Ultimate Guide to Visiting Scotland
Scotland is a beautiful country full of different places to explore. You will find rugged hills, expansive lochs, and enchanting castles everywhere you turn! If you are considering a trip here, use this guide to visiting Scotland.
What You Should Know Before Visiting Scotland
When visiting Scotland, you should first have a good understanding of the United Kingdom.
Scotland is the country itself, Great Britain refers to England, Scotland and Wales, and the United Kingdom is all of Great Britain along with Northern Ireland.
Although the countries of the United Kingdom do speak English and drive on the left side of the road, the culture of each country is distinct.
Scotland’s history is just as dramatic as its landscape and both certainly impact the culture.
Make sure that you go beyond the larger cities to get the full scope of Scotland!
You will find the landscape of Scotland awe-inspiring, with its mountains, lakes, and rugged coastline. There are so many gems to discover.
If you are a movie or television buff, you will certainly want to see the filming locations for such popular series as Outlander, Harry Potter, & The Crown.
And if you are a history buff, you will undoubtedly want to explore the numerous museums and castles (there are nearly 3000 in Scotland).
One of the easiest ways to see the different parts of Scotland is through public transportation.
Consider the ScotRail Travel Pass. This pass is flexible and is based on the number of days you want to use it & where you want to travel. It will get you to unlimited travel on trains, coaches, ferries and buses.
If you really want to explore some of its hidden gems, you should do some road trips in Scotland.
Renting a car is quite easy and driving in Scotland is just like in England, on the left side of the road.
You Will Need an ETA to Travel to the UK
Starting January 8, 2025, most people traveling to the United Kingdom for short visits, tourism, or business, including those just passing through UK airports, will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) if they do not have a UK visa or legal residency in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
The EA allows you to travel to the UK to visit for up to 6 months.
This change is part of the UK’s move towards a digital border system.
It costs £10 to apply.
What Language do Scotts Speak?
While English is widely spoken, they also speak Scottish English and Scottish Gaelic.
The Scotts accent is a strong one and the dialects can be quite colorful. You might need to listen carefully to pick apart what someone is saying.
A few Scottish Sayings for your amusement:
- Gonnae no’ dae that – Going to not do that
- Ah dinnae ken – I don’t know
- Am pure done in – I’m tired
- Am a pure nick – I don’t look good
- Ah umnae – I am not
- Ma heid’s mince – My head’s a bit mixed up
- Yer oot yer face – You’re very drunk
- Yer aff yer heid – You’re crazy
- Wheesht yer puss- Shut up
- Who stole yer scone?- Why are you mad?
What Currency Does Scotland Use?
The official currency of Scotland is the pound sterling (£).
Bank notes are available in £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations.
Each note has a distinct color.
Coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pence, £1 and £2 increments. Visa and Mastercard are also widely accepted.
What is Traditional Scotland Food?
One of the most traditional dishes in Scotland is haggis, neeps and tatties.
Haggis is a mixture of ground sheep (or pig) heart, lungs, and liver along with onion, oatmeal, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, & encased in the animal’s stomach lining.
It is usually served with neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes).
Adapters for the UK
UK outlets use a Type G Plug.
Great Britain outlets typically use a three rectangular prong format in a triangular pattern whereas American plugs have only two flat prongs.
In order to get your device to charge or work, you will need the right converter.
If you are someone who travels with your hair dryer or straightener, you will need a separate voltage converter that can handle the wattage that it takes for heated appliances.
We usually purchase at least one universal adapter that has the ability to work for multiple countries outlets. That is because if you have a layover and need to charge your device, you will want to have one you can use in any airport.
