Money Saving tips and general advice for a Road Trip to Scotland

THEV1LL4N

Hi,

I live in England and am considering a road trip around Scotland in the fourth week of September.

1. Is there anything I need to do or prepare in advance when crossing the border into Scotland?
2. Are there any schemes to help subsidise the cost (as an incentive) to visit Scotland instead of going on holiday overseas?
3. Are there any tips for saving money such as a pass that offers (discounted) entry into attractions around the country?
4. Are there any places that offer NHS discount such as entry to places or tours?
5. I am looking for a cottage or a cosy home stay in maybe 2-3 locations (1 x night in each location).  What would be a good shout?  Cottages.com, AirBNB, Hotels.com?
6. Car Rentals: has anyone used either Enterprise CarClub or Enterprise Rent-A-Car?  Which would be most suitable for high mileage trips?

I would really appreciate some helpful tips and advice.
Thank you.

pogofish

Nothing needed to cross the border - to impose restrictions could be taken as a breach of the Act of Union, which would be unwise in the current political climate.

September is a great time to visit Scotland as peak season is past, the quality of light is often better, esp at the beginning/end of the day, although the weather itself can be a bit more changeable and in the north and west, the colours of the landscape are changing as the place heads into autumn. However, the further north and west you go, the season is shorter and many places, esp on the fringes are getting ready to shut for the winter at the end of the month- although further south, it will go-on to the end of October and the major places will of course run all year.

Thie dreaded biting midge that plagues much of the west in high summer is also much, much less of a problem when you get in to September - although there still may be some localised hotspots in sheltered places near water, so a decent repellent is still advisable but don’t get suckered by the “Skin so Soft” myth. It’s useless and even the cash-in version with added DEET is below-average.

There is a Historic Scotland “Explorer” pass that can save you quite a bit - it comes in national/regional versions at various price points. The National Trust for Scotland also operates something similar but its details have changed from last year, plus something called a ‘Scottish Heritage Pass’ which combines properties from both bodies but may have restrictions on validity/sites. Can’t say about NHS discounts.

Also, pre-booking is near essential at some major sites due to pressure of numbers at peak times. Similarly, places like Skye and Glencoe are getting so busy that booking well ahead is essential if you want any choice - there is also a “Skyerooms” Facebook page where B&B owners list last minute/cancellations etc if you have left it too late. Don’t try to “do” Skye in a day - it needs at least three to do it justice.

Away from the hotspots, Airbnb is IME the most popular site by far for listings amongst Scotland’s B&B/smaller/less formal accommodation providers. Be aware there are a number of rip-off sites offering seemingly good rates on (particularly) Edinburgh/Glasgow hotels that will invariably find a “problem” with your booking and try to stick you in a dump in the sticks instead - stay with the majors or book direct with the hotel here.

All the car hire majors are well enough represented in Scotland but you should also consider Arnold Clark - a major Scottish car dealership. Whilst there may be issues with them as dealers, their rental side is well respected and they have branches all over the place, so collection/return/support is excellent - they also trade via a US site called Celtic Legend, sometimes with better rates. Avoid Greenmotion like the plague as they are well known for ripping customers-off. Similarly, aggregator sites should be avoided as they always seem to land you with Greenmotion and their ilk.

You do not need an SUV or similar for anywhere a visitor can legally drive in Scotland. Choose the smallest type/size of car that meets your needs adequately.

A car in central Edinburgh or Glasgow is an expensive liability and parking is difficult (esp Edinburgh). If you don’t have somewhere that offers free parking - and especially in Edinburgh, do not trust anywhere that says “on-street parking nearby”, think on only collecting a car when leaving the city and/or dropping it off when you arrive - public transport is cheap and comprehensive in both cities.  The Airports for both cities are the best places to hire/return from as they are both outside the worst urban traffic areas and well placed for the main roads to other parts of the country. Plus the hirers tend to open longer hours.

If you are heading for the west/remote areas, do bone-up on the etiquette for driving single track roads and apply it. Your consideration will be appreciated!

I should also add that the shortened season due to COVID this year means that many places have not hired their usual complement of seasonal workers and are relying on smaller numbers of year-round staff instead - which has resulted in more limited choices/hours for services offered/places to eat etc but many towns/areas are working to complement each other rather than in competition- so you should still be able to find somewhere open wherever you go.

mollycat

Hello there
1. Despite the unchallenged propaganda put out by the SNP, there is no "border" as such.....just a sign on the road welcoming you and a burger van. It is entirely possible you will cross the "border" without realising it.
2. No. Scotland is simply a part of the UK, no such incentive would be welcomed by tourist areas elsewhere in the UK, (nor sanctioned by the UK government, I would imagine).
3&4. "Attractions", "tours". Not sure what you mean?  If you have specific ideas where you intend to visit, advice can follow. As @pogofish suggests a lot of places may be shut. As per the rest of the UK many museums are free.
5&6. As per @pogofish's excellent advice.

Depending on where you live in England, (I'm guessing Birmingham? ), you will be pretty surprised at the "unpredictability" of the weather. The word I use for our weather is atrocious; by far and away the worst part of living in scotland even ahead of the toxic politics and the sectarianism. Bring plenty clothes for any type of weather. 

Driving. Many roads "off the beaten track" are single track with passing places for if/when you meet another vehicle.

TBH your OP makes it sound as if you expect Scotland to be a completely different place than where you live; it's not, you will find pretty much everything the same, (apart from the accents)

To finish with a personal opinion, (which I'm obviously entitled to hold, but which will no doubt attract dissent). I've lived in Scotland for 57 years.....I would holiday pretty much anywhere on the planet, (war zones exempt) than here....I just don't see the appeal.
As a first time visitor of course you may well be completely knocked out by the scenery and the presence of mountains etc, etc, so on that basis I wish you well and hope you enjoy your holiday.....just don't expect too much.

comeandgo

Whatever you book make sure there are no problems with cancellations, as has been shown in both England and Scotland, if covid cases increase an area will be put into lockdown with very little warning.

203846930

Are you coming to Scotland or just going to Edinburgh?

Don't believe all you hear about the weather.

You would be as well looking at Travel lodge or Premier inn rather than renting a cottage if you are only staying one night at each location.

Check out MSE for NHS discounts, they are all listed on the main board someplace but they are running down as places can't afford to do it any more.

pogofish

I’ll agree about using one of the chains in Edinburgh - sadly, I’ve been diddled by far too many Edinburgh hotels over the years but Premier Inn or Travelodge have never let me down.

The last couple of years, I’ve been using the PI at Edinburgh Park, which is easy access from the main roads into the city, free parking - which they will extend for free on request, often much cheaper than the central hotels and is supremely well connected to the city transport network - served by bus/night bus/train and tram, right by the hotel. Day tickets work-out very cheap and especially so for the family day ticket.

Ok, there is damm-all else in the vicinity but if you just need somewhere to lay your head whilst spending the most of your time in the centre, it suits perfectly.

One warning though, the St Mary’s Travelodge can be hen/stag-night hell around weekends. The only reason I stuck it for three nights there was because I’d got the room for eight quid a night in one of their sales!

THEV1LL4N

pogofish said:

Nothing needed to cross the border - to impose restrictions could be taken as a breach of the Act of Union, which would be unwise in the current political climate.

September is a great time to visit Scotland as peak season is past, the quality of light is often better, esp at the beginning/end of the day, although the weather itself can be a bit more changeable and in the north and west, the colours of the landscape are changing as the place heads into autumn. However, the further north and west you go, the season is shorter and many places, esp on the fringes are getting ready to shut for the winter at the end of the month- although further south, it will go-on to the end of October and the major places will of course run all year.

Thie dreaded biting midge that plagues much of the west in high summer is also much, much less of a problem when you get in to September - although there still may be some localised hotspots in sheltered places near water, so a decent repellent is still advisable but don’t get suckered by the “Skin so Soft” myth. It’s useless and even the cash-in version with added DEET is below-average.

There is a Historic Scotland “Explorer” pass that can save you quite a bit - it comes in national/regional versions at various price points. The National Trust for Scotland also operates something similar but its details have changed from last year, plus something called a ‘Scottish Heritage Pass’ which combines properties from both bodies but may have restrictions on validity/sites. Can’t say about NHS discounts.

Also, pre-booking is near essential at some major sites due to pressure of numbers at peak times. Similarly, places like Skye and Glencoe are getting so busy that booking well ahead is essential if you want any choice - there is also a “Skyerooms” Facebook page where B&B owners list last minute/cancellations etc if you have left it too late. Don’t try to “do” Skye in a day - it needs at least three to do it justice.

Away from the hotspots, Airbnb is IME the most popular site by far for listings amongst Scotland’s B&B/smaller/less formal accommodation providers. Be aware there are a number of rip-off sites offering seemingly good rates on (particularly) Edinburgh/Glasgow hotels that will invariably find a “problem” with your booking and try to stick you in a dump in the sticks instead - stay with the majors or book direct with the hotel here.

All the car hire majors are well enough represented in Scotland but you should also consider Arnold Clark - a major Scottish car dealership. Whilst there may be issues with them as dealers, their rental side is well respected and they have branches all over the place, so collection/return/support is excellent - they also trade via a US site called Celtic Legend, sometimes with better rates. Avoid Greenmotion like the plague as they are well known for ripping customers-off. Similarly, aggregator sites should be avoided as they always seem to land you with Greenmotion and their ilk.

You do not need an SUV or similar for anywhere a visitor can legally drive in Scotland. Choose the smallest type/size of car that meets your needs adequately.

A car in central Edinburgh or Glasgow is an expensive liability and parking is difficult (esp Edinburgh). If you don’t have somewhere that offers free parking - and especially in Edinburgh, do not trust anywhere that says “on-street parking nearby”, think on only collecting a car when leaving the city and/or dropping it off when you arrive - public transport is cheap and comprehensive in both cities.  The Airports for both cities are the best places to hire/return from as they are both outside the worst urban traffic areas and well placed for the main roads to other parts of the country. Plus the hirers tend to open longer hours.

If you are heading for the west/remote areas, do bone-up on the etiquette for driving single track roads and apply it. Your consideration will be appreciated!

I should also add that the shortened season due to COVID this year means that many places have not hired their usual complement of seasonal workers and are relying on smaller numbers of year-round staff instead - which has resulted in more limited choices/hours for services offered/places to eat etc but many towns/areas are working to complement each other rather than in competition- so you should still be able to find somewhere open wherever you go.

Firstly, sorry about the late response and thank you for sharing your insight - this was very helpful indeed.

I was planning on hiring a car from Birmingham and driving up to Scotland, to drive all around Scotland and then return back to Birmingham.  The plan has changed slightly.  I have secured a couple of flight tickets to Aberdeen and back and will pick up a car rental when we touch down in Aberdeen.  This way, it will save us time and petrol and it means we can take things slower and have time to enjoy the road trip instead of feeling rushed off our feet trying to cram everything in or feeling exhausted just driving to Scotland and back.

I think I will take a couple of sites from southern Scotland out of the itinerary as logistically it doesn't make sense now.  I can always go there at some point in the future where the Historic Explorer pass might come in handy (maybe get a cheap flight to Glasgow and Belfast and do some Game of Thrones castle tours when Doune Castle is open again).  I have confirmation form Historic Explorer that they do not offer NHS discount.

I shouldn't be staying anywhere around Edinburgh or Glasgow so hoping that shouldn't be a problem - thank you for the heads up on that one though.

THEV1LL4N

mollycat said:

Hello there
1. Despite the unchallenged propaganda put out by the SNP, there is no "border" as such.....just a sign on the road welcoming you and a burger van. It is entirely possible you will cross the "border" without realising it.
2. No. Scotland is simply a part of the UK, no such incentive would be welcomed by tourist areas elsewhere in the UK, (nor sanctioned by the UK government, I would imagine).
3&4. "Attractions", "tours". Not sure what you mean?  If you have specific ideas where you intend to visit, advice can follow. As @pogofish suggests a lot of places may be shut. As per the rest of the UK many museums are free.
5&6. As per @pogofish's excellent advice.

Depending on where you live in England, (I'm guessing Birmingham? ), you will be pretty surprised at the "unpredictability" of the weather. The word I use for our weather is atrocious; by far and away the worst part of living in scotland even ahead of the toxic politics and the sectarianism. Bring plenty clothes for any type of weather. 

Driving. Many roads "off the beaten track" are single track with passing places for if/when you meet another vehicle.

TBH your OP makes it sound as if you expect Scotland to be a completely different place than where you live; it's not, you will find pretty much everything the same, (apart from the accents)

To finish with a personal opinion, (which I'm obviously entitled to hold, but which will no doubt attract dissent). I've lived in Scotland for 57 years.....I would holiday pretty much anywhere on the planet, (war zones exempt) than here....I just don't see the appeal.
As a first time visitor of course you may well be completely knocked out by the scenery and the presence of mountains etc, etc, so on that basis I wish you well and hope you enjoy your holiday.....just don't expect too much.

3 & 4 were in relation to points of interest and guided tours around places such as gardens, castles and national parks.  I just hope that places are open especially as there is a lot of driving involved.  I will keep an eye on any changes.  And if something does happen to be closed, I hope I can still explore the area.

Will I need to pay entrance fees to enter a national park?

Just for your reference, this is what the trip is looking like so far (right-click and open image in new tab to enlarge it):

THEV1LL4N

I wonder what it is that gives away whereabouts I am from haha. Really pleased that we've got McGinn.
Yes, I will most certainly read up on the driving etiquette for those sorts of roads.  I know there's a good video or two over on YouTube so will watch that as I like consuming visual content to learn stuff.
Thanks for your post  Mollycat.

MovingForwards

@THEV1LL4N you said you are flying into Aberdeen? There's a local lockdown up there at the moment.

203846930

National parks are free
Castles and some gardens charge entry if they are 'alive' but falling down castles are free, all are free to look at from the outside.
Driving from Thurso to Lochinver takes a long time and as a driver you will see nothing bar the road, it is not an easy drive to do even if you drive slowly, even the drive from Doune to John O' Groats is not easy and that is on better roads.
In fact looking at the points of interest that you have picked out to visit, I would say even that as someone who has been to all of those places, it would take at least 3 weeks to do that tour justice and 4 weeks as someone that has never driven on single track roads.
You should either do the north and west coastal tour and leave out the south, and central part or vica versa.
You have picked out some really good places to visit but the route between them is a nightmare.

At least the airport at Aberdeen is outside the city so you should be safe from the local lockdown.