When vacationing with my HGV Max membership, whenever I’m at a bar, checking in, sitting in a hot tub or chatting with whomever is on the sun lounger next to me, my Scottish accent always prompts some interest. And invariably, people tell me that Scotland is on their bucket list, but they don’t know much about where, when and how to go.

I’m happy to provide a few pointers.

   

Geography and Main Points of Interest

Part of the United Kingdom, my homeland occupies the northern portion of the mainland with around one third of the land mass and most of the coastline. Yet it only has a population of around five million — roughly one twelfth of the overall U.K. population — due to its rugged terrain.

The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh (pronounced ED-in-bur-uh). It is located on the eastern coast. An hours’ drive north is the city of Dundee, and another hours’ drive north takes you to Aberdeen.

An hours’ drive west from Edinburgh is Glasgow (pronounced GLAZ-go), which is Scotland’s most populous city. Thirty minutes north of Glasgow is Stirling, and another thirty minutes by road takes you to Perth, both considered Central Scotland.

Inverness is a little more than a two-hour drive from both Aberdeen and Perth. England is an hour or so south of Glasgow by road through the Scottish Borders.

A Word About Dialect

There are huge differences in dialect from city to city and from one region to the next. Depending on where you visit, you’ll encounter completely different words used in “auld” (old) Scots language for the same thing in the English language. Here’s a short primer on Scottish words and meanings and another on Scottish accents.

Getting There

   

One of the first things people ask is, “How do I get to Scotland?” Well, that’s easy!

There are five main international airports, aside from many regional ones. Here they are along with their codes:

Aberdeen – ABZ

Edinburgh – EDI

Glasgow – GLA

Inverness – INV

Prestwick – PIK

While Edinburgh and Glasgow have some direct connections to North America, the others have easy connections to many nearby international hubs in England and Northern Europe. I recommend the Visit Scotland website for all kinds of practical information on getting to and around Scotland.

Best Time to Visit

Weather-wise, the summer months of June, July and August typically have daytime Fahrenheit temperatures in the high 60s and daylight from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. In May and September, temperatures are generally in the 50s and in April and October, it’s around 50 degrees. In the other months, you could get anything on any given day, but the high 30s and low 40s are the norm, with daylight only between about 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

   

What to Do and Where to Go — Plus Getting the Best Value for Your Vacation

Many of the must-see Scottish sights are run by two main bodies: Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. Buying a membership with them is a fantastic way to save some money, as the more you visit, the more you save with your one-off annual fee. This also gets you many additional benefits.

But not everything that’s noteworthy is covered by “the big two.” For example, no history-lover’s trip to Scotland would be complete without visiting Stirling. Right in the middle of Scotland, have a memorable day at Bannockburn, site of the famous battle in 1314 where King Robert the Bruce fought and defeated the English. Also visit Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument, built in memory of Sir William Wallace as portrayed in the movie “Braveheart.”

Other sights not to miss include The Kelpies, which are the largest equine statues in the world, the engineering marvel known as the Falkirk Wheel and the breathtaking ruins of Dunnottar Castle.

Where to Stay

   

Hilton Grand Vacations owns or manages five resorts in Scotland, including Coylumbridge Highland Lodges; Craigendarroch Suites, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club; The Kenmore Club and more. Have fun exploring one of these, or select from another two dozen Hilton-brand hotels across Scotland.

Notes on Getting Around

In Scotland, we drive on the left side of the road and the driver’s seat is on the right side of the vehicle, nearest the center line of the road. Most cars here are stick shift, too, so be sure to request an automatic if you need one when renting.

The Highway Code governs the do’s and don’ts of driving. If you’re getting behind the wheel, know what the procedure is for roundabouts, keep left essentially everywhere, always heed road signs and don’t speed or drink and drive.

   

Always stop at red traffic lights and remember there are no turns on red — even if nothing is coming! Finally, avoid parking on double yellow lines or sidewalks, only attempt to pass if you are 100 percent sure it’s safe, and seatbelts are always compulsory.

Trains, Buses and Ubers

ScotRail is the national train service, and there are multiple options for traveling by bus. Here’s a good place to learn about public transportation. As for Uber rideshares, they only operate in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Additionally, taxis are available. 

Don’t Miss This Final Tip

Speak to your U.S. cell phone provider to get an international data roaming package before your trip. Otherwise, you’ll be relying on Wi-Fi only, which is never ideal when traveling abroad.