A NEW Sunday and Bank Holiday DalesBus service direct from Keighley, Bingley, Saltaire, Shipley and Otley -with connections from Bradford - has been set up.

It will provide a direct link for people living in Airedale and Lower Wharfedale to the fabulous walking country of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Colin Speakman, author and Vice Chairman of Friends of DalesBus said: “For keen walkers this is the perfect bus service.

"The new Nidderdale Rambler 821 will serve no less than three popular Yorkshire walking trails – the Nidderdale Way, the Six Dales Trail and the Dales Way Harrogate Link.

"It will give people from West Yorkshire without their own transport a wonderful opportunity to discover this magnificent countryside of lakes, forest and heather moorland on their own doorstep, travelling to Pateley Bridge, Lofthouse and Scar House Reservoir in Upper Nidderdale.

“But this is also a brilliant service for car users who can now park their vehicle, catch the bus and spend all day if they choose walking back to their car along a popular walking trail, the perfect way to do a linear walk.

"For example, you can catch the bus from Otley to Lofthouse or Blubberhouses and walk back through beautiful Upper Nidderdale or Washburndale to a parked vehicle, or maybe leave the bus at Fewston and walk back over spectacular countryside to either Ilkley or Harrogate”

Fares are being kept at affordable levels with special deal tickets whilst Senior Passes can be used on the 821 and all connecting buses from West Yorkshire and Harrogate.

Full details in Metro Dalesbus Summer 2018 timetable booklet and local publicity leaflets, or visit www.dalesbus.org.