A survey by a consumer watchdog has found serious concerns about rural bus services.
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) found that some rural communities face an average £9 bus fare to reach their nearest job centre and other important services.
Among the findings was that in Dalwhinnie the bus route does not run to the closest GP surgery in Laggan, meaning patients would either need to travel by other means or to a different GP surgery.
The survey also found that the islands spend the most per adult in bus subsidies with Western Isles highest at £108 per person, with Shetland and Orknet second and third highest.
Orkney’s total spend increased by 41% last year to this to £608,000.
Highland Council had the fifth highest total spend of £2,588,917 but just the 14th highest per person.
CAS consumer spokesman Fraser Sutherland said: “Scotland’s bus network plays a vital role in keeping its citizens moving and accessing essential services every day. However, with this report we have highlighted specific examples of where access to services can be difficult due to long distances, sparse timetables and expensive ticket prices.
“For many in Scotland’s cities and large towns bus connections can be frequent and relatively affordable, while in more rural parts of Scotland we have found communities that contend with twice-daily services that can cost a substantial proportion of weekly income to make necessary journeys.
“For example, those in the remote and rural areas we surveyed paid an average price of over £9 for a return journey to the nearest job centre.”
