Page 208 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION available from HM Revenue and Board-accredited places to stay. DIRECTORY
Customs in London. Never carry VisitBritain, the British tourist
To enjoy Scotland fully, it is best to know to turn to if things go wrong; banking and luggage or parcels through board, operates offices overseas. Travel Safety Advice
something about the work ings of everyday life. communications; and how to get around customs for someone else. Australia
The range of facilities for tourists in Scotland the country by public and private transport, Disabled Travellers Department of Foreign
has never been better – indeed tourism including ferries to the islands. Travel Safety Advice The facilities on offer in Scotland Affairs and Trade
has become a major part of the country’s Whether or not you find Scotland an Visitors can get up-to-date for disabled visitors are steadily ∑ smartraveller.gov.au
economy – and VisitScotland is continually expensive country will depend on the travel safety information from improving. An increasing number UK
promoting better services around the exchange rate between the pound and the Foreign and Commonwealth of hotels and guesthouses now Foreign and Commonwealth
country. This chapter gives advice about your own currency. Visitors travelling from Office in the UK, the State offer wheelchair access. This Office ∑ www.gov.uk/
information is given in the
foreign-travel-advice
when best to visit Scotland; cus toms and London will find that costs are generally Department in the US and the headings for each entry through-
immigration requirements; where to find lower in Scotland’s capital. Glasgow offers Department of Foreign Affairs out the guide. Given advance US
and Trade in Australia.
tourist information; what to do or whom even better value for money. notice, ScotRail (see p219), ferry US Department of State
or coach (long-distance bus) ∑ travel.state.gov
staff will help any disabled
Advance Booking Tourist Information Tourist Boards
before you set off on foot to passengers. Ask a travel agent
remote hills or mountainous Out of season, you should have Tourist bookings in Scotland are about the Disabled Persons VisitScotland
locations. Walkers and climbers few problems booking accom- handled by VisitScotland via its Railcard, which entitles the For brochures to any area in
can be surprised by the modation or transport at short call centre and website. The holder to discounted rail fares Scotland, or to book
weather, and the Mountain notice, but in high season always organization also has a base in on services across the country. accommodation contact:
Rescue services are frequently try to book ahead if possible. central London. In addition to Hertz offers hand-controlled Tel (0131) 472 2222.
called out due to unexpectedly Before you travel, contact these, every region of Scot land vehicles without any extra cost ∑ visitscotland.com
severe con ditions. Weather VisitScotland, www.visit- has its own tourist board, (see p223). For per mission to
reports are given on television scotland.com, or a travel agent, providing information about use any disabled parking Aberdeen & Grampian
and radio, in newspapers and for advice and information. local accommodation, enter- space, you need to display a Tel (01224) 269180.
by a weather phone service tainment and places of interest. special sign in your car. Angus & Dundee
(see p201). Smaller, subsidiary tourist Tourism for All is a UK charity Tel (01382) 527527.
Customs and information offices can be dedicated to improving access-
Immigration found in many towns and ibility. It runs an excellent web- Argyll, the Isles, Loch
Insurance A valid passport is needed to public places, and at some site offering information on Lomond, Stirling & the
Visitor Centre in Callander, at the heart It is sensible to take out travel enter the United Kingdom. of the principal locations of accessibility throughout Britain: Trossachs
of the Trossachs insurance before travelling, to Visitors from the EU, the US, historical interest. Look out for www.openbritain.net. Tel (01786) 475019 or (01389)
cover cancellation or curtail- Canada, Australia and New the tourist information symbol, Visitors from the US can 753533.
ment of your holiday, theft or Zealand do not require visas indicating an office. Often the telephone the Society for the Ayrshire & Arran
When to Visit loss of money and possessions, to enter the UK, nor any inocu- best source of information for Advancement of Travel for the Tel (01770) 303774.
Scotland’s climate is very and the cost of any medical lations or vaccinations. Once events in the area, these offices Handicapped (SATH) on (212)
changeable (see pp40–43). May treatment (see p210). If your within the UK, visitors are free will also book accommodation 447 7284 or visit www.sath.org Dumfries & Galloway
and June are usually drier than country has a reciprocal med- to travel to and from Scotland, for visitors. Pick up one of their before leaving. SATH publishes Tel (01387) 253862.
July and August, although the ical arrangement with the UK England, Wales and Northern brochures that give compre- ACCESS to Travel, a magazine full Edinburgh & Lothians
latter are usually the warmest you can obtain free treatment Ireland without pass ing any hensive listings of Tourist of information. Tel (0131) 473 3868.
months. The west coast tends under the National Health other frontier formalities.
to be mild and wet, while the Service. Australia, New Zealand When you arrive at any Greater Glasgow &
east coast is cool and drier. and all countries in the inter national air or sea port in Clyde Valley
Scotland’s towns and cities European Union (EU) have the UK, you will find separate Tel (0141) 566 4089.
are year-round destinations, this arrangement. North queues at immigration control: Highlands of Scotland
but many attractions American health plans, one for EU nationals and several Tel (01463) 252401.
open only between and student identity others for everyone else. Scotland
Easter and October. cards may give some is a member of the EU, which Kingdom of Fife
The main family holi- pro tection against means that anyone arriving Tel (01334) 472021.
day months, July incur red costs, but from an EU member country Orkney Islands
and August, and always check the can pass through a blue channel. Tel (01856) 872856.
public holidays (see small print. If you Random checks are still made
p42) are always busy. Sign for the want to drive a car for illegal goods, however, Perthshire
Hotels are crammed Mountain Rescue in Scotland, it is especially drugs. Travellers Tel (01738) 450600.
at Christmas and New advisable to take out entering from out side the EU Scottish Borders
Year, particularly in Edinburgh fully comprehen sive insurance. have to pass through the usual Tel (01721) 728095.
for the Hogmanay street party You must carry a valid driver’s customs channels. Full details
(see p43). Spring and autumn licence. If you are not an EU of importation restrictions are Shetland Islands
offer a moderate climate and citizen, you must have an Tel (01595) 693434.
a lack of crowds. Whatever the international driver’s licence, Western Isles
time of year, it is wise to get an available through the AAA for Tel (01859) 502011.
up-to-date weather forecast those in the US. Standard tourist information sign Tobermory harbour on the Isle of Mull, popular with tourists
The Jacobite Steam Train, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct near the shores of Loch Shiel

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