Our family of 4, (a couple, with grandma and a 6 year old) enjoy smaller towns, beautiful scenery, culture, and less hustle and bustle. So we’re looking at 2-4 nights in each of Stirling, Oban, Aviemore. We prefer not renting a car. I know we can connect from Glasgow to these by train, so once there, is Uber feasible to get around for local sights and short day trips? Any other suggestions on how to get around without a car in these or other low key locales?
Posted by
Delaware
1707 posts
Hi, marlamonk,
As of the present, Uber service is only available in Edinburgh and Glasgow. It has gotten started in Aberdeen, but is facing a lot of blowback from taxi services.
Your best bet would be to rely on taxis in those three towns. Once you check in to your lodging, check with your host to determine which taxi service would be the most reliable. Buses are another option. They run pretty much everywhere, especially in Aviemore. However, you need to be aware of schedules, as some buses run infrequently. There is a regular bus (#30, the Aviemore Explorer) which runs out to Cairngorm National Park. It operates very frequently, and is used by skiers and hikers.
If you do decide to rely primarily on taxis, make sure that you have some way of communicating with the taxi company so that you can be picked up for your return journey.
Enjoy your time in Scotland!
Mike (Auchterless)
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you!
Posted by
Lake District, England
11410 posts
Is that really true of Oban? It certainly wouldn't be for me- West Coast Motors run all the local bus services around Oban, many of which are quite reasonably.
Coupled with the newly improved services to Fort William I at least could easily manage on the buses in Oban, and that's before any ferry trips to the many islands accessible from Oban.
Likewise from Stirling most local services are run by McGills/Midland Bluebird, but Stagecoach run a few (notably to Dunfermline). Falkirk is easy from Stirling. There is an hourly service to Callander and an hourly service through the Trossachs all the way to Glasgow.
Around Aviemore Stagecoach run most services- way more than the 30, including regular runs to Grantown on Spey, stops to Inverness, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore and Kingussie. Also the seasonal 35 all the way through Speyside to Dufftown. From Dufftown there is the hourly 36 to Elgin, which passes several of the distilleries.
Citylink, Ember and Flixbus also run longer distance runs from Stirling and Aviemore, as well as there being the train services.
Posted by
Chicagoland
2050 posts
If you book rooms in town in Oban, you can walk just about everywhere in town- restaurants, shops, ferry terminal, train station, the Oban Distillery. There are taxis available and there is limited bus service.
You can take ferries to the islands on your own or book a day trip to Mull and Iona with West Coast Tours. Dunollie Museum and Castle is about a 30 minute walk or 5 minute taxi. Dunstaffnage Castle is a 10 minute taxi. If taking a taxi, be sure to confirm your return pickup. There is also ferry service from Oban to the tiny island of Kerrera where you can bike or walk to Gylen Castle.
If you're willing to take the bus one way between Glasgow and Oban, you could stop in Luss on Loch Lomond or see Inveraray Castle in the town of Inveraray. Perhaps make it an overnight stop. You'll still have scenic views on this route.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
I appreciate the detailed responses with names of transportation companies. These are so helpful. 😃
Posted by
Lake District, England
11410 posts
The Dunollie Museum you can also get there on the hourly 417 bus to Ganavan Sands. There is no official stop at the museum (although the driver may let you off) due to a bend in the road, but it will get you 2/3 of the way there- to the War Memorial.
Likewise Dunstaffnage Castle the hourly 005 bus gets you most of the way to Dunbeg- then it is a walk along a road with pavement/sidewalk and you get 25% off if you arrive by "green" transport.
Both routes are run by West Coast Motors.