@@cdcurry1203 You also don't get them all the time. They usually start to become more active about late May and in the Autumn they eventually die off, perhaps about October. Even in the summer though, they do not like wind, as they are too small to fly against it and also they seem to dislike strong sunlight, so they are not a problem in even a breeze and are unlikely to be during the day, if it is hot and sunny. They can tolerate rain, but not heavy downpours. They like drizzle though and overcast conditions. Another thing is that they are generally worse at night, but if the temperature drops during the night, they become less active. If you camp in Scotland in the summer though, it is best to zip up your tent as soon as you enter or exit it in order to keep the little brutes at bay. If you ever stay in a bothy, they tend to be a bit more midge proof and also, if you get a fire going (which may be less necessary in the summer, right enough) they do not like the smoke from it. As has been mentioned though, you are safe from disease from them. You can get ticks though and they can carry Lymes disease. You can Google stuff about that though, before you visit Scotland, if you intend to. I personally know only one person who has had that and I know a lot of outdoorsy people.
I know sometimes tourists have a bad experience because of their expectations. Another one to add is the infrastructure can get overwhelmed at the busy times and its best to make sure you have things and arrangements sorted out in advance yourself, don't nesceseraly expect the guest house, hotel, to solve it for you again because they can get totally overwhelmed as well, don't just turn up unprepared expecting to wing it, it won't go well
I'm going to Scotland in June and can't wait to see the beautiful landscape of the Highlands. We will be driving for 7 day's so thank you for the tips. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦 👍
If you're traveling in the Highlands Make sure you've got your groceries by 5 all the shops shut A hat with brim and a head net over it is good for midge's Midge's can't fly when the wind is over 12 mph I've seen people sit with a stand fan behind them to keep the Midge's at bay also Avon skin so soft is a good Midge repellent it's better than the expensive stuff and it smells nicer You'll find it for sale in most outdoor shops
One other wee point about booking in advance, is if visiting any of the isles that require a ferry trip in high season, book your tickets months in advance At the same time you book your accommodation as you could yourself with accommodation and no means of getting there as the ferry is booked out.
It is well worth checking out hostels esp. if you are younger or more adventurous. As in the rest of UK, petrol/diesel is normally cheapest at large supermarkets. August is horrendously busy esp. Edinburgh/route 500 and often has less good weather and shorter daylight than June. For walkers, do check for local groups, always take an OS map and compass, be well prepared and tell someone of your route and expected return time. It is not like the English Lake District, with a pub close at hand.
Nice straightforward video! Thanks for sharing your observations and tips. Very refreshing to get such valuable Scotland tips without loads of just pretty loch flybys. I mean, lochs are great but also good to know I might want to check Newcastle for a rental. 😊
I, living currently in Germany, have another point of view regarding the cellphone coverage. I had almost everywhere but in the mountains or near to a loch, a 4G! I would also add, that they have almost no traffic lights so they have everywhere roundabouts. Those were a bit challenging for us. Also, also, listen to the locals. We did not ask, for example in Edinburgh, for a place to have the tea time. We got to a nice Café, where I ordered a small cheesecake, it was literally a small-tiny - non existent cake, I swear it was like a cookie size. Tourist mistake!
I guess you have a better cell phone provider than I do ;) And I totally forgot about all the different roundabouts, but I like roundabouts so that’s good :-)
Any where in the UK is covered by incredibly good quality mapping if you can get UTM mapping that's down to 1 in 10,000 basically every single hedge row is on the map but the whole country is covered by 1 in 50,000 these maps will show every stand of trees every electrical pylon every foot path trigger points the works these maps are available in any good book store if you need more than 1 in 50,000 i.e. UTM your a surveyor or something like that.
Midges form in their 1000, so keep your sleeves covered, purchase a midge net which covers your face! Also beware of clegs, which look like blue bottles, but these blighters take a large bite as to suck your blood! Even the cattle/live stock are frightened of them! Apart from that - Scotland has more too offer that a viaduct!!! Pitlockery is very popular with tourists, but 20 miles west of Pitlockery there is a small village called Rannoch! On your travel there (by road) you can stop at Queens view, which is a view point looking over the Loch! It is a loch, carry on to Rannoch and climb Craig Var, once you are at the top, you will view two Lochs - Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel. You can hire a pod which is situated behind the café, the pod sleeps 4. The café soup of the day is fabulous along with huge scones if you are hungry! Your camera will be well used when taken panoramic pictures! You could even drive on to Rannoch station, read in how the railway was built, then take the steam train over the famous Viaduct! Rannoch has a club which is timeshare holiday lets which look over the Loch, bikes/boat/canoe/wind surf etc! There are two hotels in Rannoch, I would suggest Rannoch hotel which looks over the loch! Loch Rannoch is 27 miles radius if one is wanting to cycle! Rannoch is a great area if one likes a hike, even climb the Schiehallion, it's huge, but the view is breath taken! I know, as we have been going there for well over 35 years! - There are no clegs there, midges only in the evening!
Note on transport that you can take bikes and e-bikes on with you if it isn't really busy, I get trains half price, so I can take my bike anywhere in the country for a reasonable price.
Here's a tip for camping don't use tents ,use hammock basher and fine mesh insect net,it's far lighter ,cuts down on yurr costs on rooms etc ,and standing waters never good-the midgees,concrete,sunshine and running water near yurr camp cuts down on em,
I am very excited to plan my first visit to magical Scotland. I am from the northeast U.S. and I am looking into a good visit to determine if Scotland will be for me. I am a nature freak and I hike for hours. I am not a fan of cold ocean waters, but all the nature options seem too good to be true. 😃 I am coming Scotland! 🏴
I too am coming to Scotland in May. Bringing my elderly mother for her dream trip. Thank you for these tips, much appreciated! I do have to ask for honest answers. I'm Canadian and I was thinking of renting a car but I am really worried about the driving on the opposite side of the road. We are going to Edinburgh for a few days then heading to the highlands as that's where our ancestors were from. Do you think I should try renting a car?
Thanks for information on the free maps. I'm moving to Scotland in a few months. Only thing I can think of that you forgot was midges prefer marshy areas, mostly on the western side of Scotland and only in Summer months. (If Google information was correct)
Not true . Midges can be a nuisance in most rural areas in Scotland but particularly so in Highlands. Anywhere that has vegetation to hold moisture. They are more numerous and bite more at certain times of the year. Winter is best time to escape them.
Do not underestimate how annoying midges are. I have met lots of people coming to Scotland who initially scoff at the idea of what midges are like. They quickly learn! Especially on still, wet days.
@@StimParavane well I worked out of doors on Orkney for 6 weeks at a time over 7 years and it worked for me. Plus you can put it on your face without worrying about getting it in your eyes unlike most insect repellents. And unlike deep etc it doesn't contain ddt or other environmental nasties. So sucks to the study - I'll stick to using it.
A bothy is a no frills house in the hills ,has a fire 🔥 to burn some wood,the kayak trails in Scotland are good as well toilets and shelters along the coasts and deep in the hills if u know where!!Google knows,if u wanna see Scotland in depth watch weirs way,
In regards to midges it depends on where you go. In the cities not a problem but in the highlands on the west coast you’ll be devoured from May to October. No slap on solution has ever worked for me I so stay inside when they’re most active; dusk and dawn. Midge head nets and covering yourself up works as well. Also if you’re camping/backpacking get yourself up 500ft on a ridge line; the wind up there should take care of them.
they honsetly swarm to hell and back... emm.... there are things that stop them.. some skin moisturisers they hate the taste of.. "skin so soft" I think it the brand
it is honestly only an issue on the west.. I do not know why... split scotland in half and the west you will get eaten by midgies... the east ... emm... they kind of exist but never bite............... the same swarms but never.. anything
As a scott I would have to say you got it spot on, but I didn't know anything about a midge website so will have to check it out next summer and see how accurate it is
I’d love to go back to Scotland! There are talks of starting a ferry line from Groningen to Scotland. That would be very convenient for me, I’ll be over much more :-)
Amazing job, thank you very much. This video is the most helpful, informative and practical travel tip video I ever watched. Could dye your hair ginger red to make the video look more persuasive? Kidding
"Beautiful roads..." I'll give you that. But word of warning, our roads evolved organically over thousands of years. That means some of the corners have corners in them. In fact, the only straight bits on the older roads tend to be vertical. My New York uncle drove my aunt from Bannockburn to Inverness on their anniversary and then swore never to drive in Scotland again
Gordon Shand I haven’t been to Europe since the early 1980s (American military,) but it sounds like a lot of things have changed...a lot! Back then, most people and businesses in most countries accepted any currency, albeit with a slight nudge of the exchange rate in their favor for that convenience. But it’s very surprising to see that the English won’t always accept currency from another UK country. Does it have much to do with Brexit, the Euro, and all of that mess? I found it to be generally inconvenient to have to exchange currency all the time.
Unfortunately, not many Scottish notes get into England, so people in local shops are unfamiliar with them, especially as there are two seperate sets off designs from Clydesdale and Royal Bank of Scotland. It is very, very irritating when the notes are questioned, especially when twits ask if you've got any English notes instead. I'm English living in Scotland, and I cringe every time this happens.
Must actually be a limited area of Scotland you encountered? I just got back, yesterday, from two weeks. Coming from the states, I changed my money in Washington DC. From Edinburgh, to Orkney Island, to Donnie and Donnen Castle, NOBODY even commented on the British version of UK pounds. I stayed with local people, bought food at markets, as well as the "Top Five" tourist sites. Scotland lives off of tourism.
Hi David great video and tips. We are driving up from London next week and the harry potter train Jacobite is booked out already. Can you please tell me the Scotrail train route is called which is the local option ? Also whT is the option if we drive Is there a road we can use instead?
Being a true Scotsman such as myself, midgies don`t bother me in fact, i can walk through swarms of them without any worries but, if you`re not a true Scotsman or have some in your history, here`s a wee tip : Never put on any perfume, aftershave or deodorants, not wash your clothes in perfumed powder/liquid as its sure to attract 1000`s of them. The midge was given to the Scots by God to stop the English from overstaying their welcome so, remember that when you come here.
Tip no 7 (6:24) : the remote places are *REALLY* remote. So if I go to one of these places, there's a chance I'll be stuck there... and become a part of Scotland for all eternity... :0
Hi sir, I'm a bit late to the party, but I was wondering if I might be able to get your email so i could fire off a couple of questions about Iran (hopefully I'm going to drive there next year!)
@@DavidBakker Ok cheers mate! 1. Basically I'm in a relatively lucky position whereby I'm a dual french UK national, but I was wondering if this would pose any problems; like if I get in with my french passport will I still need a guide because I'm half english? 2. Are there any areas that are seriously ropey (travel advice says Baluchistan is an absolute no go for instance!) 3. With the driving, I've heard that in some places (Khazakhstan seems particularly notorious) the police will just arbitrarily detain you in order to extract money, does this sort of thing go on in Iran? 4. Any places you particularly recommend someone should go see? 5. Is wild camping ok? So say I fancy just going for a wee trek up a hill of some kind, would I be alright to leave my car somewhere random and pitch a tent just anywhere? 6. Have you ever felt at all unsafe when you've been, and if so where? 7. Any serious prep I should get stuck into before I go? Thank you so much, apologies for the somewhat lengthy post!
@@bobbeverley5398 1. Don't think it will be a problem at all, they even welcome American guests 2. That something I'm not very familiair with, I only visited one place which felt a little dodgy (clothing market in a part far from Tehran center) 3. I got pulled over by the police whilst driving in Iran, the policeman was very ashamed of his English and that he had to fine me for speeding (I was 20 over the limit). I had to pay $5, or the rental place had to. So that was official police, well within their right, no issues. 4. To me it's about the people in Iran, not the places. As long as you get to spend time with locals.. But Isfahan is very much worth it. 5. Camping.. I don't know! Haven't tried it in Iran. 6. Only in a dodgy part of Tehran which I would never have found without a friend finding the place for me 7. Couple of Persian words are really really helpful and highly appreciated, find pictures of food you like the looks of so you know what you want to try, take pictures from home with you to show them, and if you can, bring your local sweet treat to hand out to friends in Iran (they love sweet treats).
Awww man midges are evil the worst times are may to September . You can but repellent out mostly any shop in Scotland but I don’t believe it wokrs😭😭😭😭😭 lol for people that have seen the first lord of the rings movie. One of the i thing it was Merry they was walking threw a swamp like place and said what do they when they can’t have hobbit 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Wee lost then turned English all they prob wanted is for us to turn English and let us say our word (get the shi5 outta here and they got the woop out sorry for swearing :c also if wee speaker the same language wee were before wee would get headed or.. be in police you don't wanna be headed.. its a thing Where's there's a kn!fe and it chops your head.
There's scrimping and there's not throwing money away unnecessarily. For instance, you can buy whisky in the tartan draped tourist shops with a muzak version of Scotland the Brave playing in the foreground or you can buy the selfsame thing in a local supermarket at far less. (Probably cheaper at the distilleries but distillery tours aren't my thing so I don't know). A lot of the tours can be easily, cheaply and much more flexibly done on public transport if you put in a modicum of research.
From a local, you did a superb video. Spot on. The tip about hiring from Newcastle was brilliant, one us Scots could make use of as well
Just curious bc he mentioned midges and you are a local. Do midges carry disease like a mosquitoes?
@@cdcurry1203 No, they are not like mosquitoes, they only leave little itchy lumps that disappear after a few days
@Ricardo Emanuel Your just a creep and I hope she finds some way to sue the shit out of you for invasion or theft bc its both
@@cdcurry1203 You also don't get them all the time. They usually start to become more active about late May and in the Autumn they eventually die off, perhaps about October. Even in the summer though, they do not like wind, as they are too small to fly against it and also they seem to dislike strong sunlight, so they are not a problem in even a breeze and are unlikely to be during the day, if it is hot and sunny. They can tolerate rain, but not heavy downpours. They like drizzle though and overcast conditions. Another thing is that they are generally worse at night, but if the temperature drops during the night, they become less active. If you camp in Scotland in the summer though, it is best to zip up your tent as soon as you enter or exit it in order to keep the little brutes at bay. If you ever stay in a bothy, they tend to be a bit more midge proof and also, if you get a fire going (which may be less necessary in the summer, right enough) they do not like the smoke from it. As has been mentioned though, you are safe from disease from them. You can get ticks though and they can carry Lymes disease. You can Google stuff about that though, before you visit Scotland, if you intend to. I personally know only one person who has had that and I know a lot of outdoorsy people.
@@mufuliramark I'm laughing my ass off on how you downplayed the whole thing !
As a Scotsman I have to agree these are great tips!
I know sometimes tourists have a bad experience because of their expectations.
Another one to add is the infrastructure can get overwhelmed at the busy times and its best to make sure you have things and arrangements sorted out in advance yourself, don't nesceseraly expect the guest house, hotel, to solve it for you again because they can get totally overwhelmed as well, don't just turn up unprepared expecting to wing it, it won't go well
I'm going to Scotland in June and can't wait to see the beautiful landscape of the Highlands. We will be driving for 7 day's so thank you for the tips. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦 👍
Broooo I am as well, leaving in June and driving around for a week. From USA 🇺🇸
Who knows, we just might pass eachother
How was your trip? I'm going this June. Been there many times, but going to some new places this time.
As a Scotsman I can say some great advice here, and lovely words about my country 🏴
Haste ye back 🥃❤️
If you're traveling in the Highlands Make sure you've got your groceries by 5 all the shops shut A hat with brim and a head net over it is good for midge's Midge's can't fly when the wind is over 12 mph I've seen people sit with a stand fan behind them to keep the Midge's at bay also Avon skin so soft is a good Midge repellent it's better than the expensive stuff and it smells nicer You'll find it for sale in most outdoor shops
One other wee point about booking in advance, is if visiting any of the isles that require a ferry trip in high season, book your tickets months in advance At the same time you book your accommodation as you could yourself with accommodation and no means of getting there as the ferry is booked out.
Also a very good tip, thank you so much!
A really good video, and a visitor from over seas who can say 'loch' without a problem; how refreshing.
It is well worth checking out hostels esp. if you are younger or more adventurous. As in the rest of UK, petrol/diesel is normally cheapest at large supermarkets. August is horrendously busy esp. Edinburgh/route 500 and often has less good weather and shorter daylight than June. For walkers, do check for local groups, always take an OS map and compass, be well prepared and tell someone of your route and expected return time. It is not like the English Lake District, with a pub close at hand.
Well that’s a whole Lotta good tips in one comment, Thank you!
Well u wanna see what nature has to offer u need to leave civilisation it's kinda the idea
Nice straightforward video! Thanks for sharing your observations and tips. Very refreshing to get such valuable Scotland tips without loads of just pretty loch flybys. I mean, lochs are great but also good to know I might want to check Newcastle for a rental. 😊
The last tip was handy as I did it when I went there yesterday's..local restaurant where cheaper and restraunts near tourist places were ripoff
I, living currently in Germany, have another point of view regarding the cellphone coverage. I had almost everywhere but in the mountains or near to a loch, a 4G!
I would also add, that they have almost no traffic lights so they have everywhere roundabouts. Those were a bit challenging for us.
Also, also, listen to the locals. We did not ask, for example in Edinburgh, for a place to have the tea time. We got to a nice Café, where I ordered a small cheesecake, it was literally a small-tiny - non existent cake, I swear it was like a cookie size. Tourist mistake!
I guess you have a better cell phone provider than I do ;)
And I totally forgot about all the different roundabouts, but I like roundabouts so that’s good :-)
Any where in the UK is covered by incredibly good quality mapping if you can get UTM mapping that's down to 1 in 10,000 basically every single hedge row is on the map but the whole country is covered by 1 in 50,000 these maps will show every stand of trees every electrical pylon every foot path trigger points the works these maps are available in any good book store if you need more than 1 in 50,000 i.e. UTM your a surveyor or something like that.
Now that’s the kind of map you want me you want to do some serious hiking :-) thank you!
Great information David. Informative and well presented.
Midges form in their 1000, so keep your sleeves covered, purchase a midge net which covers your face! Also beware of clegs, which look like blue bottles, but these blighters take a large bite as to suck your blood! Even the cattle/live stock are frightened of them! Apart from that - Scotland has more too offer that a viaduct!!! Pitlockery is very popular with tourists, but 20 miles west of Pitlockery there is a small village called Rannoch! On your travel there (by road) you can stop at Queens view, which is a view point looking over the Loch! It is a loch, carry on to Rannoch and climb Craig Var, once you are at the top, you will view two Lochs - Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel. You can hire a pod which is situated behind the café, the pod sleeps 4. The café soup of the day is fabulous along with huge scones if you are hungry! Your camera will be well used when taken panoramic pictures! You could even drive on to Rannoch station, read in how the railway was built, then take the steam train over the famous Viaduct! Rannoch has a club which is timeshare holiday lets which look over the Loch, bikes/boat/canoe/wind surf etc! There are two hotels in Rannoch, I would suggest Rannoch hotel which looks over the loch! Loch Rannoch is 27 miles radius if one is wanting to cycle! Rannoch is a great area if one likes a hike, even climb the Schiehallion, it's huge, but the view is breath taken! I know, as we have been going there for well over 35 years! - There are no clegs there, midges only in the evening!
Note on transport that you can take bikes and e-bikes on with you if it isn't really busy, I get trains half price, so I can take my bike anywhere in the country for a reasonable price.
I'm a Canadian going to Glasgow for 8 days next month and these tips are helpful. Thanks for making the video.
How did you apply visa help me
thank you! in a couple weeks im going to Scotland!
Thank you for this excellent video. There were some tips I didn't hear before and it enables more realistic expectation management and preparation.
Great video, I love Scotland, always used “Ordnance Survey Maps” really good details “places of interest, ruins, historical”.
Here's a tip for camping don't use tents ,use hammock basher and fine mesh insect net,it's far lighter ,cuts down on yurr costs on rooms etc ,and standing waters never good-the midgees,concrete,sunshine and running water near yurr camp cuts down on em,
Avoid the Zombies in & around Ibrox if cornered by the unwashed arm yourself with a tin of Lynx Africa & spray in appropriate direction
Are you sure about that...? www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/celtic-write-fans-reminding-wash-6451792
Or the junkies pish stained trackie bottom pikeys at the bugger dome
@@stephen5089 yer teams deid mate
@@keithlordofalbascotland3371 would that be Neely @Ipox?
I very much enjoy the fact that some bothys are older than the United States, but we are seen as quaint.
I am very excited to plan my first visit to magical Scotland. I am from the northeast U.S. and I am looking into a good visit to determine if Scotland will be for me. I am a nature freak and I hike for hours. I am not a fan of cold ocean waters, but all the nature options seem too good to be true. 😃 I am coming Scotland! 🏴
Sounds like it’s just the place for you!
I'm also coming to Scotland to Heriot-Watt University in October. We should connect and meet up. Your interests match mine
@@prashitapatil3185 thank you, but I have a traveling companion. We are trying to coordinate. We're so excited as I you also must be.
I live in Edinburgh. Americans love coming here! You'll have a great time.
I too am coming to Scotland in May. Bringing my elderly mother for her dream trip. Thank you for these tips, much appreciated! I do have to ask for honest answers. I'm Canadian and I was thinking of renting a car but I am really worried about the driving on the opposite side of the road. We are going to Edinburgh for a few days then heading to the highlands as that's where our ancestors were from. Do you think I should try renting a car?
Thanks for information on the free maps. I'm moving to Scotland in a few months. Only thing I can think of that you forgot was midges prefer marshy areas, mostly on the western side of Scotland and only in Summer months. (If Google information was correct)
1yr later...how is it now during the pandemic in Scotland? American here and I'm fantasizing about other counties because this one is so bad :(
@@Pelemorra I caught one month before I left for Scotland. I'm still stuck in US, but dream of when I can go.
Not true . Midges can be a nuisance in most rural areas in Scotland but particularly so in Highlands. Anywhere that has vegetation to hold moisture. They are more numerous and bite more at certain times of the year. Winter is best time to escape them.
Do not underestimate how annoying midges are. I have met lots of people coming to Scotland who initially scoff at the idea of what midges are like. They quickly learn! Especially on still, wet days.
They will make you insane 👍🏻🏴
You need Skin so soft by Avon. It really does work.
@@dianacoles1017 OI saw a study done on it and was no more effective than anything else. It's an urban myth.
@@StimParavane well I worked out of doors on Orkney for 6 weeks at a time over 7 years and it worked for me. Plus you can put it on your face without worrying about getting it in your eyes unlike most insect repellents. And unlike deep etc it doesn't contain ddt or other environmental nasties. So sucks to the study - I'll stick to using it.
Very spot on! I live her few years and exactly do all of em 😆 it’s an amazing country I even dedicated channel to it 😅
thank you ! glad I came across this I am booked for April !
A bothy is a no frills house in the hills ,has a fire 🔥 to burn some wood,the kayak trails in Scotland are good as well toilets and shelters along the coasts and deep in the hills if u know where!!Google knows,if u wanna see Scotland in depth watch weirs way,
In regards to midges it depends on where you go. In the cities not a problem but in the highlands on the west coast you’ll be devoured from May to October. No slap on solution has ever worked for me I so stay inside when they’re most active; dusk and dawn. Midge head nets and covering yourself up works as well. Also if you’re camping/backpacking get yourself up 500ft on a ridge line; the wind up there should take care of them.
Those are some very useful tips, thank you!
build a fire as big as a fire can be and then stay inside the smoke... lol... stops midges
they honsetly swarm to hell and back... emm.... there are things that stop them.. some skin moisturisers they hate the taste of.. "skin so soft" I think it the brand
something in that skin product makes midges and mosqitos etc think you are not edible so they leave.. ahahhaha
it is honestly only an issue on the west.. I do not know why... split scotland in half and the west you will get eaten by midgies... the east ... emm... they kind of exist but never bite............... the same swarms but never.. anything
Really enjoyed this! Non fuss in a very positive way :-)
Very informative video, thank you so much
Great tips. Thank you.
Very helpful stuff! Thanks :]
Excellent information!
There is a difference tho, in norway a pint at a pub is 10 pund ! So for us Norwegians, scotland is hella cheap :)
A good tip is to remember to leave Scotland. I went to Scotland in 2019 and I'm still here ❤️🏴
This is wonderfully helpful! Thank you! :D
As a scott I would have to say you got it spot on, but I didn't know anything about a midge website so will have to check it out next summer and see how accurate it is
"a scott"? What's that? You are a Scot. You come from Scotland, not Scottland...
@@lorddaver5729 auto correct brings out all the grammar and spelling police
@@HootMaRoot Don't use auto correct. Check your text before posting to avoid grammar and spelling police.
Good sensible tips, hope you come back!
I’d love to go back to Scotland! There are talks of starting a ferry line from Groningen to Scotland. That would be very convenient for me, I’ll be over much more :-)
I'm coming to Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh next month. Where will I find the free guides ?
Excellent video and yes all one take is impressive 👍
The phone networks uneed to know which ones operate best ask the locals they have ways usually
Amazing job, thank you very much. This video is the most helpful, informative and practical travel tip video I ever watched. Could dye your hair ginger red to make the video look more persuasive? Kidding
Good comments.
Nicely done, thank you!
Nice one well done and great advice.
Great tips! Thanks from Brazil 🇧🇷
You’re welcome!
That's what I HATE about the USA, the fact you EXPECT a tip even when the service is shite!!
and that it's in lieu of a salary !
There was a song tk but now it's scotland your calling me
"Beautiful roads..."
I'll give you that. But word of warning, our roads evolved organically over thousands of years. That means some of the corners have corners in them. In fact, the only straight bits on the older roads tend to be vertical. My New York uncle drove my aunt from Bannockburn to Inverness on their anniversary and then swore never to drive in Scotland again
When it comes to Scottish money the English a lot of the time don’t accept our money even though it’s legal tender
Gordon Shand I haven’t been to Europe since the early 1980s (American military,) but it sounds like a lot of things have changed...a lot! Back then, most people and businesses in most countries accepted any currency, albeit with a slight nudge of the exchange rate in their favor for that convenience. But it’s very surprising to see that the English won’t always accept currency from another UK country. Does it have much to do with Brexit, the Euro, and all of that mess? I found it to be generally inconvenient to have to exchange currency all the time.
Jame Gumb no the English just don’t like Scottish pounds no reason behind it I don’t think they just don’t like it
I think the problem is that they're not used to seeing Scottish money for the most part.
Unfortunately, not many Scottish notes get into England, so people in local shops are unfamiliar with them, especially as there are two seperate sets off designs from Clydesdale and Royal Bank of Scotland. It is very, very irritating when the notes are questioned, especially when twits ask if you've got any English notes instead. I'm English living in Scotland, and I cringe every time this happens.
Must actually be a limited area of Scotland you encountered? I just got back, yesterday, from two weeks. Coming from the states, I changed my money in Washington DC. From Edinburgh, to Orkney Island, to Donnie and Donnen Castle, NOBODY even commented on the British version of UK pounds. I stayed with local people, bought food at markets, as well as the "Top Five" tourist sites. Scotland lives off of tourism.
Good your warned them about midges
Thank you so much for this upload
Hi David great video and tips. We are driving up from London next week and the harry potter train Jacobite is booked out already. Can you please tell me the Scotrail train route is called which is the local option ? Also whT is the option if we drive Is there a road we can use instead?
Thanks! No road possible, it’s only by train. I don’t think the local train can be booked in advance (maybe nowadays you can, so do check).
Scotrail service to Mallaig is what you’re looking for
I wanna go there thank you so much for this vidio 🙏
You’re welcome!
Great video about the tips
@0:07 "ALTERNATIVES" was misspelled...
Thank for ur info !
I like to come there in Scotland to work but I think tumuch expinsave the placement fee
Thanks.
Thank you!!
Being a true Scotsman such as myself, midgies don`t bother me in fact, i can walk through swarms of them without any worries but, if you`re not a true Scotsman or have some in your history, here`s a wee tip : Never put on any perfume, aftershave or deodorants, not wash your clothes in perfumed powder/liquid as its sure to attract 1000`s of them.
The midge was given to the Scots by God to stop the English from overstaying their welcome so, remember that when you come here.
David do you have dutch roots?
Certainly, I’m Dutch.
Word gets round very quickly when there's an American in town, but don't worry, we all carry on as normal and pretend we don't know. You'll be fine.
Thanks!
Super thank you :))
Great info. Thx
And are you ever going to go back too Scotland?
Somebodys having a giraffe aren't they???
Thank you
Tip no 7 (6:24) : the remote places are *REALLY* remote.
So if I go to one of these places, there's a chance I'll be stuck there... and become a part of Scotland for all eternity... :0
But seriously, the wilderness in Scotland can kill. Be prepared.
Lucky you!
Hi sir, I'm a bit late to the party, but I was wondering if I might be able to get your email so i could fire off a couple of questions about Iran (hopefully I'm going to drive there next year!)
Just put them here or on the Iran video so others can learn of you’re ok with that ☺️
@@DavidBakker Ok cheers mate!
1. Basically I'm in a relatively lucky position whereby I'm a dual french UK national, but I was wondering if this would pose any problems; like if I get in with my french passport will I still need a guide because I'm half english?
2. Are there any areas that are seriously ropey (travel advice says Baluchistan is an absolute no go for instance!)
3. With the driving, I've heard that in some places (Khazakhstan seems particularly notorious) the police will just arbitrarily detain you in order to extract money, does this sort of thing go on in Iran?
4. Any places you particularly recommend someone should go see?
5. Is wild camping ok? So say I fancy just going for a wee trek up a hill of some kind, would I be alright to leave my car somewhere random and pitch a tent just anywhere?
6. Have you ever felt at all unsafe when you've been, and if so where?
7. Any serious prep I should get stuck into before I go?
Thank you so much, apologies for the somewhat lengthy post!
@@bobbeverley5398 1. Don't think it will be a problem at all, they even welcome American guests 2. That something I'm not very familiair with, I only visited one place which felt a little dodgy (clothing market in a part far from Tehran center) 3. I got pulled over by the police whilst driving in Iran, the policeman was very ashamed of his English and that he had to fine me for speeding (I was 20 over the limit). I had to pay $5, or the rental place had to. So that was official police, well within their right, no issues. 4. To me it's about the people in Iran, not the places. As long as you get to spend time with locals.. But Isfahan is very much worth it. 5. Camping.. I don't know! Haven't tried it in Iran. 6. Only in a dodgy part of Tehran which I would never have found without a friend finding the place for me 7. Couple of Persian words are really really helpful and highly appreciated, find pictures of food you like the looks of so you know what you want to try, take pictures from home with you to show them, and if you can, bring your local sweet treat to hand out to friends in Iran (they love sweet treats).
🏴
Scotland speaked a diffrent language and a diffrent name for the country back then..
14? Crumbs, that’s a lot!
i heard that you have to wear a skirt in Scotland, they are manly skirts and you're not supposed to call them skirts. They're called something else.
No, , you don’t have to wear local ones, you can bring your own skirt if you insist.
Sweet water hey?
WE DON'T print The Wong Notes ££.. we Print our own notes...
I want to see a monster!
❤️
You look like Liam Neeson
I'm just going to Scotland to see my boyfriend
Awww man midges are evil the worst times are may to September . You can but repellent out mostly any shop in Scotland but I don’t believe it wokrs😭😭😭😭😭 lol for people that have seen the first lord of the rings movie. One of the i thing it was Merry they was walking threw a swamp like place and said what do they when they can’t have hobbit 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
outrageous expensive
No bad pal.
Then England came and wanted to fight
Don't take any heroin when visiting!
Scotsman here, seconding this. It's not good for you.
I could say you can boost the local economy by buying it here but that would be in bad taste so I won't.😂😂😂
Fuck sakes a car rental price for the local Scottish economy is worth the figure you pay,
what the fuck is a costle?
Hire a car in Newcastle!??? Wtf!!! Tip number 4 Or England!! Beacuse you can't hire a car in Scotland!!!!
Not a ting happens in Scotland trust me bro safe.. don't go der blud!
Midges!!!!
So there are sheds? That you can live in??? U can't take a shit or switch a light on or have a wash! They a r called bothys
Wee lost then turned English all they prob wanted is for us to turn English and let us say our word (get the shi5 outta here and they got the woop out sorry for swearing :c also if wee speaker the same language wee were before wee would get headed or.. be in police you don't wanna be headed.. its a thing Where's there's a kn!fe and it chops your head.
Scrimping and scraping on everything you have to pay for just ruins the holiday.I never do that. What a miserable way to live your life.
Harsh
@@malley4747 Not harsh,Joan as you only get one life .
There's scrimping and there's not throwing money away unnecessarily. For instance, you can buy whisky in the tartan draped tourist shops with a muzak version of Scotland the Brave playing in the foreground or you can buy the selfsame thing in a local supermarket at far less. (Probably cheaper at the distilleries but distillery tours aren't my thing so I don't know). A lot of the tours can be easily, cheaply and much more flexibly done on public transport if you put in a modicum of research.
Where did you get your weird pronunciations. "Newcossle"??? "Glaz gow" to rhyme with cow. C'mon.
He's Dutch so he's doing not bad.
DO NOT visit Weegieland! DIRTY!!
edinburgh detected
This is the worst country you could visit, stay at home a rip off at every turn, especially if you are English
I trust you will be taking your own advice?
Another excellent thing to know is miss the bus stop 🚏
You look like my ex. He was a Scot.