Ah� The land of unicorns, bagpipes, whisky, Hadrian�s Wall, Nessie (the Loch Ness Monster), and not the least, of amazing scenery with storybook-like features wherever your eyes, and mind, take you.
And yes, it�s the birthplace of Harry Potter!
Driving onto Scotland!
Some Tips on Visiting Scotland:
- The best way to get to Scotland is via car, train, bus or plane from England; or through one of its international airports at Edinburgh or Glasgow. I always use public transportation when traveling, but Scotland for me is an exception with a car hire ending up as more practical. Scotland is such a massive country and to get from point to point via bus or train is not as straightforward as it seems.
- Scotland is �still� part of the UK after the first referendum on Scottish independence was voted against by a small margin. However, a second referendum was proposed and we can only wait for the results. For now, as Philippine passport holders, let us just be glad visa-wise that a UK visa can grant us entry to Scotland. For more info, visit VFS Global, now the only authorized UK visa processing facility in the Philippines.
- There is just SO much to see in Scotland. My advice? Savor every moment and don�t try to see everything on the must-see list. To be in Scotland is like to walk in King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, in Robert Louis Stevensons� world, in the Grimm Brothers� tales, and in the Harry Potter series all at once. You can visit one of its hundreds of castles, and watch over the sea as you savor your packed lunch. You don�t have to drive another 20 miles just to have a picnic. And this is the beautiful thing about Scotland� it lets you take out the unnecessary fuss in building the �perfect� itinerary.
- There are several free walking tours offered, mostly in Edinburgh. Highly recommended are Sandeman�s Free Tour and the muggle-friendly The Potter Trail.
- Scotland is known for its nationalistic pride having gone through a long history of battles, sacrifices and discrimination from the invasion of England and the Vikings. The road for its long-sought independence will never be forgotten, so please do not mistake Brits for Scots; or Britain for Scotland. Unless, you�re prepared for a lecture.
- Download Google Maps and make use of its offline access feature. I used to download a different app per country, but this just beats all of them for finding the best routes and restaurants. Plus, I don�t have to be on data all the time.