Getting around Yorkshire

Yorkshire is ideal for exploring by foot or bike, including multi-day long distance adventures. For inspiration, check out Yorkshire's great outdoors.

You can plan your cycle journey using TransportDirect which has cycle routes for York, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

Check out Walkit.com too, an online walking journey planner available for Leeds and Sheffield, to really get to know these fantastic cities.

As well as offering easy access to the county's cities, market towns, picturesque villages and the coast, you'll experience some of the most scenic routes around.

First TransPennine Express offers reliable and comfortable rail travel throughout the north of England. They connect Leeds, Sheffield (including Meadowhall), Hull, York and Scarborough with Manchester.

Grand Central offers reliable and relaxing journey's with exceptional service, to various destinations in Yorkshire. A Train named after "Ashley Jackson - The Yorkshire Artist" travels between Bradford and Kings Cross three times a day, taking art to the people and Yorkshire to a wider audience through the faithful reproduction of Ashley's moorland landscapes on to vinyl within every carriage on the train.

Go to www.grandcentralrail.com to find out more and buy tickets.

Northern Rail: runs trains across the north, including direct access to the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and the coast. 

Enjoy one of the world's most scenic railway journeys, the Settle to Carlisle line.

Listening on the line... You can also listen to an audio guide narrated by Mark Holdstock, regular BBC Radio 4 presenter. The commentaries on the views, history and stories of the route are timed exactly to the speed of the train. Download the MP3 audio in advance here or purchase pre-loaded players at the stations on the line. Alternatively download the free Settle-Carlisle Railway Guide app for your smartphone.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway: enjoy this heritage steam-hauled train line running between the market town of Pickering and Grosmont, with occasional services to Whitby.

Wensleydale Railway: Take a historic journey by steam train and trains of yesteryear with the Wensleydale Railway, through 16 miles of stunning Yorkshire countryside to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Bolton Castle. Running between Leeming Bar [off the A1] and Redmire [for Bolton Castle], this breathtaking area inspired the artist Turner and was the setting for the TV series 'All Creatures Great and Small.'

Getting to the Wensleydale Railway couldn't be easier. Leeming Bar is under a mile from the A1, north of Leeds and York or you can join the trains at Redmire, Leyburn or Bedale. There is also a half hourly bus service from Northallerton which takes just 14 minutes and is operated by 'Dales and District.' Press the stop button on the bus when you pass the town name sign for Leeming Bar and alight at the next stop. The station is on the right at the small roundabout, just three minutes by foot.  A Rover ticket giving freedom of the railway costs £15 for adults, £13 senior citizen, £7.50 child and £35 for a family ticket of 2 adults and up to 2 children travelling together or £22 for 1 adult and up to 2 children. A range of single and return fares are also available between all locations.

You can book your train tickets for travel within Yorkshire here. Many of Yorkshire's towns and cities also benefit from PlusBus, letting you add discounted bus travel to your train ticket.

Why not let someone else do the driving and go by bus? 

Here's some of the major bus services that will get you around Yorkshire.

First is one of Yorkshire's principal bus operators. It is responsible for nearly 1,500 buses across the region and works in partnership with local authorities to build a better future for our local economy, environment and communities.

Arriva: Plan your journey online with Arriva, who have buses running across Yorkshire on a regular basis. Saver tickets can be bought online, in your local shop, on the bus itself, or even via your mobile phone. Getting around has never been easier!

Little Red Bus: have set up a Travel Club, with day trips and outings for anyone to enjoy in and around the Harrogate and Ripon area, whether you want to go to town, meet with friends, go as a group or take a trip to a local attraction or exciting event. Their fully accessible buses can take wheelchairs and pushchairs and for each trip you'll be picked up and returned to your home. For a full programme or to book a trip, ring Julia or Sue on 01423 724555 or email bookings@littleredbus.co.uk

East Yorkshire Motor Services - EYMS runs over 300 buses and coaches throughout Hull, East Yorkshire, the North Yorkshire coast (including summer open top buses in Scarborough) and onto the North York Moors. If you live in North Yorkshire you'll know us as "Scarborough & District". We also run a fleet of luxury coaches offering the latest in comfort that can be hired for days and weekends away, corporate trips and transport to and from events. Find full details, including timetables for all our bus services, on our website.

York City sightseeing Bus - What better way to see York than to take a tour on an open top bus?  You'll be shown around the City, with all major tourist attractions pointed out to you and an on-board commentary giving you an introduction to the history of York.  Tours are daily throughout the year (except 24-26 December and 1 January). The full tour takes 45 minutes - 1 hour and are valid for 24 hours so hop on and off as much as you like. Tickets can be purchased on the bus.

Moorsbus - Help save over 1 million car journeys by using the Moorsbus network to relax and enjoy the beauty of the North York Moors National Park, its idylic villages & attractions. Moorsbus services also run into the park from Surrounding towns.

Yorkshire Coastliner - Coastliner run services between Leeds, York and the popular resorts of Whitby, Scarborough, Filey and Bridlington on the East Coast of Yorkshire.

Metro operates a freecitybus service, providing free travel between key locations around the following towns and cities in West Yorkshire:

Bradford - linking Bradford Interchange, Forster Square railway station, shops and retail parks, the National Media Museum and Library, the University of Bradford and Bradford College.

Huddersfield - links the bus and railway stations, Huddersfield University, the Kingsgate Centre and the indoor and outdoor markets.

Wakefield - links Westgate railway station, Kirkgate railway station, the bus station, the Cathedral, shops and retail parks.

Leeds CityBus - the free service has been replaced with a flat 50p fare, linking Leeds' railway and bus stations, business and shopping districts, the General Infirmary, Universities and Park Lane College.

Each vehicle is fully accessible and can carry one wheelchair at any time.

Special offers from Northern

Save with a DUO ticket which gives you one return ticket, plus a second return for half price when two adults travel together and return the same day with Northern on selected routes. 

Northern also offer a range of Day Ranger Tickets giving you the freedom to explore different parts of Yorkshire. Just hop on and off the train as many times as you wish.  You can choose from the East Yorkshire Round Robin, Settle-Carlisle Line Day Ranger, South Pennines Day Ranger or Yorkshire Coast Day Ranger.  It's the perfect way to make the most of your car-free day - and your money. 

Special offers from East Coast

Save a massive 1/3 on each ticket when you travel in a group of 3+ people - simply travel in a group of 3-9 people with an East Coast Advance fare ticket.  Find out more.

Many of these routes across Yorkshire's National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty operate from Easter until mid-October, with some providing a limited service over winter too. During the summer, extra services may operate at weekends, bank holidays and school holidays.

• DalesBus
• Nidderdale AONB
• DalesRail

British Waterways: looks after around 270 miles of inland waterways, from the mighty Humber to the scenic Ouse and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Yorkshire's waterways are an excellent way of getting around at a more leisurely pace. Find out more about Yorkshire's canals, boat hire and boating holidays.