jhostage

We're planning a trip to England next year and are hoping to avoid renting a car. We'll be in York and then thought we might use Ripon or Richmond as a base of operations for exploring the moors and dales. Is it possible to do this using public transportation? Thank you!

jamikins

I recommend doing a search here for Morgana she is an awesome resource for Yorkshire and lots of her posts will give info on this to get you started!

Morgana

Public transport is very limited in the Dales and Moors. I live in Wensleydale in the Dales and we get two buses a day to our village. Most of the train stations in the area were closed back in the 1950's and 60's. There are steam 'heritage' railways but getting to them might be a problem.
York is lovely and you can visit Castle Howard by bus some summer weekends.
Details are on the Castle Howard website.
I'd also have a look at the Moors bus and Dales bus websites to see if you think the service is regular/fast enough for you.
Personally I wouldn't even entertain the idea of trying to explore such rural areas without a car, but that's just my view and it's your holiday, not mine.
http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/vis...sport/moorsbus
http://www.dalesbus.org/
Ripon isn't in the Dales so I am not sure why you have selected this as a base? it doesn't have a train station either.

Morgana

I like being described as an 'awesome resource'!! I'd do one of those smiley faces but not sure how to do them on here.

Mimar

Richmond is a pretty town, on the edge of the dales. And it has a great B&B, Millgate House. But you really do need a car, I think.

One place easy to visit by train from York is Durham, which I loved. Great cathedral, castle, university, nice shopping streets and a lovely walk along the river, which feels lost in time. But you seem to want to something of the wilds. That's very hard without a car.

janisj

In practical terms - you definitely must have a car for the Dales. For the Moors you could use the North Yorkshire Moors railroad to explore a bit. Pickering to grosmont and back. That is more an excursion train and you'd be limited to the areas immediately around the stops. But you'd still have to get to Pickering which would be a fairly long bus ride from York or maybe Thirsk.

Trains are great in the UK but for visiting the really rural/remote areas one does need to drive.

anicecupoftea

The Dales are truly gorgeous (and Wensleydale is my favourite - I am a little jealous, Morgana, that you live there), but you need to get off the beaten track to appreciate it fully. Not that any of the tracks are really beaten, its beauty is in its isolation. Take a steep, twisty side road up into the hills, across the cattle grid, or through a gate, and you'll be on your own except for the sheep, dry stone walls, tumble-down barns and stunning views.

If you can get to Leeming Bar by public transport you can get a taster from the Wensleydale Railway, or from Leeds/Skipton take the Settle to Carlisle Railway, but your options will otherwise be very limited.

bilboburgler

Hi all, I live a little south of Morgana and have better public transport but I agree that it gets harder up where she is

When I need to go up there without a car I use http://www.transportdirect.info/Web2...epeatingloop=Y

Morgana it's ":" "-" ")" to get a or ";" to replace ":" for a wink

bilboburgler

Anyway, I was in Bolton Abbey last week (an hour's bike ride from home) and the holiday makers were splashing in the river, the large lambs were butting their mothers and the sky larks were out, what's not to like

jhostage

Thank you so much, everyone, for the terrific responses. Based on your feedback, I think we'll want to rent a car. Our only hesitation is that we haven't driven outside of the U.S. and we're a little anxious about it. Time to study the Highway Code, I guess!

anicecupoftea

And again, jealous. I shall be in Malham for a few days in a couple of weeks and Bolton Abbey is on my list, as I've not been there yet. God's Own County, indeed.

janisj

"<i>Anyway, I was in Bolton Abbey last week (an hour's bike ride from home) and the holiday makers were splashing in the river, the large lambs were butting their mothers and the sky larks were out, what's not to like</i>"

I was there in late May last year (on the hottest day of the year thus far) and it was exactly the same. Everyone in the river and the lambs bouncing everywhere. It was gorgeous. (the week previous it had sleeted )

jhostage

Bilboburgler, special thanks for the transport direct link--I'll be giving it a lot of heavy use!