Scotland by Public Transport: Edinburgh to Glasgow (Self-Launched)
6 days · Scotland
Europamundo charges £1,040
No-markup version: ~£472 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, backpacker-friendly version of Europamundo's 6-day coach loop from Edinburgh to Glasgow. You'll cover the same headline sights — Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town, The Kelpies, Stirling Castle, Pitlochry, Culloden, Inverness, Eilean Donan, Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, a whisky distillery, Fort William and Ben Nevis views, Inveraray, Loch Lomond and Glasgow — but using ScotRail trains, Citylink coaches and local buses instead of a tour coach. Hostels and budget guesthouses replace the 3–4* hotels, and activities are booked directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP and assume dorm beds, supermarket or pub-cooked meals, and self-booked transport; timings on rural buses should be checked on Traveline Scotland or Citylink's site before you travel.
Day-by-day
Arrive Edinburgh — Old Town orientation
Edinburgh
Land or arrive into Edinburgh and check into a hostel near the Royal Mile or in Tollcross (Castle Rock Hostel, Kick Ass Hostels or Budget Backpackers are reliable budget picks). Spend the afternoon walking the Royal Mile from the Castle esplanade down to Holyrood, detour up Arthur's Seat for the free sunset view, and grab a cheap dinner (pie, haggis roll or supermarket picnic) before a free walking tour of the Old Town if you arrive early enough — Sandemans and Edinburgh Free Tour both run pay-what-you-want walks. Buy a £5.50 Lothian day ticket only if you need buses; most of the centre is walkable.
🚌Lothian airport bus 100 or tram from Edinburgh Airport (~£6.50) or walk from Waverley station
🛏Hostel dorm, central Edinburgh (£18–25/night)
- →Old Town and Royal Mile self-walk
- →Arthur's Seat viewpoint (free)
- →Optional pay-what-you-want walking tour
Edinburgh Castle and the city's UNESCO streets
Edinburgh
Book Edinburgh Castle tickets online in advance (approx £21–22, cheaper off-peak) — the equivalent of the tour's 'panoramic city tour with local guide' but self-paced with the free audio guide. Follow it with the Royal Mile's closes, Grassmarket, Greyfriars Kirkyard and a climb to Calton Hill for the city panorama. Afternoon options: National Museum of Scotland (free), Scottish National Gallery (free), or a £12-ish tour of Mary King's Close if you like history with atmosphere. Evening: cheap eats on South Bridge or a £5–6 pint in a Rose Street pub.
🚌On foot; single bus fares £2 if needed
🛏Hostel dorm, central Edinburgh (£18–25/night)
- →Edinburgh Castle entry (~£21)
- →Calton Hill and Grassmarket walk (free)
- →National Museum of Scotland (free)
The Kelpies, Stirling Castle and on to Inverness
Stirling / Pitlochry / Inverness
Take an early train from Edinburgh to Falkirk High (~£9, 25 min) and a local bus or 25-minute walk to The Helix for the Kelpies (free to view). Continue by train to Stirling (~£8, 20 min) and climb to Stirling Castle (£19 entry, or free to walk the esplanade and Old Town walls). Mid-afternoon, ride the train north to Pitlochry (~£20, 1h15) for a short Loch Faskally walk, then continue on the same line to Inverness (~£15, 1h30). Check into a hostel (Inverness Student Hotel or Bazpackers) and walk the River Ness to the castle viewpoint in the evening. Book the whole day as one split ticket and check ScotRail times in advance — Highland services are infrequent.
🚌ScotRail Edinburgh–Falkirk–Stirling–Pitlochry–Inverness split tickets (~£45 total) plus local bus to the Helix (~£3)
🛏Hostel dorm, Inverness (£20–28/night)
- →The Kelpies at The Helix (free)
- →Stirling Castle entry (£19)
- →Pitlochry and Loch Faskally walk
- →River Ness evening walk
Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Eilean Donan and a distillery
Inverness / Loch Ness / Eilean Donan
Take the Citylink 919 or Stagecoach bus from Inverness down Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle (£8–10 return with a day ticket, 30 min); entry is ~£11 and the loch-side ruins are worth the stop. Continue to Drumnadrochit for a Loch Ness cruise if you want the boat experience (approx £16–20 with Loch Ness by Jacobite or Cruise Loch Ness) — or skip it and enjoy free shoreline walks. In the afternoon, head west by Citylink 917 towards Kyle of Lochalsh and get off at Eilean Donan Castle (~£25 return if bought as part of the Kyle ticket; castle entry £12). For a whisky tasting without the coach price tag, the Glen Ord or Tomatin distilleries near Inverness run tours from ~£15–20, or pick up a dram at a local bar. Return to Inverness in the evening.
🚌Citylink/Stagecoach buses Inverness–Drumnadrochit–Eilean Donan (~£30 total) + local buses
🛏Hostel dorm, Inverness (£20–28/night)
- →Urquhart Castle entry (~£11)
- →Loch Ness cruise (~£18, optional)
- →Eilean Donan Castle entry (£12)
- →Whisky distillery tour and tasting (~£18)
Fort William, Ben Nevis, Inveraray and Loch Lomond to Glasgow
Fort William / Inveraray / Loch Lomond / Glasgow
Ride the ScotRail line from Inverness to Fort William (~£25, 2h, spectacular over the moors) and walk to the Ben Nevis viewpoint or the Commando Memorial area by bus if time allows (£5 local bus). Continue by Citylink 915/916 down Loch Linnhe past Kilchurn Castle ruins (visible from the road) to Inveraray (~£12) for a wander round the whitewashed town and, if you like, Inveraray Castle (£17 entry — skip for the free shore walk). Then take the bus onward to Luss on Loch Lomond (~£8) for a 45-minute shoreline stroll before the final Citylink 976/914 into Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station (~£9). Check into a hostel in the Merchant City or near Sauchiehall Street.
🚌ScotRail Inverness–Fort William (~£25) + Citylink 916/976/914 legs (~£29)
🛏Hostel dorm, Glasgow city centre (£18–25/night)
- →Ben Nevis viewpoint walk
- →Kilchurn Castle viewpoint from the road
- →Inveraray village walk
- →Loch Lomond shore walk at Luss
Glasgow — murals, museums and departure
Glasgow
Spend a half day on Glasgow's free highlights: the City Centre Mural Trail (self-guided, free), Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (free), and the Necropolis walk with cathedral views (free). Riverside Museum and the Tall Ship are also free if the weather turns. Fit in a last coffee in the West End before heading to Glasgow Central or Queen Street for your onward train, or the airport bus (£9) for your flight. Extra nights in Glasgow are cheap and easy to add through Hostelworld.
🚌On foot plus £2 single bus fares; airport bus ~£9
🛏Hostel dorm, Glasgow (final night £18–25/night if extending)
- →City Centre Mural Trail (free)
- →Kelvingrove Art Gallery (free)
- →Glasgow Necropolis and Cathedral (free)
Self-launched vs. Europamundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Europamundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£472 | £1,040 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £568 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Europamundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£472
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Scotland by Public Transport: Edinburgh to Glasgow (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £472 per person for 6 days in Scotland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Europamundo?+
Yes — Europamundo charges around £1,040 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £472 — a saving of roughly £568 (55%) per person.
How long is the Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Scotland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Scotland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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