sustainable transport...

Let the train take the strain, avoid the fuss take a bus, stay afloat on a boat...

There are so many different ways to see the best of the scenery on offer in Cumbria, and so many places to visit without even thinking about using a car, thus helping the environment and supporting both public transport and independent operators.

You can get into the heart of the Lake District by bus - look out for the open topped 555's that run between Lancaster, Keswick and Carlisle offering birds-eye views of the valleys, villages and up to the fells; and the popular ‘Give the Driver a Break' services for Borrowdale, Kentmere, Langdale and Ullswater, which offer suggestions for places to visit en route. Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston and Derwentwater all have boats that give you great views of places that cars can't reach.

The railway network along the West Cumbrian coast is one of the most picturesque in the country as is the historic Settle to Carlisle line, where you can join up with the coastal service in the capital for a complete Cumbria round trip! The shorter Lakes Line, which operates between the mainline station at Oxenholme to Windermere has a number of suggestions for scenic walks from each stop and has also introduced a Real Ale Trail, which points out the best places along the line to savour a pint of real local ale. For more information on transport in Cumrbia visit the getting around section.  The itineraries section also has a number of suggestions for day trips using public transport.

Cumbria can also be easily reached by rail with the West Coast mainline running regular services to Oxenholme - Lake District, Penrith and Carlisle with connections to the rest of the UK. Form more information visit the travelling to cumbria section.