How to Get to Loch Ness for £2: The Ultimate Budget Travel Guide for Backpackers
- Jay
- Mar 23
- 6 min read
Travelling around the Scottish Highlands has traditionally been one of the more expensive parts of backpacking in Scotland, especially when trying to reach places like Loch Ness, Skye, Fort William, and Oban without a car.
However, a new £2 single bus fare pilot scheme is changing that, making it possible to travel long distances across the Scottish Highlands on public transport for less than the price of a coffee. For backpackers, this opens up an entirely new cheap way to explore the Highlands and travel between top destinations.
In this guide, we'll explain how the new £2 bus fare works, which routes you can take to reach unforgettable social hostels, and how you can use it to travel between some of the best backpacker destinations including Loch Ness without breaking the bank.
Want to stay at a social hostel on Loch Ness, with kayak hire, hikes, and its own beach on the Loch? Book a stay at Lochside Hostel today, and use the code TRAVEL15 when making a reservation to get 15% off your stay midweek this April - savings all round!
What Is the £2 Bus Fare in Scotland and How Does It Work?
This new bus fare allows you to travel on selected routes across the Scottish Highlands and Islands for a single fare of just £2. There's no need to apply for anything or purchase a specific pass, just to buy a ticket on one of the chosen routes either ahead of time or on the bus.
The fare has been introduced with funding from the Scottish Government with the aim of making it more affordable and simple to use the network of buses that connect the towns, villages, sights and attractions within the Scottish Highlands.
It's worth noting that the £2 bus fare currently only applies to routes within the Highlands - meaning you will need to travel to a destination covered by the cap before you can take advantage of the offer. If you book a journey that starts outside of the fare zone, you will pay the regular fare until you reach a destination that is, and then you will pay £2 - if that sounds complicated, don't worry, it will all be automatically arranged for you when you buy a ticket.
You have to travel with one of the participating bus operators - Citylink, Stagecoach, Ember and Shiel Buses. If you need to change buses to a different operator during your journey, it will be £2 for each ticket.
The scheme is in place for 12 months from the 23rd March 2026.
Where Can I Travel in Scotland with the £2 Bus Fare Cap and What Routes Should Backpackers Take?
The £2 bus fare applies to buses travelling within the Highland Council, Argyll & Bute and Moray Council areas - put simply, almost any local bus route in the Highlands. It does not include routes that travel from Edinburgh or Glasgow to the Highlands.
If you are travelling from any destination in the Highlands to another on a local bus, you will pay just £2 for a single fare. While there is currently no active map of all of the routes, here are some example routes to popular backpacking destinations you will be able to take using the scheme for just £2:
Inverness -> Loch Ness -> Fort William (Citylink 917 bus or Ember bus)
Inverness -> Loch Ness -> Isle of Skye (Citylink 919 bus or Ember bus)
Isle of Skye -> Loch Ness -> Fort William (Citylink 915 bus)
Fort William -> Oban (Citylink 918 bus or Ember bus)
Oban -> Fort William (Citylink 918 bus or Ember bus)
Fort William -> Glenfinnan Viaduct -> Mallaig (for Isle of Skye ferries) (Shiel Buses 500 bus)
Mallaig (for Isle of Skye ferries) -> Glenfinnan Viaduct -> Fort William (Shiel Buses 500 bus)
All of these routes travel regularly throughout the daytime with departures in each direction.
You can plan your journey most efficiently and book tickets (including the £2 bus fares) using Omio, a travel comparison website. We recommend it for all backpackers:
Can You Really Get to Loch Ness for £2 in 2026?
If your journey starts from Inverness, Fort William or the Isle of Skye, then yes, you really can travel directly to the shores of Loch Ness for just £2 right now.
If travelling from Edinburgh or Glasgow, the £2 bus fare will make your journey to Loch Ness considerably cheaper, as there are no direct public buses to Loch Ness, meaning you will have to transfer onto a Citylink 917/919 bus or a new Ember bus.
The easiest way to get to Loch Ness from Edinburgh is to take a bus to Inverness, and then transfer. This can easily be achieved with both Citylink and Ember buses, and you can book your journey all in one place on Omio:
For a long time, the only bus service to destinations on Loch Ness Citylink, whose 917 bus travels from Inverness to the Isle of Skye twice a day in each direction via Drumnadrochit, and Alltsigh, and the 919 bus travels regularly throughout the daytime from Inverness to Fort William via the major tourist destinations of Drumnadrochit, Alltsigh and Fort Augustus.
As of April 2026, all-electric bus company Ember have launched a competing route that travels from Inverness to Fort William, with stops also in Drumnadrochit, Alltsigh and Fort Augustus. All of the aforementioned locations have hostel accommodation available during the spring, summer and autumn months (March-October).
Both of these bus routes are included in the £2 bus fare scheme.
Can I Travel to Major Attractions In & Around Loch Ness for Just £2?
Yes! Once you've arrived at the Loch, you can use both the Citylink 917 & 919 buses and the newly launched Ember bus service to transport in between major attractions like Urquhart Castle, the Falls of Foyers and more. These can all easily be reached by public transport from backpacker destinations like Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, and Lochside Hostel in Alltsigh.
Check out our backpackers' guide to Loch Ness to find out more:
Where Can I Stay Overnight In Loch Ness As a Backpacker?
Lochside Hostel is located in Alltsigh, a small hamlet that gives you the best of both worlds in your stay on Loch Ness. With direct access to a beach, kayak hire, and daily events you'll get a social backpackers experience. Alongside this, a wealth of facilities including a large kitchen and lounge, shop with a small bar selection, and most importantly a Citylink bus stop right at the door to take you to all the major attractions on the North shore of the Loch.
Alltsigh is located around halfway up the Loch, and the seclusion gives it a truly remote 'Highlands' feel, even though quick and regular buses are there to take you to other spots on the Loch. If being in the midst of nature isn't for you, alternative accommodations within walking distance of Drumnadrochit and Fort Augusts village centres include Loch Ness Backpackers and Morag's Lodge.
If you use the code TRAVEL15 when making a reservation, you can get 15% off your stay midweek this April at Lochside Hostel in Loch Ness, exclusive to the Scotland's Top Hostels Travel Guide. With direct beach access, daily social events, a large kitchen and lounge, shop, kayak rental and more, you're sure to find things to do throughout your stay. Prices start from just £23 per night in dormitory rooms in 2026.
Tips for Booking and Using £2 Bus Tickets to Travel to Loch Ness
Book ahead to avoid disappointment - the new £2 bus fare is likely to be popular!
Use travel comparison site Omio to easily plan your travel and book your tickets to Loch Ness all in one place, even if travelling from Edinburgh, or more locally from Inverness, the Isle of Skye, or Fort William.
Travel around all the sights of Loch Ness using the £2 bus fare while you can - using Lochside Hostel is the perfect base for exploring the Loch and taking advantage of direct onward transport to the Isle of Skye, Fort William and Inverness.
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