How to get to | Scotland

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Scotland

Source: Klaus Hermsen

There are lots of ways to reach Scotland. Buses are much cheaper than trains. Ferries operate from Northern Ireland, continental Europe and Scandanavia. Many airlines fly to Scotland, mostly shorthaul flights, including:

• Star Alliance - bmi (domestic only), Continental (Edinburgh & Glasgow), Lufthansa, SAS, US Airways (Glasgow)
• Oneworld - British Airways (domestic only)
• Sky Team - Air France, KLM
• Other Selected - Emirates (Glasgow), Pakistan International Airlines (Glasgow), many European low cost carriers

TIP Flights within United Kingdom on the main airlines (British Airways and bmi) are relatively expensive). Try low cost alternatives (but note these may use alternate airports eg Ryanair uses Preswick rather than the main Glasgow airport).

TIP If travelling to UK from outside Europe it is usually much cheaper to include the domestic flight to & from Scotland on British Airways or bmi on the longhaul ticket than buying a separate domestic ticket. If you don't need to visit London then the continental European major airlines also have competitive fares (Air France, KLM, Lufthansa).

UPDATED November 2009 - Continental switch from Sky Team to Star Alliance. No change to advice.