Transport Travel Guide 

Travel by air, rail or road to the Scottish Highlands is generally easy, but travelling around often needs more planning with consideration given to the weather and the often isolated islands, mountains, lochs, valleys and glens. This sparsely inhabited region more or less covers the entire northern half of Scotland and includes the Hebrides, Shetland Isles and John O'Groats in the north to Fort William.

Fly to Inverness Airport on the mainland and go island hopping on the short flights to the Islands, many of which have small airports or landing strips. Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd manage and maintain the ten airports.

Coaches & buses are available to the remotest parts of the Highlands, including Durness, the most north-westerly village on mainland Britain. Citylink operate long distance coaches within the region; National Express run the coaches between Scotland and England. Check out services to your destinations and book both Scottish Citylink and National Express coach tickets.

The south of the region has excellent road and motorway links with the rest of Scotland and the UK; in the more remote mountain areas and islands travel planning is essential however. Find all the travel info and links you need in our guides to transport in the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.

John O'Groats, the most northerly place in the UK and the Scottish Highlands, is start or end point to the most famous of walks aiming to raise money for charity. The route from John O'Groats to the most southerly place in the UK, Lands End in Cornwall, stretches 853.4 miles and takes 17 hours to drive. The charity fund raisers favourite walk, it is reportedly more difficult from north to south as the wind blows against you.