Settle is a wonderful place to live and a slightly awkward place to fly from. The nearest airports are Leeds Bradford, about 1 hr 8 min away, and Manchester, about 1 hr 39 min, and neither has a direct train from the town. Onward Travel Solutions runs fixed-fare airport transfers from Settle and the surrounding Dales villages to both, with the driver collecting from your door, however far up the lane it is.
| Route | Drive | Saloon | Estate | People carrier | 8-seater | 16-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Settle to Leeds Bradford | 1 hr 8 min | £101 | £114 | £134 | £178 | £354 |
| Settle to Manchester Airport | 1 hr 39 min | £140 | £158 | £185 | £246 | £447 |
Those are whole-vehicle prices from our booking system on 5 November 2026, and they include the drop-off charge at either airport. Pay the driver on the day. Cancelling is free up to 24 hours before.
Settle airport transfers: which airport?
Leeds Bradford is the easy option for holiday flights to Spain, Portugal, Greece and the Canaries. The drive is shorter, the terminal is small and you are rarely walking far. Manchester has many more routes, including long-haul to the Gulf, Asia and North America, and it often has more flight times to choose from. If your destination is served by both, compare the total cost: the flight plus the transfer. The difference in transfer price between the two is £39 in a saloon, which a cheaper Manchester fare can easily outweigh.
The roads out of the Dales
For Leeds Bradford the driver takes the A65 south-east through Long Preston, Hellifield and Skipton, then on through Ilkley or up the A658 to the airport on the hill above Yeadon. For Manchester the route crosses to the M65 near Colne or follows the A65 west to the M6. The first stretch of both is country road with villages, sharp bends and livestock, and in winter there can be frost and fog on the higher sections. Our drivers know these roads. For an early winter flight we allow extra time, and Leeds Bradford can be foggy even when the valleys are clear, so check your flight status before you leave.
Where we pick up
Settle and Giggleswick, and the villages up and down Ribblesdale: Langcliffe, Stainforth, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Austwick, Clapham and Ingleton. We also cover Malham and Kirkby Malham, Grassington and upper Wharfedale, Bentham and Kirkby Lonsdale on the western edge. A lot of homes here are on farm tracks or lanes with no signs, and postcodes can point to the wrong gate. Add a landmark or a what3words reference in the notes. Mobile signal is patchy in places, so a landline number or a clear meeting point is useful if you live somewhere remote.
Why the train is hard work
Settle station is on the famous Settle–Carlisle line, but getting to an airport from it takes some planning. For Leeds Bradford you would go into Leeds and take a bus up the hill to the airport. For Manchester you would change at Leeds or Lancaster. That is two or three changes with suitcases, and early trains are infrequent. Four people sharing a saloon to Leeds Bradford pay about £25 each, from the front door to the terminal.
Walkers, Three Peaks teams and visitors
Settle is a base for the Yorkshire Three Peaks, and every summer charity challenge groups fly in to walk Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We bring groups from the airport to Settle or Horton-in-Ribblesdale in the 8-seater or a minibus, with boots and rucksacks in the back. Book early for summer weekends, when challenge events are at their busiest.
For holiday visitors, a transfer can replace a week of car hire. Plenty of people come for a week of walking and the railway and never need a car once they arrive. If you would like a supermarket stop on the way to your cottage, say so when you book and we will add it to the price.
Cottage owners and visiting family
Holiday cottage owners often book transfers for their guests, and families book them for relatives flying in. Put the traveller’s name, mobile and flight number in the booking, and your own email for the confirmation. The driver tracks the flight, meets them in arrivals with a name board, gives them an hour of free waiting after landing, and brings them to the door.
See also: Skipton to Leeds Bradford Airport and Leeds Bradford Airport taxi.
What each option really involves from Settle
| To Leeds Bradford | Changes | Luggage | First departures |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTS Taxi | None | Driver loads it | Any hour |
| Train via Leeds + bus | Two | You carry it | Limited by timetable |
| Drive and park | None | You carry it from the car park | Any hour |
Driving and parking can make sense for a short trip if you are happy to tackle the A65 home after a late landing. For a week or more away, airport parking adds up, and a winter drive back over the tops at midnight is nobody’s idea of the end of a holiday.
A typical early start
For a 7am flight from Leeds Bradford, a pickup from Settle at around 4am is usual. The driver will message when they are a few minutes away, so you are not standing at the end of a dark lane. The A65 is almost empty at that hour and the drive is quick. If there has been snow on the higher sections, we will contact you the evening before to agree an earlier time, and the fare will not change.
About these fares
All prices on this page come from the Onward Travel Solutions booking system and were checked on 5 November 2026. OTS Taxi is run from our office at 124 City Road, London, with drivers covering Yorkshire and the North West. For terminal information and flight times, see the Leeds Bradford Airport website, and for train times on the Settle line, National Rail Enquiries.
Settle transfers: common questions
How early should I leave Settle for Leeds Bradford?
For a European flight, about three hours before departure. That allows for the drive, a margin for weather and two hours at the airport, which can have long security queues on summer mornings.
Can you collect from a farm with no proper address?
Yes. Give us the nearest named road, a landmark or a what3words reference, and a phone number. The driver will call if they cannot find the entrance.
Do you take dogs?
Assistance dogs are always welcome. For pet dogs, mention them when you book and we will confirm a suitable vehicle.
Can a group of 14 travel together?
Yes, in the 16-seat minibus, with room for walking kit and luggage. It costs £354 to Leeds Bradford for the whole vehicle.
What happens if snow closes the roads?
We will contact you before the journey to agree an earlier pickup or a different route, so you still reach the airport in time.