Getting around Scotland

Scotland has a modern and efficient road, rail and ferry network which allows good access to all parts of the country.

Commuting

Commuting in Scotland is easier than in many other developed countries. Almost 90 percent of employees live within 25 kilometres of their workplace.

An excellent network of motorways, railways, bus and cycle routes means that the average time spent travelling to work is under half an hour.

Many people who move to Scotland say the ease of commuting and travelling soon becomes a major reason for wanting to stay. It has changed their lives: less stress, shorter working days and more free time in which to pursue other interests and activities.

Fortunately, not all travelling is commuting, and many of the specialist staff who have to moved from elsewhere to work and live in Scotland mention the ease and accessibility of travelling around Scotland on weekends and holidays.

By road

Driving around Scotland is often the quickest and easiest way to see the remote parts of the country.

Congestion and traffic jams are few and far between. The main M8 motorway connects Glasgow and Edinburgh with a journey time of about one hour.

Although much of Scotland’s motorway network is based around the central belt, the rest of the network is excellent with short travel times between major cities.

For example, Inverness in the far north can be reached from Glasgow or Edinburgh in just over three hours.

For more information visit Traffic Scotland

By rail

The rail network is a fast and effective way to get around Scotland and gives you an opportunity to enjoy some beautifully scenic journeys.

Services in the central belt, between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen are fast and frequent, and there are regular trains to and from Inverness.

Visit Scotrail for more information

By Ferry

With dozens of outlying islands off Scotland’s coasts, ferry travel ranges from short-hops to overnight sailings. Scotland has over 50 ports and The Western Isles, Arran, Orkney and Shetland Islands are all accessible by ferry.

Most carry vehicles and can be booked in advance. During the summer months, booking is essential and it’s worth checking what services are available as some are seasonal.

For more information, visit Caledonian MacBrayne, and NorthLink Ferries.

By Air

It is possible to take internal flights within Scotland, but the short distances involved in some, mean that road and rail are often comparable time-wise.

Some of the smaller islands have unique airports, for example the runway in Barra is actually the beach.

For more information, visit the British Airports Authority

By Bus

Bus travel is the cheapest way to get around Scotland.

Services run in and between all the major cities in Scotland and the rest of the UK, including all major airports and railway stations.

Over 400 bus services operate daily throughout Scotland.

Special services such as night buses and late night trains are in operation in major cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Visit Scottish Citylink or National Express for further details.