Thoughts on traveling alone?

[Carlo]

Going alone makes one very flexible. Just be sensible and don't drink too much.

That's it in a nutshell.

The Youth Hostel are quite nice and at least by swiss standards affordable and you can meet people. Obviously if you find someone on here who gives you a tour that would be much nicer.

[Pleater]

Results just published indicate that violent crime is decreasing here - but I have been going about alone for quite some time now and have to admit that the most dangerous person in most areas I have been in was me.

Sensible shoes and clothing - nothing you couldn't run for a bus in would be advisable as there is likely to be a lot of walking about to find things.

In a summer some time ago I stayed at Sterling University, they rent out the student accommodation.

A GPS device might be a good idea - they are so useful for finding your way in unfamiliar places, though some brands can be difficult about getting the maps for other countries, wanting to charge a lot of money even for downloading when you are in the country you want a map for, so it might pay to do some research. You would need to check battery life too - the one we have for the car only has a battery life of an hour or so.

I'm afraid that I am about as far from Scotland as possible and still be able to walk there, eventually, so I'm not much use for your tour. My mother in law used to take coach trips all over Britain, and went to Scotland several times. She chose ones with lots of guided tours of places, but there could be ones which suit what you want to do and they are considered suitable for 'ladies travelling alone' as normally there is either a guide travelling with the coach or one is waiting at the hotel on arrival at any place.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Carlo]

A GPS device might be a good idea - they are so useful for finding your way in unfamiliar places, though some brands can be difficult about getting the maps for other countries, wanting to charge a lot of money even for downloading when you are in the country you want a map for, so it might pay to do some research. You would need to check battery life too - the one we have for the car only has a battery life of an hour or so.

Some tablet computer have an inbuilt GPS (ex. Samsung Galaxy Tab II) there is an app where you can use OpenStreetMap. These maps are free and downloadable. That way you can safe on the maps and on mobile download-costs. Obviously they are not perfect but If you know where you want to go write down the coordinates beforehand in case the adress is not yet on the map.
I'm not a fan of tablet computers but on a holiday they might come in handy.

[creagdhubh]

Seasaidh,

First of all, well done on planning a trip to the land of your ancestors! You will not be disappointed and will form wonderful memories and delightful friendships, especially if you are planning to spend the majority of your time traveling throughout the central Scottish Highlands. My ancestors come from that area, also known as Badenoch in Inverness-shire, which are traditional Clan Macpherson lands. I still have family that lives in the area, specifically in Kingussie, and I can certainly give my great aunt and uncle a heads up if you are keen on stopping by for tea, a nice chat outside in their garden, a light lunch, or perhaps all the above! Traveling on the A9 south from Inverness, Kingussie is off of Newtonmore Road/High Street/A86 motorway and is actually on the way to Edinburgh via the A9/M90 motorways.

I also have Macpherson cousins (all of whom are active members of the Clan Macpherson Association) scattered throughout Scotland, with the majority of them living in the greater Edinburgh area (many in Haddington). If you'd like, I can easily contact them and perhaps they could give you an informal tour of the main sights and attractions from their native perspective. Sandy and Catherine Macpherson would be the ideal choice for that. They are a lovely Edinburgh couple who have been married for 50 years and originally hail from Laggan in Inverness-shire. Sandy is extremely knowledgeable in Scottish history and can certainly talk your head off, but he interjects his natural, Highland charm and sense of humour into his fact-based stories and colourful histories of the area. I have stayed with them many times at their beautiful home, which is not too far from Edinburgh Castle.

I understand your apprehension and cautious attitude in regards to being a young female traveling alone. I don't blame you for feeling that way. However, I am quite confident that you will be just fine traveling throughout Scotland, but like you would do anywhere or anyplace else, just be constantly mindful of your surroundings and environment; book comfortable and secure accomodations (B&B's are a great way to go) in safe areas; and have some sort of an itinerary that your friends or family back home are aware of in case of an emergency. Other members on here have also provided some very good advice. Whatever you decide to do when it comes to planning the details of your trip, rest assure, you shall receive a warm Scottish welcome and Highland hospitality at its best.

Sandy Macpherson and I.


Sandy and the lovely Catherine, staunch members of the Clan Macpherson Association, at the Highland Ball during our clan's annual gathering and rally in Badenoch.


Sandy at our annual Clan Macpherson Gathering and Rally in Newtonmore, Kingussie, and Laggan, Inverness-shire. The gathering coincides with the Newtonmore Highland Games, which always takes place the first weekend in August. Our clan chief, Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD, can be seen partaking in the customary, wee dram after the clan march has concluded. Cluny lives at Newton Castle in Blairgowrie, Perthshire.


Beannach'd libh,

[Jock Scot]

GPS and mobile phone navigation have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, BUT BE WARNED. In the Highlands there is often no signal and journeys in rough country often take longer than planned and battery power is all important. ALWAYS take a good map AND a compass and know how to use them. I cannot tell you how many times that I have come accross people totally lost and all they are navigating by is some form of electronic navigation. Towns are fine, at least, you can ask someone, out on the hill is another matter entirely! Sorry to be boring about this, but............

[creagdhubh]

GPS and mobile phone navigation have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, BUT BE WARNED. In the Highlands there is often no signal and journeys in rough country often take longer than planned and battery power is all important. ALWAYS take a good map AND a compass and know how to use them. I cannot tell you how many times that I have come accross people totally lost and all they are navigating by is some form of electronic navigation. Towns are fine, at least, you can ask someone, out on the hill is another matter entirely! Sorry to be boring about this, but............

Precisely, Jock. Absolutely spot on advice for the Highlands.

[Carlo]

And I thought that a map (not sure about compass, never used one, never needed one) is standard part of any travelling equipment.
I normally use the map so that I know the over all direction and to check if the destination on the GPS device is my desired destination. Living in a village of the same name as a much bigger village some 3 hours away (Remember I'm swiss not american, to us that is nearly half the country away) I see quite a few people who trusted their GPS device more than their brains.
When it comes to signal GPS is reliable. Mobile phones not so much, back in 2010 we had no signal on Skye (with a british provider) not even in Portree.

[cessna152towser]

Travelling alone in Scotland should be no problem, it is a relatively safe country and the native population are almost entirely welcoming and friendly. As with all large cities in Northern Europe, Edinburgh has its share of migrant pickpockets from Southern and Eastern Europe, of whom you need to be wary.
You may feel more at home here if you can arrange to meet up with other Scottish based xmarkers during your travels. There are several members based in the Edinburgh area who are quite active on this forum and whom I have met and whom I consider trustworthy.
There is also an xmarks member who owns a guest house in Dumfries which you could make your base, though he doesn't post here very often these days and Dumfries is a two hour coach ride from Edinburgh.

[pbutts]

We haven't made the Scotland trip yet, but I would imagine it would be similar to our trip to Ireland many years ago. We booked bed and breakfast homes the whole way and we made sure to chat up our hosts in advance (this was pre-Internet, BTW...I can only imagine how easy it is now). We let everyone know we were interested in music and pre-Christian historical sites and got loads of tips. We always seemed to find the right pub, managed to borrow bikes, and as much as possible were able to experience the country as much like the locals as possible.

I'm jealous....you should have a great time!

[Lime]

GPS and mobile phone navigation have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, BUT BE WARNED. In the Highlands there is often no signal and journeys in rough country often take longer than planned and battery power is all important. ALWAYS take a good map AND a compass and know how to use them. I cannot tell you how many times that I have come accross people totally lost and all they are navigating by is some form of electronic navigation. Towns are fine, at least, you can ask someone, out on the hill is another matter entirely! Sorry to be boring about this, but............

Very sensible advice the police are always harping on about this on the radio.

In general I think we are a safe country. I'm sure my wife wouldn't think twice about heading off on her own or with a couple of girl friends (if she could get the green light!). It is just a matter of being sensible and not wandering around certain areas (which are easy to spot!) late at night with a big camera/expensive designer bag/ayephone on show - sensible precautions the world over.

I've never felt the least threatened (and I am eminently "beatupable") any "unpleasantness" I've encountered have simply been idiot comments which are easy to ignore.

Hotels, B&Bs, youth hostels etc are generally good and friendly. My wife and I generally choose a decent B&B as they are more personal and friendly but with a healthy dose of comfort; but I recognise they tend to cater for couples (a single traveler will usually pay a premium). Youth hostels are are a good option if you don't mind "roughing it": they are cheap and very wide ranging (some are ancient mansions or castles, old railway carriages and can be very well placed... some have the best views in the UK). A mix of people use them (i.e. not only those visiting from abroad) so it is a good place to meet a variety of people including those local to the UK, drink some wine from a tea cup, whisky from a bottle and chat late into the night if that is what you want to do... if not bring some ear plugs!