Scotland Tours

• The national animal of Scotland is the Unicorn which, according to Scottish mythology, is the only animal that could defeat a lion, the national animal of England.
• The raincoat was invented in Scotland by Charles Macintosh in 1824.
• The world’s first municipal fire brigade was established in Edinburgh in 1824,  –the same year that the Great Fire of Edinburgh destroyed hundreds of buildings over five days.
• Encyclopedia Britannica, the original Wikipedia, was the brainchild of Colin Macfarquhar, an Edinburgh bookseller.
• Scotland was an independent kingdom until 1707, when the Acts of Union united the Scottish and English Parliaments to form Great Britain.
• The oldest Golf Championship, the Open Championship, was first played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club.

Australian passport holders travelling to the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, do not need a visa for stays up to 6 months for tourism. However, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is required prior to travel. Please visit the Passports and Visas page for more information.

We require that your passport is valid for travel for at least six months from the date you are planning to return to Australia. Your passport must be valid to travel internationally and must be machine-readable. You also need to carry a valid return ticket on you.

Whether travelling on an Australian passport or the passport of another country, all travellers require visas for a number of countries, and it is your responsibility to secure what may be required before departing Australia. You can consult with your travel agent, but it is also recommended that you check the foreign embassy website for your respective destination as it can also provide you with useful information.

The Australian High Commission in the United Kingdom, is responsible for Scotland:

Australia House
The Strand
London WC 2B 4LA
Ph. +44 20 7379 4334
Fax. +44 20 7887 5558

The official currency of Scotland is the Pound Sterling. Notes come in denominations of £100, £50, £20, £10 and £5.

It's a good idea to carry a small amount of cash, although cards are widely accepted throughout Scotland. Check with your bank before travelling to see whether you need to notify them of your overseas travel plans. Also make a note of the 24-hour emergency contact number of the bank or building society which issued your credit card in the unlikely event that your card is lost or stolen.

ATMs are widely available throughout Scotland. Where possible, use machines operated by banks and always carry a backup payment method.If you don’t have Pound Sterling with you on arrival, we advise you to exchange some money into the local currency at the airport even if the exchange rate is not the best, this way you’ll have money to get a drink, snack or give a tip during those first few hours of arrival. Your guide will be able to advise you on the best places to exchange money.

Small change is also useful for paying for toilets while on tour which is customary in many places outside of Australia.

• The price of a cappuccino in Edinburgh is approximately £3.50
• The price of an inexpensive lunch is approximately £15
• The price of dinner in a moderate restaurant is approximately £35
• The price of a beer in a local pub is approximately £6

Scotland is known for its hearty, traditional cuisine. One of its most iconic dishes is haggis – a savoury pudding traditionally made with sheep’s heart, liver and lungs mixed with oatmeal, suet, onion and spices, then encased and simmered. It’s traditionally served with neeps and tatties (mashed swede and potatoes) and a wee dram of Scottish whisky. Other local favourites include black pudding (a type of blood sausage), Aberdeen Angus beef and fresh Scottish salmon, showcasing the country’s rich farming heritage and abundant coastline. For a classic Scottish treat, enjoy a cup of tea with buttery shortbread, often found in the iconic tartan tin.

Important: When dining at buffets (i.e. breakfast) please refrain from taking food away with you to ‘save’ for later! If you feel that you’ll need snacks between meals, pack some dried fruit, nuts, muesli bars etc.

If you have specific food allergies and/or preferences, we highly recommend you take every precaution before your tour, including carrying a small card with your food allergy listed in each language of every country you are travelling to show to table staff when ordering. Whilst we take all dietary requirements seriously, due to the serious nature of potential allergic reactions, it is your responsibility to be as prepared as possible.

For a small country, Scotland experiences a vast mix of climates throughout the different regions. Being so unpredictable makes the weather a little redundant and as the Scots say ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes!’. That being said, the summer months of June, July and August are typically the warmest with an average temperature of around 16–19°C. Winter temperatures usually average around 1–7°C, although snow is common in the Highlands. Spring and autumn are also wonderful times to visit, with colourful landscapes, fewer crowds and crisp, refreshing weather.

Want to get out and explore on your own?

Travelling around Scotland is part of the experience and fortunately, there is an extensive road and rail network to facilitate your exploration. You’ll find plenty of options for public transport, with bus and train services available between towns and cities, as well as to some villages and ferry ports.

When using taxis, choose licensed operators or reputable rideshare services where available. If a taxi does not use a meter, agree on the fare before starting your journey. Also, ask your guide or hotel staff the names of reputable taxi companies.

So, you’d love to bring home a special souvenir from Scotland…

You can’t go past a classic piece of Scottish tartan and if you’re keen to take a slice of Scotland home with you, why not pick up a traditional kilt or perhaps a more subtle, tartan scarf. A lovely gift idea could include a sporran, part of the male Scottish Highland dress, these small pouches are typically made of leather or fur and customarily worn with the pocketless kilt. Edinburgh is well known for its fine crystal, as well as being regarded as home to the Malt Whiskey Society, stocking one of the largest collections of whiskey in the world. Heading north, the region is known for their premium honey, with hives spread throughout the Highlands, making a thoughtful gift for family and friends back home.

• Scots are proud of their heritage so avoid calling a Scottish person English, as some may take offense.
• It is considered obscene to give an inverted two-finger ‘peace sign’ or ‘V’ for victory
• If someone offers to buy you a drink, be sure to accept and remember to buy one back in return
• It is best not to refer to the kilt as a skirt

You will find a buzz of activity around Scotland between May and September, when locals enjoy one of their greatest sporting traditions, the Highland Games. Held in towns and villages across Scotland, these events feature iconic competitions such as the caber toss, hammer throw, stone put and tug o' war, alongside Highland dancing, piping, music and local food and craft stalls. The busiest season is July and August, when dozens of Games take place across the country. Spectators can also enjoy local food and drink, check out the stalls and dancing, all while listening to the time-honoured sound of the bagpipes.

Other national public holidays to be aware of include:

• New Year’s Day
• Local Bank Holiday (January 2nd)
• Good Friday
• Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May)
• Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May)
• Summer Bank Holiday (first Monday in August)
• St Andrew’s Day (November 30th)
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day