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Getting
to and around Scotland can be easy and enjoyable, whichever way you
choose to do it. In addition to the resources included in our Travel
Guide, we recommend you pay a visit to VisitScotland,
the official website of the Scottish Tourist Board. If
you have questions on accommodation in Scotland, contact
us for help and/or advice.
Traveling
To Scotland
When
traveling to Scotland, we recommend securing a direct flight to one of
Scotland's national airports, rather than having to come into Scotland
after flying to England. This saves time, money, and resources, and also
makes
a
simple but effective statement regarding Scotland's autonomy and freedom
to accept visitors directly.
If
you are flying to Scotland from the United States, Continental
Airlines and American
Airlines both feature direct flights to Scotland. From Canada,
Air Canada offers
direct flights to Scotland.
Alternatively, there are several airlines that offer indirect flights to
Scotland from the U.S. through Amsterdam, Iceland, and Brussels. These
include KLM (Royal
Dutch Airlines), Northwest
Airlines, IcelandAir,
Sabena, and Air
New Zealand.
If you are flying to Scotland from another country, choose your country
from this
page.
Traveling
In Scotland
By Air:
Virtually every part of Scotland and her islands is reachable by air
once you are in Scotland. For a listing of Scottish airports and
internal destinations, visit this
listing.
By Car: Driving a car throughout Scotland is one of the best ways
to see the nation on your own time. For a listing of car rental
companies by city, click
here.
In Scotland, cars are driven on the left hand side of the road. In busy
areas of the country, motorways and dual carriageways connect towns and
cities. In more remote parts of Scotland, such as the Scottish
Highlands, one land roads are common, with passing sections to allow for
two way traffic.
The speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways is 70 mph (112 kph).
In built-up areas, the speed limit is 30 mph (48 kph) unless otherwise
posted.
Gas (petrol) stations are abundant, and many in busy areas are open 24
hours. In lesser built-up areas, hours vary. Petrol is sold by the liter
and by the gallon.
By Rail: Rail is another very attractive way to see Scotland.
ScotRail operates a large network of services, including express lines
between Edinburgh and Glasgow every 15 minutes. For complete information
and scheduling, visit the website of ScotRail.
Also available is the Freedom of Scotland Travel Pass, allowing visitors
unlimited travel on Scotland's trains, Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries, and
selected CityLink bus services. For complete information, click
here.
By Bus: Arguably the most cost-effective way to see Scotland is
Scottish City Link, the largest provider of coach services in Scotland
linking over 200 cities and towns through over 400 daily services. For
complete details, visit the website of Scottish
City Link.
Scotland's capital Edinburgh, as well as her largest city, Glasgow, both
feature excellent local bus services, networking each city completely
with an extensive number of buses and routes.
By Ferry: Scotland is bordered on three sides by water, so ferry
is an essential means to visit Scotland's islands - the Inner and Outer
Hebrides on the west coast, and the Orkneys, and the Shetlands to the
north of the mainland. For travel within the western islands, visit the
website of Caledonian
MacBrayne. For northern island ferry travel, visit the Shetland
Islands Council and John
O'Groats Ferries for information.
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