Visitors to the Forestry Commission estate at Grizedale Forest, near Hawkshead, are getting another chance to hop on board ‘The Grizedale Wanderer’ X30 rural shuttlebus this summer.
The service is part of the Forestry Commission’s Grizedale Project Green Travel Plan and has been designed to open up a new route to the south, stopping at Haverthwaite to connect with the X35 Barrow to Kendal bus service. This year, an extended route via Newby Bridge and Lakeside has been introduced to the service.
A key aim of the 16 seat shuttlebus is to reduce traffic on the roads to the Grizedale Visitor Centre from Hawkshead and the A590 as well as creating greater access to the visitor facilities for people without the use of a car.
Blueworks, based at Backbarrow near Ulverston, are still the service providers.
This year’s Grizedale shuttlebus service will operate throughout the summer and early autumn until Sunday the 1st of November 2009. More information about the service will be available from local Tourist Information Centres.
Emma Athersmith from the Forestry Commission at Grizedale, said:
“Following the success of the Grizedale Wanderer last year, we’re really pleased to be able to offer the service to visitors again this summer.
“People in the Furness area now have greater access to Grizedale Forest, its facilities and activities without having to travel by car. The service is also benefiting people who have not been able to visit Grizedale Forest before because of limited public transport.”
‘The Grizedale Wanderer’ has been made as user friendly as possible to connect with the X35, the Cross Lakes Experience services and the National Trust X31 Tarn Hows Service. The service accepts the NoWcard concessionary bus pass for people over 60 and offer the facility to pre-book groups of around six people.
The programme of sustainable changes at Grizedale is designed to improve the quality of the visitor experience and support the local economy, including the new visitor centre and on site café, and the new resource centre.
The project will also help rural businesses achieve long-term year round financial sustainability by encouraging visitors to stay longer, spend more per visit, and extend visits during the spring, autumn and winter seasons.
Blueworks already operates the X12 Service between Ulverston and Coniston, plus a range of local private hire and taxi services.
The Forestry Commission has placed a high priority on safeguarding and enhancing the environment and protecting the special qualities of the area as part of the Grizedale Project, which is due to be completed in summer 2009.
The Grizedale Project has been made possible by grants from Cumbria Vision, the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund North West Action Plan Partnership, the Lake District National Park Authority Sustainable Development Fund and the DEFRA Rural Enterprise Scheme.
More information about the Grizedale Project can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
- IMAGES. Image of the X30 Grizedale Wanderer is available by calling 01524-782086.
- The Forestry Commission is the largest provider of countryside recreation in Britain, with responsibility for more than one million hectares (2.4 million acres) of forest, woodlands and open countryside. The North West England Forest District covers the Lake District in Cumbria, the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The forests are managed for conservation, wildlife, landscape and recreation as well as providing a valuable source of timber.
- MEDIA CONTACTS: Tania Crockett on 01229 862023 or Sue Gardiner on 01229 862002.