Royal Deeside :
The Heather Hopper bus service

During the summer months the Heather Hopper service provides a key public transport link running on a north-south axis through the eastern side of the Cairngorms National Park. The services enable effective links between the park and the nearby cities of Aberdeen, Perth and Inverness. There are two services

501 Connecting Deeside with Strathspey
502/3 Connecting Aberdeen, Deeside, Glenshee and Perthshire.

The two routes meet at Ballater in the heart of Royal Deeside. Number 501 links Ballater to Grantown on Spey twice daily with one service per day continuing to Newtonmore. The 502 links Aberdeen to Pitlochry and Aberfeldy on three days per week while the 503 links Aberdeen to Perth on three days per week. (The 502/503 does not operate on Sundays.)

The Heather Hopper offers a superb way to explore the Cairngorms National Park

The 501 Heather Hopper bus is back, and it's better than ever! Connecting Ballater with Grantown-on-Spey twice a day it provides the only public transport link between the east and western halves of the Cairngorms National Park. Co-funded by the CNPA, Highland and Aberdeenshire Councils it will run for seven days per week.

For the first time some buses will have a cycle trailer which will be free to use - pre-book with the operator Coopers Tourmaster on 01540 673000. The other operator is Stagecoach Bluebird (Tel 01224 212 266).

All the services (501 & 502/3) will run from

Monday 12th May until Sunday 28th September

It is a great way to get out and see the Park with delightful views all the way. For the more active there are many walking and cycling tracks off the bus routes. The 501 Heather Hopper will drop you off on request, and links with the 502/3 Heather Hopper connecting Aberdeen-Ballater-Braemar-Glenshee-Pitlochry and Aberfeldy. (For much of the route the 501 follows the A939 while the 502/503 follows the A93 - the two roads being part of the Old Military Road linking Perth to Fort George.)

Both buses are free to concessionary card holders and kids travel half price. Both services appear alongside all public transport information in the Cairngorms Explorer brochure, available in local shops and tourist offices, or see www.cairngorms.co.uk for more details.