281 Wick to Thurso via Reiss, Keiss
Operated by Stagecoach Bluebird. First bus 06:33, last bus 16:44. 2 journeys on weekdays. Fares: adult single £1.50 to £2.00 — more.
Wanted a different 281? 9 other bus routes are numbered 281 elsewhere in the UK — see every 281 bus timetable by area.
| Stop | 06:33 |
|---|---|
| Tesco (o/s) | 06:33 |
| Road End (NW-bound) | 06:35 |
| Crossroads (NE-bound) | 06:38 |
| High Street (before) | 06:45 |
| Crossroads (NW-bound) | 06:53 |
| Wester Road End (opp) | 06:56 |
| Bus Shelter (at) | 07:06 |
| Drill Hall (opp) | 07:14 |
| Stroma Road (opp) | 07:21 |
| Mayfield Road (after) | 07:22 |
| Sir George's Street Church (opp) | 07:24 |
Each column is one journey, headed by the time it sets off. Times are shown at the route's main timing stops — buses serve all stops in between. Switch a table to All stops for every stop it calls at, or open a stop's own page for live departures there.
Fares on the 281
Adult single £1.50 to £2.00 · Child single £0.90 to £2.00
Adult single fare table, stage to stage
| £1.50 | Reiss | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2.00 | £2.00 | Killimster | |||||||
| £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | Kirk Post Office | ||||||
| £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | Bower B876 | |||||
| £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | Castletown | ||||
| £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | Thurso Towerhill Rd | |||
| £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £1.50 | Thurso Town Centre | ||
| £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | Keiss | |
| £1.50 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | Wick Bus Terminal |
Read along the row of the stage you travel to, to the column below the stage you board at; the first stage is Ackergill.
Stagecoach's published fares on the Bus Open Data Service, in force from 17 August 2026. A fare stage is a group of neighbouring stops that are priced the same. Fares change — check with Stagecoach Bluebird before you travel.
Tickets on the 281
Stagecoach Bluebird publishes singles on this route for adults and children.
Single
Ticket types come from Stagecoach Bluebird's own fares data on the Bus Open Data Service, last updated 13 August 2026. Prices for singles and returns are under Fares above; for the others, check with Stagecoach Bluebird.
Route map
All stops on route 281
281 towards Thurso
All 29 stops
- Tesco (o/s) Wick
- Road End (NW-bound) Ackergill
- Crossroads (NE-bound) Reiss
- Lower Reiss Road End (opp) Reiss
- Quoys of Reiss (opp) Reiss
- Killimster Road End (at) Keiss
- Lyth Road End (at) Keiss
- Beach Road End (opp) Keiss
- Old Garage (o/s) Keiss
- High Street (before) Keiss
- Beach Road End (at) Keiss
- Lyth Road End (opp) Keiss
- Killimster Road End (opp) Keiss
- Quoys of Reiss (at) Reiss
- Lower Reiss Road End (at) Reiss
- Crossroads (NW-bound) Reiss
- Wester Road End (opp) Killimster
- Old Post Office (at) Kirk
- Rockwater Offices (opp) Hastigrow
- Bus Shelter (at) Bowermadden
- Primary School (o/s) Castletown
- Drill Hall (opp) Castletown
- Ross Cottage (opp) Castletown
- Sibmister Road End (at) Murkle
- Stroma Road (opp) Mountpleasant
- Dunnet Road (after) Mountpleasant
- Mayfield Road (after) Mountpleasant
- Shop (opp) Mountpleasant
- Sir George's Street Church (opp) Thurso
281 towards Wick
All 29 stops
- Sir Georges Street Church (at) Thurso
- Shop (o/s) Mountpleasant
- Mayfield Road (before) Mountpleasant
- Dunnet Road (before) Mountpleasant
- Stroma Road (at) Mountpleasant
- Sibmister Road End (opp) Murkle
- Drill Hall (o/s) Castletown
- Gunns Lane (opp) Castletown
- Primary School (o/s) Castletown
- Bus Shelter (opp) Bowermadden
- Rockwater Offices Hastigrow
- Old Post Office (opp) Kirk
- Wester Road End (at) Killimster
- Crossroads (NE-bound) Reiss
- Lower Reiss Road End (opp) Reiss
- Quoys of Reiss (opp) Reiss
- Killimster Road End (at) Keiss
- Lyth Road End (at) Keiss
- Beach Road End (opp) Keiss
- Old Garage (o/s) Keiss
- High Street (before) Keiss
- Beach Road End (at) Keiss
- Lyth Road End (opp) Keiss
- Killimster Road End (opp) Keiss
- Quoys of Reiss (at) Reiss
- Lower Reiss Road End (at) Reiss
- Crossroads (SE-bound) Reiss
- Road End (SE-bound) Ackergill
- Tesco (o/s) Wick
Service registration & registered changes
- Withdrawal from 19 October 2026 Thurso (Sir George Street) → Dounreay (AEA Bus Stance)
- New service effective 19 August 2024 1 return journey Monday to Friday. No Saturday or Sunday service.
- New service effective 19 August 2024 1 return journey Monday to Friday. No Saturday or Sunday service.
From official Traffic Commissioner registrations. Registration PM0000005/792 · Registration PM0000005/793 · Changes in Highland Council · All service changes →
Towns & areas on this route
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first 281 bus?
The first 281 departure on weekdays leaves at 06:33 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).
What time is the last 281 bus?
The last 281 on weekdays leaves its first stop at 16:44. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.
How much does the 281 bus cost?
Stagecoach Bluebird's published fares on the 281: adult single £1.50 to £2.00, child single £0.90 to £2.00. The England fare cap doesn't apply in Scotland — Stagecoach Bluebird sets the fares on the 281. Under-22s, over-60s and eligible disabled passengers travel free with a National Entitlement Card.
Who runs the 281 bus?
The 281 is operated by Stagecoach Bluebird.
Is the 281 bus being withdrawn?
Stagecoach Bluebird has registered the withdrawal of the 281 with the Traffic Commissioner, effective 19 October 2026. A registered withdrawal is the operator's formal notice that it intends to stop running the service; operators do sometimes re-register before that date, and the local transport authority can tender a replacement.
Timetable data from Stagecoach Bluebird via the DfT Bus Open Data Service (Scotland feed). Registered with the Traffic Commissioner as PM0000005/792. Check before you travel — services can change at short notice.