How to get to the Scottish Highlands by train
How to get to the Scottish Highlands depends on your destination: Inverness, Lochaber and Skye call for different onward plans. For Inverness, trains from Edinburgh Waverley average 3 hours 45 minutes, while Glasgow Queen Street services average 3 hours 35 minutes. These published journey figures use a Monday timetable basis; choose an actual service for your travel date.
Rail is useful when your first stay is in Inverness and you want to continue with a locally departing excursion. Check the connection between your arrival station, accommodation and departure point rather than assuming a tour starts wherever your train stops. The Highland accommodation guide compares the main areas by their role in a wider itinerary.
Inverness Airport rail and bus connections
Inverness Airport station is around 11 minutes by train from Inverness, followed by approximately 20 minutes on foot to the terminal. The walking route is lit but uncovered. Allow for both parts of the journey and for carrying your luggage; the station and terminal are separate places.
Bus services 1 and 13 connect the terminal with Inverness city centre. Service 1 takes the more direct route; service 13 travels via Croy. Sunday services are reduced. Compare the timetable for your arrival with the location of your accommodation before choosing bus or rail.
The regional bus fare cap applies to eligible journeys on participating services. A change of bus brings another fare, and travel outside the scheme area can bring an additional charge. Check the specific airport or longer-distance journey rather than applying the regional cap to your entire trip.
Our take
This private trip includes hotel pickup and drop-off; confirm the pickup location before booking.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
A private Highland outing after arrival
This private day excursion includes hotel pickup and an English-speaking driver-guide. Arrange your airport journey separately and establish the hotel pickup location when booking.
Taxi and transfers from Inverness Airport (INV)
Inverness Airport lies around 9 miles northeast of Inverness, connected to the A96 by Inverness Airport Way. For a taxi or arranged transfer, give the exact address of your destination and your flight details. Agree the fare, luggage arrangements and any child-seat requirements for your own journey.
Keep an airport transfer separate from a sightseeing excursion. The private Highland outing offered here lasts 9 hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver-guide, water and onboard Wi-Fi. Confirm the hotel pickup location when booking. Use the private tours guide for the sightseeing choices and arrange the journey from the terminal to your hotel separately.
Car rental and parking
Highland car travel follows left-hand traffic rules and local parking restrictions. On single-track roads, pull into a passing place on your left or wait opposite one on your right to let approaching traffic through. Let faster vehicles behind pass, give uphill traffic priority where possible and keep passing places free of parked cars.
Choose your vehicle around the roads and overnight stops in your plan. Compare the rental terms for insurance, excess, deposit and driver requirements before committing to a booking. If your route includes the North Coast 500, read the specific larger-vehicle advice as well as planning fuel and overnight stops.
From 28 October 2026 at 19:00 until 17 November 2026 at 06:00, resurfacing at Inchree brings overnight A82 closures from 19:00 to 06:00, except Friday and Saturday nights. Limited escorted passages are available; allow for disruption when planning travel between Glencoe and Fort William.
At attractions, a space to leave your vehicle can require separate planning. Urquhart Castle parking must be booked online in advance. On Skye, Storr parking operates without advance reservations; follow the local parking instructions when you arrive. Leave time for parking rather than treating arrival at the destination as arrival at the entrance.
Collecting a rental car at Inverness Airport lets you organise the onward drive into the Highlands around your first overnight stop. Match the collection time to your flight and start with a route you can comfortably drive after arrival, with the destination and parking arrangements already chosen.
Compare car rental at Inverness Airport (INV) on QEEQ.
Reaching the start of a booked day trip
Highland day trips use specific meeting points, so match your arrival to the tour's departure city before choosing a rail or airport connection. Edinburgh departures are covered in the Edinburgh day-trip section of the tours comparison. Allow time to reach the actual meeting point from your accommodation.
For a locally based visit, compare Loch Ness outings with the Skye excursion choices. A departure from Inverness and a departure from Portree create different accommodation and transport needs. Plan the journey back to your overnight base with the same care as the morning connection.
Highland arrival questions
How long is the train from Edinburgh to Inverness?
3 hours 45 minutes is the published average for Edinburgh Waverley to Inverness, based on a Monday timetable. Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness averages 3 hours 35 minutes on the same basis. Select a service for your actual date and allow separately for travel to your hotel or tour meeting point.
Does the airport train stop inside the terminal?
No, Inverness Airport station is separate from the terminal. The train journey from Inverness takes around 11 minutes, followed by approximately 20 minutes on foot along a lit, uncovered route. Compare the full journey with terminal bus services 1 and 13, especially when travelling with luggage or on a Sunday.
Is hotel pickup on the private excursion an airport transfer?
No, the private excursion is a sightseeing day with hotel pickup and drop-off. An English-speaking driver-guide, water and onboard Wi-Fi are included in the 9-hour outing. Establish the hotel pickup location when booking and arrange your own journey between Inverness Airport and the place where you are staying.