Amulree Church, a stop for the summer bus service
A hop-on/hop-off bus service catering for walkers, cyclists, visitors and locals will tour the Breadalbane area this summer. The Ring of Breadalbane Explorer includes stops at Lochearnhead, Killin, Weem, Aberfeldy, Comrie and Crieff. Of particular interest to walkers will be stops at the Ben Lawers Hotel above Loch Tay, and at Amulree allowing walkers to explore Loch Freuchie or the Rob Roy Way. At present the Rob Roy Way has a delightful two-stage optional detour whttps://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/loch-freuchie.shtmlhich is broken at Amulree where the only public transport is the school bus, the new service, with 3 buses a day in each direction, will allow walkers to start or finish a stage at Amulree, or walk from Amulree to Aberfeldy.
Visitors using the new service will be able to pass through some of Scotland’s major attractions such as the Scottish Crannog Centre, the Famous Grouse Experience and Auchingarrich Wildlife Park. The service will also benefit local residents and cater for those with bicycles.
The project has secured funding from Stirling and Perth & Kinross Councils, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, Scottish Enterprise and a number of local businesses within the Explorer’s ‘Ring’. It is hoped it will breathe new life into rural communities by providing viable public transport and maximising the tourism offer of the area. Ken Chew, chairman of Breadalbane Tourism Co-Operative said: “The Ring of Breadalbane Explorer is a pilot hop-on hop off timetabled bus service which will allow visitors and locals to experience all that is on offer in the wonderful Breadalbane area.”
The service will run six times a day, four days per week from the 17th of July through to the 16th of September operated by Kingshouse Travel of Balquhidder. The complete circular route takes about three hours with fares to be priced at £9 per adult for all-day ticket or £15 for a two-day ticket. At the moment, the timetable is available in leaflet form locally or on Facebook, although it is hoped that timetable will soon be available on the web for non-Facebook users.