Whisky Tours - FAQs

1. Q. What will the weather be like during.......?
2. Q. So, which is the best month to travel to Scotland?
3. Q. What kind of clothes should I bring on my trip?
4. Q. Are there any dangerous animals or creepy crawlies in Scotland?
5. Q. How do I get to Scotland?
6. Q. Is it difficult to drive on the left?
7. Q. What are the speed limits on the road in Scotland?
8. Q. Is there sales tax on my purchases and can I claim it back?

Q. What will the weather be like during.......?

A. This is the question we are asked most often! I think we can safely say it's changeable and suggest for more information you take a look at the UK Met Office site which gives pretty comprehensive information about the weather throughout the UK.

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A. Well assuming you have had a look at the Met Office site you have a rough idea what the weather will be like. Scotland has something to offer all year round, the massed ranks of Rododendrons in the spring, the snow covered hills and mountains in winter and the beautiful scenery at any time!

It's usually busiest in July, August and September when the weather should be better but the accommodation may be slightly more expensive and schools in the UK are on vacation. If you decide to come then, it's best to make arrangements well in advance to get your first choice of where to stay. Actually, that's not bad advice at any time.

Spring is beautiful and May and June are quiet months of long days and often very good weather. The autumn (fall) is a season of 'mists and mellow fruitfulness' (yes we did steal that line but it is true, so....).

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A. Whatever season you visit the trick is to wear layers of lighter clothing, rather than a couple of heavy items. It's easy to take off and put on layers as the weather demands. A light weight, wind and water proof top is probably a very good idea, too, at any time of year. For that cozy in the middle of winter feeling bring along your favourite fleece.

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A. Not really. There are wild cats in the northern Highlands but these are very rare and very rarely seen. These are slightly larger than a domestic cat. You may also see foxes or more rarely badgers but these will keep well out of your way and are nothing to worry about.

There is only one poisonous snake, the Adder which can be found up in the hills. It wants to meet you even less than you want to meet it, so, it's liable to be well out of the way by the time you blunder along. If you should encounter one don't try to stroke it!

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Their bite rarely kills but if you are unwell or have any previous medical problems it can be serious. They have a clear 'V' on the back of their heads. That's it, no creepy spiders, no horrific insects, although the tiny midge and the quite large cleg or horse fly can make you itch in the summer months.

A. There are lots of ways to come to Britain and it naturally all depends on where you start! If you are coming from North America, you'll either have to take an expensive cruise across the Atlantic or you fly.American Airlines fly from Chicago, direct to Glasgow, as do Continental from Newark. Continental also fly direct into Edinburgh, a new route and possibly the best way into Scotland. From Canada, Air Canada and Zoom fly into Glasgow. Various charter lines run services in the Summer months. Most airlines will bring you to London where you'll have to change planes to fly up to Scotland. The problem with that is, Heathrow airport is a horrible place, in our opinion. Compared to most hub airports in Northern Europe, like Paris or Amsterdam, it's the absolute pits. If you decide not to fly direct, then check out airlines like Northwest, who have a code sharing agreement with KLM the Dutch airline and after a change in Amsterdam, you can fly direct to Edinburgh or Glasgow. For more details on flights from the US, check with your travel agent or go to the airline web sites.If you are coming from Europe, you can fly to Edinburgh and Glasgow from many European capitals. Budget airline Ryanair fly to Prestwick (36 miles South of Glasgow) from Milan, Barcelona, Oslo, Stockholm, Frankfurt and Paris, with new routes opening all the time. Take note, they fly from airports close to each of those cities, not necesarily the one you would associate with the city. For example, for Paris, it is Beauvais, 40 miles North, for Milan, it is Bergamo, 30 miles East and for Barcelona, it is Girona, 60 miles North. Fares as low as £27 return from Paris!!

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A. Not really. It's all about paying attention to what you're doing. We recommend you stick a little arrow on the windscreen of your car, pointing to the left. With this always in view, it's hard to forget which side you're on. In the rural Northern areas and on many of the islands, the roads are single track with passing places, so there is no right or left. That makes it pretty easy. Scottish drivers are generally very courteous and tolerant and will often give way to other traffic. If you rent an automatic, you'll have one less thing to think about.

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A. In urban areas, the speed limit is generally 30 miles per hour (mph), which sometimes goes up to 40 mph on dual carriageways (these are four lane roads with 2 lanes going in each direction). On roads outside town, the speed limit rises to 60 mph on normal roads and 70 mph on dual carriageways or motorways.

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A. There is something called Value Added Tax (VAT) on many items you will buy and as a non British citizen, you can claim much of this back when you leave the country. Check with the Customs authority when you arrive and they'll give you details. The most important thing is to obtain receipts for everything you buy. VAT is at 17.5% now and the European Parliament is trying to have it raised to over 20%, so it is definitely worth having back!

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