ADVICE FOR TRAVELLERS
This is purely our own thoughts on the matter and may not be to your own personal taste but we also realise that local information is helpful and we will accept no liability in regard to links from this or any other page.
Weather
Even though we are a small country we have a wide variation in weather. The further North you are the colder it tends to be. Also Edinburgh tends to be a few degrees colder than Glasgow. Some say the people are too! Best weather is May - September but best to have a light waterproof with you. The weather can change rapidly several times in a day. In summer the days are longer in summer than they are further south. In the end of June it can still be quite light at 10.00pm and light again at 3.00am. Ladies rarely wear shorts except in very hot weather and you may wish not to look too much like a tourist! Likewise baseball caps are only for the very young. There is little chance of you getting sunstroke in Scotland in a normal summer.
Travelling to Scotland.
Most people either arrive in Britain at London or Glasgow Airports. If visiting London as well as Scotland there is a good train service and also a very very cheap but uncomfortable overnight coach connection between London and Glasgow. It is worth searching for a good price. From North America it is sometimes cheaper to travel Icelandair with a stopover at Keflavic. Travel between cities is easy with National Express Coaches in England or Scottish Citylink in Scotland
Travelling in Britain
Britain has a reasonable, though expensive, rail system. Economies can be made by booking in advance but this not open to the tourist usually. Often fares drop dramatically after 9.30 in the morning and in some cases a "return" is the same as a single so check! Bus services are all independent of each other but companies like National Express and "Stagecoach" and "Megabus" connect most cities. Internal Air Travel is very expensive - Standard Return London - Glasgow can cost the same as a charter flight return Glasgow-New York - about 160 pounds or more. There are cheaper deals with "Easyjet" from just outside London with a direct rail/bus link from central London. Ryanair is also worth a look, Cheap flights within Europe to mainly holiday destinations are cheapest at Globespan.
Britain by Car
To get around most tourists researching family trees tend to rent a car. Note that most rental cars in Britain have a manual shift rather than Automatic Transmission. Most of the big international Rental Companies Avis, Hertz, Budget etc are represented in every city and most airports. Some people prefer to use Holiday Autos. We drive on the left hand side of the road and there is no "filter on red" unless indicated by a lit green arrow on the traffic lights. Some traffic lights have camera's attached so you get an automatic ticket if you go through on red. Petrol (Gas) for most modern cars is unleaded and leaded fuel has been phased out. Petrol is sold in pence per litre and is by most international standards expensive. If you are trying to make a comparison then remember that a British Gallon, like a British Pint is larger than a US one. To fill a car will cost about 40 pounds which should take you over 400 miles. Fuel is currently (February 2011) approximately £1.28 per litre. The usual form is to fill the car yourself and then pay at the window or counter of the service station. Most credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, though American Express and Diners less so. Check for the Credit Card logo on the big sign on the forecourt or on the door. Cheaper fuel is often available at bigger supermarkets. Cars in the UK tend to be more economic in fuel usage and 35m.p.g. or better is common on vehicles. Cars all have good heaters but only top of the range have Air conditioning but most of the year it never gets hot enough to warrant the extra expense. Signposting is very good, far superior to the US. Often brown signs will direct you to specific tourist attractions. Roads are of a very good standard but if you drive in Edinburgh beware of sharp braking on cobbled roads in the rain. Currently Edinburgh is a nightmare to drive in - there are road-works throughout the City Centre while they try to introduce trams again to the city. There are problems in the contract and so everything is at present "on hold" and no one can predict when the trams will actually run (if ever). As well as lights to control traffic flow there are also pedestrian lights. The oldest sort are signified by two orange flashing balls, one on each side of the crossing and a black and white (zebra) pattern on the road. Pedestrians have right of way and you may not overtake immediately before, on, or after a crossing. Others operate like ordinary traffic lights with a flashing orange light indicating that you may proceed if it is safe to do so. There are several breakdown services and you should make sure you know which one covers your rental vehicle.
The speed limits are (unless
signposted lower).
Motorways 70mph
Dual Carriageways 70mph (unless towing a trailer then 60mph)
Single Carriageways 60mph.
In built up areas the speed limit drops down to 30mph (or lower) for all vehicles.
Unless posted otherwise the speed limit is 30mph if there are street lights.
At roundabouts (circles) give way to traffic on the roundabout. At mini-roundabouts (sometimes nothing more than a circle of paint on the road and sometimes worn away!) give way to traffic entering from the right.
Cycle lanes and bus lanes which are forbidden to cars are common in cities.
There are very few toll roads in Britain and none in Scotland. There are about 4 or 5 bridge and tunnel crossings in the whole of Britain which attract a toll which is usually about 50 pence but can be as high as 2 pounds. There are no toll bridges or toll roads in Scotland. The Motorway ( a bit like Interstates) system connects all major cities and are free with one exception in the English Midlands. There are frequent motorway "Service Areas" which all sell food, fuel, magazines, maps and have full free toilet facilities. The food is basic and a bit pricey but is easier than trying to get off the motorway, find somewhere and then park. These "service areas" are open 24 hours a day and some have motels attached. Some include Burger King or McDonalds. A few have "Harry Ramsdens" which sells very pleasant Fish & Chips. It is illegal to stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency.
If you are driving along and suddenly there are two "flashes" from a box on a pole at the side of the road then you have just got a speeding ticket which will be posted to you in about two weeks. Recently there has been an introduction of "Average" Speed camera which record your number plate at one point and if you get to the next camera too quickly then you get a speeding ticket in the post. Four such tickets in a short space of time is enough to lose your license. By and large police are helpful and friendly, unarmed and fairly tolerant of pleasant tourists. They really will give you directions if you ask them and if they don't know they will usually radio their base for you. Police cars, Ambulances and Fire Engines as well as Coastguard vehicles all have blue flashing lights and two tone horns which they use only in an emergency and you should give them a clear path to get through. This includes letting them go through traffic lights at red. The emergency number for police, fire, ambulance etc throughout Scotland is "999" from any phone. The first question you will be asked is "Which service do you require?" and the second is "What is your location?".
Occasionally you will see a flashing green light on a vehicle. This is a doctor going to an emergency and the same courtesy applies. Breakdown Trucks, snow-ploughs, road maintenance vehicles and slow moving or large vehicles will usually have a flashing orange light. Road works on major roads are well coned and signposted.
Parking Meters are dealt with by Traffic Wardens (Yellow band on their hats though this can vary) who love to give out parking tickets. They also at times control traffic when necessary. Near Schools a "lollipop man" will stop traffic to let children cross using a sign like a large lollipop. It is illegal to park in designated areas at school gates. Cars are not usually clamped in Scotland but are in England - clamping is a device which is attached to a wheel of the car until a fine is paid. Illegal parking can lead to being towed away and recovery of vehicle is expensive.
Our Area by Car
Avoid Glasgow traffic in the rush hour (8.00 -9.00 and 16.00-18.00). Almost the worst scenario is to arrive at Glasgow Airport about 15.00 pick up a rental car and head through Glasgow. Traffic jams particularly on the M8 motorway at this time are normal and since it can be six or seven lanes wide with on and off ramps on both sides it is not for the fainthearted or uncertain. At other times it is OK and even pleasant.
For the city centre take signs for Charing Cross or George Square or simply City Centre. Car parks are reasonable priced. Best shopping areas are Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street which all connect with each other. Parking at Buchanan Galleries places you in the middle of the shopping. The price per square metre for shops is amongst the top 4 in the world and similar to 5th Avenue New York. Late night opening in Glasgow is Thursday evening till about 7.00pm. Central Glasgow hotels have little by way of parking facilities and well known chains like the "Hilton" are no longer located in the Red Light District which has moved (and we are not telling you where!). On the outskirts of Glasgow there are Travelodges and Travel Inns which charge on a per room per night basis but generally are slightly more expensive than their North American counterparts and not price negotiable either. In more recent years Holiday Inn Express has opened up close to the city centre as have other similar room per night places.
There are currently major road works near to the Kingston Bridge on the M8 occasioned by the construction of a new part of the M74. Similarly their are road works on the A80 for the Construction of the new M80. Completion is expected in the autumn of 2011.
Avoid Edinburgh with a car completely if you can. Most tourist attractions and the sites that a Family Tree searchers would want are quite close to the main Waverly train station. A good ploy is to take you car to Bathgate or even South Gyle station on the outskirts of Edinburgh and take a train into Waverly Station. Otherwise parking is expensive and the One-Way street system was, I suspect, designed by a sadist!
Shopping
No holiday is complete without sampling the shops. Shops open by 9.00am and shut about 5.30pm. Supermarkets often stay open till 8.00pm. Tesco at St. Rollox and Asda in Govan and a few others are open 24 hours. Unlike North America our main shopping areas are in our city centres (except Supermarkets) rather than on big malls on the outskirts though we have an increasing number of out of town malls as well. Glasgow is probably the best shopping city in Europe, everything is reasonably close at hand. Prices are quoted including tax (Valued Added Tax (VAT) at 15%). Sizing of clothes, shoes etc are different. Often sizes are given in UK, EUR, CAN, US all on the one label but a word of caution - ladies from different continents are different shapes and you really do have to try it on to be sure because the sizes do not translate perfectly. Before coming you should check about "Tax Free Shopping" which many larger stores in tourist areas will give you.
Eating Out
Eating out is slightly more expensive than US or Canada and portions are smaller but adequate. There seems to be a different attitude. In America if you clear you plate then your host didn't give you enough but in Britain if you leave a lot on your plate then it may be assumed that you did not like what was served to you. The result is smaller portions. Even a "Big Mac" is smaller and an American "Medium" is a UK "Large" Coke. Chains like "Brewer's Fayre" offer good and predictable food with parking. Alcohol is much more readily available with food but drink driving laws are very severe. If you eat in a non-chain restaurant you should try a Scottish Sirloin or Rump (Butt) Steak. The texture and taste are superb (USDA eat your heart out!) and the worries of a few years ago about BSE have gone thanks to a massive eradication program. On taste, food is less spicy except of course for Indian Curries which are a feature of Glasgow life. A cheap lunch can be a pack of sandwiches from many city centre store food-halls or even some supermarkets or bakers shops but bread comes in less variety compared with North America. Fish and chips are another good buy - eat with your fingers. Food hygiene standards in shops are extremely high - far better than in the United States as far as I can see.
Bacon is not usually crisp and is more succulent. Fried Eggs are always sunny-side up. Gammon Steak is like a large bacon steak. You will not find A1 Steak Sauce but if you get the chance try HP brown sauce - it is thicker than A1 and I much prefer it.. Heinz Ketchup (Tomato Sauce) is commonplace. You will find few pancakes or maple syrup. You will not find grape jelly. You will find tea (hot only), coffee (both caf & decaf). You will not find root beer but if you have a sweet tooth Irn Bru is worth a try. Scotland is the only country in the world where neither Pepsi or Coke are the brand leader - it is Barr's Irn Bru. Do not expect home fries at breakfast. Do expect marmalade instead of grape jelly for your toast or croissant. There are the usual cereals but few bagels or Danish Pastries for breakfast. Sometimes for breakfast you will get sausage, black pudding or haggis and maybe hash browns. Some supermarkets and department store restaurants do a big and cheap cooked breakfast.
Electrical Equipment
Britain is on a 230volt, 50Hz, 13 amp system based on a plug system of a three square pinned plug. I don't think any other country uses it (except some parts of Nepal!). Because the risks are higher because of the higher voltage electrical safety standards are higher as well. Adapters are available. One advantage is toasters work quicker and hair dryers too! Britain also has a different system for television (PAL-I) as well so a British bought video camera will not easily copy to the North American or any other system. British mobile phones will work throughout Europe and beyond but are on a different frequency from North American. Tri-band or Quad band cellular phones (We call them mobiles) work ok but beware of running up a very large bill for international calls. Buying a calling card or restricting yourself to text messages is cheaper. A local SIM card for Pay as You Go is a good investment perhaps.
Smoking
Smoking
is illegal in any enclosed public space in the UK. So there is no smoking
permitted in hotels (including rooms) or restaurants or shops. Some have an area
outside for smokers like a beer garden or outside tables but these are not for
anyone but the dedicated nicotine addict in the winter!
Local accommodation - Glasgow Area
The Visitscotland Site is quite helpful.