Natural England

This summer, visitors to Ingleborough National Nature Reserve (NNR) will have a new and environmentally friendly travel option called The Ingleborough Pony.

The Ingleborough Pony is an experimental new Sunday bus service which runs from 27th July to 28th September, including August bank holiday. It aims to reduce the number of cars in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and help visitors minimise their impact on the environment. The service is perfect for people wanting to leave the car at home as it links up with the scenic Settle to Carlisle line at Ribblehead and from Clapham Station on the Morecambe line.

Motorists can still take advantage of the service, as the Ingleborough Pony will stop at car parks along the south of the A65, providing a service especially for walkers wanting to visit the stunning Ingleborough NNR.

The 16 seat bus follows a 30 mile route with stops including the White Scar Caves, Clapham Village and Helwith Bridge. Fares have been priced to encourage people out of their cars, at a time of rising fuel costs. A single journey is just £1, with children at half price. Seniors with an all-England concessionary travel pass can travel free of charge. There is no need to book a seat, just wait at the Ingleborough Pony bus stop or hail the driver at a safe place and you will be welcome on board.

Buses run four times a day and are timed to meet specific trains at railway stations along the route. The bus time table can be accessed at at the Dales Bus web site - www.dalesbus.org (on the home page click on ‘Summer Buses’ and then click on ‘Ingleborough Pony 888’).

Paul Evans, Natural England Senior Project Manager said, ”We are delighted to be a part of this innovative project and hope that people will use the bus service when travelling to Ingleborough NNR and the surrounding area. This is a trial period for the Ingleborough Pony, so it’s very much a case of use it or lose it’.”

Colin Speakman of the Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company said, “This service will be a real benefit to walkers who are keen to explore this fantastic part of the Yorkshire Dales. It enables people to do more in a day, like one of the many beautiful linear walks that are found in the area”.

The service is a joint project run by Natural England, the Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Notes to editors

A media call will take place at The Community Centre, Ingleton Via Carnforth, North Yorkshire, LA6 3HG, at 11.00am on Monday 21st July. Representatives from Natural England and the Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company will be on hand to talk about the service. We will have a real life Dales Pony there alongside the actual 16 seat bus that will be used. Once interviews and photos have been taken, those who have the time will be taken for a bus ride along part of the scenic route.

For further information, contact Howard Botting on 01609 767439 or 077860 28824, howard.botting@naturalengland.org.uk or Emma MacDonald on 0113 2303533 or 07900 608073, emma.macdonald@naturalengland.org.uk

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. We increase opportunities to make the natural environment an enriching part of people’s everyday lives, and improve its long term security by contributing to the sustainable management of our natural resources. www.naturalengland.org.uk

National Nature Reserves
National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are some of the very finest sites in England for wildlife and geology, and provide great opportunities for people to experience nature. They have been established to protect and manage the special wildlife habitats, species and geological features that occur there. These features are of national and often international importance, and many NNRs are important for study and research. Almost all NNRs have some form of access provision – many are fully open throughout the year. There are 222 throughout England. For more information about NNRs please visit our web site - www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_search.asp