Scotland Guide

Travel in Scotland

The cheapest way to get from place to place in much of Scotland is by train - though this doesn't always give the most efficient connections in more remote areas. Many of the train lines are stunning, including the line north of Edinburgh heading towards Aberdeen, and the famous line from Glasgow to Fort William, used in the Harry Potter films as the route of the Hogwarts Express.

If driving in Scotland, take care when travelling off the main roads - they are often steep and narrow, and the locals will be driving much, much faster than you. Also be aware of animals on the road such as sheep, cows or deer. A collision with a deer is almost guaranteed to write off your car.

The Forth Rail Bridge cuts across the Firth of Forth

Things to see around Scotland

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital city. It has an ancient University and an even more ancient Castle, and also plays host to a multitude of festivals throughout the summer, including the famous Edinburgh Fringe and the Edinburgh Book Festival. Edinburgh is also where J.K. Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter. If you are in Edinburgh and wanting a slightly more interesting walk, you could walk up to Arthur's Seat via the Craggs. This will give you a great view over the city and firth.

Glasgow is in many ways a much more modern city. There is a vibrant music and arts scene and good opportunities for shopping. It is a UNESCO City of Music and will be the Host City for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. All this works together to make Glasgow into a vibrant multicultural city which is well worth a visit.

Edinburgh Castle was built on the remains of an extinct volcano

Scotland is known for its whisky. The distilleries are generally found towards the North of the country and often offer tours to visitors - however, not exclusively so. The Glenrothes distillery, for example, is less than half an hour north of Edinburgh. These tours tend to include a free whisky tasting session at the end.