Open Top Bus Tour Drives Tourism Success

Visitors to Royal Deeside are getting a better view of the area’s glorious scenery and most popular leisure attractions this summer thanks to an open top bus which runs daily between Loch Muick near Ballater through part of the Balmoral estate right up to the Linn o’ Dee beyond Braemar.

The bus, operated by Stagecoach North Scotland during the summer months, is proving popular with visitors and locals alike who are turning their attention to the attractions of the North-east following the high profile sporting events which have been taking place in other parts of Scotland this year.

Offering a voyage with a view, the open top bus gives passengers the option to stop off and visit a number of attractions along the route. One of the first stops is at Loch Muich, set in the Balmoral estate, and a popular spot for walkers. The timetable gives walkers plenty time to complete the 12.5km circuit and enjoy a picnic at the head of the loch before catching the bus back to Ballater. 

A stop at the Balmoral Castle car park puts passengers within a short walking distance of the Royal Lochnagar Distillery where visitors can get a guided tour and finish up with a dram of the Royal Lochnagar 12-year-old.Ballater, renowned for its Royal connections and its many shops bearing Royal Warrants, is well worth a stop-over of a few hours with attractions including the Old Royal Railway Station with its refurbished carriage from Queen Victoria’s Royal Train.

For those lamenting the ending of the Commonwealth Games and the Open Golf, Braemar will once again host the world-famous Braemar Gathering on September 6 when the focus is on sporting excellence of a different kind.

“The open top bus is becoming increasingly popular with both visitors from home and abroad and with local residents,” said Steve Walker, managing director, Stagecoach North Scotland. “A trip to Royal Deeside is always high on the agenda for visitors and travelling by open-top bus gives them the chance to see and experience the area at its best with clear views of some of its spectacular scenery. Whether you want to hike round the loch or stroll round the shops travelling by the open top bus adds to the whole experience of a day out on Deeside.”

Philip Smith, VisitScotland Regional Director, said:
“Royal Deeside boasts a wealth of attractions and beautiful scenery and this great seasonal service will allow our visitors to experience these from a fantastic vantage point.

“The open top bus adds a whole new dimension for visitors - whether from the locality or further afield – allowing them to hop on at Loch Muick and travel through the Queen’s estate and on beyond Braemar.

“We are already half-way through 2014, the year when Scotland welcomes the world with a line-up of truly global events including the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, The Ryder Cup and Homecoming 2014, and services such as this one in Deeside add an extra element for visitors which we would hope would encourage them to come back again.”

• The open-top bus, Service 200, runs three times daily until Sunday, September 7. Full timetable details are available at www.stagecoachbus.com
• For further media information please contact: Claire Burt, Marketing Manager, Stagecoach North Scotland, Tel: (01224) 597561,Email: claire.burt@stagecoachbus.comVisit our website at: www.stagecoachbus.com