Travel tips to European Countries: Scotland
About the county
Population & Languages The population is more than 5,100,000 and the official language is English. Scottish Gaelic is spoken too.
Best Time To Visit May to September (summer)
Electricity The voltage is 230-240 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The type of plug used is rectangular blade.
Geographic Location It is located in Western Europe and consists of islands including the northern one-sixth of the Ireland. It is 22 miles from the France border and linked by a under sea tunnel. The terrain is mostly rolling lowlands and low mountains.
Climate
Local Customs
The handshake is customary when you are meeting somebody for the first time. When visiting someone’s house a small gift like flowers or chocolates is customary. Waiting till everyone is served before eating is also one of the etiquettes. Tipping is usually 10-15% in hotels, restaurants and taxis. Smoking and non-smoking areas are clearly designated and thus should be taken care of.
Experiences that should not be missed while in Scotland
· Taking in the magnificent views of the Firth of Forth from the top of Edinburgh Castle
· Viewing the aurora borealis on a clear winter’s night from the shores of Loch Tay
· Walking around Neolithic homes at Skara Brae, Orkney, built before the Egyptian thought of pyramids
· Climbing Ben Nevis to experience the remote beauty of Scotland’s Highlands
· Hitting a very small ball into a very small hole, with a very tall flag in it, at St Andrews
Try local delicacies:
Eat haggis, neeps and tatties (haggis, turnips and potatoes) or try some cranachan (whipped cream flavoured with whisky, and mixed with toasted oatmeal and raspberries) Drink whisky, Deuchars IPA (beer) or Irn-Bru(soft drink)
Further Pleasures:
To read: anything by Robert Burns, or Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh, for an incomparable but often incomprehensible insight into Scotland
To listen: Proclaimers or check out The Corries for true Scotland folk
To watch: WhiskyGalore, adapted from Compton Mackenzie’s novel of the same name. Mackenzie is known for the adage ‘Love makes the world goes round? Not at all! Whisky makes it go round twice as fast’
Travel
By Air – The domestic airlines is British Airways which also connects almost all major world destinations. Almost all airlines connect UK through London which is hub for all international flights between east to west and west to east. Heathrow and Gatwick are international airports of London.
By Sea – Since UK is surrounded by water from almost all sides it has many ports. There are many ferry services operating between Europe and UK.
By Rail – Trains connect Ferries at Dover, Folkestone, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Weymouth, sailing for Belgium, France, Germany and Spain (you need to board at Victoria Station in London); and at Harwich, sailing for Germany, The Netherlands and Scandinavia (you need to board at Liverpool Street). Eurostar train connects London with Brussels and Paris through channel tunnel.
By Road – The vehicles can enter UK through channel tunnel. Cars and motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans, campervans and other vehicles over 1.85m (6.07ft) can also use channel tunnel. Bicycles are also provided for.
Duty Free Items 1. Up to 3200 cigarettes 2. 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars 3. 1 liter spirit over 22% or 2 liter wine or 32 liter beer 4. Perfumes 5. Gifts up to ₤145
Prohibited Items Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, most meat and dairy products, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol. |