Running from Lancaster to Keswick, it passes through the glorious heart of the Lake District, stopping on the way at various towns and villages including Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere.
From a seat on the top deck, you’ll be able to gaze down on serene Rydal Water and Thirlmere, and crane your neck to stare up at some of Lakeland’s most majestic mountains including Helvellyn.
There are memorable walks to be enjoyed from just about every bus stop – from relaxing valley strolls to more strenuous high-level hikes.
The frequency of the service also makes it easier to set out on a linear journey by foot, walking from one bus stop to another – a particularly satisfying experience.
Spoilt for choice, guidebook writer Vivienne Crow managed to whittle down her favourite walks from the 555 to a list of just 10.
Advice before you set off
Make sure you’ve got a map and are equipped for whatever the weather might throw at you. If you’re heading to the fells, check out the Adventure Smart website for advice.
For information on bus times, go to the Stagecoach website or download the Stagecoach Bus app from Google Play or Apple’s App Store.
9. Walk 9: Raven Crag
Start/finish: 555 bus stop at Thirlmere Dam road end. Length/difficulty: 4¼ miles, moderate, approximately 3 hours. Map: Ordnance Survey OL5, English Lakes NE and OL4, English Lakes NW. Ask the bus driver to drop you at the Thirlmere Dam road end bus stop. As you cross the dam, built in the late 19th century to create a water supply for Manchester, Raven Crag looks impossibly steep. There’s no need to worry though, the face you’re looking at is visited only by climbers and in spring, nesting ravens; there’s a much easier way up for walkers. If you need something to take your mind off the impending ascent though, the impressive views across the reservoir to the Helvellyn range should prove a welcome distraction. There are more glimpses of Thirlmere as you climb steeply through the forest, but nothing can prepare you for the moment you emerge from the trees and reach the viewing platform on Raven Crag’s summit. The scene, taking in the reservoir’s dark waters and the fells surrounding it, is breathtaking. It’s a superb place to linger before setting out on a gentler return route via winding forest paths and tracks. Photo: VIVIENNE CROW
10. Walk 10: Derwentwater viewpoints
Start/finish: Keswick bus station. Length/difficulty: 5¼ miles, moderate, approximately 2¾ hours. Map: Ordnance Survey OL4, English Lakes NW. Be prepared for indecision if you catch the 555 to its northern terminus at Keswick – the choice of walks is mind-numbing. Head high on to Skiddaw or the Derwent Fells, take a wander out to the mysterious stone circle at Castlerigg, or enjoy a few hours beside beautiful Derwentwater. Friar’s Crag and Castlehead are just two of the many lake viewpoints that can be accessed directly from the town. From the bus station, head down to the landing stages near the Theatre by the Lake and then take the popular shore path out to the benches on Friar’s Crag for a view straight down Derwentwater into the Jaws of Borrowdale. Follow the route of the waymarked lake circuit as far as Calfclose Bay and then climb through the grand old trees of Great Wood and Spring Wood. On the return to Keswick, a rough ascent to Castlehead provides an opportunity for one final view of the lake below. This is a quieter spot than Friar’s Crag so the benches are less likely to be occupied. Photo: VIVIENNE CROW