Useful Info

A Traveller's Guide to Wales

It's not all just Tom Jones and rugby

Just a short journey from central Scotland, Wales is an ideal spot for those of you who want to do a little bit of exploring without leaving the United Kingdom. Here’s our traveller’s guide of top things to see and do  Bright lights, big city A…

5 Reasons To Love Cornwall

Why the final days of summer are best spent on the Cornish coast

As the summer fades on British shores, we automatically start thinking about woolly jumpers, cosy nights in and what colour of thermal pants we’ll go for this year. We can’t help it; it’s in-built that we prepare for cold weather every year like it was…

Summer Work

Many travellers like to secure a part-time job so as they can fund their trip more successfully. Here’s some useful information on finding work.

Edinburgh Festivals

There’s a pretty big chance you’ll already have heard of the Edinburgh Festival and if you happen to be in Edinburgh over the month of August, you sure as hell aren’t going to miss it. For a whole month the city becomes a colourful jamboree of theatre…

Auntie Midgie's Guide To: Midgies

Tiny little biting bugs that live off human blood, sucking from the skin and causing unpleasant swelling and itching.

Walking in Scotland - Hillwalking safety measures

Planning Many accidents result from poor preparation. Think through your day in terms of clothing, equipment and effort. Always take spare clothing, waterproof gear and a hat and gloves. Ensure you have enough food for the day, as well as drinks to…

Walking in Scotland - Mountains

Scotland’s mountains are more than just bits of ground that have got above themselves; they are majestic. The Fort William Mountain Festival celebrates these haughty hills, finds Ren Deakin

Working the winter

Scotland was always on my list of places to go. I had visited Edinburgh and it was such a welcoming, vibrant city so I decided I wanted to live there. I looked for jobs anywhere I could, even if it was on a dry slope and managed to get one at the Nevis…

Your Forest Needs You

For centuries, the Caledonian Forest in the Scottish Highlands has been plundered to the point that it now covers only 1% of its original surface area. Out have gone the Scots pine, oak, willow, wolves, boars and beavers, to be replaced by predatory…

VISAS

If you’re from any EEA country, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or even from most Central and South American countries, and have a clean criminal record, it’s fine for you to get on a plane and come to have a holiday in Britain without having to…

Renting

Finding somewhere to live is one of the single most important things you will have to do in a new country. With perseverance and a little luck, you can find yourself living with a great set of people in an exciting part of town.

Working

There are a wide variety of jobs that can be done part-time or on a temporary basis if you’re travelling on a Tier 5 visa or are a national of an EEA country or Switzerland. Permanent positions can be arranged but you will need to check your visa…

Health

The NHS (National Health Service) was set up in 1948 to offer free, affordable healthcare to all. It is now a gigantic organisation, which employs well over one million people and has a budget roughly equal to that of a small country.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to gain work experience, help out with socially valuable projects, improve your English and learn some new skills. There are hundreds of projects around Scotland to choose from, some of them part of worldwide initiatives…

Learn the Lingo

No matter how well a visitor to Scotland can speak English, there will always be a few times when they ask themselves: what the hell are these people talking about? Don’t worry, it’s because most people here pepper their speech with Scots, an ancient…

Money

If you’re staying in Scotland for any length of time then you will want to open a bank account. This will allow you to easily manage your money whilst in the UK and will be essential for getting paid in any legitimate jobs you take. If you are a foreign…

What to do in an emergency

in the first instance phone the police.A crime report can be taken over the telephone and a reference number issued if the theft is considered low value and there are no suspects. You’ll need this reference number when you contact your insurance company