We are taking over public transport on 16 May!  

Come board the buses, ride the rails and float on the ferries with us, alongside units from all over the country. Public transport staff are ready to welcome you onto their services.  

And if you let us know you are taking part we’ll send you a special Next Stop Adventure badge, but hurry, we only have 1000 of them to give away!  (But if you can’t make it on the day and would still like a badge, you can buy one here).

Here’s how different units plan on taking part:  

Rayne North Guides and Rangers 

Unit leaders Emma and Jenni from Rayne North Guides & Rangers (Bennachie District) shared, 

“Our Guides have been planning to travel from Inverurie to Aberdeen for Next Stop Adventure, the public transport take over day. Living in a rural corner of Aberdeenshire, in the North East of Scotland means travelling can sometimes be daunting.  Which is why we decided to take up this challenge as a unit.  

We hope to use this challenge to help the Guides learn how to plan a trip and explore some local sites that they could visit with friends in the future. 

It has been surprising how little the Guides knew about how to get around on public transport before we started the Get On Board challenge pack. It’s been lovely to see them get involved with the challenges and start using transport apps to find information and start planning small adventures. 

The Get On Board pack has also led to discussions within our unit about respecting public spaces and knowing how to reach out for help. The Guides shared the worries they have about travelling on public transport and gave us the opportunity to talk through these before our own adventure. 

One of our older Guides is going to plan the activities we do when we arrive in Aberdeen. This will count as them doing something new as part of their gold award.   

We are going to visit some museums and art galleries to learn more about Aberdeen’s rich heritage and will learn how to travel safely while doing so.  We can’t wait!” 

The 1st Gorebridge Rainbows 

Unit leader Angela shared, 

“The 1st Gorebridge Rainbows are getting ready for Next Stop Adventure, and we’ve planned a brilliant day out. 6 Rainbows, 2 leaders, Bonnie the Bear and our fantastic helper — the Dormouse will start their journey in Gorebridge, catching the bus to Edinburgh before taking the train over the Forth to Aberdour. If the sun behaves, we’ll enjoy some time on the beach; if not, the park will be our backup plan.  

After lunch, we’ll head back to Haymarket for a quick visit to the Guide Shop, then hop on the tram to Newhaven to look across the water. From there, it’s back to Waverley and onto the train home to Gorebridge, ready to share our stories from the day. 

Taking part in a public‑transport takeover is a big moment for our young people — it helps them build confidence, learn how to travel safely, and see just how connected our communities are. For many Rainbows, it’s their first time navigating different types of transport, and the independence and excitement that brings is huge.  

As Aoife, aged 6, put it: “I’m feeling great and really, really excited about our trip!” 

The Rainbows are already making thank‑you cards for the people who help us along the way, and they’ll have fun badges to swap if you spot us out and about.”  

If you can’t join us for the Next Stop Adventure takeover day, you can still get involved with our Get on Board challenge pack just like 1st Middlebie Brownies: 

Linda, unit leader for 1st Middlebie Brownies shared,  

“Travelling to Cityscapes by public transport was an adventure in itself. It was the first time some Brownies had ever been on a train or subway.  

Coming from a rural area, where public transport is limited and often difficult to access, this experience was a very meaningful way to gain the Get On Board badge. For some of our Brownies the nearest bus stop is miles away, and even then, there are only two buses a day, making public travel almost impossible. 

For Cityscapes, we arrived by train from Lockerbie then took the subway to Glasgow Caledonian University and then the subway to the Science Centre and Exhibition Centre. We then took a train from Exhibition Centre to High Street to collect our Cityscape badges before getting the train back to Lockerbie! This trip gave our Brownies a rare opportunity to explore a different way of getting around and created a memorable experience for them.” 

1st Middlebie Brownies on the subway in Glasgow

Looking for more inspiration? Here’s what units from across Scotland are planning to get up to on the day:  

• Taking the tram to get some ice cream/donuts  

• Taking the ferry from Ornkey to Kirkwall for a county event 

• Getting the train to a farm, then going to play ten pin bowling and mini golf 

Get your Next Stop Adventure badge by letting us know your taking part here. And don’t forget to tag us in photos on the day!