9 Scenic Bus Journeys in Scotland

Travelling by bus is one of the best ways to see the country, visit places you didn’t expect to and keep your travel costs down.

Our nine top picks for scenic routes travel through some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the country, and we’ve picked out some of the key attractions to stop at and things to see along each of them.

Glasgow to Campbeltown

Luss, Loch Lomond

Bus number: 926 Scottish Citylink

Journey length: 4 hours 20 minutes

Highlights and attractions:

1. Loch Lomond
2. Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint
3. Inveraray
4. Kennacraig (ferry terminal for Islay and Jura)
5. Campbeltown whisky distilleries

A beautiful route from Glasgow, through Scotland’s west coast and down through the Kintyre peninsula to Campbeltown, one of Scotland’s five whisky regions.

Glasgow to Uig (Isle of Skye) – via Glen Coe and Fort William

The Quiraing, Isle of Skye

Bus number: 915/916 Scottish Citylink from Buchanan Street Bus Station in Glasgow.

Journey length: 6 hours 15 minutes to 7 hours 15 minutes

Highlights and attractions:

1. Loch Lomond
2. Glen Coe
3. Ben Nevis
4. Eilean Donan Castle
5. Portree

This epic route through the west coast and into the Highlands passes some of the most iconic sights in Scotland, including Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Ben Nevis and the rugged landscapes of the Isle of Skye.

Mull

Tobermory, Mull

Bus number: West Coast Motors operate three bus routes on Mull: Tobermory – Calgary (494), Craignure – Tobermory (95/495) and Craignure to Fionnphort (96/496)

Journey length:

• Craignure – Tobermory (95/495): 1 hour 5 minutes
• Tobermory – Calgary (494): 45 minutes
• Craignure to Fionnphort (96/496): 1 hour 15 minutes

Highlights:

1. The colourful buildings in Tobermory
2. Calgary Bay
3. Ben More, Mull’s only Munro
4. Duart Castle
5. Fionnphort (ferry terminal for Iona and Staffa)

Head to the enchanting Isle of Mull for beautiful scenery and the chance to see a wide variety of wildlife, including seals basking on the rocks and rare eagles swooping overhead. Purchase a Discovery Day Pass for unlimited bus trips with West Coast Motors each day.

Arran

Glen Rosa, Isle Of Arran

Bus number: Stagecoach bus services 322, 323 and 324.

Highlights and attractions:

1. Brodick Castle, Gardens and Country Park
2. Goatfell mountain, the largest on Arran
3. Glenashdale Falls
4. Machrie Moor Stone Circles
5. Lochranza Distillery

With mountains, forests and a beautiful coastline, Arran offers a variety of landscapes and attractions to explore. Handily, there are bus routes that travel the length and breadth of the island and you can get a Day Rider or Megarider ticket for a day or week-long travel, making it straightforward to explore by public transport.

Oban to Inverness (changing at Fort William)

Urquhart Castle beside Loch Ness

Bus number: West Coast Motors service 918 from Oban to Fort William then  Scottish Citylink 919 from Fort William to Inverness.

Journey length: 4 hours

Highlights and attractions:

1. The Connel Bridge and the Falls of Lora
2. Ballachulish Bridge
3. Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland
4. Travel through the Great Glen
5. Views of Loch Creran, Loch Linnhe, Loch Leven, Loch Lochy, Loch Onich, and Loch Ness

This stunning route through the Highlands begins in the pretty seaside town of Oban and travels up to Fort William. Change buses at Fort William to complete your journey to Inverness, travelling via the Great Glen and passing Loch Ness.

Leven to St Andrews, via the East Neuk of Fife

St Andrews, Fife

Bus number: 95 Stagecoach East Scotland

Journey length: 1 hour 40 minutes

Highlights and attractions:

1. Coastal views of the Firth of Forth
2. Historic seaside towns
3. Tasty fish and chips
4. Scottish Fisheries Museum
5. Kingsbarns Distillery
6. Historic St Andrews

Travel around the beautiful East Neuk of Fife, between Leven, St Monans, Anstruther, Crail and St Andrews, to soak up the beautiful coastal views and visit the pretty fishing villages you’ll pass through.

Edinburgh to North Berwick

Gullane Golf Club, East Lothian

Bus number: East Coast Buses service 124

Journey length: 1 hour 30 minutes

Highlights and attractions:

1. Edinburgh city centre attractions
2. Musselburgh Racecourse
3. Beautiful sea views and beaches
4. Dirleton Castle
5. Scottish Seabird Centre

Journey from the heart of Edinburgh out along the beautiful coastline of East Lothian to the pretty town of North Berwick. The route is ideal for visiting East Lothian attractions and for golfers who want to play some of the famous East Lothian golf clubs, including North Berwick Golf Club, Gullane Golf Club and Archerfield Links.

Edinburgh to Melrose

Melrose Abbey, Scottish Borders

Bus number: Borders Buses X62 service

Journey length: 2 hours 25 minutes

Highlights and attractions:

1. Rosslyn Chapel
2. Charming Scottish Borders landscapes
3. Go Ape! Peebles
4. Traquair House
5. Abbotsford House
6. Melrose Abbey

Departing from Edinburgh, this route through Midlothian and into the Scottish Borders passes a number of fantastic attractions, as well as plenty of pretty scenery.

Perth to Dundee to Aberdeen

Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven

Bus number: Stagecoach X7 service

Journey length: 3 hours 35 minutes

Highlights and attractions:

1. Barry Mill
2. Arbroath Abbey
3. House of Dun
4. Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre
5. St Cyrus National Nature Reserve
6. Dunnottar Castle

Absorb coastal views of the Firth of Tay and the North Sea on this beautiful route from Perth to Aberdeen, via Dundee. Tickets range from a single trip to the 7-day Tayside megarider ticket and in Dundee you can purchase a ticket for the Xplore Dundee 360 city circle bus service to take in all the sights.

Find out more on travelling by bus or coach or mix up your mode of transport and take a look at our suggestions for great rail journeys.