From the Highlands to the islands, here’s how to get around Scotland

15.10.2024 - 21:03 / lonelyplanet.com

Oct 15, 2024 • 9 min read

The distances within Scotland may seem small – but the country’s landscapes are epic.

A journey that seems just a few miles as the crow flies can take hours once you factor in all the glens, lochs and mountains in the way. Remember, too, that large parts of Scotland lie off the mainland, scattered among the choppy waters of the North Sea and the Atlantic.

With this in mind, the most important consideration when planning a trip around Scotland is time. On a fleeting visit, try not to be too ambitious about how much ground you can cover, and plan train journeys and ferry trips in advance so you’re not caught off guard by limited schedules in outlying areas.

Cost-wise, getting around in Scotland can be expensive compared to the rest of Europe. Despite an impressive network of train, bus and ferry routes, the easiest option is usually to travel with your own car, particularly if you want to get off the tartan-and-shortbread tourist trail. Yet outlays can mount quickly if you plan to park in larger cities or take your car on the ferry.

Traveline Scotland is a good source of information and up-to-date timetables on all forms of transit, including ferries and short flights to the Scottish islands. And our breakdown of the different ways to get around the country will help you get your dream trip to Scotland planned in no time.

Scotland's extensive train network covers all major cities and towns. But do keep in mind that the railway map has large blank areas in the Highlands and the Southern Uplands where you'll need to switch to road transport – in many cases, a local bus.

The West Highland line, from Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig, and the Inverness–to–Kyle of Lochalsh line are two of the world’s most scenic rail journeys. ScotRail’s website is a good source of information on routes, fares and timetables.

Scotland is served by an extensive bus network that covers most of the country. In remote rural areas, however, services are geared to the needs of locals, for example shuttling students to school or the shoppers to the nearest large town. This means they may not be conveniently timed to the needs of visitors.

Often, buses run into towns and cities in the morning and back to outlying villages in the afternoon – which is inconvenient for those planning day trips. Local bus services are particularly sparse on the islands: the last postbus – a rustic rural transport operation that saw passengers joining vans with the mail service – ceased operation in 2017.

Several bus companies operate services around Scotland, with long-haul routes to destinations in England provided by National Express and Megabus. Within Scotland, Scottish Citylink runs a network of comfortable, reliable buses between