Thanks in part to our 15 gorgeous national parks, train travel in the UK can boast with plenty of glorious views. And now, a brand-new rail journey chugs through one of the country’s most spectacular areas of natural beauty: the beautiful hills of the Yorkshire Dales.
Called the Yorkshire Dales Explorer, the new service is a weekly Saturday-only service between Rochdale and Ribblehead, stopping at Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Clitheroe and Hellifield. It launched last Saturday (June 8), with adult return tickets starting from £25.
Councillors from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority are encouraging the public to take advantage of the service. The Explorer replaces the cancelled Dales Rail train service that, until last year, would run on Sundays from Blackburn and Clitheroe to Hellifield.
The new route intends to improve travel times and take full advantage of the ‘brilliant’ Hellifield station, which offers connections to cities including Leeds and Carlisle. Councillor Andy Solloway said: ‘If people use it, then we can start expanding it. Hellifield is a brilliant station and it’s a natural connection for people using the Settle-Carlisle line.’
Trains depart from Rochdale at 7.52am and 2.52pm on Saturdays, calling at 18 stops before they reach Ribblehead. The return trains leave Ribblehead at 11.08am and 6.05pm.
You can book tickets on the Northern rail website here.
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