5 cheap ways to travel in Scotland
Travelling in Scotland doesn't have to be very expensive. With some planning and knowledge, these handy tips should save any visitor money, whether it's from A (Aberdeen) to B (Brora), or C (Cliff) to D (Dundee).
Train travel
Scotland's rail system offers an excellent way to relax and see much of the country, with amazing journeys, the ability to get up and stretch your legs with ease, and constantly changing and beautiful views. However, buying a ticket on the same day is definitely not the cheapest way to travel. Instead, take a look at booking online. Cheap tickets are usually available eight or nine weeks before the travel date, and the savings can be high, starting at 50% of the standard fare and sometimes even 75%. These tickets will be snapped up quickly, but if you find that this is happening on a journey that interests you, try breaking it down into multiple parts. For example, Edinburgh to Inverness can use the same train into Edinburgh to Perth and Perth to Inverness. A little patience can save a lot of money in this way. Another option is to see the tracks and passes. Depending on your age and travel plans, there may be something suitable, such as an 18-25 rail card, or "Two Together", which, as the name suggests, offers discounts for two people traveling together. Travel passes can be purchased internationally and offer flexible and unlimited travel for ticket holders, whether in Scotland or within a region. If you're planning to visit Scotland by rail, this can usually save a lot of regular fares.
Buses and coaches
Perhaps the cheapest way to travel long distances is by bus or coach. As with trains, booking on the bus is definitely the best option. Travel between big cities is usually very cheap, especially Megabus. For example, the price between Edinburgh and Glasgow is only 4, and it can even reach Scotland from London, with prices as low as 1. These deals were snapped up quickly, so it's important to continue checking the bus company's website. Like trains, Scotland has passes for bus and coach travel. The Scottish CityLink Explorer Pass is worth a try as it is also available for Megabus. Also, when visiting a city like Edinburgh or Glasgow, it's worth a look at day tickets for bus travel, which usually only require a little more than the standard journey fare.
boat
Scotland is just under 800 islands, of which 130 are inhabited. The most popular way to get to these islands is by boat, and passenger ferries are a very reasonable way to cover long distances. Some of the boats that connect mainland Scotland with larger archipelagos such as Orkney and Shetland are spacious and comfortable, while some inter-island ferries can be said to be smaller. Another benefit of the boat trip is the fantastic views, fresh sea breeze and wildlife that is often seen from the boat. These may include dolphins, whales, seals, basking sharks (the second largest shark in the world) and abundant birds such as white-tailed sea eagles or puffins. Combine train or bus travel with boat travel as a pedestrian passenger to save the most money. However, once you start booking cabins, the price goes up significantly. Boat trips are a great way to meet other people, whether travelers or locals coming home, who are more than happy to share their knowledge of their destinations. As with rail and bus travel, the best place to look is online, with Northlink and Calmac being the two largest ferry operators.
Air travel
While it may not be immediately apparent, flying around can not only be cheaper than you might think, but it can also offer unique (and record-breaking) adventures. For example, if you're flying from Glasgow to Barra, the runway at the airport is on a two-mile stretch of shell sand, while the route between Westray and Papa Westray in the northern Orkney Islands is in the Guinness Book of World Records. The world's shortest scheduled flight took only two and a half minutes. Perhaps the biggest savings in flying are time; It takes an hour to fly between Edinburgh and Wick John O'Grote Airport, eight or nine hours to travel by train, and two or three different trains. As with other ways of traveling, if you book a flight far enough in advance, it's more economical than buying on a travel day close to you, and it's usually more expensive than the train, and it may be cheaper than you initially thought. Some people choose to travel one way by plane and then return by train, the best of both worlds; The speed of the flight, as well as the beauty of the train journey.
Free travel
Thousands of people come to Scotland every year with the aim of travelling around in their own environment. There are several internationally renowned long-distance paths and routes to venture through some incredible scenery. Some, like the Western Highlands Way or the Grand Canyon Way, are more numerous than others, such as the Cape Wrath Trail, but both offer their own challenges. There are also people canoeing or kayaking along deep-space lakes or empty coastlines. Then there are others who bring or rent bikes to explore the quiet back roads, or even off-road. If you're an avid hiker or outdoor enthusiast, these options can surely save you money and give you a unique perspective of Scotland. John O'Groats is located at the northernmost tip of Scotland, from the furthest point of Land's End (874 miles) in Cornwall, England. For many people walking or cycling between these two points, this is the point of the end (or sometimes the beginning). In addition to saving on transport costs, if you're travelling on your own, you can save on accommodation costs by camping or using two properties across Scotland.
