Scotland practical

Scotland had its own independent parliament since 1997. This emphasizes once more the unique character of this northern part of the United Kingdom.

When you visit Scotland you will constantly by reminded of its history. The Scots also have their own culture. They have their own language, Gaelic, an independent church, the Church of Scotland and a lot of traditions dating back to ancient times. For instance the typical accent, the money (Scottish pounds), the family ties, kilt and tartan, bagpipes, haggis and whisky. All of this will make it clear to the visitor that Scotland is a country with a very inherent character.

Scotland : some practical information

Money

Britain’s unit of currency is the British pound Sterling. British money is based on the decimal system – there are one hundred pence to each pound. Coins have the values of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. Notes have the values of £5, £10, £20 and £50. Scottish £1 notes are still in circulations in Scotland. In some shops, in the large cities, you can pay with euros.

Opening hours

From Monday to Friday the banks are usually opened between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm. But hours can differ because banks can set their own opening hours.

Some banks are open on Saturday all day and some are even open on a Sunday. All banks are closed on public holidays.

Some banks in Scotland close one hour at noon. If you need money when the banks are closed, you can ask for an exchange in a travel agency or in one of the many exchange offices.

Credit cards

All credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard or American Express are accepted almost everywhere in Scotland. If you want to use your credit card it’s best to ask first whether it is accepted wherever you want to use it.

Electricity

The voltage used in Britain is 240 volts AC at 50HZ. Appliances generally use standard 3-pin square plugs and sockets. Plug socket adaptors and power transformers are widely available, you can buy them at most airports, electrical shops and hardware stores.

Holidays

A lot of shops and visitors attractions are open on holidays as well as on bank holidays, except on Christmas. Banks and Post Offices are closed on holidays.

Pet regulations

Taking your pet on your holiday to Scotland used to be almost impossible. A few years ago the rules have somewhat liberalized. But there are some requirements for bringing your pet into the UK.
Your vet can tell you everything about the “Pets Travel Scheme”.
Pets don’t travel for free. All transport companies have a special price for pets.
Keep in mind that when your pet is travelling with you, you have to arrive earlier than normal at the terminal, half an hour is the minimum.
With your reservation always pass on the chip number of your pet, that will save you some time.
For more information contact your vet or consult the website of DEFRA.

LPG and the Channel Tunnel

Vehicles fitted with LPG containers to power domestic services e.g. cooking, refrigeration, heating and water heaters are accepted as long as the containers are switched off, weigh no more than 47kg and are not more than 80% full. If your vehicle is fitted with such a container, you must declare this at Check-In. LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and dual powered vehicles (i.e. vehicles fitted with an LPG tank as an alternative fuel) cannot be accepted for transport by Euro tunnel.

Travel documents

For a visit to Scotland you need a valid Belgian passport. Also, don’t forget to bring your drivers licence, car papers and insurance papers. If you are of another nationality, other regulations might be applicable. For more information you can contact the British Consulate.

Make a phone call

To make a phone call to Belgium from Scotland : first dial 00 (international code), then dial the code for Belgium 32. Then dial the area code without the 0 and the personal number of the person you are calling.

Time and weather

Scotland is one hour behind Belgium. When it is 10 am in Scotland, it is 11 am in Belgium. Both countries switch over to summertime or wintertime on the same date, so the time difference is the same all year through. 

Shopping

Shops are usually open between 9 am and 5.30 pm, from Monday till Saturday. Shops are allowed to be open on Sundays. Most of the time they are open on Sundays in big cities and tourist areas.

In smaller towns and villages the principal of ‘early closing day’ is mostly respected. Here shops close one afternoon a week. Some shops even close one hour at noon. Big supermarkets in cities are often open every day and some even 24/24.

                           Three Chimneys Restaurant

Restaurants

You can find restaurants everywhere and in all price-ranges. Compared to Belgium prices turn out fine.
In a restaurant lunch is a normal hot meal, but sometimes they have a special buffet for sandwiches and other snacks. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money it’s best to as for the “today’s special”.
Spread over the whole country there are about 250 hotels and restaurants who cooperate with the Scottish Tourist Board on a special initiative for tourists, this is marked on a notice board. This way you can be sure that the best Scottish products will be served.
Along the big roads you can also find Little Chefs. Furthermore of course you can find pubs and fish and chips shops.

Tips

It’s really difficult to give any advice at all about whether you have to give a tip or not. It is more something of personal opinion. At hotels, taxies and such more, tips are usually included in the price. If not then 10 to 15 % is added to the price.

Also at hairdressers, car-park attendants and such more, a tip is often given. It depends whether you think you’ve been served well or not.

Source and with thanks to House of Britain & VisitBritain