Great ideas for places to see and things to do in and around Dent.

Photo (above): Walkers arriving at Dent Station for the first bus on a Saturday morning

Produced jointly with Transport for Leisure Limited, this full colour leaflet contains a map and details of how to get to Dentdale by public transport. It also includes details about local attactions and places to eat and drink.

Its so easy to get to Dentdale - by rail along the spectacular Leeds - Settle - Carlisle line. From your first breathtaking glimpse of the green dale spread out majestically below you as the train rushes out of the tunnel, you will enjoy views you will never forget. At 1,150 feet (350 metres) above sea level, Dent Station is the highest mainline station in England, a wonderful place to start a walk or cycle ride.

The Saturday and Sunday services are supported by Dent Parish Council and Cumbria County Council and funded by the government's Local Sustainable Transport Fund through the Dales Integrated Transport Alliance.

Back to top

Herefordshire Council backs new scheme to promote buses and businesses

A new leaflet has been produced with the support of Rail for Herefordshire (Save our Buses) called The Hoarwithy Bus which promotes the use of route 37 as a scenic ride to Ross-on-Wye via Little Dewchurch, Hoarwithy and Pict’s Cross.

Photo (above): Thumbs up from walkers who arrived at the Harp Inn at Hoarwithy on the bus with, left to right in front of the bus: Cllr Adrian Blackshaw, cabinet member for highways and transportation, landlord Adrian Shaw and local councillor Russell B. Hamilton. (Herefordshire Council - March 2012)

Aimed at encouraging more visitors to the area, the leaflet also includes routes for two walks, one from Little Dewchurch to Peterstow, and the second, shorter walk, from Harewood End to Pengethley as well as details of local businesses where walkers can get refreshments en route.

Councillor Russell B. Hamilton, ward member for Pontrilas, said:

“Rural communities are being hit hardest by the current economic climate and the idea behind this leaflet is to encourage more people to come and enjoy the beauty of this part of the county.

While we have been successful in securing this route until now we really need more people to use it to ensure its long term viability. This is especially important given that this route is one that will be subject to review as part of the Council's normal contractual arrangements later in the year.

I hope walkers and tourists who are looking for a great day out will be attracted to the area. This, coupled with its use by more members of local communities served by the bus, will help to demonstrate just how important itis.

Visitors who come on this scenic route by bus from Hereford or Ross-on-Wye will not only enjoy the beautiful countryside but can make a day of it and support local businesses such as pubs and restaurants. We also have some fantastic and unique churches that are well worth visiting.

I’m urging county residents to play their part to help keep their rural bus services alive because we all know that, given the severe financial pressures on council budgets, we cannot keep services running unless they are used. We need to ensure these services are sustainable into the future as they provide a vital lifeline for many of our rural communities.

I’m hoping similar leaflets can be produced in other rural areas to provide a further boost for tourism and businesses in the county.”

Last year Cllr Hamilton was behind a leaflet promoting the 412: 'The Garway Bus' - click here to see entry below.

To promote the new Hoarwithy Bus, Councillor Hamilton, Les Lumsdon and a group of Rail for Herefordshire (Save our Buses) and Ramblers Association members walked both of the routes, with a late morning refreshment stop at the New Harp Inn at Hoarwithy.

Landlord of the Harp Inn, Adrian Shaw, said:

“I’m keen to back this initiative as it supports rural businesses which are currently under pressure in the current economic climate. Not only does it support rural businesses, but it also supports tourism and health.”

For further information about buses in Herefordshire log onto www.herefordbus.info

Simon Holt Marketing Services is delihghted to report that they have just been asked to research, design and produce another new leaflet for the series.

For details of other publications produced by Simon Holt Marketing Services for Herefordhire Council - click here.

Back to top

A scenic bus ride, 6 beautiful walks and great places to visit.
770 Leeds - Wetherby - Harrogate

As with some other projects for Transdev this new publication was produced jointly with Transport for Leisure Limited. It is a full colour 24pp third A4 booklet.

770 Country is the term used to describe the beautiful corridor of countryside between Leeds, Wetherby and Harrogate through which our Transdev in Harrogate 770 bus service winds its way every half hour on Mondays to Saturdays and hourly on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The 770 isn't primarily a tourist bus. It is a lifeline linking not just the three main towns, but a number of villages and communities to provide reliable and regular access to work, school, college, shopping, visiting friends and relatives. 770 is a thoroughly useful local bus service for all these reasons.

But the 770 is also a very attractive bus journey, making its way through the surprisingly lovely countryside within the boundaries of both Leeds and Harrogate, past elegant villages, 18th century parkland, stately mansions, and fascinating churches, a medieval fortified manor house and one of Yorkshire's forgotten spas.
Not for nothing has the rolling countryside of arable fields and scattered woods of north east of Leeds been dubbed Yorkshire's 'Little Cotswolds'. The soft magnesian limestone, quarried near Cawood to build York Minster, is a stone which gives a lightness and elegance to farmhouse and cottage that recall the Cotswolds. But equally fine further north are Wetherby, Lower Wharfedale and the Crimple Valley, less dramatic countryside than the higher dales perhaps, but still with a character of its own.

Photo (above) The old ford at Thorner on service 770 (photo Dorian Speakman).

The only way to really get to know this countryside is to walk through it, and the 770 allows you to enjoy a choice of memorable linear cross country walks and sightseeing trips, without the tedium to return to the parked car you started from, and knowing that there is another friendly 770 bus soon due at the end of a walk. Five easy country walks suggested in this booklet are planned to introduce a new audience to walking in 770 Country. They are also designed to enable keener ramblers to combine two of the walks to make a longer day's hike. But if you prefer an easier day, there's little to beat the 3 mile of level Harland Way stroll between Wetherby and Spofforth or the even shorter amble round Wetherby town.

Simon Holt Marketing Services is delighted to report that they have recently been asked to research, design and produce another new leaflet for Transdev.

For details of other publications produced by Simon Holt Marketing Services for Veolia Transdev - click here.

Back to top

A Scenic bus ride to Ross-on-Wye via Little Dewchurch, Hoarwithy and Pict's Cross, plus two superb bus walks.

The Garway Bus is the name given to a leaflet published recently by Herefordshire Council. That’s what the 412 bus from Hereford to Broad Oak has been called for decades. It‘s a bus that has been at the margin for sometime but has always been reprieved as it serves several very isolated communities in this hauntingly beautiful part of Herefordshire.

In the summer of 2011 it was on track for complete withdrawal but local councillor, Russell B Hamilton, stepped in to save it. Councillor Hamilton is not a man to do things in half measures and he initiated a leaflet to give the route a boost. This is not only targeted for local people to enjoy what they might take for granted but also to entice visitors on board. The leaflet features the 412 route as a scenic ride and includes two great walks. It is an ideal slow travel experience for the bus starts at Hereford Railway Station, and once in the hills, there are views upon views across to Wales. 

Simon Holt Marketing Services recently designed and produced this leaflet for the Public Transport Team at Herefordshire Council. Local Councillor Russell B Hamilton (Pontrilas Ward) initiated the project. Research and copy was by Les Lumsdon and Mike Ledlie (Rail for Herefordshire) and photography was by Chloe Lumsdon.

The Garway bus 412 has been described as one of the best scenic bus rides in the Marches. The entire circular trip takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. The leaflet also includes two walks featuring the sections of the Herefordshire Trail.

For details of other publications produced by Simon Holt Marketing Services for Herefordshire Council - click here.

For further information about buses in Herefordshire log onto www.herefordbus.info

Back to top