ALISON CAMPSIE and CATHERINCE FEGAN THERE are 118 bus stops and four railway stations within one mile of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, but Spanish tourist Rosario Perez Lopez still decided to visit the museum by taxi.

ALISON CAMPSIE and CATHERINCE FEGAN

THERE are 118 bus stops and four railway stations within one mile of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, but Spanish tourist Rosario Perez Lopez still decided to visit the museum by taxi.

Set in the city's south side in Pollok Country Park, the collection is one of the city's premier visitor attractions, but it would appear that getting there without a car is a little problematic.

"It was very difficult to get here," said Ms Perez Lopez, 24. "We got a taxi because the bus routes were too long and we didn't want to wait about. Many tourists don't know about this place. Maybe faster links here would attract more attention."

Ms Perez Lopez, from Granada, and her travelling companions are not alone. The problem of bringing Scotland's cultural riches to visitors is an important one. Former First Minister Jack McConnell, in his 2003 St Andrew's Day address, cited bad public transport as one of the biggest obstacles to people enjoying the arts and culture in Scotland.

He said: "In transport we will look at ways of creating easier access for people to the cultural events and buildings in Scotland. One of the biggest barriers to people attending is not the perception of arts or fear of entering a formidable building, although they can be factors, but in physically being able to travel to it."

The Scottish Government agrees, with Culture Minister Linda Fabiani saying: "We want to see access to, and participation in, cultural activities being as wide as possible."

Yesterday, a report published by consultants hired by the government showed that still too many people are excluded from cultural pursuits because public transport simply can't take them there.

The report said: "In many cases, complacency about current audiences and how they reach venues appears to override consideration about alternative ways to access sites than the private car."

Many, particularly in more rural areas, were found to be put off travelling to events by public transport because buses were few and far between, often with the last bus on its way before performances and shows ended.

Family considerations, such as the transport of children and buggie, made the car the most responsive mode of transport for many, the report found.

But for those travelling by public transport, information on journeys to cultural attractions was vague or unclear, with a general "lack of motivation" among the culture sector to take responsibility for the transportation of their audiences. If a venue had succeeded in getting the seats filled, or the exhibition halls bustling, why should they bother about how their customers got there in the first place? Some venue staff interviewed felt public transport was outwith their remit.

But the implications are clear. Putting little or no emphasis on public transport excludes a large number of potential customers at a time when a 50% revenue rise from tourists - both UK and overseas - is targeted for 2015.

Leaving public transport links as a low priority for culture organisation also puts further barriers between less privileged social groups enjoying arts, culture and leisure in Scotland. There is a clear link between the number of visitors who travel by car and the number of visitors from a middle-class background.

Figures show that 88% of journeys made to the Burrell Collection are made by car, with just 7% making it by bus. Glasgow City Council said yesterday that it wanted more people to travel there by public transport.

Others in the park yesterday agreed more could be done to help visitors on their way to the collection, which includes works by Rembrandt, Degas and Cezanne.

Anne Johnstone, 65, from Newton Mearns, said: "There should be more signposts from the city for tourists who don't know the museum is here. Perhaps a pick-up point in the city-centre would make it easier for them to get here."

Around 80% of visitors to National Trust Scotland properties arrive by car, rising to 95% of those who make the journey to the Scottish Sea Bird Centre in North Berwick.

At the Mull Theatre, the importance of good access is clear. So much so, they moved their entire venue closer to Tobermory in a bid to be nearer to potential audiences.

At its previous site in Dervaig, it was impossible to get a bus up the drive of the theatre and the auditorium was too small to take a full coachload, with just 42 seats inside. No buses went to Dervaig in the evening and visitors coming by car had to park up on the gravel side of a single track road.

Its new location, on the main Tobermory to Salen road, has double the capacity, but the bus service is still not great, with the last service running at 7.30pm. Sheena Miller, marketing manager for the Mull Theatre, said: "Moving hasn't solved everything, but we have made a good start. We had always wanted to move so the theatre could be more accessible. A lot of visitors off the boat found it difficult to get to Dervaig.

"Next season we may try out day-time shows and early evening performances and hire our own minibus. We very much want to help people travel to see one of our shows."

Yesterday's report said more combined tickets, covering travel and entrance costs, would help promote public transport. A focus on the green advantages of using public transport to attend cultural events could also reap results among an intelligent customer base, the report said. Criteria on public transport targets could also be included in applications for arts funding, it added.

At the Hi-Arts organisation, based in Inverness, director Robert Livingston, talked of the importance of making shows accessible by public transport.

"More thought needs to be given to the timing of shows. There are a lot of people who live outside of Inverness where an 8pm start to an event means that you would not be able to get there and back by public transport."

Mr Livingston added that Hi-Arts had its own solution to improving access to the arts for the people of the Highlands.

"Our mobile cinema, the ScreenMachine, has been running for 10 years and serves 11 islands, from Harris to Millport."

Edinburgh was noted in the report for its thorough network of tourist buses, many of them run as an arm's length company from the city council, which serve attractions such as Rosslyn Chapel, the Royal Palaces and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

But the capital's public transport enterprise suffered a setback in February 2008 when National Galleries for Scotland announced it was to scrap a bus link between its five galleries due to cost.

The report's verdict

Burrell Collection, Glasgow
Consists of more than 9000 items, mainly covering medieval European art, Oriental ceramics and European paintings.

Accessibility: Pollokshaws West railway station is a five-minute walk from the Pollok Park entrance and provides regular services between Glasgow Central and beyond. Four bus services serve Pollokshaws Road, stopping at 118 bus stops within a one-mile radius of the museum.

Culzean Castle and Country Park, Ayrshire
Has 600 acres of woodland, formal gardens, three miles of varied coastline, and the 18th-century Culzean Castle as a centrepiece.

Accessibility: Ayr railway station is situated 12 miles from the park with Maybole railway station four miles from the park. Both provide connecting bus services. But it is in a rural location, well away from major transport routes within South Ayrshire, and is "out on a limb" in transport terms.

Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick
Wildlife visitor centre providing information and visual displays on local wildlife. It is a VisitScotland five-star visitor attraction.

Accessibility: It has 39 bus stops and one railway station within a mile of the centre. Town is relatively well served in terms of public transport towards Edinburgh and towns west of North Berwick. Limited parking adjacent to the site, with maximum stay of 90 minutes and public car-park 5-10 minutes away.

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
The largest arts venue in the Highlands and islands. It is currently under refurbishment amd the new theatre will provide 850-seat theatre, 260-seat theatre, two cinemas and two dance studios.

Accessibility: 191 bus stops within a mile of the theatre and one railway station. Lack of late-night travel options. Low frequency of services. Refurbished centre will have 150 free parking spaces.

Lyth Arts Centre, Caithness
Key local arts and culture facility. Consists of a 60-seat theatre presenting professional artists. Annual summer exhibition throughout July and August.

Accessibility: There are no bus or rail stops within one mile of the centre. A search on the Traveline Scotland website for a public transport option for either Wick or Thurso to Lyth provides no journey options.

Mull Little Theatre
Founded in 1966 in a converted coach house, it is popularly known as Scotland's smallest professional theatre.

Accessibility: New theatre is designed to include free parking for 27 cars with a further area for a maximum of two coaches. No bus stop facilities to Salen Road, adjacent to the theatre. Bus services across the island operate on a hail-and-ride approach. No evening bus service.

Pittenweem Arts Festival
Annual arts festival run in August, now in its 25th year. Takes place over eight days in and provides a variety of cultural activity including musical performances, talks and workshops.

Accessibility: 26 bus stops within one mile of Pittenweem, with regular services operating to and from Glasgow. Nearest train station is Leuchars, near St Andrews, with trains to and from Dundee, Aberdeen, and Glasgow.

Kilmartin Glen, Argyll
At least 350 ancient monuments within six miles of Kilmartin, north of Lochgilphead.

Accessibility: Closest rail station is more than 30 miles from Kilmartin, which is served by a limited bus service. Bus stop facilities adjacent to the museum entrance lack consistent timetabling information and suffer from access issues. West Coast Motors operates a local bus service between Oban and Lochgilphead.