An expanded network of bus and shuttle services across Cumbria is making it easier for residents, workers and visitors to travel around the county without a car in 2026, improving access to work while supporting better visitor management in some of the area’s most popular locations.
A range of seasonal and enhanced services have recently been introduced or extended with support from local authorities, transport operators and partner organisations. These improvements have increased connectivity to key valleys, attractions and employment hubs, while encouraging more sustainable travel choices for both visitors and local communities.
Services include free and low-cost shuttle buses, alongside integrated boat and bus connections. Many routes have been designed to link accommodation, walking routes, villages and visitor attractions, helping to reduce congestion and pressure on parking while making it easier for people to explore without a car.
The benefits are also being felt by the visitor economy workforce. Cumbria Tourism has been working with tourism businesses, councils and transport providers to address long-standing challenges around access to work, particularly in rural areas and for staff working early mornings, evenings and weekends.
As a result of consultations with communities and businesses, several services also now have additional early morning and evening journeys. This includes key routes such as Kendal to Dungeon Ghyll and extended services linking Furness with the South Lakes.
Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council have both enhanced services as part of Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP+). Meanwhile, further services have been supported by the Lake District National Park Authority, the county’s ‘Strategic Visitor Management Group’ (SVMG) and local community groups/charities including ‘Sustainable and Integrated Transport for Ullswater’ (SITU).
Significant service improvements look set to continue in 2026, with the potential of expanded community services like the Ullswater Hopper, which is currently looking for support and donations to double the service through Just Giving.
According to the latest Cumbria Visitor Survey, increased provision has been matched by increased use. Six per cent of visitors said they mainly travelled by bus while in Cumbria during 2025, double the figure recorded in 2022. Bus use to reach the county has also risen, from 8% to 10%, with the £3 bus fare cap playing a significant role – more than two thirds of bus users said the fare cap influenced their decision to travel by bus.
Gemma Procter, Sustainable Tourism Officer at Cumbria Tourism, commented: “Improved bus services are making a real difference across Cumbria. They are helping visitors explore the county more easily without a car, while also supporting residents and the many people who work in our visitor economy to get to and from their jobs. Affordable and reliable transport is essential for a sustainable, year-round destination, and it’s encouraging to see both usage and confidence in these services growing.”
Cumbria Tourism continues to work with partners to build on this progress, highlighting the importance of affordable fares, well-timed services and long-term investment in public transport to support communities, businesses and the visitor economy across the county.
For timetables, visit www.cumberland.gov.uk/bus-timetables or www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/parking-streets-and-transport/bus-services/find-bus