A COMMUNITY group will be extending its successful climate-friendly minibus services.

Initiated by Sustainable and Integrated Transport for Ullswater (SITU), the services will commence on March 23 and run till November 3 during weekends and bank holidays.

The new 509 service will be operated by Stagecoach and will connect Keswick and Penrith, making stops at Troutbeck, Dockray, Glenridding, Patterdale, Aira Force, Pooley Bridge, Askham, Lowther Castle, among others.

This is supplementary to the existing 508 service.

Another service, UB1, will cover many of the holiday parks and other accommodation spots between Aira Force and Howtown.

Michael Firth, chair of SITU, said: "We are delighted by the success of the 2023 pilot. Our vision for Ullswater is to see alternatives to private motor vehicle use in the valley, an approach that can be summarised as bus, bike, boot and boat.

"Congestion and carbon footprint are real problems for both visitors and residents especially during the main tourist season.

"We very much welcome visitors to the valley and our mission is to provide options that allow everyone to enjoy the area in a less impactful way,” he said. 

Daniel Holder, a member of SITU and owner of award-winning holiday park The Quiet Site said: “These services, combined with the existing 508 service, will open up many more visitor and resident journeys that can be taken by bus rather than car.

"Stagecoach is helping us to support the new 509 service, which itself indicates the success of last year’s service as well as the success of our partnership with Stagecoach.

"We are grateful to the support received from Westmorland and Furness, Zero Carbon Cumbria and the Barton and Pooley Bridge Community Fund.

"Additionally many Ullswater businesses and other local entities have kindly offered pledges to cover the cost of the services in the event fare income is insufficient.”

All services are included in the Government's national bus fare cap scheme, ensuring single tickets never exceed £2 in cost.

Children under 5 and English concessionary bus pass holders travel for free.

Single and return tickets are purchasable on the bus using either cash or card, or from the Stagecoach website and app.