There’s good news for Inverness bus passengers this summer, as The Highland Council steps up to keep the city connected.
With Stagecoach confirming they’ll be withdrawing their 4 and 7 services from 7 July, the Council’s in-house bus team has acted quickly to make sure no one is left behind.
A brand new number 7 service, delivered by Highland Council’s own buses, will take over the route beginning on Friday 4 July, just in time for the school holidays.
Running Monday to Saturday, the new route will serve residents in Holm Dell and Culduthel, providing a direct and reliable link to Inverness city centre.
The service will start from Bridge Street at Gellions and loop through Drummond Road, Broom Drive, Drumdevan Road, Morven Road, Stratherrick Road and Holm Dell Drive before heading back to Castle Street along the same route.
For regular passengers, the move brings welcome reassurance.
For the city, it signals something more, a local authority ready to adapt, respond and put public needs first.
Councillor Ken Gowans, Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, praised the fast action of the in-house team.
“I’m delighted our team has been able to respond so quickly and positively to the news that Stagecoach is withdrawing services,” he said.
“This route connects key communities with the city centre.
“Having dependable buses is essential for people who rely on them every day, and it helps encourage others to leave the car at home.”
He added that the ability to respond flexibly is exactly what the Council had hoped to achieve when launching its in-house bus service.
The switch is also a clear reminder of the vital role local services play in keeping towns and cities running smoothly.
Pictured alongside one of the new branded buses are Ward Councillors Ian Brown, Alasdair Christie, Jackie Hendry and Andrew MacKintosh, a sign of the shared support behind the move.
Full route details and timetables are now available on the Council’s website.
With the summer holidays around the corner, the new number 7 is ready to roll, keeping Inverness on the move and proving once again that local solutions still go a long way.
