As promised, this is the first installment of my travelogue
for Scotland and Wales. Some general information on which tours I took. For the Scotland tour I patronized MacBackPackers; the
outfit I toured with in March 2001. I took their 5 day highland tour package. In Wales I used the services of HAGGiS
Backpackers; one of the good natured rivals of MacBackPackers and took the Wales Explorer tour. My younger brother recommended the second group,
and as they are about the only remaining group which offers tours of this type
in Wales I went with them.
Here are some general Observations and Recommendations to
the traveler who wants to take these kinds of tours:
·
The UK is based in a group of islands off the
coast of Europe. Due to geography and
economics everything there tends to cost more than most of the places you are
likely to be visiting from. Have fun, buy what you like, but always be aware of
what the cost is in your own currency. Also think carefully about how you
intend to get the item or items you purchase home. Right now the pound is about
1.5 or 1.6 times the value of the dollar.
·
If the tour guide is well organized you will
have as much or as little fun as you allow yourself to have. If the guide is
not well organized you can still have a good time, just explore and get advice
from the locals. A lot of locations have explanatory plaques as well. Be back
at the bus on time or your itinerary will lag.
·
Most tourist destinations cost between 3 and 5
pounds entrance fee. You can walk around outside them and get great photos, but
the good stuff is inside. Upkeep of a 1,000 year old castle (ruined or not) is
not cheap so the price is usually reasonable.
·
Churches are often, but not always free. And if
you do not see a sign ordering tourists to pay a fee before taking photos do
not let yourself be bullied, after all, they are selling tourist goods in the sanctuary
of a consecrated church so they have no leg to stand on.
·
Scotland is blessed with hostels which do
laundry for a fee, Wales is not. If you chose to visit both of these lands and
will be in Scotland first DO YOUR LAUNDRY THERE!!!!! Also, the laundry fee is
higher than what you pay at a Laundromat, but unavoidable in most locations I
visited as they are often very remote from urban centers.
·
Bring enough film (film, what is film?) or SD
cards for your camera. You will be tempted to photograph everything. I took
over 2,000 and am still sorting out the fuzzy ones from the clear ones.
·
Always wear hiking boots or something similar
which has a sturdy sole and comes over your ankle or the mud and rocks will eat
your Keds for breakfast. You know who you are. Fashion or cowboy boots may look
good on you in a city, but may not be practical for hiking up Storr on Skye or negotiating
your way to the ruined miners’ huts in Snowdonia; if they are sturdy you can get
away with it, but a gripping sole is best.
·
Love your feet. If your socks are wet when you
get to your hostel then change them and dry out your boots (a change of
footwear can be useful in this instance). Additionally, rinsing out and drying
your socks can extend their usefulness and most places have radiators you can
use for this purpose if they are turned on. Take care of blisters and cold wet feet
early and you will enjoy your trip much more.
·
Dress for the weather. The UK doesn’t really do
summer like North America does so at a minimum pack a jacket or sweater, and a
raincoat or umbrella even in July and August. For later or earlier in the
season assume it will be cold part of the day for most days; wear layers.
Scarves are also a good choice.
·
If you get soaked or dirty you may want to bathe
when you get to your hostel. A lot of places in the UK use an on demand hot
water system rather that a water heater (prices for fuel are higher so this is often
an economic necessity). If you have a shower with on demand hot water then turn
it on a few minutes BEFORE you bathe, and be careful when using the water or
you may scald yourself. This setup can provide very hot water, a luxury after a
long cold day.
·
You can bring rolling luggage instead of a
backpack on a backpacker tour, but be considerate. If some of the luggage doesn’t
fit under the bus (in the boot) then those suitcases will have to ride along
with you, the passenger. Make sure your suitcase and carry-on luggage is a
sensible size (i.e. pack light) and has room for souveniers.
·
Have a large bottle of water or the drink of
your choice with you on your bus at all times.
·
Use the 3 pound meal deal to your advantage.
Most grocery stores in the UK allow you to buy a sandwich, chips (crisps), and
a drink for just 3 pounds inclusive of tax.
·
Oh yes, in the UK all food prices listed on an
item are the price inclusive of tax! So for those of us who use a mental hedge
of adding 5% to a price just to be safe, this is not necessary when you are
traveling there. Not sure about other goods.
·
If the hostel you stay at has real cooking
facilities (ask your guide the morning before) you can cook your own meal instead
of going out to eat. This can be cheaper and a lot of fun if you team up with
people who know how to cook. I recommend a small group of 3 or 4 to avoid
having too many cooks.
·
If the town you stay in has only one restaurant
open BE WARNED! They have a captive market and will serve whatever quality of
food they please. If only one is open consider cooking your own meal. Even a
boring drugstore sandwich is preferable to poorly cooked fish and chips.
·
Be ready to clean your pots as you go because
other folks will also be cooking and the pot you are using may be needed by
others soon.
·
When you eat out don’t eat just anywhere or you
may spend too much or have a sour stomach. Get recommendations from your guide
or someone who has done it before.
·
For those of you on dietary restrictions, a lot
of packaged foods like sandwiches will list food allergens in the ingredients
or will state that the machinery used to package it came into contact with
allergens. Read labels carefully. I can say with some assurance that if you
have dairy allergies, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or syndrome X
that you can eat your way across Scotland and Wales without so much as a bottom
burp.
·
Bring a towel or buy it there. Towel rental can
be from 1 to 6 pounds (the high price included a refundable deposit) depending
on where you go. Some places do not rent towels (see laundry note above) and if
you do not have one you will either not bathe that night or you have to drip
dry.
·
When not bathing bring deodorant or
cologne/perfume. And for Heaven’s sakes BUY A TOWEL!
·
Most hostels have wi-fi, but it isn’t very good;
consider that the going rate for hostel stays is between 14 and 17 pounds a
night and often includes breakfast and you will see why. If more than 2 people
are using laptops your cell phone may not be able to browse the web. Either use
the web early or find an internet café in the evening and surf there.
·
Since hostels really do come cheap you may
encounter situations where you do not sleep well due to aromas, snoring, teeth
grinding, coughing, carnal activities in the bunk below you, etc; or you may
end up feeling uncomfortably public while bathing since almost all shower
facilities with multiple showers are co-ed. If this does not appeal to you, or
if you are traveling with your spouse you may want to look for Bed &
Breakfasts in the same towns your tour is going to. You WILL pay more, but the
windows should be in good repair, the heat will probably be turned on if it is cold,
and there is likely to be breakfast included in the price. And unless you bring
the snorer with you at least THAT won’t keep you up. J
·
Please note that Wales closes down due to winter
after the last week in September. You may be able to hike or backpack there
later in the year, but set your itinerary and make your plans well in advance.
·
The heavy rain in the UK in 2012 has rendered
the country very prone to flooding. This may interrupt your travel plans.
·
If your travel plans change be sure to change
your airline itinerary accordingly or call then several hours before the flight
being missed! If you miss a connecting flight because you are already at the
second destination you MUST call to notify the airline well in advance or either
they or your travel agent WILL cancel your booking even if they were paid in
advance. Rebooking is very expensive and a lot of people do not know about this
unfortunate practice.
My next post will begin with Scotland Day 1.
No comments:
Post a Comment