BUS users in the Craven area are being warned of a few changes for winter ahead of the clocks going back this weekend.

As usual Lonsdale Buses Saturday service 75 between Skipton, Malham and Settle shortens its route for the winter, starting on Saturday, November 2 to run between Skipton and Malham only.

Buses will run from Skipton Bus Station at 9.45am, 1.45pm and 3.45pm; returning from Malham at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

On Craven Connection service 580 the buses at 11.45am from Skipton to Settle and 12.30pm from Settle to Skipton will run on Saturdays as well as Monday to Friday.

The times of popular Saturday bus service 59 between Skipton, Bolton Bridge and Harrogate will be amended slightly from this Saturday to improve timekeeping. Buses will now run from Skipton at 10.45am, 12.50pm, 3.45pm and 5.45pm; and from Harrogate at 9.35am, 11.50am, 2.45pm and 4.45pm.

Following the successful reintroduction of a winter Sunday bus service between Skipton and Malham last year, buses will again be running on Cravenlink service 864 between Bradford, Ilkley, Skipton and Malham every Sunday throughout the winter. Buses to Malham will leave Bradford at 9.25am, Ilkley at 10.20am and Skipton at 10.50am, 12.30pm and 3.30pm, and return to Skipton from Malham at 11.40am, 2.40pm and 4.40pm, with the last bus continuing to Ilkley and Bradford.

Elsewhere on the Sunday DalesBus network, DalesBus service 822 to Ripon and services 875 and 876 to Hawes have now finished for the winter, but Sunday DalesBus services 72 - Skipton to Grassington; 864 Ilkley to Skipton; 873 Ilkley/ Bolton Abbey/Skipton, and 874 Wetherby/ Leeds/Ilkley /Grassington /Buckden - all continue running with only minor timetable changes. Full details are available online at www.dalesbus.org/sundays and in a new “Winter Sunday DalesBus Times” leaflet available from the usual outlets.

There are no changes to weekday bus services, except that North Yorkshire Council’s Wednesday-only minibus service 582 between Bentham and Hornby, for onward connections to Lancaster, now runs on Wednesdays and Thursdays from this week.

Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company, the volunteer-run not-for-profit company which manages the Sunday DalesBus network is already trying to plan services for next summer, and is seeking donations to help support the network at www.localgiving.org/charity/dalesbus.

The company is also looking for companies or organisations who might be interested in sponsoring a DalesBus service – anyone interested in finding out more is asked to get in touch via email at info@dalesandbowland.com. They would also like to hear any feedback on the DalesBus network and suggestions for improvements in the future.

The clocks go back on Sunday (October 27) by one hour at 2am.