Council's In-house Bus Service expands into Caithness

14th April 2025

The Highland Council is pleased to announce that from Monday 21 April it's in-house bus team will be delivering the 918 Wick to Berriedale service.

This is the first venture for the in-house bus company outside of the Inverness area since the successful introduction and launch of Highland Council Buses.

Council Leader Raymond Bremner said: "The 918 Service which operates between Wick and Berriedale via Lybster had originally been contracted to Aaron's of Wick, but they withdrew a few months ago. Stagecoach stepped in to cover it until a sustainable solution could be put in place.

"I would like to thank Stagecoach for stepping in when they did to ensure locals and visitors still had a bus service. I am delighted that going forward Highland Council buses will be delivering this service. At the time we were expanding our bus company, we said that one of the benefits would be the ability to support more rural areas and I am glad that we have managed to realise the start of this benefit here in Caithness in only a matter of weeks. I hope that we can see further benefits not only in Caithness but in other rural areas of the Highlands in the near future."

Chair of the Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "Highland Council Buses are incredibly happy to be given the opportunity to run the 918-service going forward and to serve the public of Caithness. It is a first to be rolling out our services to Caithness to meet the needs of local communities. I am sure having the certainty of a permanent regular service will prove popular with residents and visitors and will bring benefits to even more people."

The 918 service from Wick to Berridale will run Monday to Friday with stops at Thrumster, Ulbster, Lybster, Latheron, Latheronwheel, Dunbeath and Berriedale.

The timetable is available here
https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/30222/918_timetable_from_tue_22_april_2025
Pdf

The vehicles covering the 918 route will be two 73 plate Mercedes Tourismo Coaches, both have 57 seats, are fully seat belted and are PSVAR compliant.

Available for hires for school groups on outdoor activity trips and for community organised events, a booking is already confirmed to take pupils from the Canisbay and Castletown Primary Cluster to the Caithness Music Festival in June.

Highland Council Buses also have another school service only bus, which runs between Lybster and Wick. This run starts on Tuesday 22nd April 2025.