Visiting Scotland-getting around

[Detroitpete]

Just remember Alan, drive on the left--er the hand that you DON'T throw stones with

[ForresterModern]

Rent a car, but only as big as you need for you, your stuff, and anybody else going with you. Although the roads are not as tight as in Ireland they can still be tight in some places. And smaller means easier on gas, and believe me fuel prices in the UK are sky high compared to what we are used to lately here in the states. Petrol prices are listed by the litre so it may look comparable or even cheaper, but it isn't. Keep the tank above 1/4 full at all times, as you really never know where the next available petrol station will be unless you are along a major highway. Driving on the left side of the road is not hard but does take getting used to--shifting a 5speed with your LEFT hand, looking up left for your rear view mirror, remembering LEFT turn on red if available, parallel parking while looking over your LEFT shoulder, and most important of all, instead of the look Left-Right-Left rule here before turning, you have to get used to the look Right-Left-Right rule. A word for th wise---don't drive drunk, as many an american tourist has gotten sloshed and then driven on the wrong side of the road out of sheer habit, and caused many unfortunate accidents---talk to Matthew Broderick about this if you would like. Drive very consiously, be aware, and remember the roundabouts are all LEFT turns into and out of them. Last item on parking---public parking is rarely free, so if there is not a meter right in front of your parking spot go looking for a parking time ticket dispenser nearby on the section of the street to buy a ticket to put in your front window to cover how ever long you are going to be parked. Some places (main continent Europe mostly) use a small paper clock like thing to allow for two hour parking , for example, where you have to put the time you parked on the paper clock and put it in the front window so the passing parking nazis can know if you have overstayed your limit. Take your time, make sure to pull off the road a lot to take in the scenery and take pictures. It can be tough when you are concentrating on navigating strange territory in a strange car on the "wrong" side of the road and on some of the world's not greatest roads, especially in the country. Driving in the city combines all these issues simultaneously with the pressing busy traffic and little reaction time to read signage to figure out where you are going. If you can afford it pick up a GPS unit that includes Europe or at least the UK, and try to plug in your sights to see by address before starting out so you get some "local" help getting there.

You will be amazed at how many castles, small villages, distillleries, and other unique things there are to stop and see along the way, so don't expect to make great time on the roads from place to place. It is far too beautiful of a land to just blow by on the main highways. Signage is okay, particularly on the big roads, but you will find limited and not large signs directing you tofar more significant local sights to see----none of the big billboards or stupid rattlesnake farms or world's biggest ball of string type attractions along the roads like there are here in America, except maybe right around the cities----so most of the sight seeing signs are worth at least reading and considering a stop if it sounds interesting. There is so much around every corner out in the country that it sometimes seems impossible to see it all.

Good luck, enjoy the trip, and bring back lots of (kilted) pictures. I am going back myself for a golf vacation this August, but will be more restricted to areas to see time to see them by the golf schedule and our van driver. Wishing I had an extra week to just bum around the countryside. I envy you.

jeff

[Pleater]

If there is any chance that you might want to drink - then ensure that the hire car is on a two person driving lease, and the other person aware of your intention and prepared to abstain, as if you do have an accident or are stopped due to the police becoming suspicious, and are found to be over the drink/drive limit, then that will really spoil your holiday.

Fuel prices are high again - 1.16 pence per litre and another penny to be added in April. A litre is 35 fluid ounces, and I think there are approximately 4 to a US gallon.

It would be very useful if you can get a Sat Nav in with the hire, or even bring your own.

I know that the price for a foreign country is possibly rather high - but one person who visited me tried to download the UK when in the UK, at the local price, and the company wouldn't allow it.

I found that having the TomTom device was very useful to me when visiting my former home. Changes in the road system, parking, places to eat, it saved me time everywhere we went. We have a postcode system of letters and numbers which the Sat Nav should understand and get you very close to where you want to be. In a strange city not having to read and understand the signs but be guided straight to a car park close to where I needed to be made the whole trip much less fraught. I used it for both driving and walking - made finding the way back to the car possible.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[ForresterModern]

Fuel prices are high again - 1.16 pence per litre and another penny to be added in April. A litre is 35 fluid ounces, and I think there are approximately 4 to a US gallon.

It would be very useful if you can get a Sat Nav in with the hire, or even bring your own.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

RE: gas prices. 1.16gbp/L x 3.8L per gallon x 15gallon tank x $1.5/gbp =$100 to fill the typical small car tank in Scotland compared to the same vehicle in the US at $3/gallon (and that is probably high in most places) x 15gallons = $45 to fill the same tank here in the states.

So petrol expenses will be about twice or a little more than similar here. As said elsewhere, most roads are not straight as the crow flies so what looks like a short drive may actually be significantly longer in both distance and time. Also you will enjoy the country more if you stop frequently to shop or see things instead of blowing by them on the main roads trying to cover more ground in a short time.

If you have an iPhone or other smart phone see if you want to activate it for use in the UK while you are there, and if the phone has GPS (my iPhone does) see if it functions there as well, and that might save you a bit on Sat Nav GPS issues.

jeff

[thanmuwa]

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remembering LEFT turn on red if available
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jeff

Just a small point. In the States you can turn right at a crossroads traffic light if it is red but there is no traffic about, is that right?
In the UK (and Ireland and AFAIK the rest of Europe for that matter), driving through a red light is never allowed no matter how empty the road is. It is a small thing, but if you do it with a police car behind you, you might have some explaining to do!

[Paul Henry]

Just a small point. In the States you can turn right at a crossroads traffic light if it is red but there is no traffic about, is that right?
In the UK (and Ireland and AFAIK the rest of Europe for that matter), driving through a red light is never allowed no matter how empty the road is. It is a small thing, but if you do it with a police car behind you, you might have some explaining to do!

Yes, in the UK a red light means STOP , there is no turning at a stop light, except on a green filter arrow

[The Wizard of BC]

Alan,

Here are my observations about getting around in the UK.

Hire a car. In many places you will wish to go it is the only way to get there in any reasonable time. If you wish to do more than one stop in a day a car is the only way to do this.

The reason is the public transportation system. Not the system itself which is excellent but the time and frustration of getting used to using it.
In N. America we all drive. We are used to getting in the car and going. When and where we want. Except for those who live in the major cities many of us have never taken a train or bus.

Let me give you an example. Bobbie and I were staying at a wonderful B&B south of Stirling and wanted to avoid the hassle of driving into Edinburgh for a day trip. So we drove from the B&B to the nearest train station. (15 min.)
Now, where to park the car? Parking is always at a premium in the UK and finding a spot for those who are not used to seeing and recognizing things it took a while. (10 min, and luckly we had someone pull out of a spot just as we pulled into the lot.).
Then we had to buy our tickets. No ticket office, just the automated machine. (OK 10 minutes to read the instructions.)
Now we wait for the train to arrive. (28 min.)

38 mins on the train.

The train ride itself was wonderful. Clean, relaxing and we could watch the trees flash by. (don't expect to look out across the countryside anywhere in the UK, the trees and hedges will block your view the entire time.)

Arrive in Edinburgh (Did you wear comfortable walking shoes?)
Then we walking for a half an hour to the first place we wished to visit. All in all I could have driven the same distance 3 times in what it actually took. Using the system is great but it really cuts into the sightseeing time.
Your also stuck visiting only those places you can hoof it to in the time you have available before heading back to the train station for the return trip.

Would I do it again? YES! in a heartbeat, but I would make sure that I was at the train station for the first available train in the morning just to compensate for the extra time of using the system and not just driving as I would here. It will take you approx. three times as long as you think to get around in the UK as it does at home. And that cuts into the sightseeing time.

Then, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU MUST GET IN YOUR HEAD BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN THE UK!!!!!!!

Learn how to deal with Traffic Circles!!!! In N. America we see a traffic circle so seldom that we have no experience with them at all.
Learn what the jagged lines in the road mean. Learn what the chevron marks in the road mean. Learn how to handle a multi-lane traffic circle. learn the rules of Right of Way.
In just one short drive of 10 min. you may experience as many as 30 traffic circles. They don't use 4 way stop intersections, they don't have stop lights except in towns and cities and you won't even see a stop light at first because your used to looking in the wrong place.

Then, the final thing. Do not attempt to drive in a new and different place without a SatNav system. Do not forget to get one when you hire the car. Having that voice tell you "Turn right ahead, third exit" is so comforting.

You can get from anywhere to anywhere else in the UK with your "tom-tom". Use your map to plan your trip and the satnav to get there. It may not take you the way a local would go but you will get there. And you don't have to have a map flapping around in the car when your trying to watch the road.

Use Google Earth or Google Maps to plan your trip well in advance of your departure. List everywhere you would like to see. Then pare it down to those you must see. Then plan three or four alternates. And don't forget to plan and reserve your lodging well in advance. Relying on finding a room at the last moment at Public Houses, while quaint, is not always the best plan for a relaxing trip. You won't find a motel 6 at every off ramp.

[Pleater]

I never thought of the road signs being different - you would be advised to get a copy of the Highway code - I think it is available to download, so you are familiar with the road signs and symbols.

Pay particular attention to the yellow lines painted at the edges of roads in urban areas - two yellow lines means no parking at all, one line indicates restricted parking - there should be signs with more information at intervals.

Our TomTom has the voice of Yoda from Starwars. I find the syntax more comprehensible than standard English. 'Turn left, you must.' 'The roundabout you must cross the third exit you must take.' and so on - most reassuring.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[fluter]

I never thought of the road signs being different - you would be advised to get a copy of the Highway code - I think it is available to download, so you are familiar with the road signs and symbols.

Oh, yes indeed! All the signs are different, so do bone up ahead of time. A car rental place or travel agent can probably get you a helpful booklet.

My first trip, I just called Hertz to lay on a rental car. That was a financial mistake, but they mailed me a wonderful paperback book with everything you need to know about the rules and signage.

Now hearken to the Wizard:

Learn how to deal with Traffic Circles!!!!

Yup. They are highly efficient, but a bit different.

Then, the final thing. Do not attempt to drive in a new and different place without a SatNav system.

I have done very well with a passenger/navigator and an excellent road atlas. I would not try it without either a good navigator or a GPS system. You can get it with the rental car, and that's probably the best choice, even if it costs a bit more.

[EagleJCS]

Just a small point. In the States you can turn right at a crossroads traffic light if it is red but there is no traffic about, is that right?

Most of the time, yes. Some municipalities have "No turn on RED" signage at some intersections (usually on a post at or near the corner on the right hand side of the road, occasionally hanging to the right of the lighted traffic signal). In those cases, there's usually a turn indicator - a green arrow - that indicates when it's OK to turn.