Get Around Scotland Without a Car: What Works and What Doesn’t

When planning our trip to Scotland, one of the biggest questions we faced was how to get around. Scotland is a place where one size definitely doesn’t fit all when it comes to transportation. In the cities, walking is great, or you can grab a rideshare if your feet get tired. Between cities, trains offer a scenic way to travel. But once you hit the Highlands (where the real magic is) your options narrow to either renting a car or hiring someone who knows the twisty roads.

We decided to skip the rental car altogether and rely on a mix of trains, Ubers, a local taxi app, a private driver in the Highlands, and a budget bus to the airport. Each mode had its ups and downs, but all together, it surprisingly worked very well. We’ll break down all our experiences to help you plan your Scotland Adventure.

Why We Chose Not to Rent a Car

📌 When we first started planning, renting a car felt like the perfect way to get around and explore at our own pace. The idea of pulling over at random castles or taking detours down country lanes sounded perfect. If you’re planning a longer trip or want full flexibility, a car makes total sense.

👎 But then reality sank in. Driving on the left, roundabouts, and all those unfamiliar road rules made us a bit uneasy. We’d read about narrow, single-lane roads with passing places in the Highlands, and the thought of encountering a stray lamb or unexpected tour bus on a curve was concerning. Plus, parking in cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow looked expensive and limited, potentially making the whole thing more hassle than it was worth.

👍 In the end, we knew a rental car would save us a bit of money and give us more flexibility, but we opted to save our sanity instead. For this trip, we wanted to kick back, gaze out the window, and let someone else deal with the driving headaches.

City Travel: Rideshares and Taxis

🙋‍♀️ Uber Availability: Both Edinburgh and Glasgow are super walkable, which we thoroughly enjoyed. But after wandering for hours, sometimes the last thing you want is another hill or figuring out when the next late-night bus comes. That’s when we turned to Uber. Drivers were readily available, prices were reasonable, and it took a lot of the stress away from navigating the cities, especially late at night after too many pints. But we did have some longer wait times that we expected.

🚕 Taxi App Alternative: In Inverness, Uber didn’t exist, but thanks to a local recommendation, we found SafeKab. Using it was straightforward, and drivers came quickly in Inverness itself, though the wait was significantly longer in other locations, as expected in the small surrounding towns. While all of Inverness was easily walkable (if you’re fine with a lot of steps and hills), SafeKab made it easy for us to get to the kitschy Nessieland for our Loch Ness boat ride. We had to wait about an hour for our ride back to town, but we just planned ahead and waited at a small restaurant.

Trains: Comfortable But a Few Hiccups

🚂 Taking the train between cities was easy, comfortable, and scenic. The route from Edinburgh to Inverness took us through the open countryside, through the hills, and around some gorgeous lochs.

💰 We splurged on first-class tickets figuring it would mean more space and comfort, guaranteed assigned seats together, and ample snacks. The seats were absolutely more spacious and comfortable, but we were informed on both legs that there were no assigned seats, even in first class, and we were unable to sit together as a group unless we raced onto the train first to stake our claim. It also caused some conflict with other passengers who didn’t realize the assigned seats were not enforced.

🕔 The real test came on our Inverness to Glasgow leg. The train was delayed on the tracks for a considerable amount of time due to an employee illness, then it was fully canceled en route about an hour from our destination. We all had to shuffle onto a different train, which was chaotic and confusing for everyone. Despite the mess, we arrived only about an hour late, and ScotRail did compensate after a simple phone call.  

⚖ We would definitely take the train again, but these are important downsides to note.

A Day in the Highlands: Why We Chose a Private Driver

🌄 While trains and buses work well for connecting cities, they don’t serve the more remote areas that make Scotland so special. We knew we wanted to spend a day exploring the Highlands beyond Inverness and into the Isle of Skye.

🚗 Instead of renting a car for just a day or two, we decided to hire a private driver. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip. Our driver picked us up in Inverness and took us through the winding roads, past gorgeous lochs, and for side trips to waterfalls and other hidden gems, despite being on a major tourist route.

👨‍✈️ Our driver also acted as a guide, sharing stories about the area’s history, pointing out details we otherwise would have missed, and suggesting scenic stops. It made the day feel richer, though it was very long.

📸 This option wasn’t cheap, but we came away with a deeper appreciation for the Highlands and a better experience than what we could have managed on our own. For us, it was money well spent. We got to relax, snap photos, and just enjoy the breathtaking scenery with no worries about missing a turn or scraping a rental car mirror on a stone wall.

Megabus: The Simple, Cheap Way to Get to the Airport

🚌 At the end of our trip, we wanted something hassle-free to get to the airport, and Megabus offered an affordable, direct ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh Airport. The bus wasn’t fancy, but it was comfy enough and saved us from taking an expensive Uber ride. And honestly, we kind of like being on a big bus rather than in the back of a sedan for a ride that takes an hour.

Lessons Learned

🔍 Looking back, piecing together our transportation worked better than expected. We didn’t have the flexibility of a rental car, but we also didn’t have the stress. The trade-off was worth it for this trip.

✅ Here are a few things we learned along the way:

• Trains are scenic and comfortable, but delays happen, and reserved seats aren’t always honored. It’s smart to plan with some flexibility.
• In the cities, rideshare apps save energy and time, especially after long days of exploring.
• In smaller towns like Inverness, local taxi apps such as SafeKab offer an easy solution. Ask your hotel or local host for transportation tips.
• To really see the Highlands without renting a car, a private driver is an excellent option. It costs more but eliminates stress and adds context you wouldn’t get on your own.
• For getting to the airport, budget buses like Megabus are hard to beat for convenience and price.

🚙 If we had more time or a longer stay, we might consider renting a car for just the Highland portion of the trip, while still using trains for city travel. On a longer stay, for example, we may have rented a car in Inverness and stayed a few nights in Portree and Glencoe, then returning the car in Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Have you been to Scotland? How did you get around? Share your tips or experiences in the comments. We’d love to hear!

Check Out More of Our Scotland Travel Guides

• Edinburgh in a Day: Must-See Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
• What to Eat in Edinburgh: Best Dishes and Where to Get Them
• 3-Night Inverness Itinerary: Top Activities in Scotland’s Highlands
• Best Inverness Restaurant: A Gem Worth Booking Early 
• Isle of Skye Day Trip from Inverness: Is It Worth It?
• Loch Ness Boat Tour Review: Why This Family-Owned Tour Is Totally Worth It
• Glasgow in a Day: Where to Eat, Drink, and Wander