. Please note though that at the time of writing the £2 maximum fare was due to end on 30 June, meaning that a £12.50 Explorer ticket would be needed for travel into the Lakes. This does, however, have the advantage that it allows unlimited travel for a whole day and so can be used to hop on and hop off anywhere along the route as well as being valid on all other buses operated by Stagecoach in Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland.
Holders of English National Concessionary Travel Passes ("NOW Cards") can travel free on the 555 and on Saturdays can make full use of the service, including the motorway journeys, as there is no time restriction on pass use at the weekend.
Even Faster to the Lakes!
On Saturdays between 1st April and 28th October there is an even faster way of reaching the Lakes. Stagecoach's X8 runs from Chorley to Keswick on a limited stop basis, using the M6 and calls at the Caton Road Park & Ride Site at Junction 34.
The X8 leaves Caton Road at 1030 and runs almost non-stop to Windermere station (1104), Ambleside (1120), Grasmere at 1135 and Keswick at 1200.
It returns from Keswick at 1630, Grasmere 1655, Ambleside 1710 and Windermere Station at 1730 reaching Caton Road at 1801
There is plenty of free car parking at the Park & Ride site or passengers can use the Park & Ride bus - service L1 - that runs every 15 minutes from Lancaster Royal Infirmary (South Road) and Lancaster Bus Station. THe suggested journey to connect with the X8 is at 1000 from the Infirmary (1005 from the bus station, stand 4). Connecting return buses from the Park & Ride site are at 1805 and 1835 The Park & Ride return fare is £1.70 (£1.20 for under 19s) and there is also a Family Return at £3.40 for 2 adults and up to three children. Concessionary Bus Pass holders can travel free on service L1 according to the normal conditions of pass use.
The £2 maximum fare does not apply to the X8, which is a limited stop service, nor can concessionary passes be used. Passholders can, however, buy a concessionary Explorer ticket at the reduced price of £9.50.
