Driving in Scotland for the primary time will be daunting for those who’re used to driving in Europe, Canada or the USA – or anyplace else actually! The Haggis breaks down a few of his greatest suggestions for driving in Scotland, together with the place to rent a automotive, the highway indicators you’ll come throughout, and the place to keep away from driving in Scotland.
Driving is like intercourse.
You’ve been doing it because you had been about seventeen, you’re skilled and assured in your talents, however the considered doing it in new and strange locations fills you with trepidation.
Scotland is stuffed with attention-grabbing issues to do and regardless of how properly you have got your must-sees nailed down there can be a number of issues you’ll want to see on a whim.
This isn’t usually potential when you find yourself utilizing public transport or on a tour bus. Cute honesty field along with the highway? Pull over and take a nosey. Highland coo in a area subsequent to a layby? Cease the rattling automotive!
There are additionally many lovely drives in Scotland you possibly can embrace in your itinerary, together with the North Coast 500 route which has been known as ”Scotland’s reply to Route 66”. Yvette in some way managed to get round it within the worst automotive I’ve ever seen in just a few years.
Suggestions For Hiring A Automotive in Scotland
The primary motive that many determine to lease a automotive is greatest summed up within the phrases of a belligerent Australian alcoholic – FREEDOM!
Listed here are some suggestions for hiring a automotive in Scotland:
- One helpful web site is Auto Europe, a automotive rental comparability website (a bit like Skyscanner). They record all the main automotive rent firms in Nice Britain and can let you understand probably the most inexpensive choice to ebook primarily based in your necessities. Yvette used them to ebook her automotive rental for Eire and bought a terrific deal.
- Celtic Legend and Arnold Clark Automotive Rent are two different good automotive rent firms, and they’re native to Scotland.
- Bear in mind that the minimal age to rent a automotive within the UK is 21 however the overwhelming majority gained’t rent to anybody aged 25 or underneath!
- I like to recommend getting probably the most complete automotive insurance coverage potential. Attempt to get a zero or nil extra (which suggests you probably have an accident you gained’t must pay a factor) and at all times learn the advantageous print to see what you’re and aren’t lined for.
- Whenever you choose up your automotive rent you will want a bank card underneath one of many driver’s names.
Suggestions For Driving in Scotland For The First Time
I’ve simply realised I’ve been driving for over 18 years. That is miserable.
Fortuitously, this does imply I’ve racked up just a few miles and might provide just a few suggestions. I can 100% affirm that I’ve by no means killed any people on the highway. Or off the highway for that matter… however I did as soon as wipe out a grouse at excessive pace.
Be careful for them. They’re like feathered lemmings.
Listed here are a few of my greatest suggestions for driving in Scotland for the primary time.
1. Perceive The Guidelines In Advance
I’ve pushed in just a few locations in my time. I drove a pickup truck from Edinburgh to Bruges in Belgium, traversed a minibus filled with twenty-somethings throughout the whole thing of Estonia (which in equity is about 4.5 hours west to east) and racked up just a few miles in Nevada and Florida in a top-down mustang as a result of I’m a type of horrible vacationers.
All these locations had been very totally different when it comes to roads and volumes of visitors.
- To start out off – in Scotland, we drive on the left. That’s necessary. Write that down.
- We additionally function in miles and yards for driving.
- In Canada and a few US states you possibly can flip proper on a purple gentle, however we don’t have the equal right here. If a lightweight is purple (or amber) meaning cease!
- The roads in Scotland range considerably relying on the place you’re. If you’ll be driving on motorways the pace restrict is 70mph. Most ‘A’ roads that are normally single carriageways are typically 60mph and if you’re driving in built-up areas with streetlights these are typically 30mph.
- The next indicators are commonest however be certain to have take a look at the freeway code:
Indicators with purple outlines or stable purple indicators point out a restrict or an motion. For instance, this signal is stating that the utmost pace restrict is 30mph.
Round indicators in blue have a tendency to point constructive directions. This one is stating proceed proper.
Blue rectangular highway indicators have white borders, and play two distinct roles, relying on the place you discover them. On motorways, blue indicators give instructions. On all different roads, blue rectangular indicators present different data. That is usually concerning the nature of the highway or else tells drivers one thing helpful, for instance, who has precedence, or the place chances are you’ll park.
Brown indicators are vacationer data indicators and can are available very helpful!
The thriller signal aka the “Nationwide Pace Restrict” signal. I’m satisfied that roughly 50% of drivers within the UK do not know what this implies. Whenever you see this signal, it’s indicating you possibly can drive on the most pace restrict for that highway. The nationwide pace restrict for automobiles is 70mph on motorways and twin carriageways with a central barrier, 60mph on single carriageways and 30mph in built-up areas.
2. It’s A Driving Restrict, Not A Goal
Usually, for those who’re sitting on a motorway or twin carriageway you possibly can whack the cruise management on and revel in making an attempt to decipher some Scottish radio stations.
Enjoyable truth – for those who journey to the Scottish Islands a number of them have their very own radio stations and they’re unintentionally hilarious.
The additional north you go the extra B-Roads (minor roads) and single observe roads you’ll come throughout. It doesn’t matter what the pace restrict is, drive at a pace you understand you possibly can safely cease at for those who spot a hazard.
Get acquainted with ‘restrict factors’ for driving at a protected pace. The restrict level is the farthest level alongside a highway to which you have got a transparent and uninterrupted view of the highway floor. Mainly, be sure you look forward for any obstacles and decelerate for those who can not see a lot of the highway in entrance of you.
3. Passing Locations And Single Monitor Roads
You’ll possible come throughout some single-track roads in some unspecified time in the future. These would require a little bit of tactical know-how. Take them as gradual as you might want to.
There’ll usually be indicators declaring ‘Passing Locations‘ you should utilize if you encounter one other automotive on the highway. A passing place is a niche on the facet of the highway sufficiently big for a automotive to tug into to let one other automotive cross.
Right here’s a fast information to utilizing passing locations:
- If the passing place is in your left facet, you might want to pull into it to let the opposite car cross
- If needed, pull into one to let sooner autos cross you
- Should you meet oncoming bigger autos it’s best to allow them to previous first
- Should you meet a number of oncoming autos, let all of them previous
- Look as far forward because the highway permits so you possibly can plan your subsequent transfer
- On hills let the car give option to the car travelling uphill
- Don’t park in a passing place (not even for images!)
- Be good – if somebody helps you to previous, give them an Islay wave (extra on this shortly)
Often you’ll meet one other car with no passing place close by. I usually attempt to edge on to the grass verge as a lot as potential and the opposite driver ought to do the identical on their facet. It is likely to be a midges baw hair (an official Scottish measurement of distance) between the 2 automobiles however going actual gradual means you’ll be advantageous.
Keep in mind to regulate your pace and distance from different automobiles primarily based on climate circumstances as properly. In winter the roads can get icy and in summer time they’ll get greasy if it rains after an extended dry spell.
Braking distances are additionally elevated fourfold in moist climate!
4. Driving Etiquette
Usually, most drivers in Scotland are affected person and understanding.
Having pushed within the USA just a few instances, I really feel safer driving down our windy slim roads within the pitch-black darkness of winter quite than driving down a US freeway in broad daylight.
Should you make a mistake on a US freeway, then boy are you going to learn about it.
Should you make a mistake in Scotland all you might want to do is give a well mannered wave and mouth ‘sorry’ and customarily all is forgiven.
Should you drive like a bawbag, you’re more likely to hear about it and study some thrilling new swear phrases. Give different autos loads of room, drive at a protected pace and if there’s a line of visitors behind you, pull over the place it’s protected and let the visitors cross.
There’s something in Scotland known as the ‘Islay wave‘, which is outwardly well-known worldwide. You might discover different drivers wave to you or raise a finger in acknowledgement. That is simply our means of being friendly- and saying thanks for those who allow us to cross.
It’s well mannered to provide an Islay Wave if somebody stops at a passing place to allow you to go first, or if a driver helps you to cross. Be sure to take part on the enjoyable whilst you’re in Scotland!
Learn extra: 12 Issues to do on the drive from Edinburgh to Inverness
5. The Price Of Gas In Scotland
Scotland will get taxed to dying for gas. The most cost effective petrol stations are typically owned by supermarkets akin to ASDA, Morrisons and Sainsburys.
The worth tends to be larger at motorway providers, so it may be worthwhile fueling up in a metropolis or city to maintain prices down.
As I write this in August 2022, the price of petrol is sitting at round £1.87 per litre. That converts to roughly…
- $2.29 USD per litre
- $2.85 CAD per litre
- $3.17 AUD per litre
- $3.56 NZD per litre
6. Charging Electrical Automobiles In Scotland
Electrical autos have gotten an increasing number of fashionable in Scotland. You may rent electrical or hybrid autos in Scotland, however the extra rural you go the tougher it’s to search out charging factors and hydrogen pumps.
To search out electrical car charging stations, ChargePlace is a good web site.
7. Scotland Has A Lot Of Roundabouts
I’ve been instructed now we have a number of roundabouts in Scotland.
Roundabouts will be complicated, however they do hold visitors transferring. In Scotland, now we have single-lane roundabouts all the best way as much as four-lane roundabouts. Usually, the rule for bigger roundabouts is:
- If you wish to go left or straight on, you’ll enter by way of the left lane
- If you wish to flip proper, you might want to be in the precise lane if you enter the roundabout
This isn’t at all times the case so be vigilant for indicators when you find yourself approaching. A great high quality GPS may also provide you with a sign of what lane you might want to be in.
Anybody approaching the roundabout out of your right-hand facet or is already driving across the roundabout has proper of means, so don’t pull out in entrance of them.
Should you get confused don’t panic, simply observe the automotive in entrance of you off the roundabout and discover a protected place to show round and check out once more.
That is a lot safer than making an attempt to chop throughout a number of lanes to make your exit. You’re on trip, what’s the push?
A great tip to grasp roundabouts is to go on YouTube and watch some driving movies in Scotland.
Learn extra: Suggestions For Travelling Scotland In A Motorhome
8. Scottish Cities Hate Automobiles
My recommendation could be don’t drive in Scottish cities. They’ve been round for hundreds of years and weren’t designed for it.
Scottish cities, not automobiles…except you rely Fred Flintstones.
Roads are sometimes busy, progress is gradual, pace limits are as little as 20mph, and parking is troublesome to search out in addition to extortionately priced.
If you can be staying in a metropolis when you have got your automotive, attempt to discover lodging that has parking included – it won’t be free, however will probably be a heck of rather a lot cheaper. Preserve your automotive parked there till you permit town, and use public transport whereas exploring town.
All our cities have glorious bus transport and Edinburgh and Glasgow have trains as properly. Glasgow additionally has a subway- I’ve solely ever used it once I’ve been on a sub-crawl. Sure, we Scots can flip travelling on public transport right into a consuming recreation.
9. Apps Helpful For Driving In Scotland
There are many good apps out there that you could be be utilizing already. For navigation, I exploit Google Maps and Waze.
Waze is nice as a result of it’s up to date by different motorists in real-time. For instance, if there’s an accident on a highway you had been planning on utilizing it can routinely redirect you to the following quickest route. It additionally reveals cellular pace traps, however you can be driving the pace restrict anyway, so don’t fear about that.
Petrol Costs is one other good one which can present you the most cost effective close by petrol station or you possibly can set a bigger radius to plan your gas stops upfront.
10. Jet Lag and Driving Instances in Scotland
Jet lag is a killer. Be sure to are properly rested earlier than you choose up your rent automotive. The foremost airports embrace Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Spend just a few days in one among these cities earlier than you choose up your rent automotive.
Yvette has written some nice guides about every of those cities:
Should you can, share the driving along with your fellow travellers, and take loads of relaxation stops. I don’t suggest driving for longer than 3 hours in someday.
While the distances in Scotland is probably not large – the narrower, winding roads and elevated ranges of focus will tire you out faster.
For some motive, many worldwide travellers suppose it’s a good suggestion to drive from Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye in someday.
Don’t do it. You’ll spend your entire day within the automotive and also you’ll miss a number of the points of interest alongside the best way. Plus you’ll be knackered.
11. The Alcohol Restrict In Scotland
Should you like a dram remember that Scotland takes drink driving very severely. Fines and penalties are significantly hefty. Many individuals have been caught out the morning after consuming the evening earlier than.
The present restrict is:
- 22 microgrammes (mcg) of alcohol in 100 ml of breath
- 50 milligrammes (mg) of alcohol in 100ml of blood
- 67 milligrammes (mg) in 100 ml of urine
That is successfully half in comparison with many US states. My recommendation is straightforward: if you’ll be driving don’t drink.
Extra Suggestions For Driving In Scotland
There are a lot of advantages to driving in Scotland. Should you suppose it could be helpful and improve your journey I’d say, go for it. Simply do a little analysis, plan, and take it gradual and regular. You’ll be a professional inside a day or two.
Additionally, bear in mind there are alternate options too. Public transport is mostly excellent and there are at all times tour firms with plenty of totally different locations on provide. Why not rent a automotive for some time after which do some day journeys with a registered tour firm if you’re staying in a metropolis?
Yvette lately used Rabbies to journey to Mull and Iona and had a good time, whilst a five-month pregnant woman who bribed the motive force for added bathroom stops.
You probably have any questions, please be happy to go away a touch upon this put up and I’ll get again to you. In some unspecified time in the future. In all probability.
Completely happy motoring!
