10 Tips for a Great Visit To Scotland

Planning a trip to Scotland? It is a wonderful part of the world steeped in history, with plenty to see and do.

1. Scotland has its own distinct culture

Not everyone knows that Scotland is not a part of England. It is a completely different country. Scotland has its cultural heritage, language, and history. For this reason, when you are visiting Scotland, you will look cultured and savvy if you avoid making generalizations that groups the Scottish with English — the Scottish may take offense and it is an embarrassing error of ignorance.

My Hotel Break has many Scottish hotels to choose from for your visit to Scotland. Make the most of your visit with the following tips.

Great Britain, which is the union of several nations, was established in 1707 when Scotland united with England.

Tip: there was an important referendum held in 2014, to decide whether Scotland should cede from the UK. The vote was cast to remain in the United Kingdom. But the vote was a close decision, and this is still a sensitive topic and should be avoided if possible.

2. There’s a difference between Scotch and Scottish

A person from Scotland is called a Scot (noun), they are Scottish (adjective). The word “scotch” is used to describe things of Scottish origin, like Scotch Tape, Butter-Scotch Candy, and Scotch Whiskey.

3. The Scottish speak English, but it may take some getting used to

Don’t be surprised if you don’t catch everything they say the first time around. Scots have a thick accent and use some very unique phrases. But the good news is that they are fully aware of the many ways English is spoken internationally and will be more than happy to slow down or repeat themselves for clarification.

Of course, the Scottish might think you talk pretty funny, too:

For example, the capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. This is not pronounced “EDIN-Burg” or “Edin-bor-row.” You will hear the capital pronounced, “Edin-burr-a” or “Edin-bra” — depending on who you are speaking with.

The main shopping street in Edinburgh is called “Princes” Street — after the sons of royalty. So, don’t make the mistake of calling it Princess Street.

You will also find many other words commonly used in Scottish speech. “Yes” is “Aye,” “No” is Nae,” “little” is “wee,” and a “lake” is a “loch.” Furthermore, “glen” and “ben” are not boy’s names here, they mean “valley” and “mountain” — Like Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in Scotland.

4. Talk to the locals

Be polite. If you see someone passing you on the street and catch their eye, offer them a friendly “hello” and smile. The proper response is “aye.”

If you are interested in striking up a conversation, a common way to start up a conversation here is to remark about the weather. For example, “sunny today, isn’t it,” or shame about all this rain.”

If you have been invited to someone’s house, it is always polite to bring a detail as a gift. You can’t go wrong with a bottle of whisky.

5. Stand your round at the pub

There is no table service in a Scottish Pub, food and drinks must all be ordered at the bar. Don’t forget to pay for your drinks and food when you make the order.

If someone has offered to buy you a drink, you are expected to invite the next round, called “standing your ground,” everybody drinking is expected to take part. Furthermore, the next round should always be bought before the first round is finished.

6. Scots avoid arguments

A good rule of thumb to avoid sparking hostilities is to avoid sensitive topics. Football, religion, and politics are generally best kept out of the topics of polite conversation. If you do broach one of these topics you may find yourself in a heated debate with some of the most opinionated people in the world.

Also keep your voice down, speaking loudly and ostentatiously in public is considered offensive and pretty embarrassing.

7. Scots like to queue

Whether you are ordering drinks in a pub or waiting to pay at a bakery, Scots like to form orderly lines so that everyone is addressed in due course. It is also considered polite to avoid small talk in a Queue to avoid disturbing other people.

8. Your Scottish ancestry doesn’t really matter

Just because you can trace your ancestry to some vestige of Scottish heritage, that is not as impressive as you think. there are millions and millions of others who can do the same so most people just assume that you do.

9. Most people don’t wear kilts

While you are certainly going to see someone wearing a kilt as you make your way around Scotland, most Scots will save their kilts for special occasions. Kilts are traditionally seen at weddings and ceilidhs (pronounced: KAY-leez)

10. Bagpipers deserve a tip

One of the professionals you will often see in a kilt is a bagpiper. Keep in mind that becoming a bagpiper requires many years of practice and hard work. If you do see a bagpiper performing on the street, take some time to appreciate this talent and leave them a token of your appreciation.