Hey y’all!
With First Minister Sturgeon providing the lockdown-easing-timetable, it is the perfect time to start planning trips! Come May 17th, you’ll be able to hit the ground running.
Breath-taking farmland on the Isle of Iona. These Highland coos have some prime grazing real-estate!
**DISCLAIMER: First, remember that you cannot do it all! This is something I am personally struggling with. Especially when I feel like I have been in lockdown for five of the eight months I have been here. Accepting the situation and making the most out of your time will make you less regretful and stressed. And I know for a fact, I will want to come back to Scotland! So, I am happy that there will still be ‘new’ things for me to experience.
The famous Glennfinnan Viaduct from the Harry Potter films. I recommend making the trip from Fort William to the viewing hill in addition to riding the train over it!
Planning Points:
🔍 Research: I know, a given right? But seriously, I cannot tell you how beneficial thorough research can be! Knowing where you want to go and what exactly you want to do maximizes your time. But remember, be flexible! The weather in Scotland is not always accommodating, so sometimes you must pivot.
🔍 Variety: Don’t just plan weeklong trips or just weekend trips. Plan diverse selections of day, overnight, and multi-night trips. Remember, day trips will be allowed before overnight. Have variety in the distance of your trips. Border restrictions aren’t going to magically disappear overnight— it will be gradual, so consider places near Glasgow, in Scotland, and in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
🔍 Prioritize and Organize: Let’s face it, our time here is almost up. But instead of being sad, rank your destinations from ‘must-see’ to ‘it can wait’ and group your destinations by distance and type of trip. This makes choices clear when the time comes. And hey, if you don’t get to them all, you already have trips preplanned for the future!
🚝 Transportation: Consider your options – and plan a backup… a bus, train, boat, bike, foot, car – or a combination? Map your route and know exact numbers, names, and stations. Make notes and include phone numbers and addresses. Have them easily available to put in your phone, backpack, your pockets, or other travel bag. Traveline Scotland is a useful website/tool to plan transportation: https://www.travelinescotland.com/
⛺️ Accommodation: Know your options: hostel, Airbnb, B&B, camping, or hotel? These may be limited to restrictions as well as personal choice and recommendations. Do your homework on this. Keep in mind that some locations open at different times due to weather (this is true for the Highlands area). Calling ahead to discuss is also helpful to planning your entire adventure – remember they are local!
🌟 INSIDER TIP: Scotland allows individuals to “wild camp” anywhere without a permit. All you need to do is pull over and camp!
On a trip to the Isle of Skye a few friends and I rented a conversion van that provided us with transportation, accommodation, and dining.
Travel Tips:
🌟 Flexibility: This is by far the most important thing to keep in mind when traveling, especially when traveling in Scotland. The weather here is so unpredictable, so switching around plans is sometimes a must.
Castle Stalker on a ‘traditional Scottish weather’ day––you just have to roll with the weather and make the most of your day!
🧳 Luggage: I found that it was easiest to pack in a backpack for overnight travel. This avoids a cumbersome suitcase or duffel especially with train and bus station lockers closed due to COIVD. Backpacking allowed me the freedom to continue to explore even between destinations. I have hiked up many a random mountain with my backpack while waiting on a bus.
🎒 Mountain Warehouse often has great sales up to 70% off their backpacks!! There is even an additional 10% student discount that you can access here: https://mountainwarehouse.studentbeans.com
🧳 Overpacking: Avoid it!! Prior to this year, I never repurposed clothes a second time without washing. But you need to if you’re backpacking. If an item cannot be paired with other items and re-worn, avoid packing it. Pack extra dryer sheets in your backpack to freshen clothes while they are packed. Who cares what you smell like when you are having the time of your life?
Here I am on an impromptu hike up a mountain in Craignure, killing time waiting on the 11am bus to Fionnphort.
Savvy Secrets:
🌲 Looking for adventures on a budget? Walk Highlands is a wonderful website featuring hiking routes of all levels of difficulties. And better yet, there is also a competition each month to write about your hike for a chance to win £150 of gear! https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk
The final length of the hike to Steall Falls is a cable-walk over a river! I found this hike on Walk Highlands and it is my favourite hike I have done so far.
🍴 Pack food: It is an essential element of travel, but also can be one of the biggest expenses.
🍎 Snacks: Bring them. Nuts, bars, and fruit are good options. Be careful if crossing borders if there are restrictions.
🥪 BYO 1st meal: I pack my first meal of the trip to save money. It also is usually a lifesaver for long train rides. I also usually bring a pack of oatmeal and some crackers/bread and peanut butter to make sandwiches, so I am not eating out as much. It is also helpful when you want to do a long hike and won’t have access to a café.
🥓 Breakfast: Look for accommodations that offer complimentary breakfast. Earlier meals are often less expensive if you must eat out, plus a big breakfast or brunch can save you money for lighter meals later in the day.
🍽 Dinner: Evening food is typically the most expensive. To save money eat out for lunch rather than dinner. Trust me, it is often a £5-10 difference on the same menu items.
🛒 Grocery stores: Local grocery stores can be great for a cheap (and quick) option. Often, they have local, handmade items for souvenirs!
🌟 Use your resources: Depending where you stay, there may be complimentary shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, tea bags, salt/pepper, sugar, and nonrefrigerated milk. This is good to ask when making accommodations to help reduce what you need to pack, and these freebies are helpful for the remainder of your adventure.
🌟 Bring a thermal cup with a secure lid.
Eating a pre-made sandwich on the train from Oban to Glasgow.
Clean Tips: Worried about traveling during the pandemic? You are not alone. I was very anxious at first. Here is what has worked for me:
🧼 Pack a lot of masks, disposable and/or cloth. I packed my masks, so they were easily accessible, yet sanitary. In a secure case, I had 2 plastic baggies labeled: dirty masks and clean. Once I exited public transportation, I took off the dirty and put on a clean!
🧼 Cleaning wipes. I pack a lot of antiseptic wipes and have them readily accessible. I wipe hard surfaces on public transportation if the trip duration is long—especially when I will be eating. I also wipe my accommodation’s hard surfaces immediately upon arrival.
🧼 Disinfecting spray. Yes, I travel with a bottle to spray my accommodation and bathroom.
🧼 Bring a sealed plastic baggy for the TV remote before using.
🧼 Relax. You are doing everything you can to keep safe. Enjoy the travel; don’t continue to stress.
A young seal pup on the Isle of Staffa. I was dropped off to explore the island by myself!
Author: Callie
UofG Visiting Students 
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