More visitors can now experience the villages and landscapes of the Yorkshire Wolds thanks to a newly launched bus service – with fares at just £2.
Until September, the new Wolds Explorer bus is running a weekend and Bank Holiday service giving walkers, ramblers and sightseers a more accessible way of reaching some of East Yorkshire’s most picturesque countryside.
With three services a day on Saturdays and two services a day on Sundays and Bank Holidays in each direction, the new Explorer also delivers visitors right into the heart of David Hockney Country.
Service 200 runs between Pocklington and Thixendale, serving the villages of Millington, Huggate and Fridaythorpe along its route – countryside made famous by one of Britain’s most iconic artists.
Hockney lived in the area for many years and the Yorkshire Wolds provided the inspiration for a series of his paintings that span 50 years, including famous large-scale landscapes featuring woodland scenes through the seasons.
As well as the opportunity for art lovers to follow in his footsteps, the rolling hills, wooded valleys and wide-open views of the Wolds have also long been popular with walkers.
Now the new service, operated by East Yorkshire buses, makes it even easier for those without their own transport, or who want to leave the car at home, to walk through the Wolds Way National Trail, and enjoy a meal and a drink at pubs and cafes in the villages served.
And thanks to the current bus fare cap, a ticket for those using the Wolds Explorer costs £2 for the whole route, or a £1 local fare.
It has been developed and funded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council using Government funding from the Department for Transport for Bus Service Improvement.
The service also links up with the existing bus network providing connections with the X46/X47 from York and Hull, meaning passengers can enjoy a full day out in the Yorkshire Wolds from anywhere along those frequent bus services.
As an added value bonus, any ticket purchased for the X46 or X47, including single tickets, is valid on the Wolds Explorer 200, meaning passengers can travel from city to countryside without buying multiple fares.
For details of the Wolds Explorer, visit www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk/services/EY/200
For general tourist information on East Yorkshire as a destination, see www.visiteastyorkshire.co.uk
Photo: Simon Dewhurst