Scotland Off the Beaten Track

West Dunbartonshire | Balloch | Aquarium | ★★★★

SEALIFE Loch Lomond is Scotland's newest aquarium, occupying a smart, circular tower at the Loch Lomond Shores shopping centre, and overlooking the, err, shores of Loch Lomond. The accessible, touristy location is ripe for price gouging, and we don't think this is the country's best attraction of its type, but online discounts and frequent promotions mean it's often possible to grab admission tickets for a fraction of the walk-up price. Creatures featured generally (but not exclusively) come from Scottish lochs and oceans; the highlight is an impressive underwater tunnel over which sharks, rays and groupers glide, but there are dozens of further tanks housing a whole host of interesting species - see our photos. Elsewhere, there's a large otter area with informative feeding talks, though views are through glass panels and can be obscured by water droplets. On higher levels within the vast tower there's a bizarrely…

This page gives a general overview of public transport options within Scotland. If you're planning to hire a car (or bring your own), please see our Driving in Scotland page. For help on travelling to Scotland, please see our Travelling to Scotland page.


Overview

Despite the odd grumble by locals, Scotland boasts an excellent public transport system, providing a greener alternative to travelling by private vehicle. A comprehensive network of train and bus routes connect all mainland towns and cities as well as many smaller villages, and by using a combination of these you can generally get wherever you want to go. Ferry and air services connect the islands dotted around the north and west coasts, though Skye is also served by buses via its road bridge. Many routes are scenic and a few - such as parts of the West Highland Line - offer vistas you can't get from the roadside. Town and city centres are generally compact enough to explore on foot.

Of course, getting around Scotland…

A 2-year survey published in 2019 found that close to two-thirds of visitors to Scotland drive a car for at least part of their trip. If you're thinking of doing the same, this help page is for you - particularly if you live outside the UK. For help on travelling by public transport, please see our Public transport in Scotland page.


Scotland's roads

The well populated parts of Scotland have a decent, well-maintained road network in common with other European countries. High-speed motorways (with the "M" prefix) and dual carriageways link 6 of the country's 7 cities - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and Stirling (with a major upgrade project currently bringing the main route north to Inverness up to scratch) - as well as fast roads extending south to the English border.

Head to more rural regions, including most of the Highlands, and you'll be spending most of your time on single carriageway A-roads (the next best bet) or even B-roads. Finally, uncl…

This help page deals with travelling to Scotland to start your holiday. For help on travel within Scotland, please see our Public transport in Scotland page.

Travelling to Scotland... from overseas

Scotland has 5 main international airports: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick, Aberdeen and Inverness. Of these, by far the largest are Edinburgh and Glasgow, and these are likely to be your entry points if you fly into Scotland. Both of these airports have quick and straightforward public transport into their respective cities, for onward connections to the rest of the country. We recommend using Skyscanner to search for fares.

The interactive map below gives details of all of the country's airports, their official websites, and details of destinations served.



Alternatively, various English airports (particularly around London) are very well served by international flights. You can make the onward journey to Scotland by train, coach or hire car - see the section below.

For visitors …