Guide to Scotland. Royal Mile in Edinburgh
Scotland is the fourth region of Great Britain. Distinctive features of Scotland include bagpipes, tartan skirts, Scotch whiskey and the mysterious monster Nessie, who lives in Loch Ness.
The territory of Scotland includes the northern third of the island of Great Britain and the adjacent islands of the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. The area of Scotland is 78,772 km², the length of the coastline is 9,911 km. In the south it borders with England. The length of the border from the Tweed River in the west to the Solway Firth in the east is about 96 km. The island of Ireland is located 30 km southwest of the coast, Norway is 400 km northeast, and the Faroe Islands and Iceland lie north of Scotland.
Current time in Edinburgh:
(UTC 0)
The western coast of Scotland is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the eastern coast by the North Sea. The western and eastern sea coasts of Scotland are connected by the Caledonian Canal, of which the famous Loch Ness is part.
How to get to Scotland
The most logical way to get to Scotland is through the capital - the city of Edinburgh. The most convenient way to get to the capital of Scotland from the continent is by plane. Edinburgh Airport is located approximately 13 kilometers from the city center. There are no direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg, so the flight is only possible with a transfer in the British capital London or another European city. There is an option to get to Edinburgh by train from London. In time it will be about 5 hours. Train Station is located on Princess Street. Using the form below you can select a flight to Edinburgh according to your parameters.
How to get from London to Scotland
By bus
To get to Edinburgh from London by bus it will take about 9 hours. Although the price will be cheaper than using another type of transport. If children are not included in the trip, you can take an overnight flight to save on hotel costs. Transportation is carried out by two companies Megabus and National Express. Buses depart from Victoria Station. There are several options for purchasing a travel ticket. This can be done in advance by purchasing a ticket on the website, which will cost less, or just before departure, but in this case it will be difficult to count on good seats, since boarding is done on a first-come, first-served basis.
By train
The traditional and most convenient way to get to Edinburgh when traveling with children is by train. In addition to comfort, this option will allow you to perfectly explore not only English, but also Scottish landscapes. There are frequent trains to Edinburgh. There are both daytime flights, which are very convenient (on a weekday the journey takes 4.5 hours, and on weekends a little longer) and evening flights, but they are slower and more expensive. Trains to Edinburgh depart from London King's Cross station. The best option would be to buy a ticket in advance online using the Internet, which will be much cheaper than just before departure. The London - Edinburgh route is operated by East Coast.
By plane
If you want or need to reduce travel time, you should take a plane. Travel time will take 1 hour. The price of a flight is quite comparable to a train ticket, and sometimes it turns out even cheaper. However, taking into account the travel time from London to the airport, the total travel time will be comparable to that spent traveling by rail. So what is the “trick” then? Everything is very simple. This method of getting to the capital of Scotland is advantageous if, upon arrival at London Heathrow Airport, you immediately transfer to a plane to Edinburgh. Such transit routes are operated by the British airline British Airways. As a recommendation, provided that the final destination of the tourist trip is Edinburgh, we can advise you to look at the option of a flight that would bypass London. Connecting flights via Amsterdam and Frankfurt are quite suitable for these purposes.
To make it easier to find suitable options with a transfer, you can use
With its help you can see all the available options.
Search for flights
to Scotland
Search for a car
for rent
Search flights to Scotland
We compare all available flight options based on your request, and then direct you to the official websites of airlines and agencies for purchase. The air ticket price you see on Aviasales is final. We have removed all hidden services and checkboxes.
We know where to buy cheap air tickets. Airplane tickets to 220 countries. Search and compare prices for air tickets among 100 agencies and 728 airlines.
We cooperate with Aviasales.ru and do not charge any commissions - the cost of tickets is absolutely the same as on the website.
Search for a rental car
Compare 900 rental companies at 53,000 rental locations.
Search 221 rental companies worldwide
40,000 pick-up points
Easy cancellation or modification of your booking
We cooperate with RentalCars and do not charge any commissions - the rental price is absolutely the same as on the website.
Climate and weather in Scotland
The climate is temperate oceanic. Thanks to the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream, temperatures in Scotland are higher than in countries along the same parallel, but lower than in other regions of the UK. Due to the uneven surface topography, the weather is extremely unstable. During the coldest months of the year - January and February - the average temperature maximum is 5-7°C. In the warmest months - July and August - 19°C. Average annual precipitation ranges from 3,000 mm in the north to 800 mm in the south. The region is characterized by southwest winds and frequent storms on the coast and islands.
Average climate values for the main cities of the country by month (according to the Yandex.Weather service)
Weather in Scotland in February
Weather in Scotland in March
Weather in Scotland in April
Weather in Scotland in May
Weather in Scotland in June
Weather in Scotland in July
Weather in Scotland in August
Weather in Scotland in September
Weather in Scotland in October
Weather in Scotland in November
Weather in Scotland in December
Reviews by month
| January 7 February 2 March 4 | April 4 May 13 June 22 | July 4 August 32 September 12 | October 6 November 5 December 5 |
Photos of Scotland
Transport
There is a common belief that there is no point in traveling around Scotland without a rental car, which is misleading for those who are unable to get around in this way. Of course, with the help of a car you can get to the most secluded corners of this proud land, however, this does not mean that you will not have the opportunity to fully enjoy the natural beauty when traveling by public transport.
Public transport in Scotland is well developed, it combines all the classic types, from air travel, railways, to ferries and buses. It connects not only large cities, but also sparsely populated and remote destinations, for example, Orkney and Shetland. There is only one significant drawback - the cost of tickets, which can compete in terms of price, perhaps, with the Scandinavian countries.
Air traffic
There are 5 main airports in Scotland, with Edinburgh International Airport and Glasgow International Airport being the busiest.
Inverness Airport is Northern Scotland's largest airport and the main gateway for passengers traveling to the Highland region and offshore islands.
Another airport in Glasgow, Prestwick, is connected to the city by direct rail. Its important feature is that it is the main hub for low-cost airlines operating in Scotland.
Buses
This type of transport is indispensable in cases where you need to get to remote places where there is no railway connection. In addition, this is a fairly convenient and acceptable option for medium-distance travel. The bus network is extensive, covering not only popular routes such as Edinburgh - Iverness/Glasgow/Aberdeen/Isle of Skye, but also connecting major cities with their suburbs, as well as links to cities in other parts of the UK.
The main bus operators serving intercity routes are, and. Tickets can be purchased online (often at a reasonable price), from the driver and at bus station ticket offices. Just as in the case of trains, there are travel cards that will save your budget if you plan to move around the country a lot, for example from Citylink, you can order it in the same way as a regular ticket, on the website (they deliver to Russia) or at bus station ticket offices .
Ferries
More than 60 islands are located off the coast of Scotland, regular connections with which are carried out by several large carriers, dividing the routes among themselves.
Ticket prices are not budget friendly, therefore, in order to limit yourself to small financial losses, it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance, on the carrier’s website or at the ticket office at the port of departure.
The main companies organizing ferry services are CalMac (or) - they specialize in more than 20 destinations off the west coast of the country; connects the settlements of the Orkney Islands; — organizes ferry services from Aberdeen to Shetland and Orkney Islands; Companies and - organize communication between the ports of the south-west coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Districts
Scotland is the most autonomous state of all that makes up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The decision to divide the country into regions was made in 1996. Since then, Scotland has 32 regions, which are part of 8 regions. In 2011, at the next meeting of the Scottish Parliament, the status of the eight regions, which are described below, was confirmed.
Despite the official division, police and firefighters, as well as ambulances, use their own division of territory.
Central Scotland
The territory, which is located in the center of Scotland, is one of eight electoral regions, geographically occupies part of the Lowlands. It consists of 9 electoral districts.
The borders of the Central Region were finally legalized in 2011. Before this decision of Parliament, the region belonged to 11 districts.
The territory of Central Scotland borders the territories of Glasgow, Lothian, Midland and Southern Scotland.
The main “lure” for tourists in this region was the gigantic (by Scottish standards) freshwater lake Loch Lomond. The lake, surrounded by forests and amazing green landscapes, is covered with small islands. The ferry goes there from Balloch. In Balloch, a small town near the lake itself, entrance to the Loch Lomond National Park. And for those who don’t want to wait for the ferry, you can visit Queen Elizabeth Park. In addition, the fabulous valleys of the Trossachs, the coast of Fife and the Firth of Forth will delight every traveler.
Glasgow region
Glasgow is not only one of the largest cities in Scotland. First of all, Glasgow is the most populous region of Scotland, which includes the city of Glasgow itself.
The central River Clyde gives its name to part of the region called Clydeside.
Glasgow is called a region of contrasts. You can relax from the bustling city in natural reserves protected by UNESCO. The Clyde Valley and its many parks welcome millions of tourists from all over the world every year.
The region is in the center of Scotland, making it one of the most economically advantageous parts of the country.
Highlands and Islands
The Highlands and Islands are the largest region of Scotland. However, the nature of the Highlands is different from the Islands. The temperate oceanic climate gives way to a marine subarctic climate on the shores of the Islands. The region is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.
This region includes eight counties, including the following major tourist centers:
Argyll- a picturesque island near the shore. The area around Argyll has the UK's only seawater waterfalls, Laura.
Inverness- one of six cities in Scotland with beautiful ancient castles that have been well preserved to this day.
Shetland Islands. Of the hundreds of Shetland Islands, only 29 are inhabited today. However, they have something to surprise tourists, for example, with their beaches, high cliffs, and excellent whiskey.
Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides archipelago, the fourth most populous island in the country. It is here that a traveler is most likely to hear Scottish Gaelic, the native language of Scotland.
Orkney Islands. There are 70 Orkney Islands, of which 17 are inhabited. Most of the islands are very small, but each has something to see for tourists.
Lothian
The name Lothian comes from the name of King Lot - according to legend, the ruler of the Orkney Islands and the lands of Lothian.
This region includes nine counties. The central district is the city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Of course, thanks to Edinburgh, Lothian is by far the most visited region in Scotland.
One of the best parks in Lothian is the Pentland Hills Regional Park, which is 100 kilometers long. And in the mountainous part of Central Lothian you can go skiing or snowboarding. A traveler can also head to the East Lothian coast, where you can try your luck at golf, because it’s not for nothing that Scotland is called the “home of golf.”
Central Scotland and Fife
The region consists of nine districts. Located in the center of the country. One of the districts is the city of Sterling.
Fife is often referred to as the Kingdom as it was once part of the ancient Pictish Kingdom. The region contains cities popular with tourists.
The Kingdom of Fife has preserved many sites of ancient Pictish culture.
There are six large castles in this area that are accessible to tourists. One of the most famous castles is St Andrew's Castle, built in 1200.
North East Scotland
Includes 10 districts, including Angus, the city of Aberdeen and the city of Dundee.
Dundee is a major port, which, of course, left its mark on the entire region. Tourists love to come to this region to see real sailor villages and walk along the coast.
There are many castles near Aberdeen, and Angus offers beautiful nature. Aberdeen has been one of the Royal Family's favorite destinations since the days of Queen Victoria.
South Scotland
The southern region of Scotland is divided into nine regions. Geographically it borders with England.
Galloway and Dumfries offer a variety of natural landscapes, with valleys, coastlines, mountains, forests and rivers. Galloway is the southernmost point of Scotland. The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns once lived and worked here.
Ayr is a county steeped in history and home to around 40 castles. This district often hosts various music festivals.
West Scotland
The territory of Western Scotland includes 10 counties. The most famous county for tourists in Western Scotland is Cunningham. The county is located on the picturesque coast of the Firth of Clyde, not far from the River Erwin; there is the town of Erwin, famous for travelers, with the same name as the river. In addition, tourists are attracted by the town of Largs, which is famous as the site of the battle between the Scots and the Vikings from Norway in 1263. The region is rich in history and is also very easy to reach from the country's main cities.
In addition, the Scots themselves divide their country into the following territories:
Highlands- occupies the main territory of Scotland.
Speyside- a valley named after the river flowing through its territory. This area is known for some of the finest distilleries throughout Scotland. Although every region of Scotland has its own distilleries, whiskey from the Spey Valley is considered the best.
Islands- this name unites the following islands: Skye, Arran, Jura, Mull, and in the northeast of Scotland the Orkney Islands.
Outer Hebrides- the territory is located in the north of Scotland, an area of Scotland called the Western Isles. Many Scots simply call this area the Island.
Islay is another part of Scotland located on an island. Islay is part of the Inner Hebrides. On its territory there are two regions of Scotland - Argyll and Bute.
Plain. In 1784 the Plain was separated from the Highlands. The British divided the territories so that the inhabitants of the Plain could enjoy simplified taxation on trade. During the Second World War, these territories suffered greatly. Many factories were bombed by the Nazis, farms fell into disrepair. The people of the Plains are restoring the central region to its former glory year after year.
Cities of Scotland
Officially, only six settlements have city status in Scotland.
Capital of Scotland. Edinburgh is famous for its historical monuments, museums, and tourist attractions. The active life of Edinburgh does not stop even at night. What to visit in Edinburgh? You need to live in Edinburgh for at least a couple of weeks to be able to see everything city sights .
The second city after Edinburgh, often mistakenly called the capital of Scotland, it is the industrial, commercial and educational center of Scotland. Glasgow has an unofficial nickname given to it by local residents - “Little Scotland”.
Main attractions of Glasgow:
- Cathedral;
- Glasgow Museums;
- Art Gallery;
- Crookston Castle.
Industrial city. Located on the River Ness. Millions of tourists come to the city every year in search of evidence of the existence of the Loch Ness monster.
What to do in Inverness?
- go to Loch Ness, visit Nessie;
- See the beautiful ancient Inverness Castle - the pearl of the whole region; many films and TV series are filmed there;
- visit the city history museum;
- go to St Andrew's Cathedral.
The fourth largest city in Scotland, it is located in the northeast of the country. Scots come to Dundee to spend a weekend, visit old historical buildings, play golf, or simply admire nature.
Main attractions of the city:
- Glamis Castle;
- St. Mary's Tower;
- McManus Galleries;
- Botanical Garden;
- Mills Observatory.
Aberdeen is a port city. Previously, this city was the residence of the kings of Scotland. The Scots claim that only here you can feel the atmosphere of a real fishing town.
It’s best to start exploring the city from the following places:
- art Gallery;
- parks and gardens;
- maritime museum;
- castles: Craigievar, Balmoral, Drum;
- Cathedral of St. Machar.
The smallest town in Scotland. It is located in the center of the country. Sterling was adored by the Stuart kings and often visited their residence. The city was even the capital of Scotland for some time.
The main attractions of the city:
- Stirling Castle, whose history goes back to ancient times - already in 83 there are records of a fortification in the rock;
- the Welsh Monument, erected in honor of the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1214;
- Holyrood Church;
- Cambuskennet Abbey.
Culture
In August, crowds flock to Edinburgh (the capital of Scotland) for the well-known International Theater Arts Festival, which features hundreds of performances by artists from around the world. And the Fringe Festival offers a more eccentric and original selection of productions, along with the nightly procession of drummers and Scottish musicians of the Edinburgh War Show.
Together with tartan (Scottish wool), whiskey is Scotland's most famous export.
Officially, whiskey has been produced for more than 500 years. Real Scotch whiskey is made only in Scotland. Whiskey distilleries are scattered throughout the country, and many of them are open to visitors who want to see the entire production process and, naturally.
The Highlands region is home to some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery: snow-capped mountaintops and deserted valleys - home to famous whiskey brands Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich and Glen Grant.
Sights of Scotland
Scotland is a country with a rich history and magnificent northern nature. It is not surprising that there is a lot to see in a relatively small area. In addition, there is picturesque medieval Edinburgh, which has many attractions, including the legendary castles of Scotland.
Attractions
Museums and galleries
Where to eat and drink
Entertainment
Parks and Recreation
Transport
Shops and markets
Private guides in Scotland
Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Scotland in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.
Shopping in Scotland
If you are planning to visit Scotland, the first thing you should see is its amazing nature, ancient architecture and unique attractions. Only after this, with a clear conscience, can you go shopping in search of things dear to your heart that will remind you of the days spent in Scotland, as well as souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.
There are many specialized souvenir shops in this country, especially in the capital Edinburgh. It is worth purchasing souvenirs in the city center, since here they are authentic and not at all more expensive than in other places. In Edinburgh, check out The Works, which offers souvenirs at the most affordable prices. The assortment of this shop includes such useful and pleasant “little things” as magnets, plates, guidebooks, books and, of course, Scottish flags of all sizes. National souvenirs and works of art can be found in shops on the central avenue of the capital, the Royal Mile. Edinburgh's shops offer truly unique items, from designer accessories to traditional Scottish crafts and antiques. If you are interested in original branded clothing and shoes, check out Harvey Nichols department store in the center of Edinburgh, and you can look for vintage clothing and accessories in the West End of Glasgow.
What is a must-buy when visiting Scotland? Of course, natural cashmere and the finest wool. Interestingly, cashmere production technology has remained unchanged since the 18th century. Things made from this fabric will be an excellent gift for loved ones, because such material is incredibly soft, warm and does not pill, so you definitely won’t have to blush in front of your friends and family for such a gift. In Scotland's souvenir shops you will be offered scarves, gloves, hats and the famous tartan blankets. We advise you to buy these products in the center - branches of the Edinburgh Woolen Mill specialty store can be found in all cities of Scotland. You may be surprised, but cashmere products in factories will cost even more than in retail outlets. If you are not limited in funds, contact the factory, where they will be able to offer you a wider range: from blouses to coats.
Surely, in the minds of every second person, when Scotland is mentioned, an association arises with the national clothing of the highlanders - the kilt, so not bringing a kilt from this country is the same as not visiting Scotland. Kilts, like woolen products, should be bought in large shops in the city center. A real kilt is made from tartan wool and is not cheap - from 100 to 200 pounds, and if you want to acquire the national outfit of this country in all its details (kilt, shoes, sporran, blade and socks), then such a purchase will cost you much expensive. Fans of exotic music can be advised to purchase a national instrument - a bagpipe, or a souvenir that is easier to transport - a Celtic flute.
Now about Scotch whiskey. It’s available in any store, but it’s worth going to specialized shops where they will not only sell you a bottle of high-quality alcohol, but also tell you in which region it was produced and even let you taste it. You can go on an excursion to the distillery and see the process of producing this elite drink, tasting different types of whiskey. Here you will find a much larger selection than in stores, but the prices will pleasantly surprise you. If you are looking for the lowest price on whiskey, go to your local ASDA supermarket, where you will also be offered discounts in addition to the best price.
What else can you bring from Scotland as souvenirs? Heather honey and the national Scottish dish haggis, which can be brought in in canned form, will help you share the “taste” of Scotland with your loved ones. Also traditionally popular among tourists are souvenirs with Celtic symbols: crosses, medallions, earrings, kiltpins (kilt pins) or brooches.
Compared to Russia and the rest of Europe, prices in Scotland are relatively high, which is typical for northern European countries. Moreover, oddly enough, Scotch whiskey is quite expensive. This situation is due to high taxes, so some types of this alcohol in other European countries can be bought at a price up to 50% cheaper than in Scotland itself. When making purchases in stores and paying with a plastic card, pay attention to the advertisements that are available at the checkout, as goods and services paid for in this way may have a higher price in Scotland.
The opening hours of most Scottish shops are from 9 to 17-18 hours (except Sundays). The biggest rush is observed on Saturday, but on Sunday you may not be able to get into some small shops, since only supermarkets are open, the working day of which begins at 10 or 11 o’clock. During the summer season or pre-Christmas sales, shops remain open until late, and some supermarkets are open 24 hours a day. In small private shops there are no opening hours as such - you need to ask the shop owners about this.
When leaving the country, you can apply for a VAT refund, which is valid for people without Scottish citizenship. The tax refund will be 17.5% of the amount of purchases made in Scotland. In order for you to receive a refund, do not forget to save all receipts when making a purchase and take a Tax-Free form from the seller with the necessary stamps and signatures. At the airport, go to the Global Refund office at customs, provide the completed form, receipts and, of course, your passport. Be prepared for the fact that customs officers may ask you to show the purchased goods, so do not put them away at the bottom of your suitcase. The VAT payment can be made to you on the spot or transferred to your bank card.
If you are going to spend a lot of time in the capital of Scotland, we recommend reading the material “Shopping in Edinburgh”.
Food and drink
Food for local residents of Scotland is a sacred matter. Residents of Scotland are ready to proudly talk about their culinary traditions for hours.
The Scots prepare a lot of thick, rich soups, mainly cereal and meat soups with potatoes, cabbage, and fish soups, such as cullen skink soup with smoked fish. One of the most famous Scottish soups is Scottish meat broth, cooked with barley and vegetables. First courses are usually cooked in meat or fish broth.
The beef here is very tasty, juicy, soft, with marbled veins. And lamb legs are considered the best product in Scotland. Lamb meat is used to make a stew called hotchpotch. The mountaineers did not eat pork for a long time, considering pigs to be dirty animals. Venison is also considered a delicacy.
Scotland's most popular delicacy is haggis. Haggis is prepared from sheep tripe and barley, generously flavored with various seasonings and baked in a sheep or lamb stomach. The haggis is served on a warm platter, along with mashed potatoes and turnip puree, as well as shots of whiskey already poured.
For dessert, they prepare a lot of sweet puddings, buns with jam, muffins, desserts, the simplest of which is crannachan - a dessert made from whipped cream, rolled oats and berries.
Connection
In Scotland, mobile communications operate on GSM. The five largest operators have monopolies in this market: Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile, Orange and Three. If you plan to frequently call Russia from Scotland, the most profitable option would be to purchase a SIM card from one of the local mobile operators. The best rates are offered by Lebara and Lykamobile. The cost per minute for calls to a landline number will start from 5 pence, and to mobile numbers from 9 pence. You can buy a SIM card in stores, mobile operator showrooms, or at any post office; it costs about 5 pounds.
If you plan to talk a lot, but at the same time want to save money, it is better to become the owner of a special tourist SIM card in Russia.
The red telephone booth has already become a textbook symbol of Great Britain. Such pay phones are located everywhere, and you can pay for a call in different ways, be it cash, plastic or a special telephone card, which is available for purchase in almost any store.
When calling from Scotland to Russia, dial 00, then 7 (Russian code) - the area code, then the phone number.
In order to call from Russia to Scotland from a landline phone, you need to dial the following combination of numbers: 810 (this is the exit code), then 44 (this is the country code), then the city code (for example, Edinburgh has 131) and the number. To call from Russia to Scotland from a mobile phone, the combination “81044” is replaced by “+44”.
The most profitable way to communicate is through Skype calls, but this requires an Internet connection.
There are many Internet cafes in big cities - you can easily find them in any area of the city. Free Wi-Fi in large cities is also quite common: it is available in almost all hotels, cafes, restaurants, and other public places.
Safety
In order for a visit to a foreign country to bring only positive impressions, it is worth familiarizing yourself in advance not only with the peculiarities of the way of life in the country and the traditions of the people, but also taking care of ensuring your safety. In particular, a traveler needs to know where to turn in the event of unforeseen circumstances and force majeure that occur in the territory of your host country.
To ensure the safety of residents and visitors, Scotland operates a variety of social services. If you need medical help, NHS Scotland can help. Keep in mind that foreign citizens usually have to pay for medical services provided. That is why, before visiting this country, it is advisable to take out insurance not only against accidents, but also against repatriation and possible incidents. Since Russia is not a member of the European Union, this is definitely worth doing, because even though the NHS provides basic medical care free of charge, you will most likely have to pay a lot for additional services. Going to the dentist in this country will cost you in any case. Please also keep in mind that while clinics carry out treatment from morning until early evening, trauma centers and hospitals are usually open around the clock.
Crime rates in Scotland are fairly low, but don't leave your belongings in busy public places, especially if you have valuables in your bags, and take out travel insurance before you travel. Large sums of money should be kept on a bank card, and jewelry should be kept in the living room safe until a special occasion - wearing them “every day” is simply imprudent. By the way, hotels will not take any responsibility for anything valuable that you leave outside the safe.
There are pickpockets in Scotland, just like in any other country, and they operate where there are a lot of people: in transport, in markets or in shops. If suddenly an unpleasant incident happens to you, you can call the police (as well as the fire department or ambulance) using a single number 999 (or 112 from a landline phone), which work around the clock.
If you have lost something, contact the lost and found office, which is located at bus and railway stations. If your property is stolen, if the stolen item was insured by you, you may be able to receive compensation for its loss. To confirm the fact of theft, be sure to contact the police. And don’t forget to photocopy important documents when planning your trip - especially your passport.
In Scotland there are many insects, mosquitoes and midges, which congregate on the coast and near lakes. Particular activity is observed in April-October, so if you are in Scotland at this time, do not forget to bring
means to protect against insect bites, and also do not go out into bright light at night. Protecting windows with nets will also not be an extra precaution.Go to the service for selecting and booking a hotel in Scotland
31.10.18 50 972 34
On every trip I want to visit as many places as possible. The road trip format is suitable for this.
Dmitry Sovyak
went to Scotland
In Scotland I rented a car and drove it 1600 km. This way I saw the main attractions and places where tourists rarely get to.
In the article I will tell you how much such a trip costs and how to save money in the expensive UK.
What you need to know about Scotland
Scotland is interesting for its distilleries, centuries-old castles, and the Northern Scottish Highlands, also known as the Highlands. There is harsh mountain nature and deserted beaches of the northern seas. Most of all I wanted to go to the Isle of Skye. In its small territory you can see a wide variety of landscapes: from plains and wild beaches to steep mountains and waterfalls.
The best time to travel to Scotland is from May to September. Summer here is cool even by Russian standards: from +16 to +20 °C. I went in August, and this weather was a plus for me: I don’t like extreme heat.
In early spring it often rains heavily, and there are frosts in the evenings. In autumn you can appreciate the whole palette of bright colors, but you have to pay for it with cold weather.
Visa
To travel you need a British visa - this is not the same as Schengen. I applied for a visa myself at the Moscow UK visa center. Documents can be submitted 3 months before the trip.
Getting a UK visa is easy if you have a regular salary or can document other sources of income. There are many stories on the Vinsky forum about how a person did not work officially, borrowed 200,000 RUR, made an account statement with this amount - and was refused a visa. I am officially employed, I have been working in the same company for 5 years, I receive a flat salary and I own a car, so I was hoping for a positive decision.
8100 R
I paid for a UK visa for six months
The list of documents for a tourist visa is small. Before submitting, I recommend checking the current list on the UK government website. I needed these documents:
- International passport.
- Certificate from place of employment indicating salary.
- Help 2 - Personal income tax.
- Account statement for the last 3 months.
- Documents confirming ownership of movable and immovable property.
All documents must be translated into English. You can translate it yourself - just indicate the authorship at the end of the sheet. There is no need to have the translation certified by a notary. I independently translated the car registration certificate and income certificate.
Tinkoff Bank makes statements of transactions for 3 months in English. At my request, the bank prepared a six-page document. This is very convenient: you don’t have to translate it yourself.
It is not necessary to include an air ticket with your documents to obtain a visa. If he exists, he will be accepted. I bought non-refundable tickets six months before the trip at my own risk: there is always a chance that your visa will not be approved.
To submit documents, I registered on the website uk.tlscontact.com. There you can also track the readiness of your passport. On the appointed day at the visa center you need to give your fingerprints, take a photo and provide a package of documents. The documents will be scanned and the originals will be returned - no copies need to be made in advance.
My visa for six months cost 93 £ (8100 RUR). I paid for it immediately after filling out the form. A visa for two years costs £350 (RUR 30,500), for five years - £636 (RUR 55,400), for ten years - £798 (RUR 69,500). Usually a visa is issued in 15 working days.
Money
I have an account with Tinkoff Bank. Before the trip, I issued an additional multi-currency card, choosing pounds as the currency. I replenished it from my main ruble account and no longer looked at exchange rates.
You can comfortably travel around the UK with a bank card. Most supermarkets and cafes have a paypass. Therefore, already on the spot, I withdrew 100 £ (8660 R) from my debit card in reserve.
Over the course of 9 days, I had to pay in cash a couple of times in restaurants that did not accept cards. £10 was required to leave a deposit for the use of a hairdryer at the hostel. As a result, about £65 was left from £100. I had to spend it specifically so as not to exchange it for rubles in Russia.
What to take with you
Into the car. When traveling by car, I take with me a phone holder, a 12V socket in the cigarette lighter and an aux-aux cable. However, modern rental cars often have the ability to play music via Bluetooth.
Cloak. It rains often in Scotland, especially on the islands. In summer they don't last long, but you can quickly get wet. Therefore, I recommend taking a waterproof jacket or raincoat when traveling in Scotland. It is best to take a long, thick raincoat rather than cellophane raincoats. I took a short one - during rain with a strong wind, the trousers got wet instantly.
If you need a raincoat only for a trip, it is better to buy it at a workwear store for 600-800 RUR.
600 R
there is a waterproof raincoat in a workwear store
Trekking boots It is better to take it for mountain hikes and with a waterproof membrane. Often the hiking trails resembled a swamp after rain. It would be impossible to get through in light sneakers.
Such a raincoat in Vostok Service stores costs 700-800 rubles. 
Flights
You can only fly to Scotland with a transfer. If you have a Schengen visa, you can take a ticket through Paris or Amsterdam and spend a whole day in the city along the way. I was flying with a one-hour layover to Helsinki. In total, the flight took 5.5 hours.
RUB 16,029
I spent on air tickets
When purchasing air tickets, I created a complex route: “Moscow - Edinburgh” there and “London - Moscow” back. The cost was 1,500 RUR more expensive than a simple round-trip ticket. But I saw London as a bonus. Spent 16,029 RUR on tickets.
Route
I love photography, so I build a route through beautiful sights. To plan my trip, I read people's trip reports on travel forums.
It’s convenient to look for more beautiful places on Instagram. There are accounts that publish the best photos of regions and cities. There are many of them in Scotland, for example @visitscotland. As a rule, they indicate the names of locations.
Visitscotland.com and Walkhighlands.co.uk helped me plan my trip to Scotland. There are detailed descriptions of most routes with maps, photographs and recommendations for choosing suitable shoes. All information is in English. I don’t know any analogues in Russian. I added the selected places to offline maps in advance.
On the way from the Isle of Skye I looked at the Glenfinnan Viaduct. This is an iconic place for Harry Potter fans. The Hogwarts Express train runs along the viaduct from late May to October. In the morning, about a hundred people gather on the hill in front of the viaduct. The train passes the place exactly on schedule. At 10:50 he appears on the bridge, slows down, and the driver lets off steam so that everyone gathered can take the main photo.
Paid entry on my route was only for the castles: Huntingtower, Craigievar, Fraser. Prices range from 4 £ (350 R) to 10 £ (870 R). All other places were free to visit.
Overall there were no places in Scotland that disappointed me. This is the beauty of free movement in a new country: everything is new and you can find the surprising and unusual in completely ordinary places.
Transport
I spent nine days in the UK. Of these, five traveled around Scotland by car, spent two days in Edinburgh and two days in London. There are three ways to get back from Edinburgh to London: plane, train, bus. I needed the most budget-friendly one.
Airplane- the fastest way to get to London. I ruled out this option because it is expensive and complicated. A flight on the low-cost EasyJet cost 3,000 RUR. Additionally, you would have to pay for a transfer to the airport and a hotel room (which is about another 5,000 RUR) because the plane departs only in the morning. He also arrives at Stansted Airport, which is located far from central London.
Tickets from Edinburgh to London in March cost 2,357 rubles. I add the cost of a transfer: to get from the center of Edinburgh to the airport by tram - 500 rubles, from Stansted airport to the center of London by National Express bus - 850 rubles. The total comes out 3707 rub. Train. Traveling by train is comfortable. He arrives at the station almost in the center of London. If the train is at night, you don't have to pay for one night at the hotel.
A train ticket would cost me 4000 RUR. It can be purchased from the UK Railways website. It's inexpensive, but I found an even cheaper option.
1300 R
I paid for a bus ticket from Edinburgh to London
Bus. I decided to save as much as possible on this trip, so I took a ticket for a night bus from the Megabus carrier. You can also travel by National Express. The Megabus ticket was £5 cheaper and cost 1300 RUR.
The buses are approximately the same in terms of comfort: they all have a toilet and Wi-Fi. But the obvious disadvantage of traveling at night by bus is that it will only be comfortable for those who like to sleep while sitting. The journey takes 8.5 hours.
Buses from both companies depart from Edinburgh's central bus station - Edinburgh Bus Station - and arrive at Victoria Bus Station in central London. When entering the bus, the inspector looks at the name on the ticket and looks for it in the list of passengers. The ticket can be shown on the screen of your mobile phone.
Seating on the bus is free. I'm 194cm tall - I prefer to sit near the aisle to have more legroom. On the bus, I asked the girl in English if the seat next to her was occupied. She politely replied: “No, yu ken sit.” A minute later, I accidentally saw her writing an SMS in Russian: “A huge two-meter dude is riding next to me.”
Rent a Car
I usually look for the lowest prices on car rental reseller sites like Rentalcars.com and Autoeurope.com. Then I compare them with distributors: “Hertz” or “Budget”. In the USA it was cheaper to book through an intermediary. In Scotland - directly to Hertz.
I prefer to rent cars from Hertz if the price is comparable to the competition. In my experience, they are loyal to the client when handing over the car: they quickly check for damage to the body and do not find fault if the car is dirty. Their cars are also in excellent condition.
For the dates of my trip, Hertz offered a better price than other rental companies. But I managed to reduce it further.
The site offers different rental prices depending on the country where the client is located. If you book from Russia, the Russian version of the site will open with high prices. That's why I always try to change the country: I simply select from the list in the header of the site and look for the best price.
At Hertz, you can save additional money if you use discounts from partner companies. For example, for holders of Ikea Family cards, booking at Hertz is 10% cheaper, for holders of a Visa or MasterCard - 10-20%. The list of partners is listed on the rental company's website.
9750 R
the cost of renting a car for 5 days, if you register “from Argentina”
Another option to save money is to know the promotional code. For example, when booking a car in Scotland, I entered the code for Visa-Europe Infinity bank card holders - 769985. Experience has shown that for many years it has been used by everyone. Over the past 3 years, I have booked a car with Hertz using this code three times and no one has asked me to provide a Visa card. Promo codes 963966 and 194585 are also available in different countries. They give a discount of 25 € (1900 RUR).
Upgrade. Sometimes rental companies upgrade the car class for free. Hertz offers vouchers for Visa and MasterCard cardholders. They can be found on forums for discussing rental companies, for example on the Vinsky forum. To receive an upgrade, you need to show the printed voucher to the employee when picking up the car.
I used the upgrade at Hertz 2 times. In both cases, the rental company employee had no questions about the voucher and I was upgraded for free. In Scotland I refused an upgrade. The voucher provided a large all-wheel drive Mitsubishi L-200 SUV. For English roads, a small car is still better suited. On the islands, the roads are often single-lane, so you have to pass oncoming cars in special traffic pockets. The narrower the car, the more convenient it is to pass.
I booked a class C car. These are SUVs like Opel Mocha or Renault Capture. I got the last one with a diesel engine. It was perfect for such a trip. It has cruise control, a Bluetooth radio for playing music from your phone, and a navigator. This car is comfortable for driving on dirt roads and poor surfaces.
Deposit. When picking up a car, the rental company freezes a certain amount on the card. This is a guarantee for the safety of the car and for a full tank of fuel. You cannot make a deposit in cash - you need a card. In fact, this amount will not be debited from the account, but you will not be able to pay with this money.
At Hertz the deposit was £300 (26,300 RUR). In other companies it can be from 150 £ (131,000 R) to 1200 £ (105,000 R).
RUR 26,300
I left the rental company as a deposit for the safety of the car and a full tank of fuel
In Scotland I picked up and returned the car with a full tank, so I didn't have to pay extra for petrol. According to the rules, the deposit must be returned within 30 calendar days, but in reality I received the money within a week.
Insurance. The cost of booking a car in Scotland included two insurances:
- Collision Damage Waiver with excess, CDW - insurance against damage with a deductible, that is, the amount of my liability. According to the agreement with Hertz, the franchise was £1,000 (87,700 RUR). If I had an accident, I would first have to pay a deductible amount of £1,000. Insurance would cover the rest.
- Theft Protection, TP - insurance against theft. In my rental agreement, the deductible in case of theft was also £1000. This is how much I would pay to the rental company if the car was stolen.
When I picked up the car, the rental company employee explained the meaning of the selected insurances and reminded me of the risks associated with the basic CDW insurance. For example, even if there is a minor scratch I will have to pay £1000. Therefore, he suggested that I take out super insurance: Super CDW, or Super Cover. It covers any damage to the car. If I decided to throw my car off a cliff into the North Sea, I would owe nothing. Such insurance is expensive: in my case it was 27 £ (2300 R) per day.
I decided not to take out super insurance from Hertz, but to buy additional insurance from a third-party insurance company. It works like this: the driver books a car with standard CDV insurance. If an insured event occurs, the rental company pays the deductible amount. After this, he sends checks to the insurance company, and the insurance company returns the entire amount.
Additional insurance is purchased before picking up the car from the rental company. I bought it from Worldwideinsure.com. It is much cheaper than super insurance: for 5 days I paid 30 £ (2600 R). I also read a lot of positive reviews about it from people who had their deposit amount returned.
Navigator. When booking on the website and picking up the car at the rental company counter, an employee offered me to rent a navigator. It cost 17 £ (1500 R) per day. If I took it for 5 days, I could buy a new navigator with that money.
So I prepared at home and saved a lot. To do this, I downloaded the Maps.mi application with offline maps onto my phone and downloaded maps of Scotland.
Rights. I have a regular license and an international driver's license. In Europe and Scotland, I used the usual ones, for example, presented them to rental companies. On them the inscription “driver’s license” is not translated into English, but at the same time there is a first and last name in Latin.
In Scotland, no one demanded to show international rights. But just in case, they can be issued through government services.
10,000 R
I spent on gasoline, driving 1600 km
Fuel. I spent 10,000 RUR on gasoline. This was enough for 1600 km.
On the islands, gasoline is about 8-10% more expensive. So I filled the tank full before heading to the Isles of Lewis and Harris: I had 250 km to travel with a cruising range of 500 km on a full tank.
In the rest of Scotland, prices are about the same everywhere, and gas stations are regularly found. I often chose a gas station based on whether it had a Costa Coffee section.
Everywhere you could pay by card, some of them right at the pump. In general, the principle is this: come, refuel, pay. I haven’t seen gas stations like in Russia.
114 R
average price per liter of diesel in Scotland
Most often, in rental conditions, the car is received and returned with a full tank. If you return an unfilled car, the price per liter will increase 2-3 times. The cost will be deducted from the deposit. When I received the car, the price of a liter was indicated on the receipt: 3.9580 £ (350 R) per liter of diesel fuel with an average price at gas stations of 1.3 £ (114 R). In order not to overpay, I refueled within 10 km from the car return point.
Left side traffic It turned out to be not as scary as I thought. It was unusual only in the first couple of hours of driving. I picked up a car at the airport and first drove around the Edinburgh suburbs. Most often the speed was limited to 30 miles per hour. Everyone was driving slowly, so there was time to get used to the new movement.
On highways, the speed limit is 60 miles per hour, on highways - 70. You can exceed the limit by 10% without a fine. Traffic in Scotland is generally light and the driving culture is good. There are also many roundabouts in Scotland - even in the middle of a highway. It's comfortable.
Ferries
I included in my itinerary a visit to the islands, which are famous for their picturesque beaches: Lewis and Harris. You can get to them with a car only by ferry. You can get to the third Isle of Skye by bridge or ferry from Lewis and Harris.
5300 R
I paid for the ferry ticket to the Isle of Lewis
Caledonian McBrain ferries operate between many islands in Scotland. I bought a ferry ticket 2 months before the trip on their website.
The price consists of the cost of a ticket for a passenger and a car. I got from the city of Ullapool to the Isle of Lewis for £60.45 (5300 R): £9.5 (830 R) cost a ticket per passenger and £50.95 (4450 R) for a car. A ticket to Skye from the Isle of Harris cost £37.2 (RUR 3,250).
I had never taken a ferry with a car on the open sea before. The ferry can accommodate about a hundred cars, but the loading and unloading process did not cause any difficulties and took a maximum of 20 minutes.
Before boarding, drivers lined up their cars in the parking lot in front of the pier and showed their tickets to the ticket inspectors. During loading on board, the ferry crew directed the drivers to the desired part of the ferry and helped them get as close as possible to the car in front.
After that, all drivers and passengers left the cars and went up to the upper decks. There is a restaurant, lounge area and panoramic view area at the front of the ferry. I got free Wi-Fi everywhere.
Housing
The most expensive places to live in Scotland are in large cities and on the main tourist island of Skye. August is festival time in Scotland. A huge number of tourists come here - housing at this time increases in price even more and there may not be enough of it.
I calculated from the maps how far I could travel in a day and where I would end up in the evening. Based on this, I was looking for a place to spend the night. Then I compared prices on Booking and Air BBC and chose the appropriate option. The main criteria were low price and free parking nearby.
RUR 24,500
I spent 8 nights on housing
I booked my accommodation 5 months before my trip. Prices for single rooms started from 2000 RUR. Housing is more expensive in Edinburgh. A cheap single room in a hostel with a shared bathroom cost 5190 RUR. On average, individual rooms at that time cost from 5,000 to 8,000 RUR.
Single room with shared bathroom in an Edinburgh hostel for RUB 5,190. Source: Booking.com 
There are few hotels on the Isle of Lewis and Harris, and inexpensive options sell out quickly. I couldn’t find any rooms cheaper than RUB 5,000, so I rented accommodation from local residents through Air BBC.
A room for one in a married couple’s house cost 3,830 RUR per day. The bathroom was shared, breakfast was included. I warned the hostess that I planned to leave at dawn, and she offered to make coffee in the morning and take whatever I wanted from the refrigerator for breakfast. When leaving, she asked to simply close the street door behind her.
There was minimal communication with the property owners. I stayed in houses for one night, so it was limited to showing the room, bathroom and kitchen.
The house in the village of Bresklet on the Isle of Lewis where I rented a room. Photo: Airbnb.ru Accommodation is also expensive on the Isle of Skye, especially in summer. A single room costs 5000-7000 RUR per day, you still need to try to catch it. I had to spend 2 nights on the island, so I decided to book a place in a hostel.
I chose Portree Youth Hostel in Portree. He has a good rating on Booking - 9.2. For 2 nights in a quadruple room with a private bathroom I paid 4760 RUR. There were 3 other people living in the room.
There were no inconveniences. I left early in the morning and walked about 20 km a day through the mountains and hills of the island. When I returned after sunset, I just wanted to sleep.
Quadruple room in Portree Youth Hostel for 2380 rub. per night. The downside of this room is that there are no lockers. Photo: Booking.com 
Spent 23,170 RUR on housing
| Housing | Nights | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Metro Youth Hostel | 1 | 5190 R |
| Portree Youth Hostel | 2 | 4760 R |
| Beat Hall London | 1 | 4620 R |
| Breasclete | 1 | 3830 R |
| Peterhead Lodges | 1 | 2600 R |
| West Dunbartonshire | 1 | 2170 R |
Edinburgh Metro Youth Hostel (1 night)
5190 R
1300 R).
1245 R
I spent on communication
The Internet speed was always sufficient. 90% of the time along the route I confidently received 4G. In other places there was no connection at all.
If you don’t need to always be online, free Wi-Fi in cafes, museums, shopping centers and sometimes at gas stations will suffice.
£15 prepaid plans from EE. All rates on Shop.ee.co.uk After the trip, I learned about the sim card of the virtual operator giffgaff. It uses the O2 network in the United Kingdom. On their website you can order a SIM card with free worldwide delivery. Giffgaff's tariff plans are better than those of other mobile operators in the UK. 8 GB costs £15 (1300 RUR).
Giffgaff offers free delivery of SIM cards around the world. Delivery to Russia takes on average 2-3 weeks. Suitable for those who plan their trip to the UK in advance and do not want to waste time buying a SIM card on the spot. You can activate your SIM card in any country, but outside the UK you will be charged for activating the FaceTime and IMessage applications. The tariffs allow for Internet distribution to other devices.
Food
It happened that we had to travel several tens of kilometers to the nearest cafe or restaurant. Lunch cost on average 15-20 £ (1300 -1733.33 R). During the road trip, I did not spend extra money and time looking for cafes and restaurants along the way. I often ate in the car. To do this, I took from home a small thermos, a container for food, a fork and a spoon, tea, sugar, salt, buckwheat and rolled oats that do not require cooking.
On the spot I bought groceries at the supermarket: bread, canned food, sauce. Boiling water can be poured for free at any gas station and in the morning at the hotel. During the day, it’s convenient to pour boiling water over buckwheat and go for a walk. Upon return there will be a warm lunch waiting for you, worth a couple of pounds.
In cities, you can also save money if you buy food in supermarkets. But there I usually tried to try local cuisine in cafes and restaurants. In 9 days I spent 3,900 R on supermarkets and 12,800 R on cafes and restaurants. In total, the food cost 16,700 RUR. It's cheap for the UK.
Supermarkets COOP and Tesco met along the way. No matter how far the store was, when Kup opened at 7 am there were always fresh, delicious croissants for 78 pence (70 R). I started my days in Scotland with them. In a coffee shop, for the same croissant you had to pay 2-2.5 £ (170-220 R).
Supermarkets have a lot of ready-to-eat food and dishes that just need to be popped in the oven or microwave to be ready. I did this in the kitchen of a hostel or rented apartment. Usually the price for such dishes is 3-6 £ (260 -520 R).
I bought canned food in supermarkets for the trip. In the UK there are many types of beans in different sauces for £1.5-2 (130-175 R), tuna for £1.15-1.5 (100-130 R), salmon for 3-4 £ (260 -346.667 R). Everything is edible and tasty. Sometimes I bought ready-made salads in stores for £3-4 and assorted chopped fruit in a glass. A mix of strawberries, melon and grapes cost £2 (175 R).
Grocery prices in the Tesco supermarket
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Chicken breast, kg | 5.9 £ (503 R) |
| Apples, kg | 2.2 £ (188 R) |
| Pack of 12 eggs | 1.2 £ (102 R) |
| Potatoes, kg | 1 £ (85 R) |
| Bananas, kg | 0.8 £ (68 R) |
| Bread | 85,890 R) to 12 £ (1050 R).
In a tiny homeThe railway landscapes from Harry Potter are the same Scotland. In this article we will tell you about walks in the hills of seaside towns and hidden streets of Edinburgh.
Let us explain the news: Russian airlines do not like the idea of “open skies”
October 10, 2019Love, Death and Mexico: A Guacamole-Soaked Tale
October 9, 2019Let's explain the news: why is everyone talking about the Netherlands?
October 9, 2019Balsam, sprats and bay: a great guide to Riga
October 8, 2019When luggage got smarter and turned into a smart suitcase
Visa and tickets
When is the best time to buy tickets?
We flew to Scotland at the beginning of October 2017 for 11 days. We bought tickets three months before departure: in my experience, this is the optimal time to buy tickets profitably.
Flight
There is no direct flight from Russia to Scotland. We had a composite air route: Perm → Moscow → London → Edinburgh. The total flight time “there” was six and a half hours: Prm-Msk: 2 hours, Moscow-Lndn: 3.5 hours, Lndn-Ednbrg: 1 hour, transit zones twice for two hours.
“Back” transit zones took longer and it took about a day to get home. The cost of a ticket per person at that time was 26,500 rubles, round trip. At the time of purchasing tickets, I knew almost nothing about Scotland. Therefore, before the trip, I bought and studied in detail a guide to England and Scotland. After reading it, I realized that I needed to watch nature and Edinburgh.
Visa application
The most tedious thing is the need to provide documents confirming your solvency. The bank account should have an amount of 10-15 thousand rubles per day of stay in the country. They also pay attention to whether you have real estate and a car. A big plus will be an invitation from your friends who live for permanent residence in England, if there are any, of course. Fingerprints and retinal photos will be taken by consular officers.
Visa centers , in addition to the two capitals, they operate in Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don and Novosibirsk. We received a visa at the Ekaterinburg British Consulate. All fees and duties cost 7 thousand rubles. The British visa is valid for England itself, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Edinburgh
Airport
At Edinburgh airport we went through passport control quickly and calmly. Unlike London. At the capital airport in England they were meticulously interested in where we were going, where we had flown from, whether there was an invitation, and where we would live. In front of us, right from the checkpoint, a customs officer called the inviting party and checked whether the invitation was fake and where exactly the traveler would live.
You can get from the airport to the city by tram. The ride takes 30 minutes, the ticket costs one and a half pounds. Tickets are sold at the terminal at the stop. There is a caveat: it is better to have both a card and cash with you. There are terminals in Scotland that may not accept cash but will accept cards and vice versa.
Currency
There were currency exchangers at the airport, but we didn’t look at them because the exchange rate there was unfavorable, just like at any airport in the world. We stocked up on pounds in Russia.
Housing
Rental housing cost 35,000 rubles for six days. It is worth noting that the prices of living in Scotland do not depend in any way on the development of infrastructure and the size of the total area of the city. Prices are the same both in Glasgow and in the fishing village on the Atlantic coast. In Italy, you can turn from the main street into a courtyard and the price tag becomes noticeably lower. Not so in the UK.
Walks
Walking around Edinburgh, we realized that JK Rowling wrote her famous saga here. After all, when you sit in a cafe you can see a hill, and on the hill there is a castle, and under the hill there is a cemetery of the 15th century. The houses themselves in Edinburgh are not very old, but due to the fact that the material was limestone, which darkens over time, the buildings look gloomy, fairy-tale, medieval.
From any point in Edinburgh you can see Arthur's Seat or Arthur's Seat. This is an observation deck, which is located at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level. Standing on this hill, the feeling of Middle Ages is maximized ㅡ look to the south: a castle on a hill, an ancient temple in the north, pastures with sheep and shepherds in the east and west.There are many castles, temple museums, entrance costs an average of 13 pounds.
- One of the main places in Edinburgh for tourists is The Royal Mile. It starts at Edinburgh Castle - this is a real castle, which is just under 1000 years old. At the end of this mile is the royal residence of the reigning English monarchs.
- Near the Royal Mile there is an underground attraction street called Mary King's Dead End. This is a street that, until the 15th century, was lower in level than parallel streets due to the topography. Poor people, criminals and other “declassed elements” were sent to live on this street. And they decided to level the street; they simply buried it along with the houses. And in the 19th century it was opened as a historical attraction: in some houses even the wallpaper was preserved.
- Roslin Chapel is a famous Gothic church based on Dan Brown's work, where, according to legend, the Templars buried Mary Magdalene. But this is not the main feature. Inside, the entire chapel is carved: wonderful animals, ears of wheat and biblical scenes - there are no repeating patterns.You can get to the chapel by city bus: the ride takes 20 minutes, the fare costs 2 pounds, entrance to the chapel costs 8 pounds. Nearby are picturesque fields and, of course, a castle.
Train, Nessie and fishing town
All the recommendations that I read before the trip unanimously said: if you want to see the beautiful landscapes of Scotland, then you need to go north. So we bought a train ticket to Inverness.
How to get there
It is better to buy a ticket in advance: we bought it through the website while still in Russia. The thing is that closer to the departure date of the train, there may not be any budget seats left. The ticket must be printed and scanned at the station terminal. There is a nuance: if you bought a ticket using a bank card, during scanning at the terminal, this card will need to be inserted into the terminal. It doesn't matter if your card is valid in Scotland: the system needs to make sure it's you. And or not. The ticket cost £12 and the journey from Edinburgh takes three hours.
The compartments on the train were comfortable: essentially, it was an electric train, but with individual seats, and a compartment for bags located above your head. In general, the carriages were very comfortable: the doors to the toilet close themselves, soap drips into your palm, and the toilet itself is clean, paper, soap and towels are in place, the air conditioning in the compartment works.
Road
The area we passed through is called the Highlands. In the fall, the hills, covered with grass and other bushy greenery, turned rusty orange with yellow spots. Sheep and small ponies roam the hills, all in patches of fog. When Harry rode along the aqueduct to Hogwarts, he rode along this road. For the entire three hours of the journey we were glued to the window: rivers, hills, waterfalls and fog.
Meals are not included in the ticket price, but in any supermarket you can safely buy ready-made food in sealed packaging. That's what we did. The city of Inverness itself was interesting to us only as a transit point: it is the largest of the northern cities. Here you can easily rent a house and move further north.
Route
Near the city is Loch Ness. It takes 15 minutes to get to the lake by bus, the fare costs 4 pounds. The approaches to the lake are free, no fee is required. Paid only for the museum on the shore: 12 pounds to look at the history of the search for the underwater monster. There is also a medieval castle on the lake. We lived in the city of Inverness for 5 days. Rental housing cost 32,000 rubles.
Since the city is seaside, we ordered seafood at a local cafe. Moreover, the menu literally looks like this: “what we caught this morning.” The huge portion of food cost £18. On the plate there were three types of shrimp, fresh and smoked salmon, mussels, oysters and langoustines.
There is a caveat: mountain railways can be unpredictable. As we were returning to Edinburgh, the train stopped moving and just stopped on the tracks. It turned out that a few kilometers in front of us there was a mountain collapse and the paths were blocked with stones. Fortunately, local railway workers were ready for this and several buses were brought to the tracks, which took us to the capital. We caught the plane just in time.
Kitchen
Food in the UK is quite heavy: mainly meat, dough and potatoes. Northern region, what to do. A portion of a similar dish costs about £15. The portions are large, enough for two. If this is not a restaurant, but an ordinary diner, then you can keep it under 10 pounds with a drink.
To save money, we cooked ourselves more often than went to a cafe. A basic meal of milk, eggs, bread, meat, fruit, vegetables and fish, plus alcohol, cost us £15 per person for three days. We had breakfast and dinner at home and lunch in the city.
Sliced ham costs less than in Russia: one pound for a plate of good meat. In Russia it would cost 300 rubles. Alcohol is relatively inexpensive. A bottle of beer costs 1.5 pounds. I liked the beer in Scotland even more than in England. I bought lagers and stouts. Beer is sold in bars in pint and half-pint sizes. An English pint is 0.56 liters.
Climate
In October it was about 15 °C. The average annual temperature is 7-9 °C, there are no strong changes throughout the year. During the trip it rained only once; in London it didn’t rain much either.
Scotland offers a multifaceted and unique holiday experience. Only in this country can you fully enjoy both lush nature and extreme varieties. Excellent excursion tours will help diversify your holiday in Scotland 2019. Prices and attractions seen here will be remembered for a long time by all tourists.
Sights of Scotland
The unique natural attractions of Scotland include crystal clear lakes and ideal fjords, picturesque valleys and snow-white mountain peaks. All this can be seen by visiting this northern country.
One of the most popular cities for tourists is the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh. The city sits on the shores of the beautiful Firth of Forth. Here you can see many ancient castles in interesting architectural styles. Tourists can visit the 15th-century Church of St. Gilles, the Houses of Parliament built in 1639, the house that belonged to the Protestant reformer John Nonce, the National Portrait Gallery, and many museums. A large number of hotels are always available to tourists. A room in such a hotel will cost an average of 3,000 rubles per day. You can also stay in an inexpensive hostel, it will cost from 800 rubles per day.
Edinburgh has a vibrant cultural scene. Various arts festivals are constantly held here, where you can enjoy the modern music of the country, especially popular are the melodies performed on the traditional Scottish bagpipes. It is better to travel in the capital by public transport; one trip will cost about 145 rubles.
Not far from Edinburgh there is a place called Fife. Here you can stroll along beautiful sandy beaches and visit fishing villages.
If you go to the north of the country, you can find yourself in the Spadeside distilleries. Here you can get acquainted with the history of the famous Scotch whiskey and taste this strong drink.
For active and sociable tourists, a trip to Glasgow is suitable, where there are many old pubs, and numerous fashionable boutiques and chic restaurants tempt you to spend all the money you brought.
Medieval castles have become the real pride of Scotland. All of them have now been rebuilt into hotels or serve as museums. Newlyweds especially love these castles, because they can be used as a wonderful decoration for a wedding.
Scotland is not only the land of Braveheart, haggis and sheep. It's filled with castles, stunning lakes and mountains, beautiful parks, whiskey and welcoming locals. If you're spending time in vibrant cities, you can visit the University of Glasgow, admire the view of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat, or wander through one of the country's many museums. But be sure to get out of the cities and into the highlands with their rich, rugged landscapes. Head west to the islands of Islay, Jura and Mawlu. Wherever you go, you'll find yourself immersed in rich culture and history. Scotland is one of the most picturesque and beautiful countries in the world!
Top 5 things to see and do in Scotland
1. Explore the Scottish Highlands
Visit the Scottish Highlands for giant mountains, rugged terrain, glaciers, lochs and quince scots. For centuries people have lived here. Although the land can be harsh and unforgiving, it is a beautiful landscape and you haven't seen Scotland until you're here.
2. Visit Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a glorious city filled with beautiful cobblestone streets, parks, museums, history, a castle and maybe even ghosts. There's plenty to do here and after a long day of sightseeing, enjoy an evening in the pub and mingle with the wonderful locals.
3. Celebrate Hogmanay like a true Scotsman
Hogmanay is one of the largest New Year celebrations in the world, attracting more than 75,000 people for the two-day festival. Although Scots have celebrated the day for centuries, the modern iteration with musical acts, a torchlight procession, several fireworks displays and a large street party only dates back to 1992.
4. Drink whiskey in Islay
Whiskey has a long history on Islay. It has been made since the 16th century - first in backyards and then, starting in the 19th century, in large distilleries. Over the years, whiskey from the island had to be considered a specialty and was used to flavor many other blends on the mainland. There are also many good hikes and walks throughout the island.
