http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress How to Travel in the United Kingdom with a Shallow Sporran Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:26:25 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Get the U.K. Highway Code booklet – and read it! Sorry, this definitely should've been part of Tip #1. We had to order our booklet by post for our first trip but – lucky you – you can get yours online: The Highway Code : Directgov - Travel and transport. Driving on the ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/05/08/tip-6-uk-highway-rules/ Keep your eyes peeled for brown-and-white signs.
 As in the US, there does seem to be some consistency in signposting government-owned or sponsored tourist destinations in these colors. You’ll be surprised how fast your reticular activating system will catch on; you’ll be an expert at spotting brown-and-white signs, no matter how ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/05/07/tip-5-brown-white-signs/ Signs in areas where we Yanks would expect only vehicular traffic may be positioned and/or sized for foot traffic.
 The sign scenario I mentioned in Tip #3 was complicated by the fact that the one - and only - sign was about eight inches wide, two inches high, and about 18 ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/05/06/tip-4-sign-location/ Signs aren't always visible from both directions.
 Get used to rubber-necking it. When you see the back of a sign on the opposite side of the road, as soon as you pass it, quickly whip around and read it. We learned this the hard way on our first trip to Scotland. We ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/05/04/tip-3-sign-visibility/ Streets change names.
 If you live on our East Coast in an older city or town that sort of evolved higgledy-piggledy over the two or three centuries of our nation's brief history, then you’re already accustomed to this. We live in the West, where most towns were carefully platted in nice, neat ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/03/23/tip-2-street-names/ Pay Attention to Tour Guides' Rotation . . . . . . especially when information hasn't exactly been forthcoming. My husband and I have met and known more Scots than your average American tourist. We've toured Scotland 17 weeks altogether. We've stayed in 15 (that I can remember) private homes and met ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/03/21/scottish-tour-guides/ Let the tour groups go ahead of you. Don't try to beat them. Trust me, they're traveling faster than you, and they'll flatten you when they finally catch up to you. And when 20 of them join you, even a spacious great hall can get a trifle claustrophobic. When they all ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/03/20/cheap-scottish-travel-tip-10/ Skip the glitzy tour books. Almost every great house and castle worth its salt has compiled a rather impressive, glossy, full-color booklet for which they charge the equivalent of a U.S. hardback book. While you’re there, under the spell of that magical place, it’s hard to resist the temptation to buy ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/03/20/cheap-scottish-travel-tip-9/ Buy NO gifts. What?! No gifts for Sis . . . Mom . . . the kids. . . the grandkids?? Yes, that's exactly what I’m saying. Again, this is a lesson hard-learned. During our first two trips, we agonized over what to get various family members. In fact, I’d be embarrassed ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/03/20/cheap-scottish-travel-tip-8/ Limit each traveler to the amount of luggage he/she can easily carry. For us, it’s two pieces each, period. A 22” x 14 x 9” main piece of luggage that, on international flights, could be carried on if we chose. But we don’t. We each wheel that sucker up to the luggage ... http://www.bennettcelticart.com/blog/wordpress/2009/03/20/cheap-scottish-travel-tip-7/