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 Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:44 am Post subject: GETTING AROUND IN UK (SCOTLAND) |
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GETTING AROUND IN UK (SCOTLAND)
RAIL
The cost of rail travel in Scotland is often quite low, and trains are generally punctual. Timetables are available at all stations, with free timetables covering only certain regions available at various stations. For £18, a young person's rail card (ages 16-25) is sold at major stations. Two passport-size photos are needed. It's estimated this card reduces all fares by one-third for 1 year.
If you plan much travel on European railroads, get the latest copy of the Thomas Cook European Timetable of Railroads. This 500-plus-page book documents all of Europe's main passenger-rail services with detail and accuracy. It's available on the Web at www.thomascooktimetables.com.
The Royal Scotsman (tel. 800/922-8625; www.royalscotsman.com) is one of the most luxurious trains in the world -- called "a country house hotel on wheels." The train passes by ancient mountains and mysterious lochs, through glens and across villages as you live in sumptuous surroundings. It's like being the guest at a private party. The train carries a maximum of 36 guests, each passenger enjoying plenty of space. Plush beds and opulent bathrooms are the order of the day. The classic tour calls for 4 nights aboard, and goes from the panoramic Southern Highlands to the more rugged grandeur of the Western Highlands. Superb cuisine and a long list of fine wines and choice malt whiskies are more reasons to hop aboard.
For information on rail travel in Scotland, contact ScotRail, Caledonian Chambers, 87 Union St., Glasgow G1 3TA, Scotland (tel. 0845/755-0033).
BritRail Travel Passes
BritRail Passes allow unlimited travel on any British Rail-scheduled train throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. BritRail England Consecutive Pass, which is good anywhere in the United Kingdom, allows you to travel for a consecutive number of days for a flat rate. In first class adults pay £131 for 4 days, £192 for 8 days, £287 for 15 days, £363 for 22 days, and £429 for 1 month. In second class, fares are £89 for 4 days, £126 for 8 days, £192 for 15 days, £242 for 22 days, and £284 for 1 month. Seniors (60 and over) qualify for discounts in first-class travel and pay £141 for 4 days, £204 for 8 days, £304 for 15 days, £385 for 22 days, and £456 for 1 month of first-class travel. Passengers under 26 quality for a Youth Pass: £75 for 4 days, £108 for 8 days, £162 for 15 days, £204 for 22 days, and £242 for 1 month. One child (5-15) can travel free with each adult or senior pass by requesting the BritRail Family Pass when buying the adult pass. Additional children pay half the regular adult fare.
A more versatile pass is the BritRail FlexiPass, which allows you to travel whenever you want, within a 2-month period of time. In first class, it costs £208 for 4 days, £305 for 8 days, and £457 for 15 days of travel. Second class costs £139 for 4 days, £203 for 8 days, and £308 for 15 days of travel.
To call BritRail in the United States, dial tel. 877/677-1066. On the Web, BritRail Passes and vacation packages are presented at www.britrail.net and www.BritainSecrets.com.
Travelpasses For Scotland -- If you plan to travel primarily in Scotland, the Scottish Tourist Authorities offer the Scottish Freedom Pass, with unlimited transportation on trains and most ferries throughout Scotland and discounts for bus travel. It includes access to obscure bus routes to almost forgotten hamlets, free rides on ferries operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, and discounted fares with P&O Scottish Lines. The ferries connect to the Western Islands, the islands of the Clyde, and the Orkneys.
The Freedom Pass covers the entire Scottish rail network and is usable from Carlisle, England (near the western Scotland-England border), and from Berwick-upon-Tweed, England (near the eastern Scotland-England border). In addition, if you have to fly into London and want to go straight to Scotland from there, a reduced rate is available for a round-trip ticket between London and Edinburgh or Glasgow for Travelpass holders.
The Freedom Pass is available for 4 days' travel over an 8-day period for £113 and 8 days' travel over a 15-day period for £147. For more information, contact BritRail .
Eurailpass Warning -- Note that your Eurailpass is not valid on trains in Great Britain.
AIR
The British Airways Europe Airpass allows travel in a continuous loop to between 3 and 12 cities on BA's European and domestic routes. Passengers must end their journey at the same point they began. If you book such a ticket (say, London to Manchester to Glasgow to Aberdeen to the Shetland Islands, with an eventual return to London), each segment of the itinerary costs about 40% to 50% less than if you'd booked it individually. The pass is available for travel to about a dozen of the most visited cities and regions of Britain, with discounted add-ons available to most of BA's destinations in Europe. It must be booked and paid for at least 7 days before departure from the States, and all sectors of the itinerary must be booked simultaneously. Some changes are permitted in flight dates (but not in the cities visited) after the ticket is issued. Check with BA (tel. 800/247-9297; www.britishairways.com) for full details.
Scotland's relatively small scale makes flights between many cities inconvenient and impractical. Although British Airways offers regular flights between Glasgow and Edinburgh, the excellent rail and highway connections usually deter most passengers from flying that route -- unless their plane just happens to stop en route to other, more distant, points in Scotland. Frankly, except for visits to the far-distant Shetlands and Orkneys, we prefer to drive to all but the most inaccessible points. However, British Airways is by far the largest intra-Britain carrier since its merger with regional carriers Logan Airways and British Express. From Edinburgh, you can fly British Airways to Inverness, Wick, Kirkwall (the Orkneys), and Lerwick (the Shetlands).
BUS
No doubt about it, the cheapest means of transport from London to Scotland is the bus (coach). It's also the least expensive way to travel within Scotland.
All major towns have a local bus service, and every tourist office can provide details about half- or full-day bus excursions to scenic highlights. If you want to explore a particular area, you can often avail yourself of an economical bus pass. If you're planning to travel extensively in Scotland, consider the Freedom of Scotland Travelpass.
Many adventurous travelers like to explore the country on one of the postal buses, which carry not only mail but also a limited number of passengers to rural areas. Ask at any local post office for details. A general timetable is available at the head post office in Edinburgh.
Scottish Citylink Coaches are a good bet. They link the major cities (Glasgow and Edinburgh) with the two most popular tourist centres, Inverness and Aviemore. Travel is fast and prices are low. For example, it takes only 3 hours to reach Aviemore from Edinburgh, and Inverness is just 3 1/2 hours from Edinburgh. A direct Scottish Citylink overnight coach makes the run from London to Aviemore and Inverness at reasonable fares.
Coaches offer many other popular runs, including links between Glasgow and Fort William, Inverness and Ullapool, and Glasgow and Oban. For details, contact Rapsons, Farraline Park, Inverness (tel. 01463/710-555; www.rapsons.co.uk), or Scottish Citylink, Buchanan Street Bus Station, Glasgow (tel. 08705/505-050; www.citylink.co.uk).
CAR
Scotland has many excellent roads, often "dual carriageways" (divided highways), as well as fast trunk roads, linking the Lowlands to the Highlands. In more remote areas, especially the islands of western Scotland, single-lane roads exist. Here caution while driving is important.
Passing places are provided. However, many of the roads are unfenced, and livestock can be a serious hazard when you're driving, either day or night. Drive slowly when you're passing through areas filled with sheep.
Car Rentals
It's best to shop around, compare prices, and have a clear idea of your needs before you reserve a car. All companies give the best rates to those who reserve at least 2 business days in advance and who agree to return the car to its point of origin, and some require drivers be at least 23 years old (in some cases 21). It's also an advantage to keep the car for at least a week, as opposed to 3 or 4 days. Be warned that all car rentals in the United Kingdom are slapped with a whopping 17.5% government tax known as VAT.
To rent a car in Scotland, you must present your passport and driver's license along with your deposit. No special British or international license is needed.
Rentals are available through Avis (www.avis.com), British Airways (www.british-airways.com), Budget (www.budget.com), and Hertz (www.hertz.com). Kemwel Holiday Auto (www.kemwel.com) is among the cheapest and most reliable of the rental agencies. AutoEurope (www.autoeurope.com) acts as a wholesale company for rental agencies in Europe.
Car-rental rates vary even more than airline fares. The price you pay depends on the size of the car, where and when you pick it up and drop it off, length of the rental period, where and how far you drive it, whether you purchase insurance, and a host of other factors.
FERRY
You can use a variety of special excursion ferries to reach Scotland's islands. For the Clyde and Western Isles, contact Caledonian MacBrayne (tel. 01475/650-100; www.calmac.co.uk); for the Orkneys and Shetlands, NorthLink Orkney & Shetland Ferries, Ferry Terminal, Stromness, Orkney (tel. 0845/600-0449; www.northlinkferries.co.uk). Caledonian MacBrayne, operating 30 ferries, sails to 23 Hebridean and all Clyde Islands. The fares, times of departure, and even accommodations suggestions are in a special book, Ferry Guide to 23 Scottish Islands. There are reasonably priced fares for vehicles and passengers through a "Go As You Please" plan, a kind of island hopscotch program offering a choice of 24 preplanned routes at a discount off the cost of individual tickets. Tickets are valid for 1 month and can be used in either direction for one trip on each leg of the tour. Cyclists can take their bikes aboard free on some routes. |
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