Planning a trip to Scotland, but hoping to visit Scotland without a car?
As we were planning our 2-week itinerary across Scotland, Wales and Ireland, nearly every post was about driving here and driving there. We get it. Driving can make things easier. But can you visit Scotland without a car. Yes, you can. You definitely can.
We have visited Scotland primarily using public transit only. Our Scotland without a car itinerary gives you all the details of how to get around Scotland without a car to save you the stress and countless hours planning that we went through.
So read on if you need details on how to travel around Scotland without a car.
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Not only is public transit our thing, we have take this exact trip.
So we did what we always do as a family that always travels on a budget…we charted our own course.
Here is our one-week itinerary for Scotland without a car. Our itinerary hits all the major highlights: Edinburgh, the Highlands (including the Isle of Skye), and Glasgow.
After reading our post, you’ll understand why Scotland is one of the best international trips for families because you don’t need a car to navigate its beauty.
Scotland’s Public Transit
Scotland’s seven cities and towns are heavily connected by rail, bus and ferry. From point to point, traveling by public transit, as opposed to driving, allows all people in the party to relax and let someone else do the heavy lifting. So let’s talk about the major players in public transit in Scotland.
Train
While some companies run tourist steam trains and tours, rail in Scotland is mostly run by Scotrail. And if you are going to follow our itinerary of Scotland without a car, you will be spending time with Scotrail.
We booked our train tickets in advance. We placed the order online and received a confirmation number. Then, when we got to our first train in Edinburgh, we simply put in our reservation number at one of the ticket vending stations in Waverley Station, and the kiosk printed all of our train tickets.
We booked each train trip as an individual journey. However, Scotrail has several packages that can help lower the cost of each individual ticket. Think Eurorail, except it is exclusive to Scotland.
The Spirit of Scotland pass allows you to travel 4 out of 8 consecutive days for £149. Or 8 days over 15 consecutive days for £189. In retrospect, we should have looked at this more seriously. But now after reading this post, you can.
Amenities
Okay, it is a little silly to admit it. But I think one of the reasons we prefer trains to buses is that they have bathrooms. Now that our son is a teen, we are rarely in a desperate way so maybe this is just a holdover from traveling with a toddler. But still. It is a thing.
Most of the Scotrail trains also have electric plug-ins and Wifi. Although to be honest, a few of our trains said they had Wifi but didn’t or it wasn’t working. Most trains also have a cafe service.
And I gotta say there is nothing like enjoying the beautiful Scottish scenery flying by while enjoying a hot cup of tea delivered to my seat by the snack cart. Perfection.
Bus
If you decide to go by bus, there are actually over 200 bus companies in Scotland. However, the major bus providers are Scotland Citilink, Stagecoach, Megalink and National Express.
We tend to privilege trains but that doesn’t mean buses aren’t just as good, if not better. When we were there
Scotrail was running a condensed schedule due to staffing issues and one of our trains ended up canceling. So we quickly hopped on a bus. It was actually better and required an hour less travel time.
While there are many bus companies, we recommend Citylink. Citylink connects over 200 towns in Scotland and offers bus routes to all the major cities: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, etc They also offer service to Fort William, which is what makes them our #1 choice.
Amenities
All Citylink buses have Wifi and in-seat charging. While they do not have restrooms on board, buses stop during long journeys to allow for a quick break.
Our Recommended Itinerary
Start in Edinburgh (Two Days)
Why Edinburgh
Why not? Edinburgh is one of our favorite cities. Between its medieval old town and Victorian city center, there is so much to love about this city. We love it so much, we wrote about it separately.
So if you only have a day or two to spend here, check our guide on what to do with 24 hours in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh to Fort William (3 Days)
Our first move was from Edinburgh to Fort William. We chose to travel by train, which took just over 5 hours. Scotsrail runs four trains a day from Edinburgh to Fort Williams
You can also travel by bus, and it takes roughly the same amount of time. The train leaves from Waverly Station, which is centrally located and easy to find.
Why Fort William
We typically plan our trips so we are only moving every 3-5 days. So when we plan trips like this we are always looking for our “base.” In the end, Fort William was the perfect base for the Scottish Highland’s leg of our tour.
We knew we wanted to do two things in the Scottish Highlands: the Isle of Skye and the Jacobite Steam Train (the Harry Potter train). Both of these day trips–as well as easy day trips to Inverness by public transit–are possible out of Fort William.
We set up our trip so we did the Isle of Skye tour on day 1 and the steam train on day 2, but it is your preference.
While it is not as quaint as other Highland towns, Fort William was the most workable in terms of being in the Highlands without a car.
The Jacobite Steam Train goes directly out of the station twice daily. Fort William is also big enough that we were also able to get a private day tour to the Isle of Skye.
For an equally enchanting journey over the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct without the Jacobite train’s premium cost, opt for the ScotRail West Highland Line. This more budget-friendly alternative allows you to traverse the breathtaking Scottish scenery while crossing the renowned viaduct.
If you don’t need the full Harry Potter experience, the regular ScotRail service provides a cost-effective means to experience the awe-inspiring landscapes and architectural marvels. The ScotsRail trail even crosses the memorable Glenfinnan Viaduct without the need for a higher-priced ticket on the Jacobite train.
The train station is centrally located. There is no bus station. But right across the street from the train station is a grocery store where CityLink and other bus lines pick up and drop off. The area is covered and you really can’t miss the pick up spot.
In its own right, Fort William has a lot to offer. The town is the outdoor capital of the UK. While we didn’t have time (or if we are honest, the inkling) most people come to Fort William to hike Ben Nevis, one of the tallest peaks in the UK.
The town also has a very sweet downtown area. Sure, it is not as photographic as Portree on the Isle of Skye, but it was definitely charming.
Fort William to Inverness (Day 3 of Fort William)
It is absolutely possible to do an easy day trip from Fort William to Inverness. But only on the bus. There is no direct train from Fort William to Inverness so a train journey will only take about 10 hours. No, seriously.
But by bus, the drive is just under 2 hours one way. Citylink has over 10 trips both to and from Fort William to Inverness a day. So if you want to daytrip to run up and see Nessie, Citylink has got you covered.
Caledonian Sleeper
While it didn’t work for our trip, if you are interested in experiencing a night train the Caledonian Sleeper service also goes in and out of Fort William. The Sleeper has destinations to three cities: London, Crewe, or Preston. England was not a part of this trip for us.
We were especially trying to avoid London since we had been several times, and it tends to be so busy in the summer. But if London and Scotland are both on the agenda, this could be a unique option.
Fort William To Glasgow (2 days)
At only 3 hours by bus and 4.5 hours by train, getting to Glasgow from the Highlands is easy. There are several train trips a day and bus runs every couple of hours.
Why Glasgow
In the last 20 years, Glasgow has definitely come up in the world of tourism. But the real reason to come to Glasgow is because it isn’t touristy. If you are going to a pub or a chippy shop in Glasgow, you can definitely know that this is a local haunt, or else it wouldn’t exist.
Museums in Scotland are free and if you are in Glasgow, you should definitely check out the Kelvingrove Art Museum. Glasgow is also just a cool city to admire the architecture.
Unlike Edinburgh that still has its medieval center, Glasgow built big during the Victorian period. And the unmistakable red brick of the era is everywhere you look.
After Scotland
From Glasgow, we took a train to Bangor to spend time in Snowdonia, Wales. Our time in Wales requires a post all its own. So come on back and I’ll keep writing.
While we didn’t make it to Aberdeen or the North Sea, this week in Scotland was one we won’t soon forget. And it was made all the better by letting someone else do the driving.
Conclusion: Scotland Without A Car
Exploring Scotland without a car unveils a range of possibilities and a travel experience. Embracing sustainable and efficient modes of transportation, from trains to buses, not only reduces your carbon footprint but also enhances your journey with vistas and cultural interactions.
Scotland’s well-connected public transport system, exemplified by the extensive ScotRail network and reliable bus services, facilitates navigation through landscapes and historic sites.
If you are continuing through the United Kingdom from Scotland to Wales, continue with our adventure and let us show you how we traveled through Snowdonia in Wales using only the Sherpa Bus.
