Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or are just at the cusp of starting your life as a globetrotter, it is always a good idea to read and learn as much as possible about the destination of your next trip. While Scotland is a very easy to navigate and accessible destination, even (or especially) for first-time travellers, you can’t go wrong reading up on the ins and outs of travelling this country. These 50 travel tips for Scotland should help you get going!
This post contains affiliate links, which I may make a commission from.
Most of the tips on this list are handy to know for a smooth cultural encounter or to efficiently spend your budget on a trip around Scotland. Others are an inspiration for planning your itinerary and some off the beaten track locations. Others again, will hopefully make you chuckle a bit. Here we go!
Good to know before you go
1 | Don’t ever call it England! Scotland as a sovereign nation is part of the United Kingdom, which is made up of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For a great video explaining all the different terms used to describe the British Isles click here.
2 | Ask locals to slow down and repeat what they just said, if you can’t understand them the first time.
3 | Get into the groove by watching Scottish films, TV shows or even interviews with Scottish personalities like Travis or Amy Macdonald. I recommend Sunshine on Leith, Local Hero, all films by Bill Forsyth, and anything by Lynne Ramsay.
4 | Pick up some Scottish words to add to your vocabulary. Start with wee (little), dram (drink) and skint (broke) – maybe someone will buy you a drink.
5 | Some people in Scotland speak Gaelic, the old language of the country. You will see many bilingual signs along the roads (particularly in western Scotland and the islands) and you might hear/see it on the radio/telly (BBC Alba).
I am accepting planning requests for 2019 now.
Get in touch and let me help you plan a trip that is 100% YOU!
6 | When you don’t know how to pronounce a Scottish place name, wing it – even locals might use various different pronunciations.
7 | Carry a pen with you to write down street & town names for directions. Chances are, you pronounce it wrong.
8 | Scotland uses its own banknotes and they come in all kinds of designs depending on which bank printed them. However, they’re valid throughout the UK just like their English and Northern Irish counterparts.
9 | While cards are widely accepted in the cities and towns, on some islands you’re better off having enough cash with you. In small communities cash machines (ATMs) can be located inside the village shop or post office, and thus access is limited to open hours.
Tips for getting around Scotland
10 | When you look up public transport, always check buses as well as trains – it could save you lots of money!
11 | Consider investing in a ScotRail Travel Pass if you travel around Scotland by public transport. These passes usually cover most trains, buses and ferries, and allow multiple travel days. It can, however, be cheaper to get individual tickets!
12 | Hiring a car is the most convenient way to get around, especially if you decide to do a road trip to the Highlands! If you’re a little nervous about driving on the left or navigating small mountain roads, read my top tips for driving in Scotland.
13 | Watch out for sheep on the road!
14 | If you’d rather not drive yourself, there are many tour companies taking people around Scotland. I highly recommend Rabbie’s for their small group tours. Their driver-guides are just the best!
Scottish Culture, Food & Drink
15 | Be open-minded when it comes to whisky. It took me three years and multiple visits to whisky distilleries to realise that I kind of like it. Try a few different ones before you give up!
16 | Don’t order a single malt whisky with ice – every Scottish barman/woman will tell you to first try it on its own, then maybe add a few drops of water, and only if you still don’t like it they will reluctantly give you some ice.
17 | To learn more about the different whisky regions and find your preferred taste visit the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh.
18 | Ask what’s in haggis after you tried it, not before! And if you don’t eat meat (or you’re vegan) give veggie haggis a go – it’s delicious!
19 | Black pudding is not a pudding. Like with haggis, don’t overthink it, and maybe try the veggie version.
20 | If you eat meat and seafood, order typical Scottish dishes like cullen skink (a creamy fish soup), steak (or mushroom) pies, stovies (a potato dish), fresh seafood and of course chicken tikka masala. If you are vegan, find out how easy it is to travel Scotland as a vegan here!
21 | For the best fish & chips head to a seaside town where the fish is the freshest. I highly recommend the fish & chips shop in Anstruther close to St Andrews!
22 | Drink all the craft beer you can get your hands on, but also try a pint of Tennent’s Lager which is Scotland’s most consumed beer and has been brewed in Glasgow for over 400 years.
23 | For more Scottish beverages have a go at Irn Bru (a terribly sweet soft drink) and Buckfast (a very sweet and strong alcoholic drink, I probably shouldn’t recommend).
24 | Taste as much local and regional produce as you can. Aberdeenshire and the Royal Deeside, in particular, are well-known for their great veg and fruit, like Scottish strawberries.
Tips for visiting Edinburgh
25 | Spend at least 2 full days in Edinburgh to cover the highlights.
26 | Rabbie’s City Tour of Edinburgh or an Edinburgh Hop on Hop off tour can give you a great overview of the town – I recommend doing this as soon as you arrive!
27 | Explore Edinburgh beyond the Old Town: the Royal Botanical Gardens, Stockbridge and Leith are just a few highlights.
28 | Accommodation in Edinburgh can be expensive and hard to come by – book ahead and if you are on a budget try hostels and AirBnBs; avoid August, which is the festival season; and also weekends. Worst case, you could even stay in Glasgow or Dunfermline and take the train to Edinburgh for a day trip.
Travel Info for Edinburgh
Where to Stay | Browse my suggestions for accommodation in Edinburgh.
Where to Eat | Giving away some of my favourite eateries (no tourist traps) in this weekend guide.
What to Do | Edinburgh Hop on Hop off tour – gain the perfect initial overview of the city; Edinburgh Castle – dive into the medieval history of the city; Royal Yacht Britannia – learn more about the Royal life at sea; Edinburgh Old Town Underground Tour – you better not do this on your own!
Tips for visiting Glasgow
29 | Edinburgh is better than Glasgow when you’re in Edinburgh; and Glasgow is better than Edinburgh when you’re in Glasgow.
30 | Don’t make the mistake to leave Glasgow off your itinerary – it’s an amazing city!
31 | Visiting Glasgow is about meeting the locals. It’s easy to meet locals at the pub – just stand by the bar and someone will start chatting to you.
32 | Glasgow is a budget-friendly city and there are many free things to do – like most museums, a tour around the lavish City Chambers, hikes through the country parks and a walk back in time along the River Clyde.
Travel Info for Glasgow
Where to Stay | Browse my suggestions for accommodation in Glasgow.
Where to Eat | Giving away some of my favourite eateries (no tourist traps) in this vegan food guide.
What to Do | Check my one-day itinerary and my 50 travel tips for Glasgow!
What to Pack for Scotland
33 | Forget umbrellas, invest in a high-quality waterproof jacket (it’s worth the money). Stay dry and don’t let a bit of rain drag you down!
34 | Rule #1: Never trust a blue sky! Rule #2: Never trust a cloudy sky. Weather in Scotland can change very quickly, and there is a saying that in Scotland you can experience all four seasons in one day. Expect every kind of weather year-round and pack layers accordingly – even when you visit in summer. I use the Norwegian weather service yr.no as well as the Met Office forecasts for reliable predictions, but they only work a couple of days in advance (at most).
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: What’s the best time to visit Scotland?
35 | Comfy shoes that keep your feet dry and warm are an absolute must! For hiking I love my Zamberlan boots, in the city I tend to wear sturdy chelsea boots.
36 | If you plan to hike in the Highlands, bring proper hiking equipment, including waterproofs, hiking boots and a map. Never underestimate the weather in the hills and only go as far as you can safely navigate back.
How to plan a Scotland itinerary
37 | Do more than the typical bucket list items, Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye. They are all beautiful, but Scotland has so much more to offer and it’s easy to go off the beaten track!
38 | Highland cows aren’t as frequent as one might think (they’re also more expensive to keep than Angus cows). A good place to see them up close is Pollok Park in Glasgow.
39 | You don’t need to go far for an island adventure – the Isle of Bute is just a hop, skip and a jump away from Glasgow! But there are many more Scottish isles to explore!
40 | The Isle of Arran makes for an amazing weekend-long island getaway if you’re pressed for time. It’s easy to reach with a train & ferry combo ticket, the hiking is gorgeous (try climbing Goatfell) and there are many more things to do (Brodick Castle, Arran brewery, Lochranza Castle, Arran distillery, Machrie Moor standing stones, Holy Isle etc.).
41 | Visit one of the Small Isles (Rum, Muck or Eigg) to go completely off the beaten track. You reach them by ferry from Mallaig (perfect to combine with a road trip on the Road to the Isles or a ride on the Jacobite Steam Train). The hiking is great and the views – particularly across to the Isle of Skye – are beautiful!
42 | For beautiful beaches head to the Outer Hebrides (Lewis & Harris or the Hebridean Way) or to the north east coast of Scotland.
43 | To see the Jacobite Steam Train cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct (yes, that’s the Harry Potter train!) ask for the exact train times at the tourist info in Fort William. It happens twice a day during high season only and once a day in spring and fall.
44 | A wee dram increases your chances to spot the monster of Loch Ness.
Visiting Scottish castles
45 | I recommend visiting ruined castles as well as fully restored palaces! My favourite castles to include on your itinerary are: Stirling Castle (best restoration & self-guided tour); Dunnottar Castle (my favourite ruined castle in a gorgeous location); Balmoral Castle (you can only visit the gardens, but it’s incredible); Kilchurn Castle (a ruined castle on the way to Oban) and Culzean Castle (overlooking the sea and the Isle of Arran).
46 | If you want to see more castles, follow the Scottish Castle Trail through Aberdeenshire – it covers 19 (!) castles!
Pin me for later:
Party like a Scot
47 | Bring your dancing shoes and pray you’ll happen upon a Ceilidh – Sloans in Glasgow actually puts on a Ceilidh dance every Friday night (tickets are £10)!
48 | Visit one of Edinburgh’s Festivals – whether you come for comedy, art and music during the Fringe in August or a wild night to celebrate the end of the year at the Hogmanay festival – there is no party like it!
49 | Or maybe there is – the viking fire festival Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Shetland, is one of the craziest festivals around the world! It happens every year in the end of January – but book ahead, the festival is “bigger than Christmas” (quoting a local).
50 | No matter how wild the party gets, don’t lift up a man’s kilt!
I hope my travel tips for Scotland will prove useful to you on your upcoming trip, or inspire you to get started planning a holiday to Scotland – or at least I hope they made you laugh a bit!
What is your top tip for a journey to Scotland?
***
Planning a trip to Scotland?
Find accommodation, book your rental car or a guided tour with Rabbie’s.
Book day trips to explore the country or get advance tickets for attractions.
Read up in a travel guide
Get your rain gear
Book your Glasgow tour with me or let me plan your itinerary.
All photos by Kathi Kamleitner.Save
Thank you SO much for the wonderful info, ESPECIALLY including vegan and vegetarian info and options! Your site is fantastic!! I hope to be traveling to Scotland with my hubby in 2020 for our first time and your blog has been extremely helpful!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Tomina! I hope you have fun planning your trip to Scotland – and a great time here, when it comes!!
Here is my plan in May. 2020
Inverness –
Fortrose
Cromarty
Dingwall
Fodderty
carbisdale castle
Dunrobin castle
Backies
Dunbeath castle
Wick castle sinclair Girnigoe
Keiss – old keiss castle
bucholie castle
john o groats
duncansby head and stacks
Castle of Mey
dunnet head lighthouse
Crosskirk
Puffin Cove,Drumhollistan
Tongue – castle bharrich
Durness
scorie
drumbeg
Clashnessie and falls
Lochniver
Ardvreck castle and peach and horne memorial
ullapool
poolewe
torridon – am ploc open air church
Applecross
Plockton- duncraig castle
Caisteal Maol
Fort augustus -falls of foyers
Dores
Inverness
Then Nairn
Brodie castle
Culloden battlefield
Lossiemouth Spynie palace
Dufftown – Glenfiiddich Distillery
Bow fiddle rock
Banff – temple of venus
Pennan
Rattray lighthouse
peterhead prison museum
bullers of buchan
Cruden bay
Slains castle
Aberdeen
banchory – abergeldie castle
Braemar castle
Balmoral castle
Glen lui
blairgowrie
bon scott statue
linn of tummel
Airlie monument
newtonmore
blair castle
garry bridge
Carrbridge and back to Inverness
Some great sites on your list! How much time do you have?
amazing blog
loved going through it
thank you so much for sharing
I really love for traveling mostly i have travel to Europe for business purpose next time i will try to travel Scotland and visit this unique places. overall thanks for share this informative blog.
I’m so excited to be returning to Scotland for a 4th time! With my 82 year old mom who just hurt her knee pretty bad, so hoping to do some things that don’t involve a lot of walking or hiking. We’ll have a car and wanted to go to Inverness and beyond. Oban sounds interesting! Any islands that wouldn’t involve a ton of walking? We love castles! Thanks for a great post!
Hi Lynne, Thanks for your comment and question! Have you seen my Scottish islands post – I summarise all the islands in it: https://watchmesee.com/blog/the-best-scottish-islands-to-visit/ Oban is wonderful and a great starting point for many islands. I’d recommend Mull because it’s near and there is lots to do that isn’t necessarily hiking or walking too far, incl a castle and a whisky distillery! You could also explore the region around Oban (Argyll) and head down towards Tarbet – there are tons of castles in that region and such a meandering coastline, it feels almost lie you’re on an island! I also have lots of posts about Argyll – you can find them by browsing the menu. I hope this helps! Have a fab trip! Cheers, Kathi
Ahh! Thank you so much! Will do all of the above! Can’t wait!
Can I ask one more question – do you recommend the Historic Scotland or Heritage Pass? I can’t figure out if it will pay for itself or not for us. I didn’t see you comment on that one. And also if we should purchase that before we come to Scotland or purchase it there. Thanks!
Hi Lynne, there are three passes you could consider – 1) National Trust of Scotland membership (1-year validity), 2) Historic Scotland membership (1 year) and 3) Heritage Pass (7 days). Each includes different attractions and has a different price point. Whether it’s worth it or not, really depends on what you want to see – some castles cost £13-18 entrance fee, so if you want to see three expensive castles a pass might be worth it. Check which attractions you want to see along your route, look up entrance fees at their individual websites and then check which pass would cover them. It’s a bit more work to prep for your trip, but then you know you don’t have unnecessary expenditure! And since you do the research in advance, why not also buy it in advance 😉
I write about the three passes in this post too: https://watchmesee.com/blog/backpacking-scotland-on-a-budget/
Thanks for the great insights into Glasgow – myself and my partner are heading there for a conference in late August via a few nights in Edinburgh to catch the tail end of the Fringe Festival. Your blogs on Glasgow have made us much more optimistic for what Glasgow can offer tourists – my partner was fixated on Glasgow’s knife crime and very few Kiwis who had traveled there had anything positive to say about Glasgow – we can now see from your blogs it offers so much more and are looking forward to our time there! We are seriously thinking of using your 7 day classic intinery from Glasgow to Skye to Inverness back to Endinburgh (potentially taking in a bit of Adberdeenshire & the Cairngorms if time allowed) – do you think this is too much traveling for 7 days? We are also thinking of heading out of Glasgow after 5pm on a Thursday night – is there anywhere an hour or so from Glasgow that is nice to stay on the way north?
Looking forward to seeing your wee adopted country. Thanks again for a great informative blog from the Edinburgh of the south – Dunedin, New Zealand!
Hi Rebecca, I’m so glad you found my blog – honestly! It’s such a shame that Glasgow is still ringing with these negative stereotypes. Don’t worry about knife crime at all – any crime actually – and enjoy your time here. There is so much to do and see, lots of new tour companies, museums, parks, viewpoints, great food and lots of cultural venues! It’s a beautiful city that has changed a lot in the last few decades!
Regarding your road trip, you could stop in Arrochar near Loch Lomond – a gorgeous place and just about one hour away from Glasgow. Check out Ashfield House B&B – Cristina is a fantastic host! If you only have a week and want to follow my 7-day itinerary, you wouldn’t be able to also add the Cairngorms and Aberdeenshire. My 7-day itinerary is already pretty busy and I actually recommend to spend 9-10 days on that route to see everything on the list and relax a little too! If you have longer, it’s a different story.
I hope you have a fantastic trip to Scotland. I’d love to hear how you got on!
All the best, Kathi
Fantastic info off to Dumfries and Galloway next week been before but a few years ago
Always loved Scotland
Just learned what wee meant hear it a lot
Well done. At last a sensible and non-patronising list of dos and don’t for visiting Scotland. The England thing is the most crucial! My only slight cavils are: Balmoral isn’t really a castle but a mid-victorian fantasy house. There are plenty of authentic ancient castles in Scotland but Balmoral isn’t one of the. Then, why does nobody on these blogs mention the New Town in Edinburgh as a wonderful place to explore. It’s not new, but street after street, square after the square of Georgian architecture of the very highest quality, and the main reason that Edinburgh is a World Heritage site. It dates from the 1760s and was the home of famous Scots like Robert Louis Stevenson.
Hi Janet, I’m glad you found the list useful! I’m actually going to New Town next week to try and review an accommodation there and can’t wait to explore that part of Edinburgh more in-depth. This list only has four tips regarding Edinburgh, but if you look at my 2-day Edinburgh guide you will find New Town among my essentials: https://watchmesee.com/blog/edinburgh-in-two-days-weekend-trip/, so I’m not sure what you mean by “these blogs”. I loved Balmoral – the gardens were among the most beautiful I’ve seen and it’s so close to other castles in the region. You can see a great variety of castles and big houses in this area!
Wow.. this list of informations is so amazing! Can you advice me april is good time to visiting Scotland. Waiting for your reply….
Absolutely! April is when all the Spring flowers usually start blooming. I guess just stay aware of he Easter holidays when you book accommodation. Enjoy!!
Scotland is really nice country. I am reading your blog and i get the awesome tips about traveling to Scotland. Thanks!
Nice blog. Saved lots pins to my Scotland board. I am guessing you live in Scotland? We don’t have pound notes any more!
Sorry, if it’s unclear, but I’m speaking about 5-, 10- and 20-pound notes, not the old £1 notes… Yes, I live here!
Hi there,
We’re leaving for Scotland in 3 days. Attending the wedding of a highschool friend in Inverness. Will be in Edinburgh 3 days, Inverness & Culloden 4 days, then have a week of driving to Oban, out to Tobermory, Maillig & About. Will attend the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, stay one night in Barcaldine castle, an Airbnb & some small guest houses. Thank you so much for your suggestions – even about the haggis :>. We’re looking forward to the adventure, weather, sheep, music, culture, views & Scotch!
That sounds like such a lovely and relaxed trip – you will see so much and get a real sense for the country 🙂 Enjoy your holiday and thanks for checking out my blog!
Beautiful post! Thanks so much for the inspiration.
THANK YOU!!!!
We are going to Scotland for our honeymoon next May and I’ve been reading blogs through Pintrest for several months now. Yours is all I need!! It answered every question I had and more! I am so exited about the vegan fish & chips in glasgow!!
I honestly can not thank you enough! ☺☺☺
Myrna, thank you so much for your comment! I’m so happy to hear from readers who find my blog useful. Let me know if you need any assistance on planning your perfect Scotland holidy!!
Hi Kathi,
I’m really enjoying your web content. Thanks for sharing these tips. It will help other users as well :). Big Love and Big Support!
I appreciate your sharing and I must say that you have shared such nice and useful information about Scotland with all of us which is really good. I also visited there for having enjoyment. It is a best place for having fun and tourists can enjoy there hiking and many other outdoor activities. I hope you will have a joyful time there.
great tips you shared, i love your blog only for this reason that you share true fact. Next month we all going to scotland and lots of activity we will do. Thanks to you and your article, who suggested me good option.
Oh, my. Thanks for the giggles. I have been to Scotland four times from The States, and am planning my fifth go for late summer – early fall. Your fun insider’s take on the endless joys to find there are inspiring. And I haven’t gotten to your take on The Shetlands. I hope you have some info on The Orkneys in here too. Have joined your newsletter. Well done and thanks again!
Unfortunately, I’ve not been to the Orkney’s myself yet, but I can recommend this post by Migrating Miss, https://www.migratingmiss.com/things-to-know-before-you-visit-orkney-scotland/, for some more info on the Orkneys! Thanks for joining the newsletter too!! 🙂
I like that you provided some tips when traveling to Scotland such as looking for public transportation when getting around. It is recommended that you tour the city via public transportation as this can definitely save you lots of money. Plus, you are able to communicate with locals who can give you tips and recommendations on the best local restaurants and bars. If I were to visit Scotland in the near future, I would make sure to keep this in mind. Thanks.
Pingback: How to Plan a Trip to Scotland: Driving in Scotland
Pingback: How to Plan a Trip to Scotland | WatchMeSee.com
Pingback: 50 Useful Travel Tips for Glasgow | Watch Me See
Oh my god, this list is amazing! I am actually planning on visiting Scotland in November, so now I really can’t wait for this weird country. (Weird in a good way) …Thank you .)
Have a fantastic trip – November can be a bit rainy, but also so eery and mysterious in the mountains. And the colours are amazing – I love it!
My husband and I will be visiting August 31st to September 14th. We plan to take the train to get around (Edinburgh, ft William, skye, Inverness, pitlochry & Glasgow) Are there any tips or websites you recommend. I’m a little nervous about it honestly.
Thanks
That’s absolutely doable, although you’ll have to take a bus to Skye. For trains I always use trainline.co.uk – I find the best deals around three weeks prior to my intended travel dates, and the site is a lot more user-friendly than the Scotrail websites; plus it lists various train companies in its search results! For buses check our citylink.co.uk, which is as far as I know the main bus company operating in rural Scotland. Prices are usually reasonable if you book in advance or do short routes! Traveling by public transport can be a bit more time consuming, but particularly the train routes are so scenic, you’ll actually want them to last longer 😉 Have a great trip!
Gonna hold my hands up and say I came to read this list (as a Scot in Scotland) to see what ridiculous advice was being doled out. I’ve never been happier to admit I am completely wrong and this was a very useful, interesting and well-written list – a must-read for anyone coming to visit Scotland.
I would add that for number 28, Fife (an area north of Edinburgh, over the iconic Forth Bridge) is also worth a mention in terms of cheaper accommodation if you want to see Edinburgh, even in August. There are very regular trains (more and later running during the festival) and it’s as little as 35 minutes away.
Good shout about Fife – I’ll add this tip to the article if I may. I’m glad I could surprise you with my list! I’ve lived here for several years and was hoping that by now I’d have a pretty good idea of what travelers should know about 🙂 I hope you’ll share it with friends coming to visit you! X
Love this list! We are heading there in March and will only be there for a week. I wish I could stay a month or longer and do so much more. Still working out our itinerary, though, so this has given me many ideas. (Sorry to hear the highland cows aren’t as easy to spot as the travel websites make them seem. But it’s good to know. 🙂 )
Oh a week really isn’t enough, but it’s a good time to get a first overview! In terms of highland cows – maybe I was just always not lucky enough… I wish you a great journey and all the best spotting coos 😀 Thanks for your comment!
Believe me, Adele is from Tottenham, London. Definitely not Scottish
Haha I was totally thinking of Amy Macdonald there – neither of them make it into my playlists, so it’s easy to mix up 😀
Love this so much! And agree with all of them!! The thing about not lifting a man’s kilt made me laugh, it’s my man’s biggest fear when we’re out and he’s wearing his kilt. At graduation in St Andrews, people randomly asked him to take photos because he was wearing one. Also, I invested in a Craghoppers last year and it was by far my favourite purchase ever! It’s doing really well in currently -15 Canadian weather too! And agreed about the classic trifecta, Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Isle of Skye. I always try to get people to think further than that!
Thanks for your comment – I’m glad I picked some you could personally relate to. I wish my partner was wearing a kilt more often – he’s Scottish, but he doesn’t have one – I’m often disappointed ha ha 🙂
Thanks for the advice! I will be heading to northeast Scotland in March (Inverness and the Black Isle), I will definitely be using some of your advice. This is my first time to Scotland and really appreciate your time to dish out some advice.
Oh what a fantastic trip waiting for you! I’ve never been to the Black Isle, but they have a great brewery up there, if you’re into that sort of stuff! Have a fab trip! 🙂
I was interested in your take on Scotland, as I once lived there, and still have relatives there, it is a beautiful country, except for the dreaded Scottish mid he, especially in the west, it absolutely eats you to bits, especially the English, so be warned from May to October beware the midge
You’re right – the midges are the worst! They can really ruin your trip to some extent – but the landscape makes up for it 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
Hi Edith — just beginning exploring the possibility of traveling to Scotland alone – and I am kinda old but good shape! I do not know what a midge is — is that a mosquito? A gnat? And you mention the Scottish mid he — what is that? Is bug spray enough to ward them off? Thanks for any input!
Mary
Hi Mary, I think Edith’s had a typo there – she’s of course also talking about midges (not mid he) 😉 I would describe midges as a mix between mosquitos and flies – they’s quite small (hence there are specific midge nets to keep them away – they can slip through normal mosquito nets), they bite and can itch like crazy! Mosquito repellent might work, but there is also a spray called Smidge, which you can pick up in most outdoor shops here, which was specifically designed with the Scottish Highland midge in mind. It helps really well, but it is also advisable to wear long sleeves around sunset to keep them off your skin! Hope that gives you an idea of how to protect yourself from the ‘wee beasties’ – as we call them here!
Great tips for Scotland. I will bookmark them for when I visit. I would especially love to see the castles and the Jacobite Steam Train .
Thanks for your comment! The steam train really is a great experience – hope I get to take it maybe this year 🙂
I was just in Scotland and did the Loch Ness, Isle of Skye, and Edinburgh. It was all we could fit in for that trip, but I really wanna go back and see more. I will put Glasgow on the top of the list. I did try haggis while I was there and loved it!
Thanks for your comment! Those three places are a great introduction and all classics! Next time do Glasgow for sure, and maybe Oban <3