Wheel away the hours on the Inner Forth Bike Bus
By Laura Healy Smith, Communications Officer for Climate FORTH. All photos courtesy of Markus Stitz, and Andy McCandlish of Inner Forth Futures.
At Climate FORTH, we are piloting a wide range of activities to increase the climate resilience of the Inner Forth. With heritage at the core of all activities, we are working with communities, businesses, and our partners, to increase the climate resilience of the area and better prepare for the future.
One of our focus areas is looking at ways of making travel within the Inner Forth more sustainable – and to connect local people and visitors with the lesser-known built and natural heritage of the area. The Inner Forth Bike Bus was devised to enable people to travel through the landscape in a greener, more sustainable way, as opposed to automatically hopping in the car. Similarly, it can be used to travel further afield with your bike if you’re building up your fitness and confidence on two wheels.
The bus has its own bike trailer, with space for up to 12 standard cycles and it runs every Sunday until 26th October 2025. This second season has seen a significant growth in popularity of the service since 2024 and a new and improved loop, close to the ‘Round the Inner Forth’ cycle route. Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Fife Council, this service is free to use, and walkers are also welcome on board.
Passengers have been hopping on and off between Alloa and the Forth Bridges since April and two influencers have also championed the service. Markus Stitz is a well-respected cycling blogger, filmmaker, writer and he also cycled around the world on a single speed bike. Laura Young – also known as ‘Less Waste Laura’ – accepted the challenge of a car-free day out enjoying the heritage of the Inner Forth in July. Laura is an environmental scientist and campaigner, with a particular interest in sustainability and greener transport modes.
Anyone familiar with the Inner Forth area won’t need to be reminded why it is such a special place, but for those who aren’t, there is no shortage of inspiration for days out using the Inner Forth Bike Bus. And, whilst the bus stops at well-known tourism locations, such as The Kelpies and close to Culross and the Forth Bridges, many of the stops encourage exploration of lesser-known heritage.
Blackness Castle, Limekilns, RSPB Black Devon Wetlands nature reserve, Linlithgow Palace and Devilla Forest all offer passengers an impressive heritage hit using the bus. There is always so much more to see off the beaten track after all!
Passengers can hop on and off every Sunday and bookings aren’t essential, but we do recommend doing so if you’re part of a group. Check out our route cards and the videos, below, for further ideas of where to go using the bus.
At the end of the delivery phase of Climate FORTH (October 2026), we will share any learning from our experience of running the Inner Forth Bike Bus and hope it will encourage others to undertake similar work to make the area more resilient in the years to come.
Watch Markus Stitz’s film about the Inner Forth Bike Bus here:
Bookings aren’t essential, but recommended if travelling as part of a group:
Email info@pvttransfer.com to book
Day trip route cards can be downloaded here for inspiration:
Revitalising the Round the Inner Forth Cycle Route | Inner Forth Futures
Climate FORTH is the latest project from the Inner Forth Futures Partnership, comprising RSPB Scotland (lead partner), Falkirk Council, Stirling Council, Fife Council, Clackmannanshire Council, Sustrans Scotland, NatureScot, Green Action Trust and Historic Environment Scotland act as an advisory body. The project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to players of the National Lottery. Additional funding comes from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, the Crown Estate, IFF members and the Scottish Government through Sustrans Scotland’s Network Engagement Programme.
