Page 221 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  219

Scenic Train Rides coaches. Brit Xplorer passes
When motor transportation offered by National Express are
made many rural railways ideal for those planning to cover
redundant in the mid-20th many destinations over a
cen tury, picturesque sections limited period. They allow
of track, and many of the old unlimited travel on all National
steam engines, were rescued Express services in Scotland and
and restored to working order. the rest of Britain. You can buy
Tourist offices or train ticket the pass in the UK at major
offices can provide you with international airports, at
information on where the lines Glasgow’s Buchanan Bus Station
are, and how much it will cost and at Edinburgh’s Tourist
to take a ride on the trains. Information Centre. The Explorer
Ride the Jacobite steam train Pass, available from Scottish Open-top bus tour on the Royal Mile in
from Fort William to Mallaig, City link agents and from Edinburgh
passing over a spectacular via- Glasgow Airport, allows travel
duct at Glenfinnan; or take the only within Scotland and only DIRECTORY
Strathspey Steam Railway from on Scottish Citylink services.
Aviemore to Boat of Garten. UK and Overseas Rail
Numbers and Websites
Coach and Bus Tours
Dozens of coach tours are National Rail Enquiries
available in Scotland, catering Tel (08457) 484950.
for all interests, age groups and ∑ nationalrail.co.uk
a host of different destinations.
They may last anything from a Lost Property
couple of hours for a city tour to Tel (0330) 223 0893 (Edinburgh
several days for a national tour. airport).
The Jacobite steam train on its picturesque Scottish Tours offers
journey to Mallaig scheduled sightseeing tours Rail Europe
of Edinburgh, Glasgow and ∑ raileurope.co.uk
Inverness and offers many
International Coach Travel multi-day tours. The Edinburgh- ScotRail
Although travelling by coach based Scotline Tours offers Tel (0344) 811 0141.
(long-distance bus) is cheap half- and full-day tours, while ∑ scotrail.co.uk
compared with other methods Rabbie’s Trail Burners offers
of transport, it is not the most tours of three days or more. Coach and Bus
comfortable way of crossing Ask at your hotel or tourist Information
Europe. If you have a lot of spare office for details of local bus
time, however, and want to stop and coach tours. Most major Megabus
off en route at other destina- towns and cities offer open-top Tel (0141) 352 4444.
tions, it can be a convenient bus tours. ∑ uk.megabus.com
mode of transport. The ticket Local buses are generally a National Express
usually covers all parts of the cheap way to get about. In the Tel (0871) 781 8181.
journey, including the ferry or more remote rural areas not ∑ nationalexpress.com
Channel Tunnel. served by public transport,
Royal Mail operates the Post- Rabbie’s Trail Burners
bus. Fare-paying passengers Tel (0131) 226 3133.
National Coach Network travel in the postal delivery van ∑ rabbies.com
The largest coach operators in – an interesting if rather slow Royal Mail
Scotland are Scottish City link, way to travel around. Details of Tel (0345) 774 0740.
Megabus and National routes are available from the ∑ royalmail.com
Express, which runs services Royal Mail and via its website.
only between the main cities Scotline Tours
and to destinations in the rest Tel (0131) 557 0162.
of Great Britain. Buy a reserved ∑ scotlinetours.co.uk
ticket to guarantee a seat. Scottish Citylink
Discounts are available for Tel (0871) 266 3333.
full-time students or anyone ∑ citylink.co.uk
under 25 with a coach pass.
Over-50s and children aged Scottish Tours
between 5 and 15 years also Tel (0141) 237 4294.
qualify for reductions. Under-5s The Postbus provides transport in remote ∑ scottishtours.co.uk
travel free on Scotland’s nation al parts of the Highlands

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