Page 211 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  209

Smoking and Alcohol Standard Time and ten hours
It is illegal to smoke in all public behind Sydney. From the
places in Scotland, including middle of March to the end
public transport systems, taxis, of October, the clocks go
train stations, theatres and forward one hour to British
cinemas, bars, restaurants Summer Time (which is one
and shops. hour ahead of GMT). To check
There is a general ban on the correct time, you can dial
drinking in public in Greater 123 to contact the Speaking
Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Clock service.
Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, home of the area, although public drinking
National Trust for Scotland is discouraged throughout DIRECTORY
Scotland. This ban is usually
properties close during the lifted for the New Year Embassies and
winter months, so check street party at Hogmanay Consulates
ahead before visiting. (31 December). Australian High
Commission
Historic Scotland Conversion Chart Australia House, Strand, London
WC2B 4LA. Tel (0207) 379 4334.
An agency within the Scottish Britain is officially metric ated ∑ uk.embassy.gov.au
Government, Historic Scotland, in line with the rest of Europe. Canadian High Commission
manages some 400 key heritage However imperial measures Canada House, Trafalgar Square,
sites around the country. are still very much in com mon London SW1Y 5BJ.
Admission prices, though usage, including road distances Tel (020) 7004 6000.
gener ally very reasonable, soon and speed limits (measured ∑ canadainternational.gc.ca
add up if you have an interest in in miles and miles per hour).
Scottish history, making their Imperial pints and gallons New Zealand High
annual pass well worth con- are 20 per cent larger than Commission
New Zealand House,
sider ing. Both Edinburgh Castle US measures. 80 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4TQ.
(see pp64–5) and Stirling Castle Tel (0207) 930 8422.
(see pp124–5) are included in Imperial to metric ∑ mfat.govt.nz
the pass, while a membership 1 inch = 2.5 centimetres
pack, a quarterly magazine, 1 foot = 30 centimetres United States Consulate
mem bers-only tours and lec- 1 mile = 1.6 kilometres 3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh
tures, and discounts at Historic 1 ounce = 28 grams EH7 5BW. Tel (0131) 556 8315.
Scotland shops and cafés also 1 pint = 0.6 litres ∑ uk.usembassy.gov
help justify the cost. Members 1 gallon = 4.5 litres Student Travellers
also receive half-price admission
at over 500 other historic attrac­ Metric to imperial International Youth Hostel
tions in England and Wales. 1 millimetre = 0.04 inch Federation
1 centimetre = 0.4 inch Tel (01707) 324170.
1 metre = 3 feet 3 inches ∑ hihostels.com
Electricity 1 kilometre = 0.6 mile National Union of Students
The voltage in Scotland is 220/ 1 gram = 0.04 ounce Tel (0131) 556 6598.
240 AC, 50 Hz. The electrical plugs 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds ∑ nus.org.uk/en/nus-
have three square pins and take scotland/
fuses of 3, 5 and 13 amps. In order Scottish Youth Hostels
to use your foreign appliances, Time Association
such as hair dryers, you will Scotland is on Greenwich Tel (01786) 891400.
need an adaptor. Most hotel Mean Time (GMT) during the ∑ syha.org.uk
bathrooms have two-pronged winter months – that is, five
sockets for electric shavers. hours ahead of Eastern STA Travel
Tel (0333) 321 0099.
∑ statravel.co.uk
Heritage Sites
Historic Scotland
Tel (0131) 668 8600.
∑ historicenvironment.scot
National Trust for
Scotland (NTS)
Tel (0131) 458 0200.
∑ nts.org.uk
Bars lining historic street in the town centre of Perth

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