Shiel Buses | Bus and Coach Hire

Shiel Buses is a local family owned business in the Scottish Highlands celebrating over 40 successful years in business, providing bus and coach hire services throughout the West Lochaber area in Scotland and beyond.

Operating a fleet of 45 vehicles ranging in size from 16 seater luxury mini–coaches to 49 seater luxury coaches and the majority of which are DDA Compliant and wheelchair accessible. The business operation provides school and service contracts operating between Fort William and the Mallaig, Morvern and Ardnamurchan Peninsulas, Kinlochleven, Roy Bridge, Spean Bridge, Fort William town area. Private Coach Hire and individual coach and bus tours are also undertaken with a wealth of experience.

For more information please email us on info@shielbuses.co.uk

Latest Updates to Timetable

Changes to 500, 501 and 502 Timetables

16 Apr 2021

We have made some layout alterations and a few timing changes to our Mallaig to Fort William and Mallaig Local which come into effect on Tuesday 27 April 2021.

Please note that the 16:50 Morar to Mallaig will depart at 16:45 M-F and the 15:30 Mallaig to Fort William will depart at 15:35 on FO SD and SH.

01 Apr 2021

Easter school holidays begin tomorrow (Friday 2nd April) for two weeks. Our services will run to School Holiday (SH) timings. Please see our website for timetables.

With the hopeful return of all school pupils after the Easter holidays, we will sell bus passes for the 19th April to 25th June 2021 term from Monday 19 April until Friday 30th April 2021 (excluding weekends) between 9am and 2.30pm.

05 Jan 2021

Temporary Scottish Lockdown 5th January 2021

We are continuing to follow Government and Local Authority guidelines and the safety of our staff, customers and the community is of paramount importance to Shiel Buses.

Therefore, please let us remind and update you:

Essential travel only:

Festive Timetables

02 Dec 2020

There will be no services on 25th and 26th December 2020 & 1st and 2nd of January 2021

Highland Council School Christmas holidays run from Wednesday 23rd December 2020 to Tuesday 5th January 2021 (inclusive). Our services will be running to School Holiday timings during this period. Please look for SH timings on our Timetable page.

Please note, our N44 and N46/N47 services will be running to normal School Holiday timings on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay.

Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Úr.

12 Oct 2020

School Bus Passes for 26th October to 22nd December 2020 term will be on sale from 19th October until 30th October 2020 (excluding weekends) between 9am and 2.30pm

Due to current circumstances, we are unable to sell bus passes from our depot, please DO NOT come to buy or collect bus passes from our depot. We must adhere to social distancing in our offices and keep our employees safe. Please note the 2 week selling window. Unfortunately we are unable to sell passes after the stated date.

School Transport

17 Sep 2020

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

We have been having ongoing issues with Lochaber High School pupils either not displaying their bus pass when boarding the bus or not paying their fare. With the current situation, this is lost revenue we can ill afford.

Further to meetings with Highland Council and Lochaber High School, it has been confirmed that with effect from Monday 21st September any pupil that does not have a bus pass or bus fare will be refused travel and will be left at Lochaber Hig...h School after the school day. This does not apply to children traveling to rural/outlying areas.

07 Sep 2020

Please note, Highland Council Schools have In-Service days on Monday 14th September and Tuesday 15th September 2020. As children will not be in attending schools, we will be running to School Holiday (SH) timings on those days.

Face Coverings for School Pupils

27 Aug 2020

The Highland Council have issued the following statement:

“From Monday 31 August 2020, the Scottish Government requires that pupils aged over 5 years should wear face coverings on all school transport (unless medically exempt). Face coverings are already required on public transport....

Reusable face coverings must be stored safely when not being worn, and single-use face coverings must be disposed of properly. It is parents’ responsibility to provide face coverings.”

School Bus Passes

03 Aug 2020

School Bus Passes for 12th August 2020 to 9th October 2020 term will be on sale from 3rd August 2020 - 19th August 2020 (excluding weekends), 9am and 3pm.

Due to current circumstances, please DO NOT come to buy or collect bus passes from our depot. We must adhere to social distancing in our offices and keep our employees safe.

27 Jul 2020

Due to further relaxing of travel restrictions and many shops and workplaces reopening, we continue to increase and resume our services. Please keep checking this page for any changes and updates.

N44, 500 and 506 Timetable Changes

15 Jul 2020

Due to some relaxing in travel restrictions and increase in passenger numbers on some of our runs, we are slowly increasing our services. Please keep checking this page for any changes and updates.

18 Jun 2020

Following the latest guidelines from Scottish Government, face coverings will be MANDATORY from Monday 22nd June 2020 on all of our buses.

Important information and guidelines from Transport Scotland - click here.

Please read the following from the Scottish Government:

08 Jun 2020

Please follow these latest Scottish Government steps for your own safety and the safety of others:

Coronavirus COVID-19 Timetable Changes

30 Apr 2020

Latest Coronavirus COVID-19 timetable updates, safety advice and travelling information.

Bus and Coach Hire Services

Latest Updates to Timetable