Scotland Coach Holidays
Language: English is the main language with recognised regional languages and dialects including Scottish Gaelic
Currency: Pound Sterling
Time Zone: GMT
Tipping: 10 to 12% is usual for hotels with 10 to 15% being usual for restaurants. In each case, it is not necessarily added to the bill. If a service charge has already been added, no further tip is required.
Scotland - an introduction
In a nutshell, Scotland is one of the most extraordinary places you'll get to visit that's crammed coast to coast with amazing scenery, beautiful historic towns and cities combined with cutting-edge attractions for everyone to enjoy. Scotland tours are the best way to discover England's fascinating neighbour with its rugged coastline, romantic lochs and eye-watering peaks so high that they touch the skies above.
When you visit Scotland, you will find yourself doing all manner of things that you wouldn't normally do such as listening to live fiddle music, sampling heather-infused whisky or following in the footsteps of Royalty at Stirling Castle. Ride the Jacobite Steam Train, the real 'Hogwarts Express', from Inverness to Mallaig where you could even pretend you're a wizard like 'Harry'?
On your tour of Scotland, you will begin to realise that the country has a complex history and houses an astonishing number of ancient monuments and buildings such as the Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis or The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage which takes you back 5,000 years with its burial tombs and prehistoric settlements. On the other hand, wildlife enthusiasts will love the accessible wilderness of the Shetland Isles, The Orkneys and The Hebrides with its abundance of wildlife at every turn.
Edinburgh should definitely feature high on your itinerary when you visit Scotland as not only is it home to the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo but it also has a thriving arts scene boasting an International Festival Fringe, a good wash of museums and an Old and New Town ensemble that have earned this city an 'Athens Of The North' nickname and World Heritage acclaim. Visit The Royal Mile for outstanding street entertainment, go to Princes Street where there are more shops than you can throw a stick at including a rather upmarket looking Primark! Jump on a sightseeing tour bus for a whistle-stop tour of the city including all the major sights such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse, Jenners Department Store (the oldest in Scotland) and the Council Buildings.
Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and take your Scotland tour into the wilderness where you can climb ice falls in Glencoe, hurtle down rapids in Perthshire or trek through the awesome glens of West Highland Way. See if you can spot the elusive wildcats of the Cairngorms National Park, relax by the tranquil waters of Loch Lomond or see if you can spot 'Nessie' lurking in Loch Ness. Gaze over the fields where the Battle of Bannockburn was fought and won near Stirling or pay a visit to Burns Cottage, the birthplace of Robert Burns in Ayrshire. No visit to the Scottish Borders would be complete without seeing the interiors of Floors Castle. Admire the priceless artwork and hunt for the holly tree in the grounds that apparently marks the spot where King James II was killed during a siege!
Tourist offices
For further information about visiting Scotland you can visit the Official Tourism Website at visitscotland.com
To help you have an enjoyable holiday in Scotland, please take a look at these useful tips and advice provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office:
Health and Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended by all our tour operators and for some operators it is a condition of booking. When choosing a travel insurance please ensure it fully covers all your personal requirements including pre-existing medical conditions, cancellation charges, medical expenses, and repatriation in the event of accident or illness. As a British citizen you will obviously be entitled to free emergency health care on the NHS.
If you are visiting Scotland from outside the United Kingdom and fall ill or are involved in an accident and are from an EU country or Switzerland, you can use a valid EHIC issued by your home country to access healthcare. Please note this is not an alternative to travel insurance. Comprehensive travel insurance is advised for nationalities planning on visiting the UK.
For the latest information and travel advice regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), please click here
If you need to contact the emergency services whilst in the UK simply dial 999 or 112 to ask for an ambulance.
Crime
The United Kingdom is a safe place to visit, however, as with all countries please exercise common sense. Petty crime can occur so take your usual precautions such as not leaving luggage unattended, beware of pickpockets in tourist areas and leave valuables in the hotel safe.
Local Laws and Customs
Queuing is a British Institution - jump a queue at your own risk!
If you are visiting from outside of the United Kingdom, it is wise to check customs requirements before you travel. If you are planning to bring alcohol, tobacco or souvenirs into the country, you need to be familiar with the UK's custom laws. If you go over your allowances, you may have to pay tax or duty. It is worth checking the HM Revenues and Customs website before you travel.
UK Entry Requirements
When travelling between the UK, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man you may need to show a Border Force officer a document confirming your identity. In most cases an official form of identification such as a driver's license or an armed forces identity card will be ok. However, some airlines will insist you show a passport so please check before you travel.
If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein you can enter the UK with one of the following identity documents: a passport, an Irish passport card or a national identity card issued by an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, if you’re eligible to use one. The identity document should be valid for the whole of your stay.
If you’re from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you must have a valid passport to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay. You may also need a visa, depending on which country you’re from. Please check here
Things to do
Scotland is such a fascinating country to visit and should definitely feature high in your touring itinerary if you are planning a tour of the UK. Here are just a few ideas of the places you could visit during your tour:
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral has been a holiday home for the British Royal Family since it was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1848. Queen Victoria herself described Balmoral as her 'dear paradise in the Highlands' and on visiting, you will hopefully see why. The estate has been lovingly preserved for 150 years and covers in excess of 51,000 acres.
Skara Brae
This mystical ancient settlement was uncovered by a ferocious storm in 1850. Older than Stonehenge, this settlement consists of eight houses which are connected by low covered passageways and was inhabited between 3200 BC and 2200 BC. It has been carefully preserved allowing a unique insight into prehistoric life.
Cairngorm National Park
The Cairngorm National Park makes up Britain's vastest and tallest mountain range. The scenery here is spectacular with clean rivers, lochs, moorland, native forests and farmland. Stop off at the nearby Speyside Heather Garden and Visitor Centre, to view the heather exhibition and visit the Garden Shop.
Jacobite Steam Train
Often described as one of the greatest railway journeys in the world, this 84 mile round trip, starts near the base of Ben Nevis, and will take you past many impressive sights. These include Loch Morar, the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, the most westerly railway station (Arisaig) and the deepest seawater loch in Europe – Loch Nevis.