Practical tips for planning your visit to Scotland (FAQs)

Scotland by Bus

Scotland is very well connected by bus services – whether you are travelling between the cities or up into the Highlands or Scottish Borders.

These are the main companies in Scotland which will take you between the Scotland’s towns and cities:

• Scottish Citylink – with 20 ‘fast’ routes around Scotland and to Scotland’s seven cities
• Stagecoach – use the journey planner to catch buses between smaller towns and the cities. They also have a handy app.
• Megabus and the National Express – national bus services across the UK
• Lothian Buses and Lothian Country buses for Edinburgh and the Lothians – download the Transport for Edinburgh app for your phone.
• West Coast Motors for the west coast of Scotland

Unlimited Bus Tickets in Scotland

If you are going to be doing a lot of travelling by bus in Scotland, consider a Explorer Pass for the Scottish Citylink network or a Megarider from Stagecoach within certain areas.

Ferries in Scotland

To get to Scotland’s islands you will need to catch either a ferry run by:

• Inner and Outer Hebrides – to get to the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides you will need to catch a Caledonian McBrayne (affectionately known as Calmac) which run from small ports all across the west coast rather than from one main ferry port. You can buy Calmac tickets in advance (and book space) on their website or use the Spirit of Scotland pass.
• Orkney and Shetland – to visit the northern islands you will have to catch a Pentland Ferry or a Northlink ferry.
• Argyll Ferries – to get between Gourock and Dunoon catch an Argyll Ferry.

If you want to ferry hop around the Hebridean Islands, I have a comprehensive guide to ferries to the Hebrides in Scotland here, with route options and itineraries. Why not sail from:

• Oban to the Isle of Mull, or to the lovely Coll and Tiree, to the beautiful Barra
• Mallaig for the Isle of Skye, to discover the Summer Isles (a Scotland hidden gem) or to sail to South Uist in the Outer Hebrides.
• Uig on Skye to North Uist and the Isle of Harris.
• Kennacraig to go whisky sampling on the Isle of Islay and Jura.
• Ullapool for Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis.

Check out the map of the Scottish ferry routes on the Calmac website to help you plan your ferry hopping!

Driving in Scotland

One of the best way of seeing Scotland is by car – either on a Scotland road trip or making yourself a base for a week and exploring by a self drive tour.

Why not drive the iconic North Coast 500 – Scotland’s most famous road trip takes in 500 miles around the north coast of Scotland taking in some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

You could also explore the best bits of central Scotland and the highlands road trip – starting in Edinburgh, road trip to Loch Lomond, then head north to explore Scotland’s most famous glen, Glencoe and on to Loch Ness before returning via beautiful Perthshire. 

Or why not drive my 10 day classic Scotland itinerary.

Driving in Scotland Tips

Visit Scotland have a great wee guide to driving in Scotland, but I’d recommend brushing up on the speed limits, roundabouts, road signs and these tips: 

In Scotland we drive on the left. 

Single track roads – to visit the Highlands you need to understand how to drive on a single track road – off the main motorways and ‘A’ routes many of the roads in Scotland are single lane – that is just one lane for cars moving in both directions.

There are passing places to let people past both in front of you (and it is worth remembering) and from behind – so practise reversing your hire vehicle. Don’t frustrate a local by not letting them past if you have a queue behind you. Just pull in and let the traffic move.

Remember that locals and Scots know how to drive on a single track road and may be needing to get somewhere like the hospital or for an appointment.

Scotland might look small, but not everything takes an hour to get to – because of the aforementioned single track roads and traffic jams caused by sheep, coos, goats, cyclists and camper vans, add an extra hour to the journey time on Google maps, just in case. 

Acknowledge your fellow drivers – a wave, a thank you or let someone past is much appreciated. 

The highlands of Scotland are renowned for not having a 3g or even in some places a mobile signal, you will need actually need a paper map in Scotland – or to download map sections off google maps to your phone when you have wifi.

Guided and organised tours in Scotland

Thinking of an organised tour? Take the stress out of planning your trip and book a coach or bus tour, or even a train trip!

Why not do a Scotland photography tour in Perthshire with Find Your Scotland?

Bus and coach tours in Scotland

We’ve come a long way from traditional coach holiday in Scotland – today tours run all over the country on day trips, two day adventures by minibus and week long holidays.

Why not choose one of these tours? [affiliate links]

• Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies from Edinburgh*
• Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands from Edinburgh*
• The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle from Inverness*
• St Andrews & the East Neuk of Fife from Edinburgh*
• Glenfinnan, the Harry Potter Bridge, Glencoe and Mallaig from Edinburgh*
• Isle of Skye from Inverness*

Best time to visit Scotland

Wondering when the best time to visit Scotland is? Whilst the answer should be ‘anytime!’ but in terms of climate, the best time to visit Scotland is in spring from March to May and autumn from September to October.

This is because Scotland’s weather is highly unpredictable and you whilst you can still experience four seasons in one day (including snow in March) spring and autumn weather in Scotland is usually the most stable.

Here is how to visit Scotland in Spring.

I rarely travel in Scotland in Summer – most of my photographs on this site are taken in spring/autumn and even in winter too! Go on think about it, how to visit Scotland in Autumn and Winter.

Scottish Weather

It is going to rain in Scotland. I can almost guarantee it. Scotland doesn’t stay a wonderful green & verra pleasant land without a lot of rain. We have hundreds of words to describe rain – my favourites include:

• dreich (miserable)
• drookit (absolutely chucking it down)
• stoating (the rain is literally bouncing off the ground, also used to describe very drunk people) and
• haar (a thick sea mist which means you can’t see a bloody thing, mostly seen in Skye and Edinburgh).

We do get some sun, occasionally, but don’t forget to pack a waterproof coat, that’s all I am saying. To quote Billy Connolly, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing, so get yourself a sexy raincoat and live a little.

Temperatures in Scotland range from 2 °C to 6 °C in winter to 12 °C to 19 °C in summer.

Responsible tourism in Scotland

From influencers climbing over the fence at Kilt Rock on Skye to people being rescued from their Outlander fantasies in the Devil’s Pulpit, sadly there is over-tourism in Scotland. Next time you plan a trip, instead of googling the ‘top ten things to do in Scotland’ – here is where to visit in Scotland instead or try these more unusual places to visit in Scotland.

Why not slow down and visit one of these places instead?

• Spend a week sailing the Caledonian Canal – sail coast to coast across Scotland from Fort William beneath the mighty Ben Nevis, through the maelstrom of the Fort Augustus Locks, across the huge expanse of Loch Ness. Sail the Caledonian Canal.
• Visit Glen Strathfarrar and Glen Affric – find this a spectacular 14-mile glen, with a tumbling river, remnants of the Caledonian Scots Pine forest surrounded by towering Munros. Keep an eye out for hundreds of majestic stags on the hillside and eagles soaring overhead. The best bit? Only 25 cars are allowed in a day into Glen Strathfarrar.  How to visit Glen Strathfarrar and Glen Affric.
• Drive the South West Coastal 300 – don’t miss the south of Scotland. Drive along the stunning Solway Firth, to the remote Mull of Galloway Scotland’s most southerly point, through the Galloway Forest Park and to Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village! The South West Coastal 300 is a paradise for walkers so take your time and get out of the car.

The Outdoor Access code

If you are visiting Scotland and plan to explore the outdoors then it is worth reading the Scottish Outdoor access code. Whilst we have the ‘right to roam’ outdoors in Scotland there are 3 main rules –

• respecting the interests of other people
• caring for the environment
• taking responsibility for your own actions

If you have a dog you need to keep it under control and on a lead around livestock.

Where to stay in Scotland

Looking for fabulous places to stay in Scotland? From romantic cottages to luxury log cabins, dog friendly hotels to the best campsites we’ve tried and tested great places to stay for your holiday in Scotland.

How to find accommodation in Scotland

Looking for a fantastic hotel or lodging? Here are my recommended ways to find places to stay in Scotland.

• Book with booking.com* for great rates and free cancellation if your plans change
• Book with Expedia.com* for hotels right across Scotland
• Book with VRBO* for self catering and cool stays

Try my accommodation guides – explore my where to stay in Scotland section or check out one of my guides below:

• My list of places to stay in Scotland
• Lodges and log cabins
• Dog friendly places to stay in Scotland
• Romantic places to stay
• Boutique and Luxury Hotels
• Campsites and Glamping

Wild Camping in Scotland

Wild camping is allowed in Scotland – as long as it is lightweight in a tent, done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place. You can not park in a car or roof tent by the roadside in Scotland and camp in Scotland.

Some areas of Scotland have seasonal bylaws where you have to get a permit to camp. This includes the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park where camping from the 1st March is only permitted within campsites or with a camping permit.

‘Dirty camping’ – where people rock up and camp on the banks of lochs, light fires and go to the loo in the woods, all before leaving everything behind has hit the headlines over the last couple of years. Don’t be a dirty camper – look for quiet spots, bring a raised fire pit (remember to check the fire risk) and take all your rubbish and tent away with you. Take a shovel for that poo!

Health and safety while in Scotland

• What is the emergency number in Scotland? – 999
• How do I see a doctor? Phone Dial 111 to speak to NHS 24 

Scotland FAQs

• Where is Scotland? Scotland is located in the UK and is the most northerly country on the mainland.
• Is Scotland safe – yes very. However, you should always take the same precautions with your luggage, cash and valuables as you would anywhere in the world.
• What languages are spoken in Scotland? English, Scots and Gaelic (pronounced Gah-lick) which you will see on the road signs.
• What are lochs? Scots for lakes. There is only one lake in Scotland – The Lake of Mentieth.
• What are bens? Scots for mountains, also written Beinn.
• What are Munros? Scottish mountains over 3000ft – find out more about climbing a Munro.
• What is the currency of scotland? Pound sterling – it is the same currency across Scotland, England and Wales, but Scotland produces its own Scottish bank notes.
• What is Scotland capital city? Edinburgh. The largest city in Scotland is Glasgow.
• How many cities are there in Scotland? 8 – Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth, Stirling and Dunfermline.
• Can you drink the tap water? yes – and it is lovely. It is even better when it is made into whisky.
• Can i access the internet? yes, we have up to 5g in Scotland, although the internet is still very patchy across the Highlands and in remote areas. You will be able to pick up wifi in pubs, restaurants and hotels.
• How do i get money or exchange money? You can withdraw money from our banks – look out for Santander, Royal Bank of Scotland or Bank of Scotland. You can also withdraw and exchange money at Post Offices.
• What are the opening hours? – shops usually open 9am until 5/6pm, with later opening on a Thursday. Bars are open until 11, 12 or 1am depending on the day of the week, nightclubs until 3am.
• At what age can i drink alcohol? 18
• Do I need to tip? Yes, whilst there isn’t a tipping culture like the United States, a tip is usually expected in restaurants. You can tip around 10% on meals. You do not need to tip in a bar when just purchasing drinks, but you can offer your server ‘a drink’ or ‘one for yourself’ and they will add a couple of pounds to the bill.
• How do i get a taxi? You can hail a black cab on the streets in Edinburgh and Glasgow along with using the popular ride sharing apps. Outside of the cities, your accommodation will be able to provide you with a list of local taxi companies or ask in the pub. Be prepared to wait or book in advance – often there is only one taxi in a village!
• What is the dialling code for Scotland? +44
• What kind of adapter do i need for Scotland? A three pin ‘G’ adaptor.
• Is Scotland part of England? No

Any other questions? Give me a shout!

Love from, Scotland x