How I did it: it was our first trip overseas together, and both of us are enamoured with a) scotch, b) history, and c) gorgeous countrysides.

we went for two weeks: flew from Toronto to Glasgow, then took a bus to Edinburgh. Then we rented a small car and drove around Scotland for a week and a bit. Then we returned the car to Glasgow and flew back out!

Lessons & tips: The bus between Glasgow and Edinburgh is really cheap and super easy!

In the major cities (as with most of Europe), definitely invest in a day pass for the hop-on-hop-off bus tours. taking the tour once you arrive is an excellent way to orient yourself, and you can get on an off whenever a neighborhood takes your fancy. way cheaper than cabs, way easier than local transportation.


If you go to Islay, be warned: the distilleries are closed on weekends! Also, if you have a car, the ferry across can be very expensive. Be sure to prepare yourself for that.

When visiting Edinburgh, staying on the Royal Mile for a night is fun.... but don't stay there for the whole visit, as it's a bit of a circus and mostly aimed at tourists, Disney-style. It gets old pretty fast.


Although it may be a short distance on the map, some drives may take hours - the roads are very winding and you might miscalculate your speed/time to get there!

Renting a car was great - we got to explore quite a bit more, and the signage in Scotland is still best i've come across internationally. You basically can't get too lost - EVER! This is also an excellent way to really get a sense of the scenery, at your own pace. The only downside is that we are Canadian - it took a bit of practice to drive while sitting on the wrong side of the car. Alas, the roads are very narrow in Scotland, so there was very little forgiveness if you miscalculated where the edges of you vehicle actually lie! Practice a lot and be patient with your driver.

The joke about the Scottish being frugal is quite true - and mostly touted by the Scottish themselves! Some cabbies will actually become offended/chide you if you are too generous with your tip. That said, don't be a jerk - just be prepared to laugh off jokes about your being a fool with your money!

Resources: THE VERY BEST RESOURCE: 
there is an invaluable website that helped us plan our trip: www.undiscoveredscotland.com

you really don't need much else! there are tourist kiosks in almost every area of the country - even in small villages. these are very very helpful if you need to find lodging for the night, or a map, or just some recommendations about food. don't be shy!

Feb 04, 2009, 09:09AM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer