Posted on Thursday 6th February 2025
The Moorlands Connect buses.
An on demand responsive bus service connecting communities in the Staffordshire Moorlands and those in neighbouring Derbyshire has been expanded.
Run by Staffordshire County Council, the Moorlands Connect service connects Leek, Buxton and Ashbourne six days a week all year round and seven in the summer months.
Now it has been expanded to cover Cheadle, Denstone, Newhaven and Rudyard.
Anyone wanting to use the service can download the Moorlands Connect app, book a journey and track where the bus is. Operated by the Ashbourne Little Bus Company, services are available from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm on Saturdays. People can also use the service on Sundays from April to September, 9am to 5pm.
As well as serving local communities, the service helps to boost tourism in the district by providing access to attractions such as Alton Towers, the Peak District National Park, Peak Wildlife Park, Tittesworth Reservoir and more.
Journeys under 13 miles cost £3 per adult, £2 concession and any additional people can be added for only £1, so it’s ideal for group bookings. People can pay drivers with card or cash.
Anyone wanting to find out more should visit the Moorlands Connect website. The service can be contacted on 01335 342951.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for strategic highways Mark Deaville said:
Moorlands Connect is an invaluable service to communities across the district and neighbouring Derbyshire – connecting people to towns, villages and place of interest when people need it.
It means people can access shops, health and leisure activities and other services at a time that’s convenient. It’s also an asset to our visitor economy, connecting the many places of interest that draw people to our area from across the UK and internationally.
Now the service has been expanded to reach more communities including Cheadle and Denstone which is great news. All three vehicles in operation carry defibrillators thanks to a generous donation by Leek Building Society to which we’d like to express our thanks.
I’d urge people to find out more and make use of this excellent flexible service.”
Those using the service can connect to scheduled buses to go to Hanley, Macclesfield and Derby, which are paid for separately.