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Insight Guides Pocket Scotland (Travel Guide eBook)
Insight Guides Pocket Scotland (Travel Guide eBook)
Insight Guides Pocket Scotland (Travel Guide eBook)
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Insight Guides Pocket Scotland (Travel Guide eBook)

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About this ebook

Insight Pocket Guides: ideal itineraries and top travel tips in a pocket-sized package.

Plan your trip, plan perfect days and discover how to get around - this pocket-sized guide is a convenient, quick-reference companion to discovering what to do and see in Scotland, from top attractions like Edinburgh Castle, Glencoe and the Isle of Skye, to hidden gems, including the dramatic Smoo Cave and the peaceful islands of the Inner Hebrides.

- Compact, concise, and packed with essential information about Where to Go and What to Do, this is an ideal on-the-move companion when you're exploring Scotland
- Covers Top Ten Attractions, including Loch Lomond, Urquhart Castle and the Burrell Collection and Perfect Day itinerary suggestions
- Offers an insightful overview of landscape, history and culture
- Contains an invaluable pull-out map, and essential practical information on everything from Eating Out to Getting Around
- Inspirational colour photography throughout
- Sharp design and colour-coded sections make for an engaging reading experience

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps, as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateDec 1, 2018
ISBN9781789192971
Insight Guides Pocket Scotland (Travel Guide eBook)
Author

Insight Guides

Insight Guides wherever possible uses local experts who provide insider know-how and share their love and knowledge of the destination.

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    Book preview

    Insight Guides Pocket Scotland (Travel Guide eBook) - Insight Guides

    How To Use This E-Book

    Getting Around the e-Book

    This Pocket Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration and planning advice for your visit to Scotland, and is also the perfect on-the-ground companion for your trip.

    The guide begins with our selection of Top 10 Attractions, plus a Perfect Itinerary feature to help you plan unmissable experiences. The Introduction and History chapters paint a vivid cultural portrait of Scotland, and the Where to Go chapter gives a complete guide to all the sights worth visiting. You will find ideas for activities in the What to Do section, while the Eating Out chapter describes the local cuisine and gives listings of the best restaurants. The Travel Tips offer practical information to help you plan your trip. Finally, there are carefully selected hotel listings.

    In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

    Maps

    All key attractions and sights in Scotland are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map], tap once to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

    Images

    You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Scotland. Simply double-tap an image to see it in full-screen.

    About Insight Guides

    Insight Guides have more than 40 years’ experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce 400 full-colour titles, in both print and digital form, covering more than 200 destinations across the globe, in a variety of formats to meet your different needs.

    Insight Guides are written by local authors, whose expertise is evident in the extensive historical and cultural background features. Each destination is carefully researched by regional experts to ensure our guides provide the very latest information. All the reviews in Insight Guides are independent; we strive to maintain an impartial view. Our reviews are carefully selected to guide you to the best places to eat, go out and shop, so you can be confident that when we say a place is special, we really mean it.

    © 2018 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

    Table of Contents

    Scotland’s Top 10 Attractions

    Top Attraction #1

    Top Attraction #2

    Top Attraction #3

    Top Attraction #4

    Top Attraction #5

    Top Attraction #6

    Top Attraction #7

    Top Attraction #8

    Top Attraction #9

    Top Attraction #10

    A Perfect Day in Edinburgh

    Introduction

    Geography and climate

    Politics

    True grit

    A Brief History

    Christianity and the Norse invasion

    Unification and feudalism in the south

    The shaping of Scotland

    The Stewarts

    Mary, Queen of Scots

    Towards union with England

    The Jacobites

    The aftermath

    Modern Scotland

    Historical landmarks

    Where To Go

    Edinburgh

    Edinburgh Castle

    The Royal Mile

    New Town

    Excursions in Lothian

    Southern Scotland

    The Borders

    The Border Abbeys

    Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

    Culzean Castle

    Arran

    Glasgow

    Traces of Mackintosh

    Major museums

    Old Glasgow

    The Old Docks

    Central Scotland

    Stirling

    Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

    Fife

    Perth and Scone Palace

    Perthshire

    Aberdeen

    Dunnottar Castle

    Royal Deeside

    The Highlands

    The River Spey and the Malt Whisky Trail

    The Northeast Coast and Inverness

    Loch Ness

    East of Inverness

    Ben Nevis and Glen Coe

    The Northwest Coast

    The Inner Hebrides

    Mull

    Iona

    Skye

    What To Do

    Entertainment

    Special events

    Music and theatre

    Clubs and pubs

    Sport and recreation

    Fishing

    Golf

    Biking, hiking and mountain-climbing

    Boating and watersports

    Pony trekking and riding

    Skiing

    Spectator sports

    Shopping

    What to buy

    Children’s activities

    Calendar of events

    Eating Out

    When to eat

    What to eat

    Breakfast

    Main courses

    Afternoon tea, dessert and cheese

    What to drink

    Restaurants

    Edinburgh and Lothian

    South and Borders

    Glasgow

    Central Scotland

    Highlands and Islands

    A–Z Travel Tips

    A

    Accommodation (see also Camping, Youth hostels and Recommended hotels)

    Airports

    B

    Bicycle hire

    Budgeting for your trip

    C

    Camping

    Car hire

    Climate

    Clothing

    Crime and safety

    D

    Driving

    E

    Electricity

    Embassies and consulates

    Emergencies

    G

    Getting there

    Guides and tours

    H

    Health and medical care

    L

    Language

    LGBTQ travellers

    M

    Maps

    Media

    Money

    O

    Opening hours

    P

    Police

    Post offices

    Public holidays

    T

    Telephones

    Time zones

    Tipping

    Tourist information

    Transport

    Travellers with disabilities

    V

    Visas and entry requirements

    W

    Websites and internet access

    Y

    Youth hostels

    Recommended Hotels

    Edinburgh

    Southeast and the Borders

    Glasgow

    Central Scotland

    Highlands and Islands

    Scotland’s Top 10 Attractions

    Top Attraction #1

    iStock

    Edinburgh

    The capital has everything: a castle, a palace, a parliament, an international arts festival, haute cuisine... For more information, click here.

    Top Attraction #2

    iStock

    Culzean Castle

    Spectacularly positioned on a cliff’s edge, it dates from the 16th century. For more information, click here.

    Top Attraction #3

    Shutterstock

    Glen Coe

    Its stunning scenery is a magnet for hikers. For more information, click here.

    Top Attraction #4

    Mockford & Bonetti/Apa Publications

    Burrell Collection

    Glasgow’s treasure trove of outstanding art. For more information, click here.

    Top Attraction #5

    iStock

    Loch Lomond

    Britain’s largest freshwater lake has fired the imagination of many a composer and writer, including Sir Walter Scott. For more information, click here.

    Top Attraction #6

    Shutterstock

    Skye

    The atmospheric isle has a number of dramatic rock formations. For more information, click here.

    Top Attraction #7

    David Cruickshanks/Apa Publications

    Burns Country

    The Burns Heritage Trail runs from Alloway to Dumfries. For more information, click here.

    Top Attraction #8

    Shutterstock

    Urquhart Castle

    A romantic ruin by Loch Ness that may have been the site of a Pictish fort. For more information, click here.

    Top Attraction #9

    Shutterstock

    Inverewe Garden

    Overlooking Loch Ewe, here subtropical flora and fauna thrive. For more information, click here.

    Top Attraction #10

    David Cruickshanks/Apa Publications

    St Andrews

    Located on the Fife coast, the town is the home of golf and Scotland’s oldest university. For more information, click here.

    A Perfect Day in Edinburgh

    9.00am

    Breakfast

    The ideal place to start a day of culture is at the Scottish Café inside the Scottish National Gallery, on Princes Street. Set yourself up with a traditional breakfast before a look around the gallery.

    10.00am

    Edinburgh Castle

    Follow the Mound, crossing Princes Street Gardens towards the Old Town and climb the steep steps up to the castle. It’s worth getting to the castle early to avoid the crowds. From here there are great views across the New Town below.

    11.30am

    Castle Hill

    Walk back down Castle Hill, passing attractions such as the Scotch Whisky Experience, Camera Obscura and Gladstone’s Land, along the way. Take time to explore the vennels and wynds as you go.

    12.30pm

    Shopping

    Off George V Bridge, visit Victoria Street with its specialist shops, and continue on into the Grassmarket for lots of lunch options. Retrace your steps and continue to High Street, where St Giles Cathedral dominates.

    2.00pm

    Royal Mile

    Continue down the Royal Mile, where you will find notable attractions including the Museum of Childhood, John Knox House, the Museum of Edinburgh and Canongate Tolbooth. Near the end of the road, the Scottish Parliament Building looms into view and at the foot of the Royal Mile stands the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

    3.00pm

    Holyroodhouse

    It is worth taking time to see the fine collection of royal artefacts (if the royal family are not in residence); alternatively, if weather allows, explore the huge expanse of Holyrood Park behind.

    4.00pm

    Afternoon tea

    Walk back up the Royal Mile. Just past the Scottish Parliament building is Clarinda’s Tearoom, a great pit stop to indulge in tea and home-baked treats.

    7.30pm

    Dinner

    After freshening up at your hotel, head to the New Town – in and around George Street, good places to eat are endless. If Italian cooking is your preference, try the ever-popular Gusto or Contini. For a special occasion, Number One boasts a Michelin star.

    9.30pm

    On the town

    You couldn’t be in a better spot to finish the night in a chic bar or nightclub. On George Street, pop into Copper Blossom for cocktails and then move onto Lulu, a trendy club located beneath the Tigerlilly hotel; or perhaps sip a Foxtrot Fizz or Red Rum at Bramble in nearby Queen Street.

    Introduction

    Scotland is a land steeped in romantic tradition. Its distinctive dress, its national drink, its famous bagpipe music and its stormy history give it an image recognisable worldwide. Though Scotland’s territory is small, it has an unrivalled variety of landscape: deep green glens that slice through rugged mountains; forbidding castles reflected in dark, peat-stained lochs; moors awash with purple heather or yellow broom and gorse; green fields and hills dotted with sheep; and a wildly irregular coastline, incessantly pounded by the Atlantic and the

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