National Park Sustainable Bus Pilot Hailed A Success Following Busy Summer Run

The Trossachs Explorer, the sustainable rural bus service serving Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, has completed its summer service, marking a second successful pilot.

The popular service, which ran from 7th July to 5th October, welcomed almost 6,000 passengers - a 15% increase from last year. The service provides a more sustainable travel option that helps reduce congestion, ease parking pressures, and protect the National Park's special environment by reducing car numbers, one of the largest sources of carbon emissions.

Beyond environmental benefits, local businesses have noted positive impacts from improved customer and staff access in what is one of the more remote areas of the Park. Passengers have also welcomed the social benefits, with some hailing the service as a 'lifeline' that helps address the impacts of rural isolation while connecting them with nature to provide a physical and mental health boost.

Operated this year by local company McColl's, the service ran seven days a week between Drymen and Callander, featuring an extended route utilizing low-emission, modern buses. This year's service has been heralded as a success, achieving significant reliability improvements. The dedicated and friendly bus drivers consistently received glowing praise from passengers for going "above and beyond" for locals and visitors who used the service to explore and enjoy the National Park over the summer.

Building on a successful initial pilot in 2024, this year's Trossachs Explorer featured improvements based on learnings from the previous year, including a route extension starting from Drymen, improved connections to existing public transport services such as the Stirling Council-operated C60 bus service, and more accessible buses.

Given the clear and continued support and demand for the service - evidenced by growth in passenger numbers this summer - work is already underway by the National Park Authority and partners to secure the return of the Trossachs Explorer in 2026, subject to funding being secured.

Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority said: "The Trossachs Explorer sustainable bus service has been amongst the most positively received projects the National Park Authority has delivered in recent years. Securing the return of the service following last year's very popular initial pilot has had its challenges, most notably securing long-term, regular funding and sourcing a suitable operator. Thankfully, through national and local partnership working and shared expertise, we were able to deliver an expanded, improved service which delivers for people and for nature this summer.

"While those challenges remain as we return to market in the hope of securing the service's return in 2026, the evidence and feedback received from a diverse range of audiences – from local young people and businesses to international visitors – clearly demonstrate that the need for reliable, sustainable public transport in the National Park is undeniable and vital to our journey to Net Zero by 2035."

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: "I welcome the continued success of the Trossachs Explorer pilot. This service is providing visitors to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park with sustainable transport options that reduces reliance on cars and, importantly, it’s opening up new opportunities for people that don't have access to a car.

"I'm pleased to see the Scottish Government's People and Place funding being used so effectively at a local and regional level to bring about these kinds of transport solutions for people and for communities.  

"The Scottish Government is investing over £188 million for active and sustainable travel in 2025-26, precisely to support projects which make sustainable travel easier, like the Trossachs Explorer pilot, in more places across Scotland."

Cllr Jen Preston, Convener of Stirling Council’s Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee said: “I’m delighted to see that the Trossachs Explorer has built on the success of last year’s pilot with a more popular service over this summer. The increased use of the expanded service reaffirms that there is demand among residents and visitors for high-quality public transport in the National Park and rural areas of Stirling in particular. 

“Each journey made via the Trossachs explorer represents a car removed from the local road network, contributing to reducing vehicle emissions. Local communities also benefit from the improved connectivity, with the service linking up with other sustainable public transport options in the area, including the C60 bus service between Callander and Killin.” 

Ronnie Frasier, McColl’s Trossachs Explorer Bus Driver said: “Driving this route has been really fantastic. For the scenery alone it’s wonderful but you also get to meet lots of people, including a variety of folks from all over the world but also plenty of locals and most are keen to have a chat – so there’s often a really lovely sense of community and a lovely friendly atmosphere on the bus.

“I was particularly touched by a gentleman who lives locally and regularly used the service. He told me as he doesn’t have family nearby, or access to a car, the bus has given he the freedom to get out and about, as without it he said he just didn’t leave his house – it’s nice to know the service is making a difference.”

Laura and Grahame Bains, Trossachs Explorer passengers said:  “We have taken the Trossachs Explorer now four times we live in Rowardennan and have had no way of getting to the locations offered unless my husband or I drive. We have lived in the area 33 years but as we get older the chances of travelling to other local location is completely stress free of driving and parking especially during tourist months where we have frequently not been able to park within the locations of the Trossachs explorer route.

“We thank you for this summer’s experience and would love this little lifeline to continue. The drivers on the routes have been engaging and amazing."

The Trossachs Explorer is supported by funding from the National Park Authority, Tactran through Transport Scotland’s People and Place programme, Stirling Council and Callander Community Council through the Braes of Doune Community Fund.