Ember: 24-hour bus services to and from Inverness
By Kay Pearson on 25th November 2025
Getting to Inverness just got a whole lot easier – and greener. Ember, the UK’s first all-electric intercity bus company, now runs 24-hour services to and from the Highland capital, opening up brilliant new options for our tour guests, who want to visit Skye from Edinburgh or Glasgow, but are tight on time.
One of the joys of the Scottish Highlands is how remote and peaceful it feels. Big skies, wide open spaces, and very few people – it’s all part of the magic. The flip side? We’ve never been as well connected by public transport as other Scottish cities.
We’ve been running tours for 15 years and have definitely lost count of the number of guests who’ve asked: “How do I get back to Edinburgh after the Skye tour?”. Until now, the frustrating answer we had to give was that you can’t, not the same evening.
Our Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour usually gets back to Inverness around 20:15, and the Skye Explorer Hiking Tour around 20:45. Historically, there simply weren’t any suitable public transport options afterwards. If you wanted to take one of our tours, you were looking at a minimum two-night stay in Inverness.
Not any more…
The company has recently introduced fantastic new 24-hour services to Inverness, finally giving our guests realistic same-day travel options to and from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Ember’s services between Edinburgh and Inverness began in November 2025, opening up a key route for many of our guests, who want to take a bus from Edinburgh to Inverness for a Skye tour.
Route: Edinburgh – Perth city centre – Pitlochry – Dalwhinnie – Aviemore – Inverness.
Frequency: 9 return services per day, departing between 2am and 9.20pm.
Airport link: Some departures also serve Edinburgh Airport, which is a game-changer for visitors flying in from North America, who want to connect straight to the Highlands.
Price: From £18.10 single
If you’re travelling back to Edinburgh after our Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour, you can now catch the 20:31 or 22:30 bus from Inverness. We’d recommend the 22:30 departure, as it gives you time to enjoy a relaxed dinner in Inverness before you head south.
This makes it far easier to slot Skye into a shorter Scotland itinerary, without sacrificing an extra night just for logistics.
Ember services between Glasgow and Inverness started in October 2025.
Route: Glasgow – Dunblane – Perth – Pitlochry – Dalwhinnie – Aviemore – Inverness.
Frequency: 12 return services per day, running approximately every 2 hours.
Express options: Three of these services are non-stop between Glasgow and Inverness.
Price: From £19 single.
If you’re joining our Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour and want to head back to Glasgow the same evening, you now have options: after the tour returns to Inverness, you could take the 21:10 or 23:10 Ember departure back to Glasgow. It might mean a late night, but we promise it’ll be worth it to enjoy a spectacular day on the Isle of Skye.
Ember has rapidly expanded its network since 2024 and, so far, feedback looks very encouraging. Passengers particularly highlight comfortable, modern vehicles, friendly and helpful staff, and a clear, user-friendly website and booking system.
Review-wise, they’re currently sitting at 4.2 on Trustpilot and 4.5 on TripAdvisor, which puts them well ahead of more established operators running similar routes.
From a Highland perspective, these services are a fantastic addition to our public transport network, making it easier and greener than ever to reach Inverness and join our Skye tours. Additionally, they pick up and drop off on Union Street, as we do, so you’ll know exactly where you need to meet for your tour/bus trip back!
Here’s hoping Ember continues to expand its network and maintain its high standards – because from what we can see, they’re doing a brilliant job. Keep up the good work, Ember!
To book an Ember bus please go to their website – booking is available around two months in advance of travel dates
