Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By car
By ferry
In order to drive in Scotland you need a current full
driving licence. If you're bringing your own vehicle
into the country you should also carry your vehicle
registration, ownership and insurance documents
at all times. In Scotland, as in the rest of the UK, you
drive on the left . Speed limits are 20-40mph in
built-up areas, 70mph on motorways and dual
carriageways (freeways) and 60mph on most other
roads. As a rule, assume that in any area with street
lighting the limit is 30mph.
In the Highlands and Islands, there are still plenty
of single-track roads with passing places (see box,
p.12); in addition to allowing oncoming tra c to
pass at these points, you should also let cars behind
you overtake. These roads can be frustrating but
take care and stay alert for vehicles coming in the
opposite direction, which may have been hidden
by bends or dips in the road. In remoter regions, the
roads are dotted with sheep, which are entirely
oblivious to cars, so slow down and edge your way
past; should you kill or injure one, it is your duty to
inform the local farmer.
The AA ( T 0800 887766, W theaa.com), RAC
( T 0844 8913111, W rac.co.uk) and Green Flag
( T 0845 2462766, W greenflag.com) all operate
24-hour emergency breakdown services. You may
be entitled to free assistance through a reciprocal
arrangement with a motoring organization in your
home country. If not, you can make use of these
emergency services by joining at the roadside, but
you will incur a hefty surcharge. In remote areas,
you may have a long wait for assistance.
Scotland has more than sixty inhabited islands, and
nearly fifty of them have scheduled ferry links. Most
ferries carry cars and vans, and the vast majority can -
and should - be booked as far in advance as possible.
CalMac has a virtual monopoly on services on the
River Clyde and to the Hebrides, sailing to 22 islands
and 4 peninsulas. They aren't quick - no catamarans
or fast ferries - or cheap, but they do have two types
of reduced-fare pass. If you're taking more than one
ferry, ask for one of the discounted Island Hopscotch
tickets (there are more than 20 different variations to
choose between). If you're going to be taking a lot of
ferries, you might be better off with an Island Rover ,
which entitles you to eight or fifteen consecutive
days' unlimited ferry travel. It does not, however,
guarantee you a place on any ferry, so you still need
to book ahead. Prices for the eight-day/fifteen-day
pass are around £57/£82 for passengers and around
£270/£400 for cars.
Car ferries to Orkney and Shetland are run by
Northlink Ferries. Pentland Ferries also run a car ferry
to Orkney, and John O'Groats Ferries run a summer-
only passenger service to Orkney. The various Orkney
islands are linked to each other by Orkney Ferries;
Shetland's inter-island ferries are mostly council-run
so the local tourist board ( W shetland.gov.uk) is your
best bet for information. There are also numerous
small operators round the Scottish coast that run
fast RIB taxi services, day-excursion trips and even the
odd scheduled service; their contact details are given
in the relevant chapters of the Guide.
FERRY COMPANIES
CalMac T 0800 066 5000, W calmac.co.uk
John O'Groats Ferries T 01955 611353, W jogferry.co.uk
NorthLink Ferries T 0845 600 0449, W northlinkferries.co.uk
Orkney Ferries T 01856 872044, W orkneyferries.co.uk
Pentland Ferries T 01856 831226, W pentlandferries.co.uk
Renting a car
Car rental in Scotland is expensive. Most firms
charge £25-50 per day, or around £130-200 a
week. The major chains are confined mostly to the
big cities, so it may be cheaper to use small local
agencies - we've highlighted some in the Guide.
The best deals are usually found in advance,
through sites such as Auto Europe ( W auto-europe
.co.uk). With all rentals it's worth checking the terms
and conditions carefully; some rentals only allow
you to drive a limited number of miles before
paying extra.
Remember, too, that fuel in Scotland is expensive
- petrol (gasoline) and diesel cost well over £1.35
per litre. Automatics are rare at the lower end of
the price scale - if you want one, you should book
well ahead. Camper vans are another option; rates
start at around £400 a week in the high season, but
you'll save on accommodation (see p.31).
By plane
Aside from the international airport at Inverness,
there are numerous minor airports around the
Scottish Highlands and Islands, some of which are
little more than gravel airstrips. Airfares fluctuate
enormously depending on demand - if you book
early enough you can fly from Glasgow to Islay for
£45 one way, but leave it to the last minute and it
could cost you more than twice that. Most flights
within Scotland are operated by flybe ( W flybe
.com), or its franchise partner Loganair ( W loganair
.co.uk). For inter-island flights in Shetland, you need
 
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