A SPECIAL bus service in the Trough of Bowland has received a pat on the back from marketing chiefs.

The Bowland Pathfinder hail-and-ride service, aimed especially at walkers and other visitors, has been praised by Simon Holt Marketing of Cheadle.

The top firm, which specialises in "green tourism", has been commissioned by Lancashire County Council to look at "sustainable tourism opportunities" in the Ribble and Hodder Valleys.

Les Lumsden of Simon Holt said companies throughout the country should look at the Bowland Pathfinder as an example to be followed.

"If car drivers are to be encouraged to make more use of public transport then this is the standard that must be reached; a reliable and friendly bus service that offers more than just a ride from A to B," he said. The Bowland Pathfinder gives people access to the Hodder Valley and southern Bowland fells. It runs on Sundays and bank holidays, providing an hourly shuttle from 10am until 5pm between Slaidburn to Beacon Fell via the Forest of Bowland.

Bowland Pathfinder bus drivers are famed for their in-depth knowledge of the area, from where to find the best ice cream to where to find the best walks.

County Coun Bob Clark, of Lancashire County Council's public transport sub-committee, described the service as the "perfect way to visit cafes, restaurants and pubs".

"The hail-and-ride bus will stop at any spot to pick up or drop off passengers.

"I hope it will continue to encourage more people to make greater use of public transport when visiting our beautiful countryside and help reduce the volume of traffic through villages," he said.

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