10 hours!! Glasgow to Aberdeen with McGills, Midland Bluebird and Stagecoach - seriously hard work.

[@dandwhit]

Not doing Glasgow to London but I'm doing Land's End to John O'Groats by public buses in August! If all goes to plan... it'll take me 10 days (not the fastest route, but one which goes through places we want to go to and will give more time to enjoy the towns and cities as well as the buses!)

[@BoskiM]

Please try and film if possible

[@Citaro2013]

ooo you might end up travelling on my bus then :) i drive for Stagecoach Highlands in Caithness X99 and local services. Good luck with your journey

[@Richjwade]

Good luck @dandwhit I attempted this in 2018 but the Beast from the struck the week before I did it and services were affected so ended up having to take a couple of alternative trains. Took me 6 days. Hope to do the most Southerly bus stop in England to the most Northerly. I live in Cornwall so might actually do it the other way round!

[@dandwhit]

@@Citaro2013 The X99 is on my route, yes!

[@nleak92]

Good luck with that, thats going to be a long and bumpy ride

[@BsBsBock]

the driver cover his face with his hand hahaahahhahaha

[@ToilerOnTheSea]

Just saw that, was he moonlighting as it can't have anything to do with CCTV, the buses have them.

[@murraybarnes6089]

Travelling turtle does excellent local bus challenges. Just uploaded london to paris using local buses in under 24 hours. Worth a watch

[@HeikkiVesanto]

youtube.com/@travelling_turtle

[@johnroberts2331]

I can also highly recommend that channel Scott!

[@eugenedonaghy1]

He did lowestoft to Beleek in 4 days

[@smoothmicra]

As an owner of a car since leaving college many years ago I very rarely have cause to dip into the world of bus travel. However, one summer I dislocated my shoulder and found myself forced into local bus travel. A remarkable amount of logistic planning required to get to places I normally wouldn't think twice about. Made me realise how lucky I am, jumping in a car and turning on the sat nav is a doddle in comparison. Bus users, I salute you!😊

[@bulletholeteddy9223]

And before the £2 fare thing in England it was quite expensive some routes costing £8-9 or more to go one way

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

Where I live, the walk to the first bus stop takes a whopping 2-3 minutes less than the entire door to door car journey. And that was just to reach the stop. You then had to account for the bus actually turning up on time (it was often late) and making other stops en-route. Travel time from leaving my home, to getting the bus, to getting off at the final stop, then walking to my desk? 40 minutes on a good way. £6 a day just to get to work. There were two bus companies in my town at the time and to get total coverage on both of them was about £1100 a year in season tickets, which is not economical because you're pre-paying for journeys you will never make on routes you will never use. The car took 12-15 minutes, allow 25 at the worst of rush hour. Factor in all the motoring expenses (fuel, insurance, HMRC mileage calculations etc.) and you're looking at maybe £2-3 a day. You also have the car for other social purposes and errands, so you can't put a price on the convenience either. People considered you absolutely insane if you lived in that town without some kind of direct private transport, even if that was an electric moped or calling taxis as needed. The buses were pretty crap.

[@smoothmicra]

@@halfbakedproductions7887 Lol, so true but we have made it this way. Everyone prefers personal transport to public transport for selfish reasons, so the car rules. I love cars but I would happily use public transport if it was comfortable and reliable. Am I in a weird minority?🤔

[@JTCloud]

​@@smoothmicra I wouldn’t label these reasons as “selfish” because, generally speaking, public transport in Scotland is unreliable and poorly maintained. In contrast, I greatly appreciate the public transport across most of mainland Europe for its cleanliness, tidiness, and reliability-it’s far from resembling a trashcan on wheels. In many places I've visited in Scotland, the public transport system is disappointingly akin to an unreliable trashcan on wheels (due to how unmaintained and dirty buses are on the inside), resulting in a lot of people preferring to opt for taxis or personal vehicles (bikes, scooters, motorbikes, etc.) to avoid such unpleasant experiences.If the reliability and cleanliness of public transport were on the same level as e.g., in Austria, Switzerland, Poland, etc., there would be less reason to own a car.

[@RowanVeeTee]

It's probably already been said, but the reason for the McGills Midland Bluebird bus is because McGills recently bought out First's operations in Central and East Scotland, rebranding them as Midland Bluebird, and Eastern Scottish. Seems like both fleets under First needed more buses, so McGills has been cycling a lot of their older stock from the parent company into the "new" companies. I was doing training over in Edinburgh for my new job in Glasgow and kept seeing McGills branded buses all over the place, it was bloody bizarre, especially for me as a fellow Paisley boy.

[@williethomson8353]

McGill's is a Greenock company

[@markgummer561]

Hi Scott thanks for my mention! It was a pleasure to meet you in Glasgow Your a top bloke! So continue the excellent work 👍👍☺️

[@steve-marsh]

A classic Scott video! What could possibly go wrong!? :D Love these adventures, hope your train home wasn't too expensive. Oh I've been on those local buses in Aberdeen area, they are a nightmare, only matched I'd say by West Lothian buses! Brilliant video, always enjoy these :)

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

Thanks Steve. I read somewhere, when things go pear-shaped, always keep the camera running, because that's what people like to see. I was totally shattered when I got home, but it makes an unusual video.

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Try Land's End to John O'Groats by locals buses. I did a theoretical plan - I think it takes about 1 week to do the journey. A challenge either for you or Steve Marsh.

[@baz0786]

​@@PlanesTrainsEverything wow scott you were in my home town of Falkirk great content as always been watching you for a while subscribed recently

[@GEODUCK9]

​@@jjsmallpiece9234 Or another joint challenge, one starting at top n other at bottom to see who makes it first

[@iainjones5002]

First Group sold their First Scotland East division last year, with the buyout completed around September. All depots in Livingston, Larbert, Bannockburn, and Balfron were included as were existing fleets, plus all staff. Since then, they have reintroduced a variation of the one time Eastern Scottish green and cream and Midland Bluebird blue and cream liveries as well as bringing back the original fleet names. McGills also bought Explore Dundee from National Express a couple of years ago too, running bus services in that city and in recent months have joined forces with Flixbus, starting services linking Glasgow & Edinburgh to London.

[@ballantynemoyes8019]

Great video. Nice to see a part of Dunfermline I used to know well before I left for Australia almost 60 years ago. We almost moved to Glenrothes but ended up staying in Cowdenbeath until 1964. I do love your adventures as I really like both bus and train travel. The longest bus journey I've ever made was from Townsville in North Queensland to Canberra, Australia's capital. That's only 2,548 kms or 1,583 miles - took two and a half days. Happy travelling.

[@JamBar1873]

At 13:38 when the bus for Aberdeen was pulling into Dundee bus station, was the driver hiding his face with his hand so you couldn’t film him??

[@lewiss626]

Looked like it.

[@LizzyFerretOfficial]

I was just away to mention this too. Wonder if the uptick in vlogging has created some friction - much like when you get your car back from the garage and they’ve pulled the dashcam out however they could in a hurry all because they don’t want their workshops being filmed 😒

[@gurneybeat8943]

As someone who lives in Stonehaven and experiences the X7 and other local buses frequently seeing the 7B pull up filled me with dread as it makes a 20 minute direct journey over an hour long

[@joannharrington2279]

I love to take the road less travelled sometimes. You have great scenery or just be with your thoughts. I am retired and every day is Saturday. You live in a beautiful part of the world and showcase it well.

[@sandiandgregh]

Oh my gosh, Scott, you deserve a gold star (and then some) for your epic bus trips. We really enjoy them, even when things don't go exactly as planned. It's happened to us all so we feel your pain. Looking forward to the next. - Sandi & Greg H (Canada)

[@martinoxborrow5527]

Gold star for what??the blokes a lazy jobless ponce

[@christophercumming5476]

Scott, Did the X7 driver not want filmed?🤣

[@kr46428]

I'm not even from the UK, but I've very much enjoyed watching your videos. I imagine it was a big relief to get back home.

[@emiscand]

Love watching your adventures in Scotland!

[@norman32949]

Loved that one Scott, my last day out on the buses was Dumfries to Glasgow via - wait for it - 246 to Cumnock . X42 toAyr, 585 to Largs all by Stagecoach West Scotland and then the 906 Largs to Glasgow with McGills, and finally back to Dumfries on the X74, a really good day out. I must have been lucky as all buses were on time and can I just mention the drivers - all friendly and helpfull. 👍

[@davidoliver1169]

Hi Scott. It is another fascinating video and as always well produced.

[@ricequin]

Midland Bluebird was the local bus operator in Falkirk and Stirling in my childhood in the 1980’s. When MGills took over the routes from Last Group they revived the name.

[@thenewjerseydevil997]

Oh my. That was great. Thank you Scott

[@paulstenhouse9444]

I’m up for the challenge. Great videos 😊

[@thealbagalavanter9986]

I've done X7 Perth to Aberdeen Scott it's a long haul at just under 4 hours each way

[@elRaymo]

Hi Scott, a few years ago now and with my All England Free Bus Pass I went from my home town of Southport to London for absolutely nothing, total journey time 2 Days. My route took me into Manchester, Stockport, then the whole of Derbyshire for North to South to Derby, onto Leicester with an overnight stop. The following day I carried on to Market Harborough over to Milton Keynes and then to Luton Airport Parkway where I picked up a Green Line Coach which took me directly to London via the M1. If you attempt this from Scotland I would suggest that you head for Manchester as from there it's fairly straight forward. The hardest bit for me was travelling from my home town of Southport to Manchester which took almost 4hrs to travel some 40 miles. Good luck if you do it and I'm sure it would make a great Vlog.

[@krismclean6527]

I was curious to see how this could be done from Edinburgh to London using local buses... If I left Edinburgh on a Monday morning at 09:00, I could finally arrive in to London on the Wednesday at 18:39 taking a grand total of 18 buses!!! Well done to you for making it in one piece with that trip Scott...

[@robertsinnott9325]

Wow...nice one

[@LuperSoop69]

You could either go via Leeds or Manchester, and both routes meet up at Derby

[@aldorfc220]

Welcome to roundabout Glenrothes lol pleasure having you here it's a dump ain't it 😂 Good video 12.14 just 10 minute up that road to the right where i stay lol

[@paulbennett2112]

Things did not go as planned but at least you got there in the end it just shows what determination and perseverance can do.

[@glenmason3474]

Thanks Scott for this great video. I’m a Falkirk lad so glad to see you pop by!

[@stevedeakin1883]

I love your work Scott , I'm a Leeds United fan too.👍

[@walken1996]

That makes two of us

[@lucyanncavanagh8356]

Oh hell not that X7! That’s the slowest bus from Perth Royal Infirmary to Ninewells via Seagate to Arbroath to Aberdeen union St to Aberdeen Royal it always seems to fry at Hillside stop! It’s not nicknamed the slow bus to nowhere for an ex Dundee lass whom often take the Dundee to Arbroath Aberdeen service a lot to be in Aberdeen for the ferry to Shetland! Only the X7 could stress me out 100% as a passenger 😅. It’s the Train or the M8/9. McGills also took over the Xplore Dundee group about 3 summers ago. I was told recently by my mum, that it’s gotten really worse for various bus services, around Dundee City. Now then Zettrans are just a law to themselves. I believe that Robertson’s, Halcrow’s and Andrew’s run a majority of the services from Lerwick and nope it’s just knowing that buses will come when they come!😂

[@triphops3949]

Glasgow to London by local bus... I am an American and I would absolutely fly across the pond just to do it. Don't tempt me, because I am that crazy! Good video, btw!

[@sunnyjim1355]

As an Englishman, the only time I ever hear of Dunfermline is during football results against Cowdenbeath, Motherwell, Hamilton Academical, or some such. Nice to know the place actually exists.

[@Bruce-1956]

It's also the birthplace of, Andrew Carnagie, Ian Anderson, Barbara Dickson. Big Country, Nazereth, Skids are a few of the bands coming from the city. Jock Stein's was manager at Dunfermline before he went to Celtic. Close by are 6 nuclear subs which were laid up forty odd years ago, also the Forth bridges. Robert the Bruce, minus heart, is buried in the Abbey along with a few Kings and Queens of Scotland. It was once the capital of Scotland. And I went to school there about 50 years ago.

[@craigbyers5048]

Another great blog scott. This is one of your challenges I would like to try

[@DarrenKC53]

Excellent video as always, love you see these challenges. You do it so we don’t have to 🤣😂 keep up the good work

[@ohnolookwho241]

I have to wonder, why take a McGills bus to Falkirk, then another bus to Larbert, to then jump on the X24 to Glenrothes? taking 1.5hrs, whereas jumping on the X24 would have taken only 34 minutes to make the same journey, and then let you continue onwards without switching busses.

[@djmark143]

Scott always finds the hardest ways to travel somewhere. 😄 Great video again Scott, always enjoy them! 🙂

[@martinoxborrow5527]

How about find a way to get a job

[@paulharvey9149]

I'm puzzled. Why did you include Falkirk on your itinerary? Only, the X24 runs direct from Glasgow to Glenrothes, and connects there with the X54 to Dundee, for the X7 to Aberdeen... Alternatively, X27 Glasgow to Halbeath P&R connects with X56 to Perth, for X7...

[@JohninRosc]

Very entertaining video - thank you.

[@ritchierennie8556]

Mcgills was local to Greenock, they took over from Clyside the took over other local bus companies in Paisley, Johnstone, Midland, Cumbernauld then now nationwide. They are owned by Greenock-based brothers Easdales. The old companies went to the dogs, The Easdale Brothers spent a lot of money bringing up to scratch the buses, premises, uniforms and more professional running of the company.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

I once did a Mount-Fuji (Fujiyoshida station) to Kyoto by all local trains... (we had nearly run out of cash, & back then it was only in the largest cities that cash-machines accepted foreign cards) No-delays, the time-tables worked perfectly, but, in was still 9 or 10 different trains if I remember correctly.... also, this was all in the days before mobile navigation or GoogleTranslate, and, at the time, my Japanese was still only extremely basic... a memorable experience for sure!

[@katrinabryce]

When I was in Japan, two months ago, and previously 9 years ago, 7-Eleven cash machines took foreign cards, and you find them pretty much everywhere. The other option is Japan Post Office, never tried them, and 9 years ago but not this time, CitiBank.

[@ulfw]

What a crazy trip!

[@ToilerOnTheSea]

Live locally to the FVRH and have used it for accessing Fife by bus when doing the Fife Coastal Path, as it comes into the Fife Day Rover Ticket zone.

[@dougierobertson7606]

Keep the videos going Dougie from Paisley👍👍👍

[@lja8187]

I wanna see you do that London one. 🤣

[@MidlandRailEnthusiast]

This was yet another fantastic Vlog Scott I’m glad you managed to get back home after all the problems with the buses I continue to enjoy watching your Vlogs Scott and I look forward to watching more of your future Vlogs until then keep up the good work take care and stay safe

[@dvidclapperton]

Changing buees in Falkirk from the X37 to the 38, on the 38 went back along the same road you got to Falkirk on on the X37 until Camelon.

[@andrewstorm8240]

And the train takes forever !

[@chrischarlescook]

Sponsors? Well deserved 🎉

[@andrewhall2269]

Amazing video as always. I really hope you can do a time table challenge soon. They are my favourite

[@jonnyboca]

You have just explanted to me very clearly why I would never use Scottish Busses.

[@seanchild2878]

Haway Scott, you know you are going to do the London trip eventually, It will eat away at you now until you do it! haha!

[@greendayrichard7391]

Love the videos keep them coming

[@waterside13]

On the positive side you encountered some lovely scenery and it was a great challenge. Good idea if you were just touring around Scotland with time on your hands.

[@eleanorheptinstall5354]

I did a similar thing a few months ago, making use of Stagecoach's very affordable East of Scotland dayrider to go from Glasgow to Aberdeen, changing in Glenrothes and Dundee, about a travel time of 6 to 7 hours, but gave me a lengthy 5 hours in Dunfermline.

[@lillyakemii]

That first stagecoach bus goes straight from Buchanan to Glenrothes!!

[@henryhannon9055]

Brave man

[@cameronc393]

Erskine was classed as a new village, a smaller version of a new town, also built in the 1970s

[@walterfillingham]

Midland Bluebird was recently sold by First Bus to McGills Buses. Crazy what you did, but what I do like about using local buses, is you actually see all the small towns and villages you would normally pass by on a train or coach service.

[@jamesdoyle8442]

Scott Love your videos 100.Percnt 👍👍👍😀

[@DISDUNCBLOG]

Stagecoach East Scotland is appalling. So unreliable its unreal. Your journey to Aberdeen was just the tip of the broken down iceberg. You should do a challenge across the Stagecoach East Scot region see how many are late or have defects it really would shock you. Great video and keep up the good work.

[@alanshelly7068]

A very good evening from Alan in Lowestoft buddy 👍

[@timbounds7190]

What a wimp Scott! Would only take you 3 days to go from London to Glasgow by local bus? Nothing! I have a book written in the 1950s by a woman who took local buses all the way from Twickenham SW London to John O'Groats - and back! Took her less time than you'd think - less than a fortnight including a stay of a few days in the Lake District (working in a hotel!). Sounded a bit of a grind of a trip though - she put some awfully long days in, travelling until very late in the evening, then trying to find accommodation without booking ahead (no smartphone apps then!!). I guess it'd be great if you were imbued with huge amounts of patience........ I once went from Coventry to Essex by a series of local buses (via Northampton, Bedford, Hitchin, Hatfield, Romford), but I was young and foolish then!!

[@ridbensdale]

I’ve travelled from Crewe to London, and Crewe to Newcastle, on buses. Both for charity. Had a great time.

[@lostjackets4006]

Your best video yet!! Pity you didn't have footage of you running for your Paisley train.

[@thatpolishkid]

Planes, trains , everything next can you do Milton Keynes to Glasgow?

[@paulmark63]

Brill video Scott if you did Glasgow to London I be interested to know which buses would you have used look forward to hearing from you Paul in Kent

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

Hope you will NOT be interred! Predictive text?!

[@baseballfan99]

I just did Manchester to Newcastle via Whitby, all for just £14 thanks to the £2 fare cap. Saw parts of towns you cannot see by rail and lots of great scenery. My bus from Whitby was 30 mins late and as a result they curtailed it early so I had to switch to a slower one which meant I was 1 hour late at my hotel but no biggy. It was still light enough for the great costal scenery.

[@rossmcgarrie9787]

You are wrong about the coaches from Glasgow to St Andrew’s as they ALL do have toilets fitted on the Plaxton Elite Coaches but not sure if they’re in use but they should be at a guess. 👍

[@greigs9384]

Cumbernauld. What a depressing bus stn. The X26 from Dunfermline used to stop there on one of its limited stops.

[@anderson357]

That was fun

[@MartinBrez]

I'm from Nottingham, but I've visited three of the five new towns mentioned with work. I've been to; East Kilbride, Cumbernauld, and Livingston. EK is my favourite, although the other towns are good with friendly people.

[@bigd2728]

Excellent video. I’d love for you to do the 3 day bus trip from Glasgow to London

[@ricequin]

Your bus from FVRH to Glenrothes started in Glasgow and only made one stop at Cumbernauld town centre before Larbert. This is my tip for anyone actually wanting to go from Glasgow to Larbert.

[@benjamingibson4720]

Glasgow to london sounds like a good one for your 50,000 or 100,000 celibration video

[@andrewduncan66]

hats off for the time you spend on your travels, but can i ask why and i know you said local buses, but getting on the stagecoach at FVRH which would have left from Buchanan Street bus station i find an odd connection, or taken the X36 which would have taken you to stirling

[@shaunmaxwell9948]

That has been taken over now MGILLS

[@JTCloud]

This video perfectly encapsulates why I dislike using public transport in Scotland. The bus schedules seem arbitrary and unreliable, leaving you unsure whether you will indeed travel from point A to point B successfully. When I travel in Scandinavia and most other European countries, I rarely need as many "plan B" options as I do in Scotland, where I always feel compelled to have several alternative routes in case of delays, cancellations, etc. I'm hoping to get my driving license soon to avoid relying on our "great" Scottish public transport, until improvements bring it up to the standards of other developed countries. Achieving the levels of Japan or Switzerland would be ideal, but I would be content if it even approached the quality of public transport in the Baltics.

[@michaeldilworth5382]

There is a lad who did furthest travelling on local buses from London Rolled up just after midnight in my home town Morecambe!! Hurrah!!

[@r8m8s8]

Hope you can reach 100k subs in the future Scott lad!

[@sashaneemoht8764]

Scotty, Scotty, Scotty, I don't know how you can keep so energised... I do know if must be more than a coffee and an empire biscuit. Also I wonder how you didn't get caught out by the bus switcheroo. Pals of mine got on a stagecoach from Ayr to Glasgow and the destination indicated "Not in service". Boggles the mind!

[@jordantransportadventures1378]

Great video could you just of got the X24 straight to Glenrothes from Glasgow?

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

There is actually the small village of Stonehouse in South Lanarkshire. I knew a girl from there. Milton Keynes is another example of a 'new' town which isn't actually new because there was something there beforehand. I'm guessing the 'new' Stonehouse might have been the same. No idea if EK or Irvine existed in any form beforehand.

[@Jock609]

Wasn't Bluebird, Alexanders and then Lawsons (or the other way around) in the 1960's?

[@doric_historic]

Stagecoach normally travels at lightspeed on our street, suprised you never arrived vastly quicker...

[@callumweir3859]

Another great watch Scott. You should try the London challenge. Also, is the X27 you used from Falkirk to Glenrothes technically a local bus if coach is running from Glasgow to St Andrews?

[@joshuahill6153]

In some parts of New Zealand even high frequency routes 1 out of every 4 buses are canceled! :( you should try down here, stagecoach up and left.

[@progster999]

This is why I love the 0740 CityLink direct to Aberdeen. Comfortable and under 3 hours.

[@ametrinemoon]

The G92?

[@progster999]

@@ametrinemoon M9

[@s125ish]

Is that the one that omits Dundee?

[@crazyfroggie6546]

Sods law the bus broke down (been there myself on the way to the airport, coach's gearbox failed), but impressed they managed to get another bus out to you in 10 minutes.

[@andrewwilson6240]

The closest thing I've done to this is when I went to Eccleshall for a meeting (really!). I caught a train to Stafford on the way out. It turned out that the Arriva day ranger ticket was cheaper than the two singles to Stafford. Then my meeting was cancelled. I thought let's not waste the ticket! Eccleshall to Stafford. Stafford to Rugeley. Rugeley to Lichfield. Lichfield to Burton. Burton to Derby. Then the train home on my original ticket. Quite memorable

[@brianharley6452]

My hometown of glenrothes( moved to Sheffield 6 years ago)

[@terranceparsons5185]

When I lived in London, I wanted to do Uxbridge to Upton Park by bus. But the tube was so much quicker.

[@michasreisefieber]

Really want to see you that glasgow to London tour over 3 days with maybe a few nice basic hotels you can show on that tour or nice places to have food and dring in the evenings.

[@paulmark63]

Hi Scott-seen your video from Glasgow to Aberdeen on local buses out of interest you mentioned Glasgow to London on local buses which buses are the ones to london

[@Thehuntedfew1]

if you are stuck in Dundee, pop upto ninewells and get the hospital bus, goes between perth, dundee and stratcahro, then a bus from there to Aberdeen

[@Earlofmar1]

great video. What else are you going to do on a rainy day 😁😁

[@evanokane291]

When ever I’m back in Johnstone always buy a paisley daily express as my gran reads it

[@gordonprentice7090]

Could only think of 3 other new town Livingston, Cumbernauld and East Kilbride. Didn't know Irvine was anew town.

[@MrSnout5]

McGills do the 757 Paisley to Clydebank route, which includes being the connecting bus between Paisley Gilmour Street station and Glasgow Airport.

[@kwlkid85]

I always planned to do Oxford to Norwich by local buses. Used to be only 3 buses but I think it'd be 5+ now.

[@AllAroundTransport2]

Amazing video Scott, does anyone know if Scottish Citylink or Stagecoach is included in the £2 fare? Thanks!

[@AlvinOfficial-UK]

Nah. No operator in Scotland took part in it.

[@AllAroundTransport2]

@@AlvinOfficial-UKOk thanks!

[@JTG2024]

the 4 towns built after the war is Glenrothes, Cumbernauld, Livingston and Irvine. were built after the war