If you're planning a visit to Scotland you will no doubt be wanting to experience as many things as you can within your budget.  It's still possible to have a fantastic holiday in Scotland even if your finances are limited so I thought I would share a few of my tips to help make your money go that little further.
I have broken down my tips into two parts and this blog is designed to help you save money on transport, attractions and souvenirs.  Watch out for part two which will have advice on saving money on your accommodation, food and drink.

Getting Around

Fuel

Scotland is a small country and pretty easy to get around by car, however fuel prices in the UK can be costly and any savings you can make when filling up your tank will help you travel that bit further for that bit less. The cheapest fuel prices are normally found at supermarket petrol stations and it is possible to save up to 10 pence per litre over your out of town and rural garages.  The main supermarkets with petrol stations are ASDA, Morrisons and Tescos. 

Public Transport

If you are travelling by public transport then look out for off peak travel, all day tickets and multi journey tickets which can be more economical than paying for single journey tickets. For example if you were take a return train journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh for the day, travelling at on peak times it would cost £22.50 yet an off peak ticket would only cost £12.60, off peak times can vary so check the websites or ask at the ticket office.
The main transport providers that you will probably use during your journey are Scotrail for trains, City Link for long distance buses and CalMac for ferries. You can compare ticket prices online and order in advance.

If you are travelling in Glasgow then the Subway is a cheap and easy way to get around and if you are travelling in Edinburgh then the new tram system runs from the Airport and through the city centre, again you can check the website links for the best value tickets. 

There are often travel discounts on national and local transport routes for senior citizens and students so it is worth carrying your ID and asking at the booking office.

Taxis

In larger Scottish cities you can also get around by taxi with a choice of either a black cab or private hire car although only black cabs can be hailed in the street, private hires must be booked in advance for a designated pick up location.  Black cabs can be costly to travel in so it would be worthwhile getting the number of a local reliable private hire company from your hotel which will work out much cheaper. It's acceptable to ask your accommodation or restaurant to call a private hire taxi on your behalf.

Walking

The cheapest and best way to see a place is by walking around, even the main cities have compact centres which are easy to explore on foot.  Stop by the tourist information office and pick up a free city centre map and if you get really lost a friendly local will be happy to point you in the right direction!

Many people travel to Scotland to view the beautiful scenery and there is no denying that it has some of the most stunning landscapes in the world.  However, Scotland has much more to offer those looking for a memorable adventure, there are some things that you can't do anywhere else in the world.  Here is my list of 10 things that you can only do in Scotland, just in case you need another reason or ten to visit...

1.  Take the world's shortest commercial flight - The flight between the two Orkney Islands, Westray and Papa Westray takes a mere 47 seconds!

2.  Bag a Munro - A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 ft.  Climbing to the peak is known as 'Munro-bagging', the aim is to 'bag' them all (282 at last count).

3.  Play at the world's oldest golf course - St Andrew's Old Course is the oldest golf course in the world with the game first played here as long ago as 1400.

4.  Enjoy the view from the tallest, fully rotating free-standing structure in the world -  at 127 metres high, The Glasgow Science Centre Tower provides panoramic views of up to 20 miles across the city of Glasgow.

So you love Outlander and have fallen for all things romantically Scottish.  You have booked your trip in the hope of finding your own kilted Jamie who will whisk you off across the hills and glens to live happy ever after in your cosy Highland home.
Okay, maybe that's a wee bit of an exaggeration (or maybe not!) but let's just hypothetically say you're coming to Scotland to admire more than the scenery.  As a Scottish woman I totally understand, it is in my DNA to find men in tartan skirts more attractive than well cut, tight fitting jeans.  However, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but a kilted man in 21st Century Scotland is an elusive creature and unless you know where to look it is possible that you may be left disappointed.
Now, if you are willing to hunt them down you will be well rewarded as they seldom roam alone, meaning you are likely to find a large pack gathered in the one spot.  If you are one of those people who are hypothetically coming for purposes of this sort or know a friend of a friend who might be interested then here is my guide to five places you are guaranteed to find a kilted man in Scotland.

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