CONVERTED buses in East Lothian’s countryside have been named one of Scotland’s greatest getaways in a BBC Scotland television series.

The Bus Stop, which offers visitors a selection of converted buses for accommodation, made it through to the final of the second series of Scotland’s Greatest Escape, after coming top in the Budget Friendly category.

Situated on a working arable farm near Gifford, judges Fiona Campbell and Zakia Moulaoui Guery had a picnic with the resident pygmy goats at the unique accommodation.

Judges described the experience as “just perfect” – from the customer service to its attention to detail – when awarding it full marks in the Budget Friendly category.

Since featuring on the BBC series and getting through to the final, owner of the business at Bankrugg Farm, Sandy Stewart, has seen a visible increase in bookings.

The Bus Stop on Bankrugg Farm. has impressed a judging panel. Image: Scottish Land and Estates

The Bus Stop on Bankrugg Farm, near Gifford, has impressed a judging panel. Image: Scottish Land and Estates

He said: “It was amazing to be part of Scotland’s Greatest Escape and get through to the final.

“Our goal, when we established The Bus Stop, was to create a memorable visitor experience that offered value for money all year round.

“Being named Budget Friendly validates that decision and we are extremely proud of our team who work so hard to make The Bus Stop a success.”

Scotland’s Greatest Escape saw expert judges visit 21 getaways across Scotland under seven categories – ‘Unique and Unusual’, ‘Luxury’, ‘Budget Friendly’, ‘Lochs, Glens and Bens’, ‘Foodie’, ‘Adventure’ and ‘Island and Coastal’ – over the eight-part series, presented by wrestling star and actor Grado.

Each experience was scored on four key criteria: accommodation, activities on offer, customer service and overall experience.

READ MORE: Gilmerton House and The Bus Stop in running for BBC accolade

Those with the highest score went through to the grand final held in Fife.

Judges – Fiona Campbell, Vanessa Kanbi, Masood Khodadadi, Zakia Moulaoui Guery, Stuart Kenny, Raj Gill, and Head Judge Marina Huggett – had previously whittled down 1,400 public nominations to a shortlist of three for each category.

In the end, it was The Broch on the Isle of Harris – a three-storey drystone building with a turf roof, inspired by Iron Age structures – which was ultimately crowned the 2024 series winner.

Grado hosts the second series of Scotlands Greatest Escape. Image: BBC

Grado hosts the second series of Scotland's Greatest Escape. Image: BBC

Neil Christison, regional director at VisitScotland, said: “The Bus Stop is a great example of an agritourism business creating a one-of-a-kind visitor experience.

“Visitors are increasingly looking for responsible and meaningful experiences and events, and the use of recycled buses for accommodation taps into this trend.

“Taking top prize in the Budget Friendly category is a testament to The Bus Stop’s ethos of creating accommodation that is quirky, high-quality, and affordable.

“The popularity of agritourism is growing, reflecting a shift in the farming sector which sees the economic potential for expanding into tourism.

“Businesses like The Bus Stop play an important role in helping rural communities and supporting our national goal of creating a world-class sustainable tourism destination that benefits all.”

Narrated by Dawn Steele, the full eight-part second series of Scotland’s Greatest Escape is available on BBC iPlayer.