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If Scotland leaves the UK......

We've taken holidays once or sometimes twice yearly in Scotland ever since getting married in 1979. Neither of us have ever had our own passport and have no intention of getting one even if one day it becomes necessary in order to travel north of the border.

Of more immediate concern is the thought of having to change sterling into whatever currency Scotland decides to use if the country votes to leave the UK and becomes independent. Depending on the exchange rate this could make Scotland either a cheaper or a more expensive travel destination for citizens of what remains of the UK.

We have decided on Plans B and C just in case. The Lake District and Snowdonia. Meanwhile this year might be our penultimate trip up north. :(
Never trust a financial institution.


Still studying at the University of Life.
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Comments

  • Buzby
    Buzby Posts: 8,275 Forumite
    Shame you are prepared to forego mountains for hills and lochs for lakes - but whatever floats your boat.

    Shame you've never seen Ireland or the rest of the world, changing money and a passport are pretty basic requirements millions of people manage to get to grips with, and see places they might never do.

    Still, you wouldn't want to bruise your sensitivities as all these Scot's will be changing their money and waving their passports as they view these hills and lakes.....
  • Buzby wrote: »
    Shame you are prepared to forego mountains for hills and lochs for lakes - but whatever floats your boat.

    Shame you've never seen Ireland or the rest of the world, changing money and a passport are pretty basic requirements millions of people manage to get to grips with, and see places they might never do.

    Still, you wouldn't want to bruise your sensitivities as all these Scot's will be changing their money and waving their passports as they view these hills and lakes.....
    You assume too much. I went abroad a few times when younger on parents' passports like you could back then. My choice not to since as I have always found enough places to discover in the UK.

    As for Scotland, I would move to the Highlands tomorrow but family are all down here and wife won't move. Ironic since she has Scottish parents who moved down here for work before she was born in the late 1950s, and I'd never been north of Carlisle before I met her.

    As for Scottish independence, I think that if I had been born up there of Scottish parents then I would probably be voting YES but as it is I have no say in the matter. I only hope they vote NO because I love the country and the people and want to carry on being able to travel there freely.
    Never trust a financial institution.


    Still studying at the University of Life.
  • Buzby
    Buzby Posts: 8,275 Forumite
    Just joshing - however, it's all about representation. Yes, I would like a Yes vote to be the outcome, but I certainly feel those in other areas of the UK could benefit from being autonomous themselves - I have the utmost respect for those who are in a similar situation but have no opportunity to alter the status quo. I've even been to Liverpool on holiday and was one of the best I had in England.

    There will be winners and losers, of course but I can assure you I'll still welcome everyone from down south as before - and even tame their Sterling!

    Funny nobody's mentioned that BT's (declining) street Payphone network will accept Euros and have done since 2008.
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Broadwood wrote: »
    Of more immediate concern is the thought of having to change sterling into whatever currency Scotland decides to use if the country votes to leave the UK and becomes independent. Depending on the exchange rate this could make Scotland either a cheaper or a more expensive travel destination for citizens of what remains of the UK

    Welcome to my world. Every time I travel south of the border, I have to make sure I stock up on your local currency (i.e. English banknotes).

    Evidently you've never seen the bewilderment that greets me and other Scots if we should present a Scottish banknote for any transaction south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, whereas us Scots will happily recognise whatever banknote you present to us....
  • Macca83_2
    Macca83_2 Posts: 1,215 Forumite
    googler wrote: »
    Welcome to my world. Every time I travel south of the border, I have to make sure I stock up on your local currency (i.e. English banknotes).

    Evidently you've never seen the bewilderment that greets me and other Scots if we should present a Scottish banknote for any transaction south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, whereas us Scots will happily recognise whatever banknote you present to us....

    Pet peeve of mine.

    And I'm finding as I'm getting older I've got less patience for it.
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 33,468 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 18 February 2014 at 9:33PM
    Only time I have had problems using Scottish notes is when souf of Watford..
  • Buzby
    Buzby Posts: 8,275 Forumite
    Macca83 wrote: »
    Pet peeve of mine.

    And I'm finding as I'm getting older I've got less patience for it.

    I feel sorry for those from NI - Scottish notes are sometimes tolerated, but those from NI really gave it bad - 'We don't take 'Irish' money' no interest in that if states Sterling on the note, and the Republic uses Euros!

    The Southern Irish take Sterling with a smile, the NI's will take Euro's with a friendly comment. Try that with a Scottish fiver in London - and Norfolk? They'll call the police.

    We have our own legal system, health, education, police etc - so if it is seen as a wedge, it's already there. It's simply an evolution, not a revolution. We can still be pals, and unite against the stupidity of the French / Belgians / Poles / Cypriots / Romanians - take your pick!
  • hcb42
    hcb42 Posts: 5,962 Forumite
    lived in Scotland for 13 years, approximately half my adult life, travelled extensively around UK regularly on work and leisure during that time, never had this pound thing. If it is rare shops are being sensible by taking a longer glance than normal, or it might be curiosity, but i hardly think the majority of retail outlets in England call the police.
  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,233 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Chutzpah Haggler
    You might not need a passport - you don't need one for Ireland. I doubt either govt will want to be setting up border posts from Gretna to Berwick.

    Nobody with any sense changes currency these days - just withdraw from a cashpoint.
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    hcb42 wrote: »
    lived in Scotland for 13 years, approximately half my adult life, travelled extensively around UK regularly on work and leisure during that time, never had this pound thing. If it is rare shops are being sensible by taking a longer glance than normal, or it might be curiosity, but i hardly think the majority of retail outlets in England call the police.

    No-one has called police when I've presented Scottish notes, but after a while, the looks of doubt, mistrust, bewilderment, and dismay from serving staff, along with the attendant delay, perhaps with a large queue behind me, whilst the junior functionary consults someone senior, with a query such as "Is this OK?" or "Can we take this?", all conspire to make the use of Scottish notes in English retail establishments such an unpleasant experience that the use of 'English money' is essential.
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