Glasgow - Inverness Return Question

[Amaranthe]

Would an Anytime Return (Any Permitted Route) allow the following...

Glasgow - Inverness
Inverness - Aberdeen
Aberdeen - Edinburgh
Edinburgh - Glasgow (or would I have to do Aberdeen - Glasgow direct?)

And slightly related... Are you allowed to pay the upgrade to First Class on Scotrail services with the Spirit of Scotland Travel Pass?

 

[kkong]

It is explicitly mentioned that you can upgrade to first class with a Sprit of Scotland Travel Pass.

Can I upgrade to First Class with a travel pass?
Yes, you can buy a First Class upgrade on eligible routes with your travel pass. The upgrade will be valid for the day and service you are travelling only.

See FAQ

It is not permitted to upgrade to first class with Club 50 discounted tickets or Club 50 flat fares (among others).

In practice, it is quite possible that the conductor will sell you an upgrade on board.

 

[Amaranthe]

Many thanks,

The information about the change of route excess is very interesting. Let me try some calculations and see if they are correct...

Std via Aviemore = £74.20
Std Any Permitted = £112.10
1st via Aviemore = £138.80
1st Any Permitted = £162.30

Option 1: 74.20 + 18.95 (CoR excess) + 45.00 (1st upgrades) = £138.15

Option 2: 138.80 + 11.75 (CoR excess) = £150.55

So option 1 seems the best option and has the bonus of saving money should any of the HSTs be viced for a unit.

It is explicitly mentioned that you can upgrade to first class with a Sprit of Scotland Travel Pass.



See FAQ

It is not permitted to upgrade to first class with Club 50 discounted tickets or Club 50 flat fares (among others).

In practice, it is quite possible that the conductor will sell you an upgrade on board.

Thanks, I some how missed seeing the FAQs. This is a very appealing option if I want to turn this into a longer trip.

 

[reb0118]

What about getting your ticket to a destination between Inverness & Aberdeen? Would that affect your routeing possibilities?

 

[walkingsophie]

Would an Anytime Return (Any Permitted Route) allow the following...

Glasgow - Inverness
Inverness - Aberdeen
Aberdeen - Edinburgh
Edinburgh - Glasgow (or would I have to do Aberdeen - Glasgow direct?)

And slightly related... Are you allowed to pay the upgrade to First Class on Scotrail services with the Spirit of Scotland Travel Pass?

Are you doing this whole journey in a single day?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Mar 2026 ==

What about getting your ticket to a destination between Inverness & Aberdeen? Would that affect your routeing possibilities?

Glasgow to Inverness Airport return is valid to do the whole journey and costs the same as a Glasgow to Inverness return

Edit: Glasgow to Huntly Return is Valid for the whole journey (using easement 030133), and costs £81.90 Any Permitted Return. I can't find any single ticket cheaper with a different destination.

 

[Amaranthe]

What about getting your ticket to a destination between Inverness & Aberdeen? Would that affect your routeing possibilities?

Are you doing this whole journey in a single day?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Mar 2026 ==


Glasgow to Inverness Airport return is valid to do the whole journey and costs the same as a Glasgow to Inverness return

Edit: Glasgow to Huntly Return is Valid for the whole journey (using easement 030133), and costs £81.90 Any Permitted Return. I can't find any single ticket cheaper with a different destination.

Thanks, the same easement applies to Nairn which is even cheaper at £74.20 Std or £138.80 1st.

If Inverness - Narn then Nairn - Aberdeen (staying on train) counted as just one 1st class upgrade that would make the total £119.20 which is cheapest option yet.

And yes the plan as it stands is to do it in 1 day.

 

[walkingsophie]

Thanks, the same easement applies to Nairn which is even cheaper at £74.20 Std or £138.80 1st.

£74.20 fare only applies to via Aviemore, so would need to excess the return to any permitted to be able to go via Aberdeen.

 

[Amaranthe]

£74.20 fare only applies to via Aviemore, so would need to excess the return to any permitted to be able to go via Aberdeen.

Ahh darn missed that part.

Just had a look at the HST diagrams on the Scotrail website and seems this is the only possible way to do it all in 1 day...

0741 Glasgow - Aberdeen 1018 (or 0840/0941 ex Glasgow)
1341 Aberdeen - Inverness 1558
1725 Inverness - Glasgow 2044