Scotland Travel Guide

Scotland — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Northern part of Great Britain.
Language: English. Gaelic is still spoken by some, mostly in the West and Highlands.
Area: 77,925 sq km (30,086 sq miles).
Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are standard.
Population: 5.16 million (2008).
Population Density: 65.7 per sq km.
Capital City: Edinburgh. Population: 471,650 (2008).
Head of Government: First Minister Alex Salmond, since May 2007.
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Religion: Predominantly Christian (Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist), sizeable Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Hindu minorities. Around 15% of the population have no religion.

Recent History

Despite Scotland's absorption into Britain following the 1707 Treaty (or Act) of Union, there has always been a strong streak of independence in the nation, and the regaining of independence is an aim for some Scots.

Scotland did achieve a much greater degree of autonomy from the UK government in 1999, when it regained its own parliament as part of the devolution process. The Scottish Parliament has control over matters such as social security, and has its own limited tax-raising powers. The UK government maintains control over issues such as defense and foreign policy. Scotland's parliament is housed adjacent to the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh.

Alex Salmond made political history after becoming the first nationalist to be elected First Minister of Scotland. The Scottish National Party (SNP) leader was voted into office in parliament by 49 votes to 46, after he was supported by the Greens. The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives abstained. He heads the first minority administration since devolution.

In the last year the independence movement is gathering pace again and the rhetoric from the SNP is becoming stronger, as their coalition wobbles - with a general election a matter of months away. However, the election looks likely to be fought over the proposed independence referendum.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: . There are numerous public call boxes. Some boxes take coins, others phonecards or credit cards.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Coverage is mostly good, but can be patchy in rural areas.

Internet

There are Internet cafés and centers in most urban areas. Some multimedia phone booths, often located at main railway stations and airports, offer touch-screen access.

Media

The media are free and able to report on all subjects. The variety of publications reflects the full spectrum of political opinion. Scotland's main national newspapers include The Scotsman, The Herald, and the tabloid Daily Record. All UK networks broadcast in Scotland, with substantial national Scottish input, mainly in the news, sport and current affairs sectors.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
2 Jan 2nd January
22 Apr Good Friday
28 Apr Royal Wedding
2 May Early May Bank Holiday
30 May Spring Bank Holiday
1 Aug Summer Bank Holiday
30 Nov St Andrew’s Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
2 Jan 2nd January
6 Apr Good Friday
7 May Early May Bank Holiday
4 Jun Spring Bank Holiday
4 Jun Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
6 Aug Summer Bank Holiday
30 Nov St Andrew’s Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
If the date falls on the weekend, the public holiday will be observed on the next working day.