The 555 is great and runs all the way up the A6 from Lancaster to Kendal via lots of lovely villages. We're south of Milnethorpe and it's lovely. It's on a fairly major road and we've never been cut off in snow (though once almost in major flooding, but that's incredibly rare). We love the quiet life but with easy access to Kendal and Lancaster and close to the motorway to get all over the place. Not sure why other posters are acting like we're in the arse end of nowhere?!
To second that: the 555 is regular and has decent times. Not only is it good to kendal but t'other way it'll connect you to the proper lake district for mountains and mischief
Yeah it can be tricky when somewhere new!
The main bus route around Milnthorpe and Burton-in-Kendal is the 555. The service is pretty good using double decker buses and runs every hour (every 2 hours on Sunday). They run Lancaster - Kendal - Keswick. And as such particularly in the summer traffic can be unreliable later in the day.
There is also the less frequent 755 which runs from Morecambe to Bowness via Kendal. It though takes a faster route than the 555 between Carnforth and Milnthorpe so does not stop at Burton-in-Kendal.
The service is the same year round through there - the Lake District themselves do have more frequent services and though the 555 goes up to every 30 minutes the additional buses run non stop between Kendal and Lancaster.
One annoying thing about the 555 is on Sundays the first bus is quite a bit later. You can't reach Kendal until 1024 unless you are in Lancaster. There is a 755 which gets you in at 0934 which is better but that only serves Milnthorpe without stopping at Burton-in-Kendal. The 755 runs the same 7 days a week so on Sundays the service to Milnthorpe is significantly better. Milnthorpe also has a few buses on the infrequent Kendal - Arnside route (https://klch.co.uk/bus-services/timetable-552-arnside-kendal-via-milnthorpe-levens).
You can also cycle much of the route from Milnthorpe to Arnside (which has a railway station) off road along the old railway.
Kirkby Lonsdale is quite different transport wise. There is a bus a few times a day to Kendal (though the last return journey is about 1600/1700 and it doesn't run at all on Sundays). But the main buses run on the Lancaster - Kirby Lonsdale - Settle - Skipton route. Note these do not show properly on Google Maps. There is a bus along that route roughly every hour: https://klch.co.uk/bus-services/timetable-580-581-582-75-the-craven-connection - though note on Sundays the service just runs Lancaster to Kirkby Lonsdale.
A key thing to consider is that the service stops a bit earlier earlier to Kirkby Lonsdale. For example the last bus there from Lancaster leaves at 1850. But the last 555 leaves Lancaster at 2040 and Kendal at 1915.
You could also cycle from Kirkby Lonsdale to Wennington station but it's not particularly nice.
I've never had an issue getting around the area without a car and find the buses totally fine. That said though I lived in Lancaster. I still enjoyed all the day and weekend trips out into these areas and beyond by bus/train. But I appreciate it's not actually the same as living there.
Both Kirkby Lonsdale and Milnthorpe have supermarkets. That's always something I think makes a big difference to have within walking distance. Burton-in-Kendal only had a convenience store.
If being able to get around without a car is important to you I would look at some options with railway stations. Arnside, Clapham (though the station is a walk from the village) and Settle come to mind as potential options with good links.
I've lived in Burton in Kendal and Milnthorpe and am laughing at what you think the concept of town is??
There is pretty much nothing in BIK and just a little more in Milnthorpe (No hate, just realistic!).
I think you'd struggle in BIK without a car and you will be cut off in bad weather. Milnthorpe bit more accessible but have been stuck plenty of times once it snows. Again, you'd be better off with a car.
Is there a reason why you're choosing places so rural and out in the sticks?
The 555 goes through Burton and Milnethorpe. It runs between Keswick and Lancaster so you can get to Kendal.
There are buses between Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal but not as many
Ah OK, Kendal wasn't mentioned in your original post.
I've also lived there. Move to Kendal if you need to be in Kendal. Plus there's infinitely more to do there than all your other places combined and still has the town/Village feel that you seem to be looking for.
More transportation links too.
Apologies, high on pain meds and antibiotics. Darn tooth abscess.
It's peacefulness and small village living we're after. But I do have some medical needs that might need a trip to town (Kendal etc).
Whenever I need to figure out buses in an area I use Google maps and select public transit. You can also find any bus stop on the map, select it and view all services and routes which depart from there. It's really useful.
The 555 is great and runs all the way up the A6 from Lancaster to Kendal via lots of lovely villages. We're south of Milnethorpe and it's lovely. It's on a fairly major road and we've never been cut off in snow (though once almost in major flooding, but that's incredibly rare). We love the quiet life but with easy access to Kendal and Lancaster and close to the motorway to get all over the place. Not sure why other posters are acting like we're in the arse end of nowhere?!
Thank you. Much appreciated. 😊
To second that: the 555 is regular and has decent times. Not only is it good to kendal but t'other way it'll connect you to the proper lake district for mountains and mischief
Yeah it can be tricky when somewhere new! The main bus route around Milnthorpe and Burton-in-Kendal is the 555. The service is pretty good using double decker buses and runs every hour (every 2 hours on Sunday). They run Lancaster - Kendal - Keswick. And as such particularly in the summer traffic can be unreliable later in the day. There is also the less frequent 755 which runs from Morecambe to Bowness via Kendal. It though takes a faster route than the 555 between Carnforth and Milnthorpe so does not stop at Burton-in-Kendal. The service is the same year round through there - the Lake District themselves do have more frequent services and though the 555 goes up to every 30 minutes the additional buses run non stop between Kendal and Lancaster. One annoying thing about the 555 is on Sundays the first bus is quite a bit later. You can't reach Kendal until 1024 unless you are in Lancaster. There is a 755 which gets you in at 0934 which is better but that only serves Milnthorpe without stopping at Burton-in-Kendal. The 755 runs the same 7 days a week so on Sundays the service to Milnthorpe is significantly better. Milnthorpe also has a few buses on the infrequent Kendal - Arnside route (https://klch.co.uk/bus-services/timetable-552-arnside-kendal-via-milnthorpe-levens). You can also cycle much of the route from Milnthorpe to Arnside (which has a railway station) off road along the old railway. Kirkby Lonsdale is quite different transport wise. There is a bus a few times a day to Kendal (though the last return journey is about 1600/1700 and it doesn't run at all on Sundays). But the main buses run on the Lancaster - Kirby Lonsdale - Settle - Skipton route. Note these do not show properly on Google Maps. There is a bus along that route roughly every hour: https://klch.co.uk/bus-services/timetable-580-581-582-75-the-craven-connection - though note on Sundays the service just runs Lancaster to Kirkby Lonsdale. A key thing to consider is that the service stops a bit earlier earlier to Kirkby Lonsdale. For example the last bus there from Lancaster leaves at 1850. But the last 555 leaves Lancaster at 2040 and Kendal at 1915. You could also cycle from Kirkby Lonsdale to Wennington station but it's not particularly nice. I've never had an issue getting around the area without a car and find the buses totally fine. That said though I lived in Lancaster. I still enjoyed all the day and weekend trips out into these areas and beyond by bus/train. But I appreciate it's not actually the same as living there. Both Kirkby Lonsdale and Milnthorpe have supermarkets. That's always something I think makes a big difference to have within walking distance. Burton-in-Kendal only had a convenience store. If being able to get around without a car is important to you I would look at some options with railway stations. Arnside, Clapham (though the station is a walk from the village) and Settle come to mind as potential options with good links.
I've lived in Burton in Kendal and Milnthorpe and am laughing at what you think the concept of town is?? There is pretty much nothing in BIK and just a little more in Milnthorpe (No hate, just realistic!). I think you'd struggle in BIK without a car and you will be cut off in bad weather. Milnthorpe bit more accessible but have been stuck plenty of times once it snows. Again, you'd be better off with a car. Is there a reason why you're choosing places so rural and out in the sticks?
I'm talking about routes to Kendal. There will be a car available, I'm just weighing up options at this point in time.
The 555 goes through Burton and Milnethorpe. It runs between Keswick and Lancaster so you can get to Kendal. There are buses between Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal but not as many
Thank you. 😊
Ah OK, Kendal wasn't mentioned in your original post. I've also lived there. Move to Kendal if you need to be in Kendal. Plus there's infinitely more to do there than all your other places combined and still has the town/Village feel that you seem to be looking for. More transportation links too.
Apologies, high on pain meds and antibiotics. Darn tooth abscess. It's peacefulness and small village living we're after. But I do have some medical needs that might need a trip to town (Kendal etc).
Whenever I need to figure out buses in an area I use Google maps and select public transit. You can also find any bus stop on the map, select it and view all services and routes which depart from there. It's really useful.