A BUS journey that takes you through the heart of the Lake District has been named in the top ten most stunning bus routes to experience in the UK. 

Stagecoach's 555 bus route passes through Kendal at the midpoint of its journey which begins at Keswick and ends in Lancaster. 

In doing so, it passes over 885 square miles of lakes, valleys, woodlands and fells. 

From Keswick, the 555 route climbs away from the views of Derwentwater towards the wooded slopes of Thirlmere over Dunmail Raise.

Heading towards Grasmere and Rydal, breath-taking bus stop views can be taken in at Langdale valley.

The bus then travels along the dramatic waters of Windermere before rolling hill views take to you to Kendal and through South Lakes to Lancaster. 

Pheobe Taplin wrote in the Guardian this month: "This 90-minute journey through the Lake District is one of the UK’s most spectacular bus routes, running alongside four famous lakes with views of the surrounding fells.

"The number of waterbirds on Windermere doubles around this time of year as wintering ducks and grebes fly in from Scandinavia. Some of the trees around misty Rydal Water turn fiery orange as winter approaches and the slopes of Helvellyn are cloaked in autumn copper or dusted with snow.

The Westmorland Gazette: Map of the 555 route that passes through Kendal"The cafe at Wordsworth Grasmere offers tea and fruit scones with locally made jam. Visitors who arrive by bus at the poet’s former home, Dove Cottage, with its half-wild garden-orchard and the new museum next door, get 20% off. YHA Ambleside and YHA Keswick (private rooms from £50) are both open during the winter and very close to bus stops along the route."

Services run every 60 minutes for most of the day. 

USB charging points are also on board with audio commentary which turns the journey into a Lake District sightseeing bus.