New Aviemore Adventurer bus service to Cairngorm Mountain starts from tomorrow

Aviemore and Cairngorm Mountain are to be connected on a much more frequent basis including over the weekends with the launch of a dedicated service from tomorrow.

The number 30 – the ‘Aviemore Adventurer’ bus which has lockers for skis, bikes and outdoor equipment – is to operate up to an hourly shuttle service at peak times.

The first departure from Aviemore rail station will leave at 5.45am and terminates at Glenmore but the next service runs from the village at 7.07am to Cairngorm Mountain, arriving at 7.28am.

The last service leaves from Aviemore at 5.45pm.

There will be regular return services throughout the day and also over the weekends.

Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd chief Susan Smith said: “We are delighted that this new bus link is starting and we have had early positive feedback from customers who are keen to use the service.”

Meanwhile the 36A will serve Grantown to Dufftown via Cromdale and Aberlour, Craigellachie.

The service will run twice a day with three other scheduled daily links but which are subject to a variety of exceptions.

The first service departs Grantown at 10.04am and arrives at Dufftown at 10.55am and the last one of the day leaves the Strathpsey captial at 5.09pm reaching the famous whisky town at 6pm.

The bus timetable additions were welcomed by all attendees at the recent Scottish Rural and Islands Transport Community conference at Boat of Garten Community Hall and had been sought after by local communities and visitors alike.

Murray Ferguson, director of planning and place at the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “We are delighted to hear of this new investment in public transport in a key part of the national park.

“This will benefit both residents and visitors to enjoy the park sustainably and is a really helpful move in the right direction for rural transport which will complement all our work to make this a national park where people and nature thrive together.”

David Beaton, managing director for Stagecoach North Scotland, said: “Our new services will make it even easier for visitors to Aviemore and the north of Scotland to travel sustainably this summer.

“Service 36A will provide a connection with the existing service 36, making it possible to travel from Aviemore to Elgin via Aberlour.

“Our new Aviemore Adventurer route, service 30, will operate between Aviemore and Cairngorm Mountain up to every hour and features a bike rack on board.”

Mark Tate, Cairngorm Business Partnership chief executive, commented: “We very much welcome the announcement of an improved regular bus service between Aviemore and Cairngorm and the additional connectivity to Aberlour with the 36A which provides connections to Elgin.

“Improving access to quality, reliable, affordable public transport, for both locals and visitors, is critical to economy and our environment.”

Strathspey MSP Fergus Ewing (SNP) celebrated: “This is welcome news and I hope the services are well used.”

The Scottish Rural and Island Transport Community (SRITC) CIC is a social enterprise which works across Scotland to campaign for rural communities to get better public transport provision.

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