Communities in Easter Ross are set to benefit from a new bus connection, with a pilot service linking Portmahomack and Tain launching later this month.
The 416A route will begin on Thursday 24 July, running twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays to give residents and visitors easier access to shops, services and connections in Tain.
Buses will leave Portmahomack’s Main Street at 9.40am, calling at Tarrel and Inver before arriving in Tain at 10.00am, with two further departures at 1.40pm and 5.40pm.
Return journeys from Tain will run at 1.15pm and 5.15pm, providing convenient travel options for errands, appointments and days out.
The pilot service will run for three months, with feedback from passengers helping determine whether the route continues beyond the trial period.
Councillor Ken Gowans, Chair of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, encouraged local people to give the new route a try, especially during the school holidays when journeys will be free.
“As this new twice‑a‑week bus is a pilot, people living and visiting in these communities are very much encouraged to use the service,” he said.
“As a bonus, during the school holidays, we will not be charging, so everyone can travel back and forth between Portmahomack and Tain for free.”
The service is being jointly delivered by The Highland Council and Rapsons during the summer break, with Rapsons taking over fully from Tuesday 19 August.
With rural transport links often described as a lifeline, this new connection offers a welcome boost for communities on the Tarbat Peninsula, giving residents more choice and a greener alternative to car travel.
