Mountain Goat

[Thomas]

Can someone tell me if the Mountain Goat still run a bus service to Buttermere from Keswick?
Thanks.

[mikeb]

I don't think Mountain Goat run a scheduled bus between Buttermere and Keswick now.

Stagecoach do run a bus service between Keswick and Buttermere. The 77 runs 4 times a day from Keswick (leaving at 1025, 1210, 1420, 1625) via Whinlatter to Buttermere, then back over Honister. The 77A runs 4 times a day in the opposite direction (leaving Keswick 0840, 1030, 1410, 1550). You can get times using:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ukbus.u-net.co.uk/cgi/jp.exe?c=Cumb&x=0&s=Y&">http://ukbus.u-net.co.uk/cgi/jp.exe?c=Cumb&x=0&s=Y&</a><!-- m -->
Runs from just before Easter until late October.

[Thomas]

Mike

Thanks for that. I can now plan a trip up Red Pike using the bus.

Do you know if it works like the Goat used too - that if the bus was full or there were too many people to be carted back to Keswick then a second bus would be sent out to pick you up? Bur perhaps I expect too much in the 21st century. Tom.

[mikeb]

I've been on when the buses are that full, even in August, so don't know. They are small buses, but bigger than the old mountain goat ones and allow standing. Something like 25 sitting and 8 standing.

I've found the drivers to be very helpful. When I was on one a couple of weeks ago*:
- as the two buses passed going in opposite directions one driver told the other to watch out for two people who needed picking up at Gatesgarth
- a family had missed the last bus going back over Whinlatter and through Braithwaite. The driver of the bus coming back over Honister detoured to Braithwaite to drop them before going to Keswick, all they'd asked was to be dropped at the nearest point on his route in Portinscale.

So I've not worried about getting stranded, just made sure I'm back in time for the last bus.

* I'd just been up Red Pike - a great walk and fantastic views!