LOCAL BUSES
Each town has its own local bus network and some are quite extensive. Check our city guides section for details on the larger cities. Most local bus stops have clearly indicated route markers or a friendly local might help you. You can usually buy single route tickets or purchase books of tickets in advance from newsagents. For single route tickets you can pay onboard.

Edinburgh
Two bus companies operate in Edinburgh and the outlying districts. They are First Edinburgh and Lothian Buses. Timetable information is posted at the bus stops and you can pick up a free TravelMap Guide to the city's bus routes from the Traveline Office, in 2 Cockburn Street. Tel. +44 0131 225 3858, +44 0800 232 323 for callers outside Edinburgh. Fax. +44 0131 469 3797
www.Traveline.org.uk

First Edinburgh
Tel. +44 08708 72 72 71
www.Firstgroup.com

Lothian Buses
Tel. +44 0131 555 6363
Fax. +44 0131 225 7857
www.Lothianbuses.co.uk

Airlink: Airport Bus Information
www.FlybyBus.com

Glasgow
First Glasgow Buses run services within Glasgow, and between East Kilbride, Motherwell, Airdrie, Cumbernauld and Dumbarton.
Bus Maps:
www.FlybyBus.com: Scotland Overground Network
www.FlybyBus.com: Scotland

Glasgow Airport Buses include the following 3 services. The Glasgow Airport Link has a shuttle service linking Glasgow International Airport to Glasgow City Centre. Journey time is 25 minutes via at Glasgow Central and Queen Street Rail Stations and Buchanan Street Bus Station. Tel. +44 0141 553 1313.   www.Fairlinecoaches.co.uk
City Link Glasgow - Glasgow Airport has a shuttle with approximately 20 minutes journey time. Tel. +44 08705 50 50 50. www.Citylink.co.uk
For Prestwick Airport to Glasgow Buses use Stagecoach Western which run every hour. Tel. +44 01292 613 700

Aberdeen
First Aberdeen runs buses within Aberdeen and surrounding districts. Tel. +44 01224 650 065. www.Firstgroup.com
Aberdeen Airport shuttle runs between teh airport and city centre with a journey time of 35 minutes.

Inverness
Three companies operate in and around Inverness.
Stagecoach Inverness, tel. +44 01463 239 292
Highland Country, tel. +44 01463 222 244
Rapsons, www.rapsons.com

Inverness Airport Shuttle
Two buses meet the daily flight from London and Stornoway.

BUS PASSES
You may also consider getting a bus pass through Bus About Eurobus or Eurolines for European destinations. Eurolines is the largest network of international buses in Europe. People under 26 years are around 10% less than the adult full fare. There are several circular explorer routes and passes available. Individual tickets are available on all routes with a number of circuits available allowing the traveller to travel along a pre-determined circular route taking in various destinations along the way. These passes are supplemented by the more flexible Eurolines pass. The Eurolines pass is probably the best travel deal in Europe allowing unlimited travel between 46 destinations in 26 countries on the Eurolines network. This pass is great value particularly during summer when it is a cheaper travel option than the equivalent Busabout pass. For more information visit the website at www.eurolines.com

Busabout busabout.info@virgin.net is another pass option for travellers and will also book accommodation for you in advance. However most of these are camping sites outside major towns. Eurobus also operates providing a hop on and off service.

Bus travel in Britain is an efficient services provided by a number of independent operators. National Express (website: www.nationalexpress.com ) is the biggest with services to over 1200 destinations in England, Scotland and Wales. They offer some travel passes and discount cards like the Student Coachcard and the Young Persons Coachcard. These cost just £9 and entitle the holder to a 30% discount on coach travel on the National Express network.

National Express Brit Xplorer Pass
The Brit Xplorer pass is good for unlimited travel on the National Express network, but it is not available to British passport holders. The pass is valid for seven, 14 or 28 consecutive days of travel. You do not need to book the travel, just turn up and show your pass to the driver. If there is space you can hop on. You can buy the pass on the National Express website.

Scottish Citylink Explorer Pass
This pass is good for travel in Scotland on Scottish Citylink. It also gives you discounts on Caledonian Macbrayne and P&O Scottish Ferries allowing you to visit the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland islands. It is offered for 3 consecutive days of travel or 5 travel days in 10, or 8 travel days in 16. The CityLink network covers all of Scotland with additional connections to Blackpool in the northwest of England and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Backpacker Bus Companies
There are also companies that target backpackers. And many will stop right at the hostel door. They are usually filled with other backpackers so you do meet people but they are structured so you may not feel too independent. However if you want to try them some links include www.straytravel.co.uk and Paddy Wagon Tours.

The Backpacker Tour Company
This company covers England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The itineraries, however, are not hop-on, hop-off, so you may also find your independence limited and they can be expensive.

Celtic Connection
These are small group backpacker tours in Scotland, Ireland and Wales with some flexibility. Dublin is about the only place however you can jump off. It costs £22-25 per day excluding accommodation.

MacBackPackers
This bus operates a handful of fixed itinerary tours around Scotland as well as a jump-on jump-off bus for those who want to explore at their own pace. The price per day is usually about £20 but does not include acommodation. However hostels the buses go to charge about £11 per night.

Radical Travel
This covers the UK and Ireland and is a very flexible hop on hop off travel pass. It costs about £30 per day including accomodation.

Road Trip
Operates numerous overland tours covering the entire British Isles, though only one itinerary has a hop on hop off option. The tours average around £35-40 per day but include accommodation.

Wild in Scotland
Wild in Scotland is a bus for independent travellers in Scotland with a fairly comprehensive coverage of the highlands and islands. Trips cost about £35-40 per day, including food and accommodation. There are no hop on hop off tours on offer.

PAYING
Depending on what type of bus you get will determine the ticketing process. If you are getting a long distance Eurolines bus you need to purchase the ticket beforehand at the Eurolines office and sit n the seat indicated on the ticket. For local buses you can purchase the ticket on board.

USEFUL LINKS
Eurolines - Services within Europe. Tickets available online. 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU, tel. 020/7730-8235 or 020/7730-3499. www.eurolines.com
Bus Éireann - Irish National bus company providing local bus services, Expressway long distance intercity services, Eurolines services with destinations in Britain and abroad. www.buseireann.ie
The Bus Station - Bus, coach, tram, trolleybus and transit links all over the world www.busstation.net