Apart from these and several other cities, the popular image of Scotland for most travellers, of course, centres on the "Highlands and Islands" - a wonderfully diverse land, Scotland has much to offer virtually any traveller.
Administratively, Scotland has been divided into a large number of traditional counties and (currently) 32 modern unitary authorities. These are of only limited use to the traveller, however, and an alternative regionalisation - based on culture and geography - is far more practical (from south to north):
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Scotland has six cities. Glasgow is the largest with a population of approximately 620,000 people (more than two million in the metro area) while the capital, Edinburgh, has around 450,000, with Aberdeen next at about 220,000 inhabitants.
Scotland has extensive wilderness areas, some of which have been proclaimed as '''National Parks''':
Many world-class scenic areas are not (yet) protected as National Parks, though some have other designations such as National Scenic Areas or Forest Parks. The Lochaber region contains the impressive Glencoe as well as Scotland's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. The Torridon and Wester Ross areas are also popular mountaineering destinations. Most popular of all with climbers are the Black Cuillin of Skye - but there's plenty of scope for walkers here as well.
It has many historic Islands. Islay is known as the Queen of Hebrides, has eight whisky distilleries, and you can still see today the parliament site of the Clan Donald from 1200 AD, when the Clan Donald ruled the western seaboard of Scotland. The Isle of Arran is also a fantastic destination as well.
There are nice little villages such as Inverkip, John O' Groats, Bettyhill and Langbank, all which have nice beaches. There are good places to fish down at a couple of these villages as well.
A person from Scotland is called a '''Scot''', or you would say that they are '''Scottish'''. The word "Scotch" applies to '''things''' - for example, whisky, Scotch eggs, Scotch beef and Scotch Corner (a road junction leading to Scotland). Of course, you should not refer to Scotland as England, or Scottish as English - it is '''very likely''' that you will cause offense.
Scotland has a rich cultural history much of which is preserved in historic buildings throughout the country. Prehistoric settlements can be traced back to 9600 BC, as well as the famous standing stones in Lewis and Orkney. The Romans, fronted by Julius Caesar in 55 BC, made initial incursions but finally invaded Britain in 43AD, moving into the Southern half of Scotland, but not occupying the country due to the fierce resistance efforts of the native Caledonian tribes. Today, Hadrian's Wall to the south of the Scottish-English border is perceived by some as one of the most famous Roman remains in the world, arguably on a par with the 8-foot-arch on Naxos.
After the withdrawal of the machinery of the Roman Empire, around AD 411, there followed the so-called Dark Ages. However, since the Roman occupation affected mostly just the South of the Island of Britain, the bit now called Scotland was unaffected and had been, even at the great battle at Mons Graupius. Because the grip of Roman hegemony had now loosened, all sorts of invaders now saw the island as open season. So the Angles arrived, on the East coast, around North Berwick. It has to be said that the natives here fared rather better than their Southern counterparts at the hands of the Saxons, who, for example, sacked the Isle of Wight, such that not a native male Briton was left alive.
The early history of the new nation is marked with many conflicts with the English, and also the Vikings who invaded the North of Scotland. Today the Shetland Islands retain a strong Viking cultural identity. Wars with the English would dominate Scottish history for hundreds of years, until the Union of the Crowns in 1603, when the Scottish King, James VI inherited the English throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth I. In 1707, the Parliaments of Scotland and England were united, creating Great Britain.
From the 18th century, the Scottish enlightenment saw vast industrial expansion, and the rise of the city of Glasgow as a major trading port and eventually "Second City" of the British Empire. Universities flourished, and many of the great inventions of the world including television, the telephone and penicillin were invented by Scots. 20th century Scotland saw increasing calls for autonomy from London, and a Scottish Parliament was again established in Edinburgh.
Scotland's history and geography is reflected in the wide range of visitor attractions available, from castles and cathedrals, to stunning countryside, and more modern attractions showcasing Scottish cultural achievements.
Scotland has rich and strong culture, one of which its people are fiercely proud. Scotland has a great tradition of festivals, art and literature. It has produced some of the greatest literary personalities, actors and writers of the world. Irvine Welsh has made a heavy impact on the international literary scene and the prestigious Edinburgh Festival is a hotspot on international arts calendars.
Scotland has also produced some of the greatest scientists of the world including the inventors of the television, telephone and penicillin. It was Scottish scientists who invented Dolly, the cloned sheep. Scotland is known the world over for some of its seafood, vegetables and more specifically its Beef - Aberdeen Angus.
Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, is home to a fantastic music scene; must-visits include King Tut's Wah Wah Hut (where Oasis were spotted and signed for their first record deal) and the Barrowlands Ballroom, a Glasgow institution.
There are no border controls when travelling within the United Kingdom including the land border with England. Scotland has the same immigration and visa requirements as the rest of the United Kingdom.
Until recently, there were few direct international services to Scotland, meaning many travellers would have to fly into London or Manchester and then transfer to a Scottish airport on a UK domestic flight. However, there are now a growing number of European and long haul destinations served by the five international airports in Scotland:
There are many UK domestic flights operating to Scotland including:
None of the airports in Scotland, except Glasgow Prestwick, is connected to the rail network, meaning travellers have to use a dedicated bus service to the city centre, or take a taxi. However, a tram line is currently under construction between Edinburgh Airport and Edinburgh city centre, and is expected to be operational by 2011. A planned rail link for Glasgow Airport should be operational in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
For those unused to the vagaries of the UK rail network, Wikitravel has a useful guide to Rail travel in the UK.
There are five train operators linking Scotland with England:
For further information regarding UK rail travel consult '''National Rail''' [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/].
For international travellers, Scottish Rail passes [http://www.scotlandrailways.com] are available, as are BritRail passes [http://www.BritRail.com].
The main road linking Scotland and England is the M74 motorway which runs from south of Glasgow to Carlisle. The A1 road links Edinburgh and the North East of England; this road is single carriageway in some areas, however, and not considered to be the best route into Scotland. Hence the placename Scotch Corner on the A1 where traffic heading for most Scottish destinations turn to cross the Pennine hills to enter Scotland via the M74.
Bus and coach services are the cheapest way to get to Scotland, but are probably also the longest and the least comfortable. National Express [http://www.nationalexpress.com] is the main operator, with services from Glasgow's Buchanan Street Station, for example, to most other major UK cities.
"PlanaJourney" [http://www.planajourney.co.uk/] is a free integrated public transport journey planner that covers much of the internal Scottish public transport network. It includes bus, rail, Glasgow underground, Scottish ferries and flights. It can assist with planning journeys throughout Scotland.
Scotland is a small country, making air travel uneconomical on most short routes. Air travel is, however, the fastest practical way to reach many Scottish West Coast islands. Be warned, as the planes used are small Saab 340s & Twin Otters, flights are often '''very turbulent''', as Scotland is notorious for rain, wind and storms. Loganair operates many internal Scottish flights. Flights can be booked on the main BA website [http://www.british-airways.co.uk]. The Scottish Government own '''Highlands and Islands Airports''' which operates the remote Scottish airports. Flights are available from Glasgow International Airport to Campbeltown, Islay, Stornoway, Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands. Flights from Edinburgh Airport also operate to Inverness, Wick, Stornoway, and the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Barra's tiny airport is unique in Britain in that the runway is a beach.
The Orkneys also have the Airports Westray and Papa Westray which hold the world record for the shortest Scheduled Commercial Flight, taking a whole 2 minutes!
Westray Airport is located on Aikerness, at the north of the Orkney island of Westray. Papa Westray Airport lies to the north of Holland on the west side of the Orkney island of Papa Westray.
It should be noted that flights can be disrupted or cancelled due to weather conditions.
Flights are also often quite pricey, usually roughly '''$150, one Way'''. Flight time from Glasgow to Barra is 1hr, and From Glasgow To the Shetland Islands lasts 2hrs & 30 Mins.
Loch Lomond Seaplanes also operate from Glasgow Science Centre with flghts to Loch Lomond, Tobermory and Oban. Flights however are expensive. A return flight to Oban for example costs __129.
'''First ScotRail''' [http://www.firstscotrail.com/] operates the Scottish rail network, which covers most of the country. The main rail terminals are:
The train services to Fort William and Mallaig from Glasgow Queen Street take in some wonderful views of the Scottish landscape, and footage from the line was used in the Harry Potter movies.
Note there are no train services to the Scottish Borders, although there are plans to re-open a former railway line to the area, running from Edinburgh.
Generally train fares in Scotland are comparable to the rest of the UK, and are more expensive than most European countries. Typical off-peak fare between Glasgow and Edinburgh is __10 return, and between Edinburgh and Aberdeen __40 return. However, for longer journeys advance purchase tickets offer competitive fares. The '''First ScotRail''' [http://www.firstscotrail.com/] website has details of the Central Scotland Rover and Highland Rover tickets, which offer good value for extensive travel within the areas covered by the pass. It is best to avoid peak time services between Glasgow and Edinburgh, as they are often overcrowded.
Although Scotland is not a big country, travel can take significantly longer than you may expect depending on where you're from. With the exception of motorways and dual carriageways where travel is fast and easy, road conditions in Scotland are generally below Western European standards. Beware of defects such as potholes, ruts, cracks and patches in both urban and rural roads. Many rural roads follow old horse trails and have an overabundance of bends and twists. In remote areas many roads are single track. Passing places are provided at intervals. These are marked by diamond shaped white signs labeled "Passing Place". Sometimes these are incorrectly installed as a square sign. On older less used single track roads black and white striped poles may still be used as markers. If faster traffic comes up behind you it is the rule that you should pull into a passing place and allow the other vehicle to pass. When two vehicles approach each other on a single track road, experienced drivers will both adjust their speed so as to reach the passing place at the same time and pass each other slowly, avoiding the need for either vehicle to come to a stop. You should pull in to the passing place on your left or if the passing place is on the right hand side, stop opposite it so that the oncoming car can pull into it. Many of these roads are poorly maintained and lack crash barriers, so drive carefully and never assume that it is clear around the the next bend or over the next hill. You may also find cattle grids (also known as cattle guards or Texas gates). These are used if livestock is loose in the area and should be negotiated very slowly as they can have an adverse effect on your vehicle's steering. In these areas keep your speed down and watch out for livestock such as horses, sheep, cattle and deer.
Visitors from outside Scotland should take special care when driving if they are not used to driving on the left. It is easiest to slip into previous habits on unmarked rural roads. Well marked city streets should give the driver enough information to select the correct lanes. Many by-passes have been built to allow faster travel, but the visitor will miss out on some of the beautiful scenery of Scotland. In some areas road signs will indicate that the road on the next exit will re-join the main route by showing a semi-circular exit and entrance with the destination name in the middle. This allows the driver confidence to take more scenic diversions into small towns or to find a place to stop and have lunch.
See also the Itinerary: Driving tour of Scotland.
The bus is the cheapest way of getting around in Scotland. You can get almost everywhere with the Citylink bus, but it is more expensive than Megabus. Megabus is a very cheap way to travel, as ticket prices start at __1 if booked weeks in advance, and rising to over __10 for peak-rate or last-minute fares. A 50p booking charge is applied to every ticket.
Megabus departs from Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Perth, going between these Scottish cities as well as to English destinations. Note that with Megabus you can only book online (from 45 days to 30 minutes before departure).
Citylink runs a quarter-hourly bus service between Edinburgh and Glasgow which costs __4 - you pay the driver. This service runs out of the main bus stations (Buchanan Street in Glasgow and Saint Andrew Square in Edinburgh), and the journey takes about an hour and ten minutes - some twenty minutes slower than the train, but half the price of a peak-rate train ticket.
A regular and extensive ferry service operates between most large islands, and across the Clyde estuary.
Hitch-hiking is surprisingly easy in Scotland, but better to do outside the big cities. In the Highlands you might need to wait for a long time until a car comes by. General caution must be taken.
English and Scots Gaelic are the languages of Scotland. English (sometimes spoken with a varying degree of Scottish dialect) is the everyday language spoken by all. Dialects vary enormously from region to region, and even between towns! Don't let this frighten you, however, as all Scots can speak standard English.
Scots Gaelic (Gaidhlig), meanwhile, is only spoken by around 60,000 people, mainly in the Highlands (a' Ghaidhealtachd) and the Western Islands (Na h-Eileanan Siar) (e.g Barra, where 80% speak Gaelic). Almost all Gaelic speakers also speak English with the exception of a possible tiny fraction of rather isolated elderly people ; the chances of meeting such a person are infinitesimally small. You will more than likely hear locals speaking in Gaelic in the Western Isles and on ferries to and from them. Signs on board some CalMac ferries to the Western Islands are in Gaelic first and English second and have an announcement in Gaelic after the safety announcement upon departure.
Scots ('Oor ain leid' lit. 'Our own language') although not an official language of Scotland, is spoken by around 1.5 million people in Scotland, throughout the whole country. As with modern English, the language evolved from Anglo-saxon. Scots is more or less intelligible to native speakers of English, especially in written form. There are debates over whether Scots is in fact a language or a dialect - in some ways it resembles Old English - and rather than actually being spoken purely, it is often found influencing informal English spoken by people in Scotland.
The Scots generally have rather poor foreign language skills, although those in tourism-related industries generally have better language skills. French, German and Spanish are the most commonly known foreign languages.
Here are some useful English words derived from Gaelic, Pictish or Old Norse:
Scotland offers a range of products, souvenirs and memorabilia unavailable authentically anywhere else in the world. A few examples:
Visitors from outside northern Europe may find Scotland a relatively expensive country.
As in the rest of the United Kingdom, Scottish currency is Pounds Sterling (__). Scotland's three national clearing banks continue to issue their own sterling banknotes (including __1 notes, not produced south of the border). These are The Bank of Scotland, The Royal Bank of Scotland and The Clydesdale Bank. These notes are very common in Scotland, but are sometimes (wrongly) not accepted in shops in England (English banks, however, will exchange them for Bank of England notes). ATMs commonly dispense the Scottish notes, but bank tellers will cash travelers cheques into Bank of England notes on request. Scottish banknotes may be difficult to exchange outside the UK, where foreign banks are generally unfamiliar with the notes. If in doubt, exchange your Scottish notes for Bank of England notes before you leave the country.
As Bank of England notes are more commonly forged than their (lower-circulation) Scottish equivalents, smaller shops are sometimes wary of larger-denomination Bank of England banknotes, particularly when the note is in an uncirculated condition (as is common with sterling notes sold abroad).
Euros are accepted at a small number of highstreet stores and tourist shops, but this should not be relied upon.
Scotland is relatively expensive when compared to some other European countries. As a basic rule, the further north you venture, the more expensive it likely gets, mostly because of the difficulty and expense of supply.
<!-- begin conversion table --> <table style="background-color: #f3f3ff; border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff; border-collapse: collapse;"> <tr><td style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff; padding: 2px;" colspan="3">Currency conversion table (April 2009)</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px; font-weight: bold;">'''Foreign currency'''</td><td style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px; font-weight: bold;">'''Either one'''</td><td style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px; font-weight: bold;">Pound Sterling</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">€1.11 Euro</td><td style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">1</td><td style="text-align: right; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">£0.90</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">$1.47 US Dollar</td><td style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">1</td><td style="text-align: right; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">£0.68</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">$2.08 Australian Dollar</td><td style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">1</td><td style="text-align: right; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">£0.48</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">$1.82 Canadian Dollar</td><td style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">1</td><td style="text-align: right; border: 1px solid #C9AFFF; padding: 2px;">£0.55</td></tr> </table> <!-- end conversion table -->
The classic tourist souvenir is a kilt and everything else involving the tartan. Note that a real kilt costs about £300-400 and is made of heavy wool (so it won't reveal what you are wearing underneath even in strong winds), but most souvenir stores only offer unauthentic thin ones. If you really want a genuine kilt or full traditional outfit (Kilt,sporran,jacket, shirt and shoes) the best place to look is a clothing hire shop. These specialise in hiring suits and kilts for weddings and often sell stock at reduced prices. The traditional highland kilt is a section of cloth about 6 feet wide and 14 feet long. This is wrapped about the body then then brought up over the shoulder and pinned in place, a little like a toga. The modern short kilt was introduced during the industrial revolution to give more freedom of movement.
Whisky is also a common buy. There are huge differences in price and taste.
Most visitors are disappointed by the high cost of living in Scotland. Although prices in Scotland are not as bad as in the south of England, compared to the USA or most other parts of Europe basic living expenses are still high. Most goods have an additional 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) applied although this is always included in the marked price for general consumer purchases. Petrol (gasoline) has a massive 70% excise tax and 15% VAT on top of that. Costs are highest in Edinburgh and in very remote places such as Stornoway.
While Scotland has suffered from the stereotype for dreary food, things have changed now with numerous quality Indian, French, Italian and Modern Scottish options on offer. In fact, in parts of the country such as Edinburgh, it has become quite difficult to get a really bad meal.
Vegetarian food isn't as hard to find as you would think, with virtually all restaurants and cafes offering more than one vegetarian option. Vegan food is harder to find, but not impossible. Edinburgh especially has a good number of exceptional vegetarian restaurants.
Scotland (especially the highlands) is famous for the hundreds of brands of Scotch whisky it produces. It seems to the visitor that every village makes its own particular brand, so much so that somebody compared a tour of the highlands as being similar to "driving through a drinks cabinet"!
Bars are the places you meet people and where you have a good time. More than in other countries, bars are very lively and it is easy to get to know people when you're travelling alone. The Scottish are very welcoming, so it's not unusual that they will buy you a beer even though you just met them.
The legal drinking age is 18 years old, and many pubs and clubs will ask for ID of anyone who looks younger than mid-twenties, penalties for those caught buying drink for those under 18 can include a large fine. The penalties for drinking and driving are severe.
Self catering holidays, in cottages or wooden lodges, in Scotland have become very popular over recent years. Many cottages are now furnished to a very high standard.
Scotland has plenty of '''Hostels''', both the '''Scottish Youth Hostel Association''' (SYHA) [http://www.syha.org.uk/] and a large and developing network of '''Independent Hostels'''. Some of the buildings are very impressive, like the one on Loch Lomond and the Carbisdale Castle Hostel. The SYHA traditionally involved guests performing chores and a ban on alcohol. The new breed of independent hostels have eschewed these concepts, causing the SYHA to loosen up its attitudes too.
'''Camping''' is another inexpensive way of touring Scotland, though the unpredictable weather makes it less appealing than in some other countries. In remote areas camp sites can be a significant distance apart so buy an up to date guide and plan your route. Booking is not usually necessary except in peak season. Generally, the rule is the more remote the camp site, the better the scenery and the lower the cost. Some camp sites may only provide basic amenities. Camping rough is possible in remote areas, but observe local signs, and never camp next to a stream that could rapidly become swollen by overnight rain. Midges (tiny biting insects) can be a particular nuisance during August and September: the insects are harmless but incredibly irritating.
'''Bed and Breakfast''' accommodation is widely available, even in remote areas and some very good deals can be found. Many people consider these to be more friendly and welcoming than a hotel. Local tourist information centres will help you find a room for the same night, and you may expect to pay in the region of __25 per person per night for room and full Scottish breakfast. The '''Scottish Guest House and Bed & Breakfast Association''' (GHABBA) [http://www.guesthousebandbscotland.com/] have a range of Bed and Breakfasts and Guest Houses across Scotland.
If visiting the major cities, try staying in Falkirk or Polmont. Both are far cheaper than the hotels in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and only 1/2 hour away from both on regular train services.
The '''Premier Travel Inn''' chain of motels are widespread, with double rooms priced at around __55. In cities these are likely to prove cheaper than a hotel.
Most historic sites are maintained either by the '''National Trust of Scotland''' or by '''Historic Scotland'''. Both offer memberships (with free priority access and other discounts) for a year or a lifetime - and have reciprocal arrangements with their English and Welsh equivalents. Depending on how much you get around and how long you are staying, they may well be worth buying... Membership also contributes to the sites' preservation and new acquisitions.
In the bigger cities you can learn highland dancing. If you're interested in learning how to play the Scottish bagpipe, you should know that it takes about one year to play on an actual bagpipe for the first time. It is really more difficult than it looks like and needs daily practice!
If you are interested in learning more about Scotland you can visit www.scotland.org [http://www.scotland.org/].
The regulations governing who can work in Scotland is the same as for the rest of the UK.
A general shortage of skilled labour in the health sector means the British health service actively recruits abroad, making it easier for those with specialist health care skills to work in the UK. The Scottish Government is also keen to attract immigrants to Scotland to plug a perceived declining population.
In any '''emergency''' call '''999''' or '''112''' (from a land-line if you can) and ask for Ambulance, Fire, Police or Coast Guard when connected.
Visitors to Scotland are unlikely to experience any crime. Petty crimes such as thefts and pickpocketing are lower than in many other European countries, but vigilance at all times is required, especially in crowded areas. Violent crime is a problem in inner city urban areas. However most violent crime occurs amongst gangs, thus, violent crime against tourists is rare in Scotland. Crime rates vary greatly from urban to rural areas. You should approach clubs and bars at night with caution, especially around closing time when drink fuelled violence occurs, the best thing to do is use common sense and avoid any fighting.
Edinburgh can be considered a safe destination for visitors, but like all major cities there are problems and areas best avoided. Some of the city's suburbs are best avoided by tourists who are not familiar with the area. Crime is a common feature of nearly every large city in any country, and Edinburgh is no exception.
Despite Glasgow's reputation for being a violent place, in practise Glasgow is not that bad provided you use common sense. Unlike many cities where tourist havens and dangerous areas can be seamlessly separated by a single block, due to Glasgow's layout it is near impossible to accidentally wander into one of the "less desirable" parts of town unless you were making a conscious effort to do so. If you do wish to visit Glasgow, it would be best avoided during the (Old Firm) Rangers v Celtic derby day, as the city becomes divided and can have a very unpleasant atmosphere about it, which does not make it a good place to be for an outsider.
However it is wise to avoid the subway in Glasgow on any football match day, especially if you get travel sick easily, as many football fans like to partake in an activity known as '''"The Bouncy Bouncy''' where up to 100 football fans bounce up and down at the same time, causing the tiny carriages to rock and rise to the peak of their suspension.
In rural areas, especially the Highlands and Islands, Perthshire and Scottish Borders, crime is significantly lower. It is, of course, advisable to be cautious at night, as in any town or city.
English visitors will find a warm welcome despite traditional rivalries, thus proving the myth that it's not safe to have an English accent in Scotland is indeed just that. They should of course expect a bit of - generally good-natured - teasing whenever either Scotland or England are playing football. The Scots can be generalised as a friendly group and it's unlikely that a foreigner will be treated with anything other than great respect and kindness, and those from south of the Border are no exception.
Driving in Scotland is considered relatively safe, but general caution applies.
When hillwalking, you should always take along a compass, detailed maps, waterproof clothing, a torch (flashlight), and a good pair of boots. A charged mobile phone can be a lifesaver as some mountain areas have cell coverage, but networks like T-Mobile and Orange don't cover the Highlands very well. The weather on the hills can change suddenly, with visibility falling to just a few metres. If hillwalking alone tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
Beware of Midges! Large clouds of these small, irritating insects can form anywhere damp, especially in august/september. They will bite, which can prove to be very itchy and uncomfortable - although they do not carry disease.
Weather in Scotland is often '''wild''', and it rains an awful lot! Low lying mist causes regular problems in the Highlands, and sometimes in the Other Areas. Those who have experienced difficulties breathing should carry an inhaler at all times. Thunderstorms are a common thing in Northern Scotland, and general precautions should be taken.
In case of emergency, call 999 or 112 from any phone.
More advice is available from the Mountaineering Council of Scotland [http://www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk/leaflets/walksafe.html]
Tap water in Scotland is safe to drink everywhere, though in some areas it can be heavily chlorinated. If you find it is not to your taste then local and international brands of bottled water are available from supermarkets.
Call Scots, Scottish, not Scotch. Do not necessarily expect the cliched stereotypes of the Scots to materialise i.e. dressing in tartan and kilts every day, ginger hair, playing the bagpipes, hating the English, rabidly nationalist. Some Scots may take this in a humourous way, others may get irritated or maybe offended. Attempting to mimic the Scots accent and speech is also not advised as this would normally be seen as a mickey take.
Scotland has been a part of the United Kingdom for over 300 years, although in recent times it has enjoyed a good deal of autonomy. Most Scots are fairly easy going and will be quite happy to let you know about how the country/region (depending on one's point of view) differs from the rest of the UK.
Another issue which can cause bother is sectarianism, enforced by the rivalry between various football clubs. It would not be advised to openly wear the colours/shirts of football clubs on match days as this may cause offence, this is a problem mainly confined to the teams Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers, although a lot of supporters of these teams live all over Scotland.
In Scotland homosexuality ''can'' be frowned upon, outside of Edinburgh, Glasgow and other large cities. Flamboyance is not a common sight in public, and anyone who is may be laughed at or even, on a rare occasion, given an insult. There have been homosexual-related attacks in recent years, all though these are extremely rare. If you are a gay traveler, it is best to be subtle when in public.
See the UK contact entry for national information on telephone, internet and postal services. See Contact entries under individual cities for local information.