Scotland via rail, bus, and walking

 Scotrail is timely, affordable, and efficient.  I took it throughout the Lowlands.  I did not get any pass and paid a la carte.  Here are my tips:

Humans can save you money

Tickets are available from machines, but I discovered that humans can get you the best deal.  For example, unsolicited by me, the agent at the Stirling station kindly split the ticket to and from Dundee so that I would save 10 pounds a person!  With split tickets, you have to insert the first leg (cities A to B) upon entry and second leg (cities B to C) upon exit, but I was told I did not have to disembark the train at all when it arrived at Perth (city B).

Edinburgh Ride a Card 

I got the week-long Ride a Card.  You can get it in advance and activate it whenever you'd like afterwards by tapping it onto the bus or metro station.  For metro, you need to tap on and off at the stations.  For the bus, the tapping point is near the driver and different from the contactless payment tapping area. 

The Ride a Card is a great deal compared to other day or week passes that I've bought in other places.  It includes the journey to the airport on the Lothian Bus Air Link 100 (tall dark blue buses) or via the tram.  It includes the Lothian buses and trams.  Depending on where you are lodging, either one may be a feasible option for traveling back to Edinburgh airport.  For the journey from the airport, it was not possible to use the Ride a Card since they don't sell it on the bus.  You can pay for a one-way ticket online while you wait or with exact fare (no change) with the driver.  The Air Link 100 can be found right as you exit the airport on the right near the Edinburgh sign.

Beware that the bright orange Airport Express buses are *not* run by Lothian and are not included in the Ride a Card.  Hence there are 3 options for getting to/from the airport, and only two are covered by the Ride a Card.  Make sure when using Google that you are looking at times for the correct type of transit option and make sure you stand at the right stop!

Where do you get one?  

They're sold at the Lothian bus travel center.  I used the one at Waverley Bridge which is walking distance from where the Air Link bus drops you off when arriving in Edinburgh.  Caveat- they are closed Sundays.  Check their hours and plan accordingly.  Each card has the person's name and photo, which is unlike all other cities that I've visited, so make sure each member of your party is in the line when you buy the cards.

Dundee Day Tripper

A day ticket can be purchased from the bus driver.  The sign at the stop said 5 pounds a person, but the ticket receipt was a bit less than that (though I paid 5 pounds and there is no change).  

Glasgow on foot

Because I stayed near Kelvingrove Park, I was able to walk to and from the university museums and Kelvingrove Park museums.  I was also able to walk to and from the train station to the hostel.  I saw some buses and had researched their transit app but did not use it at all so cannot speak to it.

Stirling on foot

The tourist part of the city is extremely walkable.  I only saw tour buses around.  I stayed on St. John St. which is walkable to the castle and Smith Gallery and Museum.