"I spent £6 on a day trip from Skipton to Malham on Britain’s most scenic bus route – it will be even cheaper in 2027"

Since Andy Burnham announced a £2 bus fare cap in July, I’d been fascinated by scenic bus routes in Yorkshire. So, last weekend, I ditched my Ford Fiesta and caught the 75 from Skipton to Malham.

The 840 Leeds to Whitby has been touted as “Britain’s most scenic bus route,” and I had wondered what else was on offer.

The Skipton to Malham connection was intriguing: starting in a traditional market town and finishing in a village surrounded by stunning Yorkshire hikes.

Fares are currently capped at £3 per single ticket, meaning a roundtrip costs £6. In 2027, this fare will decrease to £2 per single ticket and a £4 roundtrip.

Not bad for a journey to one of the most famous villages in the Yorkshire Dales.

It was an overcast morning, but Skipton Bus Station was surprisingly scenic. I waited in a spacious shelter, overlooking the spire of Christ Church and railings covered with flower baskets.

Around 20 passengers were waiting to board: a mix of older couples with hiking boots and backpacks, and a few solo riders in their late 30s. I wondered whether we’d all fit, but the 75 arrived promptly, and within a minute or two, we were all onboard.

Departing at 9:50am, the bus passed through Gargrave, Eshton, and Kirkby Malham, trundling down Kirkby Brow towards Malham for 10:30am.

Transfixed by the tumbling grey skies and bright-green fields, the 40-minute trip flew by – we only stopped briefly to let two tourists clamber onboard.

For a day trip, Malham is surrounded by natural landmarks, including its famous cove, which was used for filming Harry Potter.

I started with Janet’s Foss waterfall, passing open fields and moss-covered woodland before emerging at the pastel-blue plunge pool.

Continuing onto Gordale Lane, I stopped for a quick breakfast at Gordale Refreshments van. For £5.50, I nabbed a tasty veggie breakfast burger (two hash browns, a fried egg, and dripping cheese in a white bun).

Refuelled, I began a steady climb along the stony tracks of Hawthorns Lane. Next was the highlight: Malham Cove.

This 80m limestone cliff is topped with a cracked “limestone pavement,” where glacial water carved grooves into the rock. Walking across is like navigating stepping stones; I concentrated on stepping over the gaps and jumping between slippery rocks.

The drop was dizzying, but near the edge, I sat to admire the view over Malham. It was hard to believe that a £6 bus journey could have transported me to such a beautiful landscape.

Descending the steep steps back towards Malham, I kept pausing to take photos. The cliffs were breathtaking, and at the bottom, a small crowd was gathering to watch a handful of climbers scrambling up the rockface.

With a bus back to Skipton at 4:30pm, I had an hour to spend in the village itself.

Walking back from Malham Cove, I sat outside The Buck Inn and ordered a Thwaites IPA – just as a Thwaites horse and carriage passed by. It was impossible to overlook how traditional the village felt; Malham lives in its own little world.

Most impressive, though, was the value for money. Even after treating myself to a breakfast burger and pint of Thwaites, I’d only spent £15, including transport. With the cost of bus fares falling even further, Skipton to Malham is a route to watch.