| flag | |
 | |
| Short dates | |
| Capital | Edinburgh |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Parliamentary democracy |
| currency | Pound sterling (£) |
| surface | In total: 78,782 km² Of which waters: 1,9 % |
| population | 5.254.800 |
| languages | English, Scottish Gaelic, Scots |
| Religions | Church of Scotland 42%, Roman Catholic 16%, other Christian faiths 7%, Islamic 0.8% |
| Phone code | 44 |
| Internet TLD | .uk, .scot |
| Time zone | WET (UTC; UTC 1 in summer) |
Scotland is one of the four parts of the country United Kingdom. It is known, among other things, for the world-famous single malt whiskeys, the legendary monster of Loch Ness, the kilt and the fascinating landscape of the Highlands. But Scotland is too Glasgow and Edinburgh. Both cities are full of contrasts and charm and surprise the visitor with the fact that they do not correspond to their cliché.
Regions
The part of Scotland that is located on the main island is largely divided into four areas:
- Southern Uplands
The mountainous region in the south, consisting of the Borders, the region north of the English border, studded with abandoned churches and historic battlefields, and South West Scotland, home of the national poet Robert (Robbie) Burns, who lived to the west by the Solway Coast (Scottish Riviera) is limited.
- Central Belt (Scotland) The most populated area around and between cities Edinburgh and Glasgow. Together with the Southern Uplands, the central belt is also known as the Lowlands to distinguish it from the Highlands.
- Scottish Highlands
The spectacular, mountainous northwest of Loch Lomond to John o'Groats, the largest part of the country, but the least populated.
- North East Scotland is specially guided here, as the small but significant region is neither part of the Highlands nor part of the Central Belt: This is the center of two of the most important Scottish industries: oil and whiskey. In the heart lie the Grampian Mountains, on the coast the third largest city in Scotland, Aberdeen.
The archipelagos in the north-west and north-east of the British Isles are also considered part of Scotland:
- 1 Hebrides The many islands off the northwest coast.
- 2 Orkney Islands
Immediately to the north, still within sight of the mainland.
- 3 Shetland Islands Located north of the Orkney Islands, the archipelago forms the northernmost part of the United Kingdom.
Cities
.jpg/250px-Edinburgh_Castle_2_(7021940805).jpg)
1 Edinburgh
(480,000 inhabitants / metropolitan area 750,000 inhabitants), the capital of Scotland since the end of the Middle Ages and today the seat of the regional parliament, is today also an important financial center with the headquarters of some banks and insurance companies. With the castle, the old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the new town (not quite young at the age of 250), numerous museums and the world-famous festival, Edinburgh is a top-class visitor magnet.
2 Glasgow (600,000 inhabitants / metropolitan area 2.8 million, that's every second Scotsman), industrial and port city on the Clyde, wrongly underestimated by visitors. The self-confident and once rich metropolis, European Capital of Culture in 1990, not only offers a lively music scene, but also numerous museums and magnificent architecture.
3 Aberdeen (220,000 inhabitants) is an old fishing and trading center with roots in the deep Middle Ages, but young in appearance. With the oil industry as its economic base, Aberdeen has become one of Britain's richest cities in the last few decades. The building material, a light granite, which was frequently used in the 19th century, gives the city its own flair, which is far removed from the sooty facades of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The city now has a lively flair with two universities.
4 Dundee (150,000 inhabitants), industrial city on the Firth of Tay, which has its best days behind it or, compared to the aforementioned cities, never had it.
5 Inverness (65,000 inhabitants), transport hub and political and economic center of the Highlands, which almost every Highland visitor heads for and afterwards wonders why.
6 Perth (50,000 inhabitants), centrally located city with some historical significance; Perth was once the capital of Scotland in the Middle Ages. Self-proclaimed gateway to the Highlands due to its location.
7 Stirling (50,000 inhabitants) is with its castle a historic center and another former capital of Scotland and self-proclaimed gateway to the Highlands.
Dec2005.jpg/350px-Stirling(DonaldMacDonald)Dec2005.jpg)
8 St Andrews (17,000 inhabitants), with a venerable university and the even more venerable center of golf, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club.
Other goals
- Scotland has several nature parks, the one being the Cairngorms, with its impressive mountains, and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs the most well-known are.
- 1 Cairngorms
- 2 Loch Lomond
- 3 Trossachs
- 4 Loch Ness.the lake at the foot of Urquhart Castle and home to Nessie, on whose footsteps one follows in Drumnadrochit can go.
- 4 Skye. The Isle of Skye is considered by many to be the most beautiful part of Scotland. At the same time rough and wild, it is well developed for tourism.
- In Scotland a total of 12 National Tourist Routes designated to lure the car traveler to get to know the country away from the main roads; an example is that North & West Highlands Route.
background
You can truly experience history in Scotland, as much has been preserved over the centuries through historical buildings. Many a battlefield is also unchanged because a plow never went over it. In the history of this country one can find many battles in which the Scots fought for their freedom and independence from the English. Scotland's national identity therefore often lies in simply being as little English as possible. However, one should view this "hatred" with a bit of humor and not take everything seriously that one hears a Scot say about the English.
You can easily travel through the country without prior planning, as there is a sight almost everywhere, breathtaking nature can be admired and a piece of history is hidden behind every stone. To relate the full history of Scotland here would be a huge undertaking, given that there are entire books about it. The best way to explore history is to travel around and visit the many historical sites.
Scotland has two flags. The national flag, a white diagonal cross (St. Andrew's cross) on a blue background, is one of the oldest flags in the world. It is incorporated into the "Union Jack", the flag of Great Britain. The second flag, which is often seen in Scotland, features a red lion on a yellow background, also known as the "Lion Rampant". The flag is the royal banner and, strictly speaking, may only be used by a nobleman.
getting there
The entry requirements correspond to those of United Kingdom.
By plane
Scotland has five international airports that are served from continental Europe: Aberdeen airport(IATA: ABZ), Edinburgh Airport(IATA: EDI), Glasgow Airport(IATA: GLA), Glasgow Prestwick Airport(IATA: PIK) and Inverness Airport(IATA: INV). The choice increases when you change connections, especially via the London Includes Gatwick or Heathrow Airports.
The largest airport in terms of number of passengers is Edinburgh, about 10 kilometers west of the city center, with connections (among others) to and from Amsterdam (KLM, EasyJet), Berlin (EasyJet, Ryanair), Düsseldorf (Eurowings), Frankfurt am Main (Lufthansa), Geneva (Easyjet, Jet2.com, winter season only), Hamburg (Ryanair), Karlsruhe / Baden-Baden (summer only), Cologne-Bonn (Eurowings), Munich (Lufthansa), Salzburg (Jet2.com), Weeze (Ryanair, summer only) and Zurich (Edelweiss).
Glasgow has two airports: Glasgow International Airport, which is close to the city, is Scotland's second largest airport and has connections to, among others, Amsterdam (EasyJet, KLM), Berlin (EasyJet), Frankfurt (Lufthansa).
The attempt to develop the Glasgow-Prestwick Airport into an international hub for Scotland and to relieve the Edinburgh and Glasgow airports close to the city failed despite good train connections due to a lack of acceptance by passengers and airlines. Prestwick is now only served by Ryanair and, like any airport that only relies on this airline, has an uncertain future.
Aberdeen and Inverness have connections to Amsterdam (KLM), among others.
It may be worth flying to London first and then on to Scotland from there. Air travel within the UK is extremely cheap. EasyJet, Ryanair, bmi and British Airways all offer cheap flights from London (or other English cities) to Scotland. Regional airports (Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness) or airports on the islands are also served.
By train
The rail connection from Great Britain to continental Europe takes place with the Eurostar train (caution: boarding and security controls as with the plane) to London-St. Pancras International. From there you change to Kings Cross (trains along the east coast to Edinburgh and beyond) or Euston (trains along the west coast to Glasgow or Edinburgh and beyond). This is a short walk of a few hundred meters in each case. Night trains run every day except Saturdays under the name "Caledonian Sleeper"between London Euston and a number of Scottish cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Fort William and Aberdeen.
Due to the fast lines with the Eurostar and the TGV routes through France, the travel times by train, depending on the start and destination, are comparable to the plane if you consider the entire travel chain. Train prices can also be competitive if you book early.
In the street
Scotland's only land border is south to England. The main arteries are the A1 (M) to the east, which runs from London via Leeds and Newcastle and into Berwick-upon-Tweed Reaches Scotland and heads towards Edinburgh. Along the west coast, roughly via Birmingham, Manchester, Carlisle, the M6 runs into Gretna Green crosses the "border" and continues as the A74 (M) to Glasgow. If you have a little more time for the journey, you can also arrive via country roads and along the old border river, the Tweed, or via mountain passes such as Carter Bar into the historic and once contested Borders reach.
By bus
From London, the Megabus bus company runs incredibly cheaply to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Depending on how early you book, you pay between 3 (!!) and 15 pounds for the entire route.
- Megabus - Route planning and prices
By boat
There are currently (2021) no direct ferry connections between continental Europe and Scotland. The nearest ferry port for those traveling to Scotland is North Shields at Newcastle upon Tyne, that of DFDS from Ijmuiden (near Amsterdam) is started.
From Ireland there is a ferry from Larne at several times a day Belfast to Stranraer.
Not just the capital Edinburgh is the destination of cruise ships but also some lesser known places:
- Greenock - at the mouth of the river Clyde located,
- Invergordon - small port town in the North Sea bay Moray Firth
- Kirkwall - capital of the island Mainland on the Orkney Islands
- Portree - only city on the to the Inner Hebrides belonging island Skye
- Stornoway - City on the Isle of Lewis on the Outer Hebrides
mobility
Driving your own vehicle is good in Scotland. The distances are not too great (Scotland is only slightly larger than Bavaria), the road network is well developed, traffic is extremely thin, especially on the secondary routes in the Highlands, and you don't have to wait for your own vehicle. Especially in the Highlands, however, you should expect that you will only be able to drive slowly. The travel times given by Google Maps, for example, will often be exceeded very significantly.
By train
ScotRail has a pretty good network of routes in the Central Belt. There are only a few routes in the Highlands, but some of them lead through impressive landscapes. You can take your bike on the train at no extra cost. Advance booking is not compulsory, but highly recommended, as advance booking tickets are often considerably cheaper than tickets purchased at short notice. When booking at short notice, one-day return tickets often cost little more than a one-way trip.
The GNER trains from London to Edinburgh run a few times a day to Inverness or Aberdeen. Fares are the same as ScotRail (but bike transport costs extra).
The steam locomotive train is a special tourist attraction The Jacobite that runs between Fort William and Mallaig. Here he crosses that through the Harry PotterFilms made famous Glenfinnan viaduct with the opposite Loch Shiel into which Hogwarts School was projected.
- ScotRail (English) - Route planner and prices
- Trainline (english) - Connections and tickets for all trains in the UK.
By bus
Buses are usually the cheapest way to travel in Scotland by public transport and are often the only one. In principle, almost every place can be reached by bus, but it can be very inconvenient. One problem is the multitude of companies that seldom coordinate timetables when timetables are available. In the meantime, however, the timetables of the major companies are available online and up-to-date.
The connections between the cities are well covered by Scottish Citylink, Stagecoach and Megabus. Buses usually run at least every hour. Citylink also offers some connections to the Highlands (Inverness, Wick, Thurso, Ullapool, Fort William, Skye) and is easy to use (pay the driver, conveniently located stops). Megabus is organized like low-cost airlines: tickets have to be booked in advance via the Internet, stops are often not the main bus stations, sometimes only park-and-ride parking spaces outside (e.g. Perth). On the other hand, the prices are often unrivaled. Megabus drives Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Perth as well as larger cities in England. Citylink, Stagecoach and Megabus tickets can be bought directly on the Internet. In most cases, the booking code is sufficient as a ticket. But be careful, a ticket is not yet a reservation, so it can happen that the bus passes a remote bus stop, but the bus does not stop despite the paid ticket (e.g. when the bus is completely full). Therefore, when planning, you should not rely on a single bus (e.g. on one day).
Buses also stop at places where there is no bus stop to get off the bus, if you let the bus driver know in advance. You can also signal a passing bus that you want to take a ride. The bus will then stop if the location allows.
Apart from the cities, the bus transport is operated by various regional companies. The bus stations in the cities are good starting points for getting information and timetables. Finally, in very remote areas there are also post buses (i.e. the postman takes passengers with him for a fee and according to the timetable) or Scotbuswhich, however, usually only drive once a day.
- Citylink - Route planning and prices
- Megabus - Route planning and prices
- Travelline Scotland - Connections for most public transport in Scotland (excluding Megabus and Postbuses)
- Royal Mail - Information on post buses (routes, timetables)
- Scotbus - Information on Scotbusses (routes, timetables)
- Stagecoach - Route planning and prices
In the street
In Scotland, as in the rest of the UK, traffic is on the left. Particularly when exiting a parking lot and after long journeys on single-lane roads, you should be careful to continue on the correct side of the road. The traffic rules are otherwise the same as in Great Britain.
Scotland is not a large country and most places can be reached in a matter of hours. While the main roads are now well developed and often have bypasses, narrow and winding roads are to be expected, especially in more remote regions, so that travel times are longer than expected. A route planner gives a good estimate. In general, the further north you go, the slower you go. Traffic density adapts to population density (although even towns like Fort William can have a remarkable rush hour). On long weekends and in summer it can get crowded, as it feels like every second Brit has a caravan and the teams are all heading north in spring and south in autumn.
There are still many single lane roads in the Highlands (Single track) with dangerous crests (often with the shield Blind Summit signposted) that you cannot look over. "Single Track" roads have alternative bays (Passing places), where you can let oncoming (or overtaking) vehicles pass. At blind bends you should drive as far to the left as possible, as locals often drive fast despite narrow roads and do not expect any oncoming traffic. You should always expect sheep on the road. Particular caution is required in spring when the lambs are out and about.
The petrol station network is thinning out, especially in the Highlands. Petrol stations are usually closed there in the evenings and on weekends. It is advisable to always use opportunities to refuel.
Hitchhiking
Getting around Scotland as a hitchhiker is quite easy. There is of course more traffic in the vicinity of larger cities, but in remote areas the probability of being picked up is higher. Although hitchhiking is very safe in Scotland, the Scots who live near towns tend to be very suspicious of hitchhikers. It's important to look trustworthy. As a clearly recognizable hiker or mountaineer, like-minded people usually take you along without any problems.
language
English is the official language of Scotland and is spoken by almost everyone. Gaelic is spoken by around 60,000 people, primarily in the Highlands and the Hebrides. Nevertheless, everyone can speak English there too. In a few rural communities in the Lowlands, Scots is spoken, which comes from English and should not be confused with Gaelic. Scottish English varies by region. In the Lowlands it has been altered more by dialects (it was introduced here early) than in the Highlands. That is what the dialects have in common R. rolling and ch how to pronounce throaty in hole.
Scots, like most Britons, rarely speak a second language. French and German are still the most likely.
Here are a few useful words that are often encountered - whether in place names or in conversation. With regard to geographical terms, it should be noted that these appear on maps in the usual local form and that the spelling is not uniform, especially in the Gaelic region (see e.g. Ben).
- But = estuary (Aberdeen)
- Ben, Beinn, Bheinn and the like. = Mountain (Ben Nevis)
- Burn = Bach (Bannockburn)
- Bealach = Col, watershed or pass
- Ceilidh = celebration (usually with traditional Scottish dances)
- Close = Entrance to an alley or an inner courtyard
- Firth = fjord (Firth of Forth)
- Glen, Strath = narrow or wide valley (Glencoe, Strathspey)
- Inver = estuary (Inverness)
- Kyle = Narrow river straight, strait (Kyle of Sutherland)
- Hole = lake or inlet (Loch Ness)
- Wee = small (coll.)
- Wynd = alley
to buy
currency
As in the rest of Great Britain, the pound sterling is the official currency. Notes and coins are issued by the Bank of England, the United Kingdom's government-owned central bank.
Unlike England and Wales (but like Northern Ireland), private banks in Scotland are allowed to print their own banknotes. The Bank of Scotland, The Royal Bank of Scotland and The Clydesdale Bank print their own banknotes, which are very common in Scotland (Scottish banks' ATMs only issue Scottish notes). Scottish banknotes are valid throughout the UK, but problems are said to arise in isolated cases. If in doubt, they can be exchanged at any bank. It is said that outside of the UK it can be difficult to exchange Scottish notes back as they are not known everywhere.
You can occasionally pay with euros in the big shopping streets, but you shouldn't rely on that.
Scotland (like the rest of Great Britain) is quite expensive compared to other European countries. You can replace the € (EUR) with the £ (GBP) to get a rough idea of the prices.
It is possible to pay by credit card almost anywhere in Scotland. Debit cards (called Maestro cards in Germany) work just as often, in cities almost everywhere, including in restaurants.
opening hours
Opening times are not standardized. The retail trade is usually open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm during the week. On public holidays, Sunday opening hours apply with the exception of December 25th. and 1.1., on which (almost) everything is closed.
| Business type | Monday to Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| retail trade | 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | |
| Department stores | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm / 5:00 pm |
| Supermarkets and other large department stores | 8:00 am / 9:00 am to 8:00 pm | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
public holidays
There are only a few fixed holidays. Traditionally, Hogmanay (New Year's Eve / New Year) is the most important holiday, but it is replaced by Christmas.
| meeting | Surname | importance |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31 | Hogmanay / New Year's Eve (*) | New Year's Eve |
| Jan. 01 | Hogmanay / New Year's Day | New Years Day |
| Jan. 02 | Hogmanay / New Year's Bank Holiday | New Years Holidays |
| Jan. 25 | Burns Day / Night (*) | Robert Burns is born |
| March April | Good Friday | Good Friday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | 1st Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Boxing Day | 2nd Christmas Day |
The public holidays marked with (*) are not work-free, as are Easter Monday and Whit Monday. In principle, holidays in Scotland do not mean automatic work exemption anyway, even if this is common in many branches of industry and especially in administration.
If the 25/26 December or 1./2. January fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they will be made up on the next regular working day. So if the 1st / 2nd January is a weekend, so January 3rd and 4th are public holidays (with normal Sunday opening hours for shops).
All other public holidays generally fall on a Monday. These are regional and often only receive different attention even within a city. You can roughly expect the following holidays:
| meeting | Surname | importance |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Monday in May | May Day | May Day |
| Last Monday in May | Spring Bank Holiday / Victoria Day | Queen Victoria's birthday |
| 1st Monday in August | Summer Bank Holiday / Trade Holiday | Local holiday |
| Last Monday in September | Trade Holiday | Local holiday |
Small shops and authorities are closed on all these days. Larger shops are almost always open with the exception of December 25th. and 1.1., on which (almost) everything (including public transport) is closed. Religious holidays and Sundays are taken very strictly in the islands (especially the Outer Hebrides). For example, you will not find a gas station open on Sundays in the Outer Hebrides.
Souvenirs
The classic souvenir is a kilt or just anything with a tartan pattern. It should be noted that a proper kilt costs £ 300-400 and is made of heavy fabric (so you don't have to reveal anything even in high winds). Most souvenir shops only sell thin, inauthentic kilts.
Whiskey is another classic souvenir. You can buy it either in normal stores or directly in the distilleries, which are mostly open to visitors and have their own shops. However, like everything else, it is significantly more expensive than in Germany.
Other popular souvenirs are shortbread (a shortbread that can be bought in different shapes in gift packaging), CDs with Scottish folk music and textiles (mainly made from sheep's wool).
kitchen
- Haggis - Scotland's national dish scares many foreigners once they get the ingredients listed, but it tastes a lot better than it sounds! Haggis consists of the finely chopped heart, liver and lungs of a sheep and is cooked in the sheep's stomach. You can buy it in many supermarkets, but nowadays haggis are mostly found in plastic stomachs. This is served with mashed potatoes and mashed beets (Neeps and Tatties).
- porridge is an oat dish that you eat for breakfast. However, it is eaten less often than you might think. It can be eaten with either salt or sugar, although it is more traditional with salt.
- The Crisp Roll is probably one of the most whimsical snacks that you can find here in some places. Take one of these typically soft rolls, smear it with butter and place a few potato chips between the two slices. The taste obviously varies according to the taste of the chips. You can't buy crisp rolls.
From the culinary horror cabinetScottish breakfast: Often served in a hotel or B&B. A sumptuous, fried meal with eggs, ham, sausages, fried tomatoes and mushrooms (standard), with toast and, if necessary, cereals and fruit. Haggis, black pudding or smoked herrings ("kippers") can also be included.
Scottish shortbreads can be found everywhere. They shouldn't be bought in the expensive souvenir shops.
Pudding: This is not necessarily a dairy dish, it can also mean a sausage.
nightlife
The bars and pubs are meeting places where you can quickly meet new people. In contrast to many other countries, the bars are very lively and the Scots are very hospitable. It's not uncommon to be handed a beer by someone you've just met.
Since March 2006 that is Smoke in all public closed rooms (i.e. in all pubs and restaurants) forbidden.
You can legally drink alcohol from the age of 18, and young people under the age of 18 are not allowed in bars and pubs after 8 p.m. (not even when accompanied by adults). Most of the bars close at midnight, Friday and Saturday at 1am. Clubs are usually open until 2am to 3am.
- beer - Beers, especially the ales, are in Pints measured. One pint is just over half a liter (568 ml).
- Irn Bru - This drink is unique in Scotland. It's a bright orange soft drink with a chewing gum flavor that is widely recognized as the best hangover cure.
- whiskey - Scotland's most famous export.
accommodation
Bed and Breakfast (B&B)
Probably the best known type of accommodation in Great Britain - and therefore also in Scotland - is this bed & breakfast - Small private pensions or guest houses often offer a special atmosphere at slightly cheaper prices than hotels. The prices are usually given per person and not per room.
The Scottish breakfast is usually rich, but not exactly low in fat. The hosts usually inquire about the desired breakfast in the evening - here it is primarily between Continental (Corn flakes, toast) and Full brakfast (often bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, but also specialties such as "black pudding" - smoked blood sausage). The hosts are often also a good place to go to inquire about local attractions.
In the meantime there are several websites where you can find B&B accommodation, alternatively you can also look out for "vacancies" along the streets. If you don't feel like looking, you can go to the local Tourist information For a small fee (usually 2–3 pounds) and a deposit of approx. 10%, you can find a place to stay. However, the cheapest B&B accommodations are not always listed in the tourist information.
At parties and in the High season it can happen that no more accommodations are available on the same day. On the Islands Accommodation options are limited and it is highly recommended that you book your accommodation prior to arrival.
Hostels
The Scottish Youth Hostel Association (SYHA) has hostels all over Scotland and is some of the cheapest places to stay when traveling around. Travelers without a youth hostel card pay one pound more for the first six nights. Unfortunately, the times are over when entire castles were used as youth hostels like Carbisdale Castle or that Loch Lomond Hostel. Some hostels such as Loch Ossian or Glen Affric can only be reached by a long walk. This as well as the youth hostel in Edinburgh or Inverness you book in advance to be on the safe side.
As an alternative, numerous operators of independent hostels have chosen as Scottish Independent Hostels united. The loose interest group gives that Blue Hostel Guide out, a map with the addresses and prices of all member hostels available from tourist offices.
Tourist Attractions
Many historic properties are maintained by either the NTS (National Trust for Scotland) or Historic Scotland. There are membership passes ranging from a few days to life, which may be cheaper to get away with. Alone Edinburgh Castle, which is run by Historic Scotland, costs £ 16.50 an adult!
Churches, abbeys and abbey ruins
Those who are on their way on spiritual footsteps start far out, in the Hebrides: from the island Iona Christianization ended. Important cathedrals and rich monasteries can be found in the more fertile regions of the Central Belt and the Borders, hardly in the Highlands. Often there are imposing ruins, the destruction of which could be at the expense of the English, storms or the iconoclasts of the Reformation. Examples are the Dryburgh Abbey, Melrose Abbey and Roxburgh Abbey in den Borders, Elgin Cathedral in Moray oder die St Andrews Cathedral. Der Reformator John Knox predigte in St. Giles in Edinburgh. Weitere grosse, erhaltene oder später ausgebaute Kirchen sind die Glasgow Cathedral oder St Columba's Cathedral in Oban.
Burgen und Schlösser
.jpg/300px-Kilchurn_Castle_(42189487840).jpg)
Aus den kriegerischen Zeiten der Clans untereinander, aber auch der Sezessionskriege gegen die englische Fremdherrschaft gibt es zahlreiche Burg(ruin)en. Manche verfielen, andere wurden, umgebaut und/oder erweitert standesgemässe Residenzen der zu Herzögen, Markgrafen oder Grafen aufgestiegenen Clanchiefs. Als im 19. Jahrhundert die Romantik der Einsamkeit in Mode kam, getrieben von Königin Victoria, deren Highland-Residenz Balmoral Castle auch heute noch Sommersitz der englischen Königin ist, entstanden üppige Häuser im Scottish Baronial Style als Jagdschlösser. Viele der Burgen und Schlösser sind heute noch in Privatbesitz und allenfalls aus der Ferne zu bewundern, aber es gibt noch genügend, die zu besichtigen sind. Edinburgh Castle beherbergte ebenso wie Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Palace in der Vergangenheit Monarchen, Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh tut es heute noch. Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfriesshire, Bothwell Castle am Clyde, Castle Stalker auf einer Gezeiteninsel vor der Westküste, Kilchurn Castle am Loch Awe vor Highlandkulisse und natürlich Urquhart Castle viel photographiert am Loch Ness stehen für die Ruinen. Inveraray Castle in Argyll, Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Hopetoun House bei Edinburgh sind Beispiele für gelungene Barock- bzw. klassizistische Architektur des 18. Jh. Im 19. Jh umgebaut wurden beispielsweise Glamis Castle, Geburtsort von Queen Mom, das Märchenschloss Dunrobin Castle der Herzöge von Sutherland, Dunvegan Castle auf Skye oder das malerisch an der Westküste gelegene Eilean Donan Castle, auf gefühlt jeder dritten Schottlandpostkarte zu finden.
Archäologische Stätten
- Aberlemno Sculptured Stones, Aberlemno (Angus).
- Grey Cairns of Camster, Caithness. Megalithisches Kammergrab.
- Ruthwell Cross, Dumbartonshire.
- Clava Cairns, Invernessshire.
- Glenelg Brochs, Invernessshire.
- Sueno's Stone, Moray.
- Broch of Birsay, Orkney.
- Maes Howe, Orkney.
- Ring of Brogar, Orkney. Steinkreis.
- Skara Brae, Orkney. Älteste europäische Steinhäuser ca. 3100–2500 v. Chr.
- Meigle, Perthshire.
- Callanish Standing Stones, Insel Lewis (Ross and Cromarty). Steinkreis.
- Dun Carloway Broch, Insel Lewis (Ross and Cromarty).
- Clickhimin, Shetland.
- Jarlshof, Shetland.
- Mousa Broch, Shetland.
- Antonine Wall, Stirlingshire.
activities
- Fahrrad fahren — Obwohl es weniger Fahrradwege als in England gibt, eignet sich Schottland auf Grund seiner einsamen Straßen und der wunderschönen Landschaften gut zum Radeln. Es gibt den Great-Glen-Cycle-Way im Westen, welcher einen mehrere hundert Kilometer bis in den Norden der Highlands bringt, ohne zu viele Berge im Weg zu haben.
- Hillwalking — Dies ist wohl die bekannteste Freizeitaktivität in Schottland. Es gilt ein Jedermannsrecht in Schottland, sich in der Natur unabhängig von Eigentumsrechten zu aufzuhalten (das schliesst Wildzelten ein) und mit unmotorisierten Hilfsmitteln (Fahrrad, Kanu, Segelboot usw.) zu bewegen. Rücksicht ist auf das Umfeld bewohnter Häuser zu nehmen und ggf. spezielle örtliche Regeln, z.B. zur Brut- der auch Jagdzeit. Details sind im The Scottish Outdoor Access Code geregelt.
- Hillwalking ist ein Mix aus Wandern und Bergsteigen. Fast alle schottischen Berge haben mindestens einen Weg, der von Wanderern zu bewältigen ist, doch in den abgelegeneren Gegenden gibt es oft keine klar erkennbaren Wege. Aber auch Bergsteiger kommen an steilen Flanken auf ihre Kosten. Ein plötzlicher Wetterumschwung kann leicht für zusätzliche Schwierigkeiten sorgen - gute Vorbereitung ist jedenfalls bei Touren abseits der gängigsten Routen also dringend zu empfehlen. Sie können versuchen, alle 282 Munros in Schottland (Berge, die höher als 3000 Fuß/ 914 m sind) zu besteigen und ein "Munroist" werden. Zu den Munros gehört allerdings auch ein Berg, der nicht zu Unrecht "Inaccessable Pinnacle" (etwa "Unzugängliche Spitze") heißt - um da hoch zu kommen, muss man auf jeden Fall klettern können. Geeigneter für Wanderer sind hingegen Weitwanderwege wie der beliebte West Highland Way, welcher ca. 153 km (95 Meilen) lang ist. Andere Fernwanderwege sind der Southern Uplands Way oder der Speyside Way.
- Traditionelle Veranstaltungen mit sportlichen Wettkämpfen sind die Highland Games. Die bekanntesten finden Anfang September in Braemar instead of. Die Spiele stehen unter der Schirmherrschaft der Königin. Da ihr traditioneller Sommersitz im nahe gelegenen Balmoral Castle ist, schaut die Königin häufig persönlich vorbei.
Learn
In den größeren Städten kann man das Highland Dancing (Highland-Tänze) gelehrt bekommen. Dudelsack kann man natürlich auch lernen, jedoch sollte man wissen, dass man ca. 1 Jahr täglichen Übens braucht, bis man überhaupt das erste Mal auf einem richtigen Dudelsack spielt! Es ist wirklich viel komplizierter als es aussieht, und die meisten würden noch nicht mal einen Ton aus dem Dudelsack herausbekommen.
Work
Ausländer, das sind seit dem Brexit auch Bürger der Europäischen Union, benötigen ein Visum zur Aufnahme von Arbeit in Schottland.
security
Schottland hat eine überraschend niedrige Verbrechensrate. Of Glasgow sagt man, dass es dort etwas rauher zugeht als in Edinburgh. In Glasgow sollte man sich vor den Orange Marches (Demonstrationen zur Unterstützung der Protestanten in Nordirland) in Acht nehmen, da es dort leicht zu Ausschreitungen mit den Katholiken kommen kann.
health
Rauchen in Pubs und Gaststätten ist generell Not erlaubt.
Man sollte zum Wandern immer einen Kompass (Achtung: funktioniert nicht in den bekannten Cuillin Hills auf der Insel Skye wegen des besonderen Gesteins) und detaillierte Landkarten mitnehmen. Gute Wanderschuhe sind auch wichtig. Schottland ist bekannt dafür, dass in den Bergen das Wetter schlagartig umschlägt und man plötzlich Sichtweiten von nur ein paar Metern hat. Niemals alleine Wandern gehen!
Die so genannten Midges (kleine, mückenähnliche Insekten) sind im Sommer sehr lästig. Sie haben eine Größe von 1 bis 2 Millimetern und ihre Stiche verursachen einen leichten, juckenden Ausschlag. Da sie eine Geschwindigkeit von nur knapp 3 km/h erreichen, wird man nur in Sitzpausen von ihnen befallen. Beim Wandern oder Radeln sind sie kaum wahrnehmbar. Um Stiche zu verhindern, ist z.B. Birkenteer wirkungsvoll, der auf die Haut aufgetragen wird, und in Outdoor-Shops erhältlich ist.
Die Notrufnummer lautet 999.
climate
Das maritime Klima in Nord-Schottland unterscheidet sich erheblich von dem in Mitteleuropa und ist erklärungsbedürftig. "If you don`t like the weather, just wait a minute." (Wenn Sie das Wetter nicht mögen, warten Sie einfach eine Minute.) Dieser Spruch ist so wörtlich zu nehmen, wie er dort steht. Sie werden kaum einen Tag finden, an dem es nicht regnet. Oft gibt es starke Schauer, noch häufiger tröpfelt es nur ein bisschen. Das dauert aber meist nur wenige Minuten oder gar Augenblicke – und schon scheint wieder die Sonne. Diese Wechsel gibt es sicher zehn mal am Tag, es können aber auch schon mal 20–30 Schauer oder Nieselregen sein. Wetterfeste Kleidung gehört also auch bei strahlendem Sonnenschein am Morgen dazu. Die Schotten sind das gewöhnt, wegen eines Schauers spannt hier kaum jemand einen Schirm auf – vom jungen Mädchen bis zum alten Mann. Wenn Sie sich vom Nieselregen stören lassen oder deshalb vielleicht noch nicht mal das Hotel verlassen, machen Sie sich lächerlich. Durch die Nähe zum Meer gibt es im Winter nur selten Temperaturen stark unter null, dafür im Sommer auch kaum welche über 20 Grad. Starke Winde sind die Regel. Recht nützlich vor allem in den bergigen Regionen Schottlands ist der Mountain Weather Information Service.Das Wetter kann an Ost- und Westküste häufig gegensätzlich sein. Generell ist an der windzugewandten Seite (d.h. Westküste bei Westwind) schlechteres Wetter.
Reisezeit
Die Monate April und Mai sowie September und Oktober gelten als beste Reisezeit.ÖAMTC-Reise
Practical advice
- Internet — In allen Bibliotheken gibt es kostenloses Internet, auch das Ausleihen von Büchern ist kostenfrei. In Edinburgh and Perth muss man erst der Bibliothek beitreten, bevor man es nutzen kann. Standardmäßig kann man 30 Minuten an einem PC arbeiten, Verlängerungen um jeweils 30 Minuten sind möglich, wenn der Andrang nicht sehr groß ist. Internetcafés sieht man nur selten außerhalb großer Städte. Viele Pubs und Cafés bieten den Besuchern, die ein eigenes Gerät dabeihaben, kostenlosen Internetzugang per WLAN (englische Bezeichnung: WiFi) an.
- Post — Briefkästen sind rot. Die Poststellen eignen sich sehr gut dazu, Geld ohne Zusatzgebühr umzutauschen.
- Die pittoresken roten Telefonzellen sterben allmählich aus, vereinzelt gibt es sie noch, auch in entlegenen Gegenden. Meist mussten sie aber neueren Zweckanlagen Platz machen oder komplett weichen. Mobilfunkabdeckung ist gut, vor allem in den Lowlands und entlang der Hauptverkehrsstraßen. In abgelegenen Regionen der Highlands und auf den Inseln ist Mobilfunkempfang Glückssache. Insbesondere bei Bergunfällen sollte man sich nicht auf die Möglichkeit des Notrufs per Handy verlassen.
Siehe auch den Artikel zum Vereinigten Königreich für mehr Information.
literature
Web links
- VisitScotland.com -- Die offizielle Seite für Tourismus in Schottland (englisch, deutsch)
