Visits to SCOTLAND

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

Any guidance as to what counts as a visit?

I think you possibly have to come within touching distance of a deep fried Mars bar... 

Paul

At least every two years for the Calcutta Cup match - stay in Glasgow, get the train to Edinburgh on Saturday morning. Pleasant trip.

I'll see your Mars Bar and raise you a deep fried haggis, which a chap in front of me at the breakfast buffet in a Glasgow hotel had one Saturday morning pre match (along with industrial quantities of eggs, bacon, black pudding etc).

His cardiologist drives an Aston Martin.

[Bmblbzzz]

I've never tried a deep fried Mars Bar but I have had Mars Bar vodka. Not in Scotland. It was not as sickly as you'd imagine but I'd not rush to repeat it.

[grahame]

... and raise you a deep fried haggis, ...

Ah, fond memories!  The battered and then deep fried haggis, and chips generously salted from the shop just outside Glasgow Central station (frontage, platform 1 side, Gordon Street) washed down by generous supplies of Irn-Bru from the pound store on Union Street in my room at the Rennie Mackintosh Station hotel.  Not frequent enough to trouble my cardiologist - but it's good!

[grahame]

From 26th April in Scotland, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) quoting key changes ...

Those parts of Scotland currently at Covid protection level four will move down to level three, bringing mainland Scotland in line with Scottish island communities.

Travel

All remaining travel restrictions will be lifted for travel within Scotland, or between Scotland, England and Wales (subject to local restrictions)

Shopping and services

All shops can reopen fully

Close-contact services can restart in retail premises - but not mobile services, apart from hairdressers and barbers

Hospitality and tourism

Outdoor opening of cafes, pubs and restaurants - hours subject to local licensing rules, alcohol can be served, groups of up to six people from six households

Indoor opening of cafes, pubs and restaurants - until 20:00 each day, no alcohol can be served, groups of up to six people from two households

Hospitality venues must take contact details for everyone, not just the lead member of a group

Takeaway food can be collected from indoors, rather than from a hatch or window

Hotels, B&Bs, self-catering, caravan and camping sites can reopen - but you can't share self-catering accommodation with another household

Exercise and leisure

Gyms and swimming pools can reopen for individual exercise

Indoor attractions - galleries, museums and libraries - can reopen

...  so your trips to Kyle of Lochalsh or Oban, and mine to Coatbridge or Dunfermine, are on ...

[Sixty3Closure]

Grew up there so frequent trips home when I was younger. Not so many now but I do have (or did) a regular trip each May. Had to cancel last year and not sure its worth it this year. Also need to see if my regular B&B is still in business.

I've also caught the same train for pretty much the last 30 years with the only noticeable change being the Azuma^▸ (Brand name for Class 80x trains on LNER) (spelling?) trains which came in on my last trip.

[grahame]

Summary

How often have you visited Scotland?
Never.   - 2 (5.7%)
Just once   - 2 (5.7%)
A few times   - 13 (37.1%)
Quite often   - 12 (34.3%)
Frequently   - 6 (17.1%)
I live there   - 0 (0%)

Have you visited Northern Ireland?
Never.   - 17 (42.5%)
Just once   - 14 (35%)
A few times   - 8 (20%)
Quite often   - 0 (0%)
Frequently   - 1 (2.5%)
I live there   - 0 (0%)

Scotland, though, is about three times the size (using population as my comparator) of Northern Ireland.
5.5 million - Scotland
1.8 million - Northern Ireland
40 votes in the Northern Ireland poll, 35 in the Scotland one (which did not follow on a news story and wasn't bumped) so please compare voting percentages and not raw numbers



The results, showing a much higher flow of our members to Scotland than to Northern Ireland, are perhaps a confirmation of the obvious.  That's fine; such confirmations are worthwhile from time to time, and the "spray" of thoughts, comments and other things revealed can be useful.

Note: results are historic data from our members. We did not ask about political views nor future intents.

Many thanks to you all for taking part.