4th in the "Are you ready to check-off “Visit my Clan Homelands” on your bucket list?" series
Are you driving while on your holiday? If so, let’s prepare you for this scary at first but not so much later, wonderful experience! In my last blog, I mentioned that most hire (rental) cars are manual unless you specifically request an automatic. If you are like me and haven’t driven a manual in over 30 years, the last thing I was going to do was sit on the right side of the car, driving using my left hand on a stick and actually on the left side of the road!
I first started learning the traffic signs a few months prior to my trip by using the “Know your Traffic Signs” https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/519129/know-your-traffic-signs.pdf) as well as some interactive driving apps. The interactive apps are actually utilized by UK citizens to prepare for their actual driving test but are free to anyone. SmartDriving UK has different apps you can download on your computer/laptop or cell phone. I believe the 2 most important apps are the 3D interactive driving and the signage. I read all the apps and took tests as well and it allowed me to feel much more comfortable on the road. Signage is much different as well as parking on UK roads. https://smartdriving.co.uk/ I also found this youtube which was my favorite of all the ones I watched to learn more regarding roundabouts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Diu1k_5H45k If you will be driving on any ferries, use this link to know what to do and it not just driving on. https://www.wikihow.com/Drive-Your-Car-on-to-a-Ferry
What documents are required to drive in the UK or Ireland? Your passport and a current US driver’s license. However, after reading multiple travel websites, it would not hurt to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). I acquired mine with AAA for $20 and it also includes a photo of yourself, like the passport. If you were in an accident, the police would prefer this type of license versus our US driver’s license. You can do this online as well. https://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html
What if you are a pedestrian only traveling only by train, buses, or plane? You can look at these transportation venues on-line for schedules and tickets. Some of train systems offer different types of passes based on length of a trip which I have used and are great. My favorite is Scotrail and it goes all over the entire UK. I have used the FlexPass in the past and bought it in advance.
• https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
• www.raileurope.com/uk/train-tickets
• www.nationalrail.co.uk/
• https://www.britrail.net
Ferries – CalMac is the most common in UK
• https://www.calmac.co.uk/ - between all the Inner and Outer Hebrides Island
• www.northlinkferries.co.uk/ - Orkney and Shetland Islands only
• https://www.stenaline.co.uk/ - to Britain-Ireland-Holland-France-Rest of Europe
The most common plane services to Inner and Outer Hebrides Islands are Loganaire.com and Flybe.com.
Happy Driving!
~Gwen
gwenmcn.cmaa@gmail.com