Derwent Dams Shuttle Bus For Peak

The shuttle bus in action. Nice snout...

The Peak District National Park Authority has joined forces with a local not-for-profit community transport charity to run a bus service to the Derwent Dams in the popular Ladybower area of the Peak.

The 222 Derwent Dams Shuttle is a 'hail and ride' service which links the Fairholmes car park and visitor centre with King's Tree at the head of the Derwent Valley and is being provided by Bakewell and Eyam Community Transport, a not-for-profit charity thanks to a subsidy from the Park Authority. The bus runs every 40 minutes on weekends and Bank Holidays until the end of September 2012 and from then on Sundays only until the end of March 2013.

It's a cracking idea - which is apparently costing the PDNPA £11,972 to subsidise - because it means that you can reach Ladybower itself using various buses and avoid the ridiculous bedlam of double-parked day-trippers, and then be whisked effortlessly off down the valley rather than trudging along scenic but flatly dull roads making walks possible that would otherwise be irksomely irksome.

Edwina Edwards, chief executive of Bakewell and Eyam Community Transport, said: “This is the first time we have run a scheduled service and it seems to be going well so far. 

“We are pleased to enter into this partnership with the Peak District National Park Authority. 

“It enables us to employ local drivers and provides an alternative way of getting to one of the most visited areas of the national park without the problems of congestion.” 

Return tickets for the bus cost £3 for adults and £1.50 for children. One way journeys cost £2 for adults and £1 for children. 

A timetable and details of other public transport services can be found at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/peakconnections.