Spirit of Scotland Travel Pass

For the duration of the ‘Off-Peak fares all day long’ trial, which runs between 2 October 2023 and 28 June 2024, the rail element of the Spirit of Scotland travel pass is valid for travel all day, any day. Click here to find out more about this government-funded trial.

Uncover the true spirit of Scotland – from the wilderness of the far north, to the urban delights of Scotland’s seven cities.

Head for the Highlands or explore Scotland’s west coast and islands. The freedom of Scotland is yours from just £149.

Wherever you choose to go, the Spirit of Scotland travel pass makes it easy to get around. It includes travel on trains, buses, coaches, Edinburgh Trams and the Glasgow Subway. Choose from four days unlimited travel over eight consecutive days for just £149, or eight days unlimited travel over fifteen consecutive days for £189.

Use the route map to help you decide on your destinations. Travel on your chosen days is unlimited and there’s no need to book ahead, just decide what you want to visit and when you want to travel, then go.

Itinerary ideas

Day 1 – 3

Departing from Glasgow, head north on the Highland Main line to Inverness. Stop off en route at the historic city of Stirling to visit the Castle or venture a few miles out of town to the Battle of Bannockburn and the site of Bruce’s famous victory that secured the country’s independence.

When you arrive in Inverness you’ll be spoilt for choice for eating and accommodation options. Whatever your budget, there is a lot to enjoy in the Highland Capital and we recommend you spend a couple of days exploring the city and surrounding area. Hire a bike and cycle part of the Great Glen Way, take a boat trip on Loch Ness, enjoy a bus tour of the city or head out to Culloden battlefield – the last hand-to-hand battle fought on British soil.

Day 4

Travel coast to coast through dramatic landscapes enjoying views of mountains and lochs. Leaving Inverness, the Kyle line curves around the western edge of the Beauly Firth to Dingwall before heading West through the valleys of Strath Bran and Glen Carron. The final few miles take you along the coastline of Loch Carron into the small port of Kyle of Lochalsh on the West Coast.

Stay over in Kyle of Lochalsh and enjoy the local hospitality or head out for a walk in this stunning landscape. Alternatively, we suggest you head on by bus over the Skye Bridge and down to Armadale where you can catch the CalMac ferry (not included in the pass) on the short crossing back to the mainland at Mallaig and catch the last train to Fort William.

The section from Mallaig to Fort William is recognised as possibly the greatest rail journey in the world, and for good reason. Frequently used as a film location, you’ll pass near the silver sands of Morar (from Local Hero) and over the Glenfinnan Viaduct (from Harry Potter). As you pass over the viaduct, and depending on the time of year, look to the setting sun in the west and the poignant monument to the Jacobite Rising at the head of Loch Shiel.

Day 5

Enjoy a day in Fort William, the outdoor capital of Scotland, where there is lots to see and do. Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, and the Caledonian Canal’s Neptune’s Staircase are just two local attractions, but you can also try mountain biking, quad bike tours, wildlife safaris, gorge walking, white water rafting, canyoning or bushcraft skills, to name but a few.

Day 6 - 7

Catch the mid-morning bus to Oban and you’ll arrive in this bustling port about lunchtime. However, we suggest you grab’n’go for lunch or get something to eat on the 45-minute CalMac ferry crossing (not included in your pass) to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. Catch one of the local buses (not included in your pass) on to the island’s main town of Tobermory. Enjoy an afternoon here exploring this pretty little town and enjoy a meal or drink before heading back to the ferry terminal for an evening cruise back to Oban where you’ll stay.

Next day make the most of your time here with a visit to the local distillery, a day trip to the nearby islands of Kerrera or Lismore, or a walk up the hill to the town’s most famous landmark – McCaig’s Tower. However, whatever you do, make sure to enjoy some of the world’s best seafood served fresh from the sea and cooked to perfection.

Day 8

Enjoy the final morning in Oban before catching the train back to Glasgow. This section of the West Highland line takes you north to Connel Ferry before cutting inland, over the Pass of Brander and Ben Cruachan (site of the power station inside the mountain), skirting the beautiful Loch Awe which recently featured in the Disney+ series, ‘Star Wars: Andor’. Passing the ruin of Kilchurn Castle you’ll start to head south towards the popular walking area of the “Arrochar Alps”. You’ll soon pass the iconic Loch Lomond (and you may have time for a quick cruise on the Loch) before your final few miles into Glasgow along the Firth of Clyde.

Day 1

Head out of Edinburgh and travel north, crossing the Firth of Forth via the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Forth Bridge. Stop off at Leuchars and take the regular shuttle bus or grab a taxi for the five miles or so to St Andrews, the Home of Golf. However, if golf is not your thing, there is the ruined Abbey, medieval streets and plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants to keep you occupied. Rejoining the train at Leuchars, head on to Dundee and Perth.

Day 2

After spending the night in Perth, take the Highland Main Line north towards Inverness. Stop off in the pretty Highland Perthshire village of Pitlochry for lunch on your way to Aviemore.

Day 3 - 4

You can easily spend a week or more enjoying the many outdoor experiences on offer in and around Aviemore. We recommend you enjoy a ride from the golden age of steam on the Strathspey Railway to Boat of Garten and then take in some Osprey spotting at the nearby RSPB reserve. Alternatively take the Mountain Railway for panoramic views from the top of CairnGorm Mountain or visit Rothiemurchus Estate to take part in a huge range of activities, from walking and pony hacking to quad biking and tree top adventures on the TreeZone high ropes. Families will be entertained at the Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge or step back in time to the 1700s at the Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore.

Day 5

From Aviemore take the train to Inverness and then on to Kyle of Lochalsh on one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world. Disembark on the way at the picturesque village of Plockton and take a boat trip to see wild seals. Alternatively, visit Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland's most iconic sights, and easily recognised from films such as Highlander and James Bond’s, The World is Not Enough.

Day 6 - 7

Using Kyle of Lochalsh as a base, spend a couple of days exploring the local area and, in particular, the romantic Isle of Skye. Skye is a truly magical place, home to some of Scotland's most iconic landscapes - you will surely fall under its spell.

Day 8

For your final day, retrace your route from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness and then south to Edinburgh – maybe stopping off to do some of the things you were unable to do on your way north?

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  • Four days unlimited travel over eight consecutive days: £149
  • Eight days unlimited travel over 15 consecutive days: £189

Benefits

  • Great value
  • Travel by train, coach, bus, tram and subway
  • Flexible – you choose when to travel
  • No need to book in advance
  • Discounts for Railcard users
  • Hop on-hop off as much as you like

Need to know

  • Only valid for Standard Class and off-peak travel
  • The 8 or 15-day period starts on the first day of travel
  • Free travel for under 5s, half price for 5-15s
  • There’s a £10 admin fee for changes or refunds

Your Spirit of Scotland travel pass includes:

  • Train travel in Scotland – and journeys to and from Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed with ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, LNER, and First TransPennine Express. On some lines you won't be able to travel at peak times
  • 20% off ferry travel to Orkney and Shetland – on Northlink Ferries including Scrabster – Stromness, Aberdeen – Lerwick and Aberdeen – Kirkwall – Lerwick
  • 20% off ferry travel to Northern Ireland* – on Stena Line journeys to Belfast
  • Coach travel – on selected routes including Argyll, Skye, the Borders and Northern Highlands, with Scottish Citylink*, Stagecoach and West Coast Motors
  • Subway and tram travel – on the Glasgow Subway and Edinburgh Trams

Enjoy these money-off extras too:

  • Steam travel – 10% off Strathspey Steam Railway and Keith & Dufftown Railway, and £1 off Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway standard fares
  • Loch cruises – 15% off Cruise Loch Lomond, 10% off Sweeney’s Loch Lomond Cruises, and 10% off Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises
  • City bus tours – £1 off standard fares on bus tours of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness
  • Car and taxi hire* – 20% off standard car hire with Arnold Clark in Glasgow or Edinburgh, and 10% off standard car or taxi hire with KyleTaxis/ Skye Car Hire

How does it work?

For most offers, just show your Spirit of Scotland travel pass. *Starred offers must be pre-booked direct with each partner. Find out more

During the winter many transport operators withdraw or operate reduced services. These services are also prone to disruption or cancellation. Please always check with the operator before travelling.

You can buy the Spirit of Scotland travel pass:

  • From the ticket office at any staffed station
  • By phone on 0344 811 0141
  • As an M-Pass mobile ticket – find out how M-Pass works

Buy Spirit of Scotland M-Pass

Fill out this form to buy M-Pass mobile tickets delivered to your phone.

Enter age for best available discounts:

What it is

The M-Pass is a mobile ticket delivered to your phone.

Pass activation

After purchase you’ll receive an email with a link to activate your M-Pass and select your travel dates. The email will come from our partner ACP Rail International (sender: [email protected] )

Your travel dates must be:

  • UK residents: within three months of the purchase date
  • International visitors: within 11 months of the purchase date

Activate your pass when your travel dates are confirmed. You cannot make changes or get a refund after activation.

Pass delivery

Once you’ve activated your M-Pass, you’ll receive another email with the pass attached as a PDF file.

Before you travel download this M-Pass directly to your mobile phone.

You will need to show the M-Pass on your phone to station and on-train staff on request. Printouts are not accepted. You must also show valid photo ID.

For flexi-day passes such as Spirit of Scotland (e.g. four travel days out of eight consecutive days), you must download a separate PDF for each day you travel.

Refunds

  • The M-Pass is non-refundable once you've clicked "Activate" on the activation website
  • You can apply for a refund, subject to a £10 administration fee, for each unused (unactivated) M-Pass cancelled before the expiry date
  • To apply for a refund contact ACP Rail International at [email protected] and quote your transaction ID number (PNR)

Yes, you can get a refund, subject to a £10 administration fee, for each unused ticket given back to us before the date of travel. The M-Pass is also non-refundable once you've clicked "Activate" on the activation website.

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There are two options to choose from:

  • Get four days unlimited travel over eight consecutive days
  • Or travel for eight out of 15 consecutive days
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You can visit stunning destinations all around Scotland with unlimited train travel, and journeys by coach, bus and ferry.

Check out our Explore Scotland pages for inspiration, including:

Spirit of Scotland map 2023

Where can I travel by rail?

With a Spirit of Scotland Travelpass you get:

  • Unlimited train travel in Scotland to/from Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed with ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, LNER and First TransPennine Express
  • Unlimited travel on the Glasgow Subway
  • 10% discount on standard fares with the Strathspey Steam Railway
  • 10% off Keith & Dufftown Railway standard fares
  • £1 off standard fares with Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway (excludes Thomas Days Out)

Where can I travel by coach?

  • Travel on the following routes with Scottish Citylink and West Coast Motors:
    • Oban/Fort William - Inverness
    • Oban - Campbeltown
    • Fort William - Kyle of Lochalsh - Uig
    • Inverness - Ullapool
  • Travel with Stagecoach East Scotland and Stagecoach in the Highlands on the following routes:
    • Dundee/Leuchars - St Andrews
    • Services on the Isle of Skye
    • Wick - John O'Groats
    • Thurso - John O'Groats
    • ​Thurso - Scrabster
  • ​Travel with West Coast Motors/Borders Buses on the following routes:
    • Melrose - Galashiels - Peebles - Edinburgh
    • Carlisle - Langholm - Hawick - Galashiels - Edinburgh
  • ​£1 off adult and concession tickets with City Sightseeing Glasgow
  • £1 off adult and concession tickets with The Edinburgh Bus Tour
  • £1 off adult and concession tickets with City Sightseeing Inverness

Where can I travel by ferry?

  • Get 20% off these Northlink Ferries journeys when Seated Standard tickets are purchased on the day of travel:
    • Scrabster - Stromness
    • ​Aberdeen - Lerwick
    • Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick​
  • 15% discount on standard fares with Cruise Loch Lomond
  • 10% discount on standard fares with Sweeney Cruises (Loch Lomond)
  • 10% discount on standard fares with Jacobite Cruises (Loch Ness)
  • From 25 April 2023, ferry travel is no longer included within the Spirit of Scotland, Highland Rover and Scottish Grand Tour passes. Any ferry travel should be purchased separately and directly from www.calmac.co.uk

Car hire and taxi services

Get 20% off standard car hire with Arnold Clark in Glasgow or Edinburgh. Book ahead at arnoldclarkrental.com (quote reference SR20)

Get 10% off standard car or taxi hire on Skye with Kyle Taxis/Skye Car Hire. To book call 01599 534323 or email [email protected]

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  • From the ticket office at any staffed station
  • By phone on 0344 811 0141
  • Online, as an M-Pass mobile ticket
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You can travel anytime over the weekend, and from Monday to Friday you can travel on trains departing after 09.15.

There are no restrictions on the following routes:

  • Glasgow Queen Street - Oban/Fort William/Mallaig
  • Glasgow Central - Stranraer
  • ​Inverness - Kyle/Wick/Thurso
  • Direct services from Lockerbie to Carlisle, Carstairs, Motherwell or Glasgow Central

Winter operations

During the winter many transport operators withdraw or operate reduced services. These services are also prone to disruption or cancellation. Please always check with the operator before travelling.

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No, there's no need to book in advance.

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No, not at all.

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No, Travel passes are flexible so you don't need a reservation.

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Standard National Railcard discounts apply to full-priced travel passes.

National Railcards include: 16-25, 26-30, Disabled Persons Railcard, Family & Friends, HM Forces, Senior and Two Together Railcards.

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Yes, there's a 50% discount for children aged 5-15 and under 5's travel free.

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No, you can't upgrade to First Class on any of our travel passes.

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Yes, you have unlimited travel, but you can't change the travel validity period of travel passes.

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Yes, you have the freedom to break up your journey as long as your travel pass is still valid.

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