The Yorkshire Dales Explorer is a twice a day all-year-round Saturday service that operates between Rochdale, Manchester, Bolton, Blackburn, The Ribble Valley and the Yorkshire Dales with connections onto the Settle Carlisle Railway.
Duo Fares
Northern have introduced Duo Fares (2 travel together for 25% discount) for destinations north of Clitheroe and have been available from Saturday 20 September 2025. DUO tickets are available from booking offices, ticket vending machines (TVMs) and online as e-tickets.
A full list of the Yorkshire Dales Explorer Duo Fares can be downloaded on this link: YDE Duo Fares
Why not use the Little White Bus service from Garsdale station to explore Hawes? Use the Yorkshire Dales Explorer to Ribblehead and change trains for the north bound service to Garsdale. The Little White Bus timetable can be downloaded here The Little White Bus Shuttle
Places of interest in Hawes
+ National Park Visitor Centre – open every day 10:00 – 17:00, the bus stops right outside.
+ Hardraw Force – a gentle 4.3 mile circular walk to one of the great waterfalls of the Dales – see https://www.daleswalks.co.uk/walks/hardraw-force-from-hawes/ for the route. The Force is on private land and there is a £4 admission charge.
+ Wensleydale Creamery – see this historic cheese being made on a Wensleydale Cheese Experience – click here for details https://www.wensleydale.co.uk/visit-wensleydale-creamery-i117. Adults £5.95 with various reductions for seniors, juniors and family groups.
For suggestions of other things do and see both in the Dales and across the Ribble Valley and East Lancashire, see below:
HELLIFIELD
Photo © Shed 24H via Facebook
Shed 24H, the café on Hellifield station is open between 09:30 & 15:30. Offering highly recommended food, hot & cold drinks and railwayana. To see their Facebook page click the link here: Shed 24H at Hellifield Station
SETTLE
Why not use the Yorkshire Dales Explorer service to visit Settle and visit The Folly, a Museum of North Craven Life. The museum is open on Saturday’s between 10:00 & 16:00 and is just 10 minutes stroll from the station. For more details on this interesting building and what’s on show visit thefolly.org.uk/
APPLEBY
Appleby Castle – Saturdays 10:30 – 14:30 (Grounds only) and booking is essential on https://applebycastle.co.uk/TICKETSONLINE/ £5 per adult & £3 per child
CARLISLE
Carlisle Cathedral – Saturdays 07:30 – 17:00
Inside Carlisle Cathedral – photo © Simon Clarke
Carlisle Cathedral is a Grade I listed Anglican cathedral in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It was founded as an Augustinian priory and became a cathedral in 1133. It is also the seat of the Bishop of Carlisle. Carlisle is the second smallest of England’s ancient cathedrals.
Carlisle Castle – Saturdays 10:00 – 17:00
Carlisle Castle is a stone keep medieval fortress located in the city of Carlisle near the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall. First built during the reign of William II in 1092 and rebuilt in stone under Henry I in 1122, the castle is over 930 years old and has been the scene of many episodes in British history. Free for English Heritage Members and £11.30 adult £6.80 for non-members
Carlisle Market Hall – Saturdays 09:00 – 17:00
Carlisle Market Hall is a market hall located in Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It was built between 1887 and 1889 for Carlisle Corporation by Arthur Cawston and Joseph Graham, both of Westminster, with ironwork manufactured by Cowans, Sheldon & Company. It is one of the few covered Victorian markets remaining in the country. A wide range of traders – traditional butchers, fruit & veg, cheese, pies & cooked meats, gifts, haberdashery, home essentials & much more.
Other Things to do using the Yorkshire Dales Explorer
Using the first return service from Ribblehead, with connections from the Carlisle and Leeds directions you can explore the Ribble Valley and beyond.
WADDINGTON
Would you like to visit one of Lancashire’s Best Kept Villages and probably one of the prettiest? Using the first return service from Ribblehead and changing at Clitheroe allows you to catch the 67 bus from Clitheroe Interchange (Stand 3) that departs at 12:07 and arrives into Waddington at 12:15.
St. Helen’s Church, Waddington – photo © Simon Clarke
There are three pubs in the village that all serve food (booking advisable) and there is also the Grade II listed St. Helen’s Church to explore and of course the beautiful Coronation Gardens.
The return bus leaves at 16:08 from outside the Waddington Arms in the centre of the village and is back into Clitheroe in plenty of time to connect into the 16:38 departure to Ribblehead.
CLITHEROE
There are plenty of places to visit, eat and drink in Clitheroe including:
The All Aboard Café at Clitheroe station – photo © Simon Clarke
All Aboard is a new café that has opened in the old booking office on Clitheroe station. The café is open Tuesday to Saturday 08:00 – 14:30 serving coffee, sandwiches and home cooked food to take away. More details on their Facebook page on this link
Clitheroe Castle & Museum – open Saturdays 12:00 – 16:00, approximately 10 minutes from the station. A New Exhibition Honours a Lancashire Railway Photographer’s Legacy Tracks of Life: Trains Places People, 11 October 2025 to 26 April 2026
Clitheroe Market – open Saturdays 09:00 – 16:00 (a traditional open-air market), approximately 5 minutes from the station.
Byrnes Independent Wine Merchants Shop and Warehouse, shop 5 minutes from station & warehouse 10 minutes from station.
Platform Gallery – photo © Visit Ribble Valley
Art Galleries – there a number of art galleries in Clitheroe including The Platform Gallery that is right next to the station, which holds regular exhibitions and sells handmade crafts from local and countrywide makers. Open 10:00 – 16:00
WHALLEY
A good number of cafes and pubs available in the village centre, approximately 15 minutes from the station.
Whalley Abbey Ruins – photo © Simon Clarke
Whalley Abbey & East Gatehouse – visit the ruins of this former Cistercian abbey, mostly demolished after the dissolution of the monasteries, 10 minutes directly from the station or approximately 15 minutes via the village centre.
Whalley Wine Shop & Bar – a top end wine shop and bar in the centre of the village, approximately 10 minutes from the station. Shop open 10:30 – 18:00 and the Wine Bar opens at 12:00 but booking is essential on thewhalleywinebar.com/
BLACKBURN
There is a lot to explore in Blackburn and the town centre is just a short walk from the station. Here are some things that you might like to go and see.
Blackburn Library – a new exhibition (now extended to December) has been installed inside the library, The Clitheroe Line – A Picturesque Journey is a joint project between Arts2Heal, a Blackburn-based charity which works with vulnerable adults, and Community Rail Lancashire. Ats2Heal work with vulnerable adults who work through art to improve mental health and combat social isolation through undertaking art-based projects. The library is open 10:00 – 16:00 on Saturdays.
Blackburn Cathedral offers the chance to explore the stunning architecture, rich history and one of the country’s best collections of religious art including Penny Warden’s ‘The Journey’ and a 35ft sculpture, ‘Healing of the Nation’ on the exterior – often described as one of the most innovative pieces of modern sculpture at any English cathedral. The cathedral is just two minutes from the station and is open on Saturdays 08:30 – 16:30.
Original gate at entrance to Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery – photo © Museumania
Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is the local museum service for the borough of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. It is a museum with collections of Christian icons, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and local history, as well as those of the former Lewis Textile Museum. The museum is approximately 10 minutes from the station and is open on Saturdays 11:00 – 16:45.
Blackburn Market is a modern take on a traditional indoor market with food and clothing stalls and much more. Just five minutes from the station it is open 09:00 – 16:00 on Saturdays.
DARWEN
Darwen Market – open Saturdays 08:00 – 16:00
Our range of food stalls rivals the very best farmers markets with fresh, locally sourced produce and regional specialities. You won’t find any excess plastic packaging here and our fruit hasn’t come from the deep freeze! Our market has got you covered for all the essentials from key cutting to gift shopping, arts and crafts or picture restoration.
BOLTON
Bolton Museum & Aquarium – open Saturdays 09:00 – 17:00
Le Mans Crescent, Bolton, BL1 1SE – just 10 minutes from the Bolton station
With family friendly events and exhibitions available all year round, enjoy the fascinating story of Bolton, its places and people, alongside displays of Art, Egyptology, Archaeology, Botany and Zoology, as well as Greater Manchester’s only public aquarium!
Visit https://www.boltonlams.co.uk/bolton-museum for more details
Hive Gallery – open Saturdays 13:00 – 17:00, Upper Ground Floor, Market Place Bolton, BL1 2AL – just 15 minutes from Bolton station.
For more information about the Yorkshire Dales Explorer including times and fares visit Yorkshire Dales Explorer and for other suggestions of places to visit Places to Visit
The Yorkshire Dales Explorer achieved a silver place in the Tourism & Leisure Award at the recent National Community Rail Awards (see yorkshire-dales-explorer-takes-silver-place/).
