Hewitt Cameron - Rick Steves Scotland

Isle of Skye

SCOTLAND

Travel is intensified livingmaximum thrills per minute and one of the last great sources of legal adventure. Travel is freedom. Its recess, and we need it.

I discovered a passion for European travel as a teen and have been sharing it ever sincethrough tours, my public television and radio shows, and travel guidebooks. Over the years, Ive taught thousands of travelers how to best enjoy Europes blockbuster sightsand experience Back Door discoveries that most tourists miss.

This book offers a balanced mix of Scotlands rich cultural heritage and the rugged beauty of its countryside. And its selectiverather than listing every windswept isle, I recommend only the best ones. My self-guided city walks and driving tours give insight into the countrys vibrant history and todays living, breathing culture.

I advocate traveling simply and smartly. Take advantage of my money- and time-saving tips on sightseeing, transportation, and more. Try local, characteristic alternatives to expensive hotels and restaurants. In many ways, spending more money only builds a thicker wall between you and what you traveled so far to see.

We visit Scotland to experience itto become temporary locals. Thoughtful travel engages us with the world, as we learn to appreciate other cultures and new ways to measure quality of life.

Judging from the positive feedback I receive from readers, this book will help you enjoy a fun, affordable, and rewarding vacationwhether its your first trip or your tenth.

Happy travels!

Scotland is a little land that packs a big punch. From the yin-and-yang cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow to the rugged Highlands and remote islands, this fiercely proud country specializes in showing off its dramatic scenery and unique culture. Scotlands famous clichswhisky distilleries, moody glens, golf links, bagpipes, kilts, and, yes, haggisoffer glimpses of a deeply engaging cultural feast.

This book breaks Scotland into its top big-city, small-town, and rural destinations. It gives you all the information and opinions necessary to wring the maximum value out of your limited time and money in each of these locations. If you plan a month or less for Scotland and have a normal appetite for information, this book is all you need. If youre a travel-info fiend, this book sorts through all the superlatives and provides a handy rack upon which to hang your supplemental information.

Experiencing Scottish culture, people, and natural wonders economically and hassle-free has been my goal for more than three decades of traveling, tour guiding, and travel writing. With this book, I pass on to you the lessons Ive learned, updated for your trip.

While including the predictable biggies (such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, and the Isle of Skye), this book also mixes in a healthy dose of Back Door intimacy (windswept moors, evocative glens, and small-town Highland Games). It is selective. Scotland has more than 790 islands, but I recommend just my favorites: Skye, Mull, Iona, Staffa, and Orkney.

The best is, of course, only my opinion. But after spending much of my life researching Europe, Ive developed a sixth sense for what travelers enjoy. The places featured in this book will knock your spots off.

Rick Steves Scotland is a personal tour guide in your pocket. This book is organized by destinations. Each is a mini vacation on its own, filled with exciting sights, strollable neighborhoods, homey and affordable places to stay, and memorable places to eat. Within the destination chapters, youll find these sections:

Planning Your Time suggests a schedule for how to best use your limited time.

Orientation has specifics on public transportation, helpful hints, local tour options, easy-to-read maps, and tourist information.

Sights describes the top attractions and includes their cost and hours.

Self-Guided Walks take you through interesting neighborhoods, pointing out sights and fun stops.

Sleeping describes my favorite hotels, from good-value deals to cushy splurges.

Eating serves up a buffet of options, from inexpensive pubs to fancy restaurants.

Connections outlines your options for traveling to destinations by train, bus, boat, and plane, plus route tips for drivers.

The Scotland: Past & Present chapter gives a quick overview of Scottish history and culture.

The Practicalities chapter near the end of this book is a travelers tool kit, with my best advice about money, sightseeing, sleeping, eating, staying connected, and transportation (trains, buses, ferries, driving, and flights). Here youll also find definitions of typically Scottish terms.

The appendix has the nuts and bolts: useful phone numbers and websites, a holiday and festival list, recommended books and films, a climate chart, a handy packing checklist, and a fun British-Yankee dictionary.