getting here

Although the Dales include many miles of remote beautiful countryside, public transport has made access easy and convenient.

by rail

The trains from Leeds to Skipton and Ilkley carry bikes at no charge and with no need to book, although it is worth avoiding rush hour services. 

There is the famous Leeds – Settle – Carlisle line which can take you to Gargrave, Settle, Clapham, Dent and Kirkby Stephen stations.  Again your bikes are carried free but it is a good idea to book a place.   Full timetables are available by clicking here http://www.settle-carlisle.co.uk/

There is also the Wensleydale Railway from Leeming Bar to Leyburn and Redmire, which carries bikes free of charge in a guard’s van.   Timetables are found at http://www.wensleydalerailway.com/

For other rail journeys contact National Rail Enquires or use the on-line journey planner by clicking here.
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/

by road

The Dales area is bordered by major trunk roads, with the M6 skirting the west, the A66 to the north, the A1 to east and the A65, A65, A59, A629, M62 and M65 to the south.

by bus and coach

Lancaster, Skipton, Leeds, Harrogate, York, Ripon, Northallerton and Darlington are served by National Express coaches and have links to local bus services. Coaches also run from Heathrow and Manchester airports to Leeds coach station, with frequent buses on to Skipton, Ilkley, Harrogate and Ripon from the bus station next door.

• National Express: 0870 580 8080
• Travel planner and on-line ticket sales, including Eurolines services from overseas:
  www.nationalexpress.com
• Local bus services: 0870 608 2608 www.traveldales.org.uk

by sea

• Into Hull: P&O North Sea Ferries from Rotterdam & Zeebrugge 0870 129 6002
• Into Newcastle: Fjord Line from Bergen & Stavanger 0191 2961313
• Scandinavian Seaways: Esbjerg, Hamburg & Gothenburg 0191 2936262

airports

• Leeds/Bradford Airport: 0113 2509696 (frequent bus links to Leeds & Bradford).
• Manchester Airport: 0161 4893000 (frequent trains to Lancaster, Leeds & York).
• Newcastle Airport: 0191 2860966
• Teeside Airport: 01325 332811 (Both have frequent bus & metro/train links to Darlington and Richmond)