The National Trust has again secured funding to run a shuttle bus service between Settle and Malham, which will be up and running in time for Easter.

From Saturday, the 890 service will start at Ilkley bus station at 9.15am, stopping at various points on the way to arrive in Settle 10.27am.

Once in Settle, the bus will run “shuttle” services throughout the day from the Market Square to Malham National Park Centre car park, leaving at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until November 1.

There will be no service on Saturdays October 3, 10 and 17.

The last service each day will leave Malham National Park Centre car park at 4pm, arriving at Settle Market Square at 4.30pm and then finishing at Ilkley bus station at 5.40pm.

The aim is to improve access to Malhamdale while cutting down on the number of people using cars to explore the area.

The service will stop on demand along the route, which runs from Settle via Langcliffe to Malham Tarn and then along Malham Raikes Road to the Yorkshire Dales National Park car park in Malham.

Now in its sixth year, the service is again being supported by Skipton Building Society.

Martin Davies, property manager for the National Trust’s Yorkshire Dales Estate said: “We are delighted that Skipton Building Society is again able to support the Malham shuttle bus service. Its support enables the National Trust to help promote more sustainable ways of travelling through the Yorkshire Dales, while cutting down on the number of vehicles on the roads.”

Return tickets cost £2.50 for adults and £1.20 for children, while the holders of an English national concessionary travel scheme bus pass travel free.

For further information on the service or to request a timetable, contact The National Trust estate office at Malham Tarn on 01729 830416.

The Easter weekend also sees the start of the summer timetable on the Dalesbus network of buses.

The network has been revamped, providing an improved service on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays to Malham, Bolton Abbey, Upper Wharfedale and Hawes.

Buses to Malham depart from Skipton bus and railway stations at 9.50am, 10.45am, 12.25pm and 3.25pm while hourly buses run to Grassington from 10.24am to 4.24pm, with the first bus having onward connections to Kettlewell, Buckden, Aysgarth and Hawes.

The last bus back departs from Buckden at 5.45pm and Grassington at 6.25pm to give a longer day in the Dales as requested by many walkers.

The popular Cravenlink service is revised, with direct departures for Ilkley. The first bus leaves Skipton bus station at 8.30am, with the 10.25am, 12.25pm and 3.25pm buses travelling via The Strid and Bolton Abbey.

The last bus back from Bolton Abbey is at 4.30pm with a direct bus from Ilkley at 6.15pm.

The improved service has been welcomed by the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group.

Chairman Howard Handley said: “We hope that many more people from Skipton and district will make use of this superb facility and enjoy a day out in the Dales on the bus.”

This year the service is funded by Metro, North Yorkshire County Council and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

From May 17, new Sunday bus links will be provided at Ribblehead station to Hawes, Swaledale, Leyburn and Ingleton connecting with the 9.46am train from Skipton. These will give even more walking and touring options for residents and visitors.

Full details of these services are included in Metro’s summer DalesBus timetable booklet, available at Skipton station, tourist information centre and library, and online at dalesbus.org