Travel from Newcastle to Scotland

Travelling by rail is a quick and scenic option to reach Scotland's capital. There are plenty of train routes and rail operators travelling regularly every day.

Newcastle to Edinburgh 

The journey by train from Newcastle to Edinburgh takes an average of 2 hours and takes you along the beautiful eastern coastline. 

• Travel direct with LNER or Lumo.
• Check all options with ScotRail and Trainline.

Newcastle to Glasgow 

Trains run regularly from Newcastle to Glasgow, taking an average of 3 hours. You can travel direct with Lumo (thought Edinburgh) or you will need to change trains in either Edinburgh or Carlisle.

• Travel direct with Lumo.
• Check for options with ScotRail or Trainline.

Onward rail travel 

Once you’ve arrived in Edinburgh or Glasgow, there are plenty of other rail connections that can take you all across Scotland, including Inverness, Thurso, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and more.

Find out more about rail travel in Scotland

Take the bus or coach from Newcastle to Scotland for a budget-friendly journey up north. Travelling by bus or coach is a more eco-friendly way of travelling, as well as offering the chance to slow down and take in the the scenery. 

Newcastle to Edinburgh 

The journey to Edinburgh takes an average of 2 hours 30 minutes. 

• National Express and Flixbus run directly to Edinburgh from Newcastle.

Newcastle to Glasgow 

You can travel from Newcastle to Glasgow in an average of 3 hours 50 minutes by bus or coach.

• National Express and Flixbus run directly to Edinburgh from Newcastle.

Onward bus travel 

There are plenty of bus and coach operators across Scotland that can whisk you away to the next stage of your adventure. 

Find out more about bus and coach travel in Scotland

From Newcastle to Edinburgh, it's roughly a 2 hour 30 minute drive. Follow the A1 up the east coast, passing through the scenic Scottish Borders and East Lothian before entering Edinburgh via Musselburgh and Portobello. 

To get to Glasgow from Newcastle by car, it takes 3 hours. Your route goes via the A69 and A74(M), heading over to Carlisle before passing through the Scottish towns of Lockerbie and Moffat and the dramatic landscapes of Dumfries & Galloway, before reaching East Kilbride and into Glasgow.

Onward car travel 

Scotland is served by a network of roads that connect our towns, villages and cities for your onward journeys. There are a variety of car hire options available too, including electric cars with charging points dotted across Scotland. 

Find out more about driving in Scotland

Travel information

If you’re travelling around Scotland, make sure to plan ahead. Booking tickets or car hire in advance is recommended - see below for route planning and live traffic updates.

• Traffic Scotland
• Park and ride locations
• Find a petrol station
• Find an LPG station