Tour Scotland by Postbus

Hi Sandy, Please could you email me the postbus routes for Harris, Lewis and N Uist as I can't seem to find them on the web. Carol Pirie.

For some of those living in the more remote areas of the UK, the Postbus is the only method of public transport available for those who don't drive, providing a vital link to civilization. For travellers, it's a different and unique way to visit spots that might otherwise have been hard to reach - and, of course, to benefit from the wide local knowledge of the drivers, who will often be able to fill passengers in on local stories, legends and traditions of the type you just don't find in guide books.

The Postbus itself is not a new idea. Back in the 17th century, the Post Chaise, which delivered letters and passengers across Britain, was that century's answer to public transport, and you'll find many references to "travelling post" in the literature of the time. Although today's version of the Post Chaise is considerably more comfortable than its predecessor, the Postbus still offers an air of adventure and camaraderie amongst passengers, which you just don't find on most methods of modern public transport.

On most routes, mail is collected and delivered twice per day, with travellers able to board the bus at any point along its route. Remember, however, that the bus may not use the same route for each journey, so check the schedule carefully if you're relying on it for your ride home! It's particularly important to check the Postbus schedule if you're thinking of travelling to a particularly remote area, where there may be only one mail delivery per day. The Postbus schedule can be found here.