In the UK there are dozens of rural bus companies and small scale local services. Buses may not be frequent and they may not be sensible ways to commute in some areas, but there is no place where people live or play that you cannot reach in a bus at least once every weekday.
UK Local Bus Directory
The UK Bus Timetable Directory, at Showbus UK, is a terrific little tool. It has online links to bus companies hiding out in every corner of the UK. Click on a map to choose a region, then narrow your choice by county and the tool comes up with lists and live links to bus companies providing local services. Most of these have timetables though in more remote areas some may only have telephone numbers to call.I tested it on a remote corner of the Western Highlands in Scotland. The directory finder at Showbus came up with about 10 different bus companies providing regular services in or near my remote destination.
Ride along with the postman
The Postbus is a service provided in remote rural areas to ensure that small communities do not become isolated. For a small fee -- usually between £2 and £5, you can ride along with that day's mail. There are concessionary fares for senior citizens and under 16s.Tourists can use the service to explore remote parts of the countryside, or to return to a town after a long hike in the highlands or the Welsh hills and valleys. The Postbus Routefinder features a clever graphic of the UK and you can find a route by either clicking on a map or choosing an area from a drop down menu. Some routes even run on bank holidays.
