WIBU to book this break to Scotland?

[victimofpoetry]

Yesterday evening, just sick of having nothing to look forward to having postponed our holiday to Greece until April, I booked a few Airbnbs to create a bit of a road trip for me and the dc. We'll be leaving in 2 weeks time.

I already knew that Nicola Sturgeon has said she will force travellers from England to quarantine if necessary and all the places I've booked will offer full or 75% refunds if I cancel up to 48 hours before though I will end up losing some money unless I just cancel it all now. I know no one knows, but what do people think are the chances of my having to cancel? What if she brings something like that in while I'm actually away?

Is it a stupid idea? I really want to go somewhere beautiful the kids and I haven't been to before and don't normally get the time because we like to go abroad. Have just seen someone on another thread saying holidays should be avoided in case you get symptoms while away, but dc and I barely go out (I wfh apart from one day a week, and even then can socially distance, kids aren't in school) so I think we are quite low risk. Don't really fancy spending the summer sitting in the house 'just in case' but want to be safe and sensible in what we do. Also drawn to Scotland because I feel the huge outdoor spaces will be safer and easier to socially distance in than some of the more crowded English venues.

AIBU - should I cancel or go?

Depends where in Scotland you go.

I agree with LouiseTrees, it depends where you go. If you go to the far north it might be ok. If you are thinking of the southern half, no way should you go.

@contrmary

I agree with LouiseTrees, it depends where you go. If you go to the far north it might be ok. If you are thinking of the southern half, no way should you go.

And the central belt is chocked full of people.

Just go on your break if places are offering accommodation, Scotland is just starting to open a few weeks behind England but if you are just after a break with a bit of fresh air and what not then why not, remember and bring masks it is mandatory for shops and inside public buildings. Except for some medical conditions and under5s.

I would go, especially if you are planning outdoorsy stuff for the trip.

I'm in Scotland. I highly doubt borders will close, but just ready to cut it short if the guidance changes and visitors are asked to leave.

You have probably read up on it but: masks are compulsory in shops (and people are doing this), historic buildings etc not open, cafes generally (but not all) open where they can offer takeaway or outdoor seats, car parks (eg at beauty spots) have recently reopened, organised outdoor activities are starting to reopen.

I hear the island ferries are difficult, due to much reduced capacity.

Where are you planning to go?

I would personally have just gone to one place, not several, to minimise possible impact.

Sorry but don't come, we don't want you yet!

We'd be very happy to welcome you later in the year tho once your government have got their act together and sorted out the infection rates

We have managed to suppress the virus but people moving about will bring it back. Sorry but for one Year please just stay home and let’s try to kill of this thing!

Just go and have a lovely time. Scotland is open to tourists and needs the £. Remember your masks.

Also moving from place to place isn’t recommended staying in one place if you do come is better. During the summer tourist areas are rammed with people and the locals are worried.

I live in Scotland and I disagree that we don't want you to come. I for one welcome you with (socially distanced) open arms. Things are opening up more and more every week. We need the income that tourists bring for our economy. Scotland is not a completely separate country. We are part of the UK. I would doubt NS could completely close the borders. We rely on the passage of traffic from all England into Scotland for so many things. I believe she cannot stop this happening. Come and enjoy why we have to offer.

Just go. I live in Scotland. Just remember masks for shops. I’m in Scotland and heading myself up north for a holiday in a few weeks. Things are slowly slowly opening up, just be ready for it not being a opened up as england. But those saying we don’t want you are from where I’m sitting the minority. I don’t know anyone in real life that holds that view.

Loads of English tourists where we are at the moment. It’s so nice to feel a bit of normality.

Whereabouts were you thinking of going? I would avoid some of the remoter (island in particular) communities as people may be less welcoming.

OP, I think you should consider the ethics of travelling from a high covid area to a low covid area.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

@PaddyF0dder

OP, I think you should consider the ethics of travelling from a high covid area to a low covid area.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Where does she say she’s in a high Covid area?

Don't move place to place. If you have it or catch it then you will spread it! We aren't. If you must come then stay in one place. i understand your reasoning but imagine if everyone in England who is fed up and comes up here!

And yes there are large outdoor spaces but these are already very busy.
I live in the North and we have been going outwith our very local spaces rairly and at strange times of day because they are so busy.
There are caravans parked at sides of roads and all over the place so I'm sure lots of people have travelled up already.

As is often pointed out on mumsnet, Scotland is a pretty big place, where are you going?

Travelling around is definitely not the right thing to do, go to one place, bring as much of your supplies with you as you can, and try to be considerate of the locals. Wear your masks, take hand sanitiser, clean your hands before and after opening gates etc.

The reason people in the Highlands and Islands are wary of tourists is because the entire North and West section of Scotland has about 3 IC beds and as many respirators and our population are generally much older, so a 'small' outbreak in a community here can be catastrophic.

When are you thinking of going? Everything is pretty much still shut up here, so you might want to wait a month or so.

PaddyF0dder, how do you know whether OP lives in a high Covid area? Many rural areas of England have very low levels, well below the current spike in Galloway for example.
OP, avoid SW Scotland, it’s likely to be higher risk than your home area in England, and avoid cities. But if you’re heading for the highlands, there is no reason at all to worry, and the Scottish economy desperately needs tourists. We are only being kept afloat by the UK bailout money, and we need to get things up and running again.
The (SNP supporting) morons at the border, screaming at English tourists to fuck off, are thankfully not representative of normal decent Scots. Hotels, campsites, tourist venues will be delighted (and relieved) to see you. Many risk bankruptcy if the sector does not revive quickly.

We’re not going to have “zero cases” this summer. Maybe zero deaths, maybe zero hospital admissions (maybe). But all it takes is one person to bring it back in. I don’t think we’ll be shutting the border, unless as part of area-specific lockdowns (like in Leicester).
Likely that rates in much of Scotland will be lower than in much of England all the same!
Given the behaviour of people (often from Glasgow, a higher infection rate area, on day trips to (eg) Loch Lomond, over the last 2 or 3 weeks, I can’t see how it matters if people travel from lower-incidence areas in England.

I don’t think a road trip is ideal, roads will be so busy and moving around increases risk. Depends where (a bit).
I’d not be visiting islands, or anywhere really isolated (Ardamurchan, for instance), as they will have a chance of being virus-free if people avoid non-essential visits. But anywhere in National Park/ Oban/ Fort William/ Aviemore/ North Coast 500 will have plenty visitors.

Some of the areas may be busy for example around Loch Lomand. More so than you might expect.

We're going up to Glasgow from London in August. The hotel is open, and the rooms are paid for so we will lose a lot of money if we don't. We've booked a couple of very expensive dinners as well

Obviously we will be respectful of the rules - we wear masks when we do go out anyway, even though loads of people round here don't bother, and we go out very rarely! But if places are open I can't see why you wouldn't go up.

However, I probably wouldn't do a 'road trip' - stay in one place.

“Also drawn to Scotland because I feel the huge outdoor spaces will be safer and easier to socially distance in than some of the more crowded English venues.“

I wouldn’t bet on that tbh, everyone seems to be out in the same crowded places now the 5 mile guideline has been lifted for walks.

I've moved our Scotland break from July this year to August next year. We'd be driving a long way.
I'm not happy to spend a lot of money on accomodation/petrol when a lot of stuff may be shut and I don't feel like we'd be very welcome so our holiday would be spoilt. Our Air BnB host was lovely and accomodated our request. It also means we have something to look forward to.

I’m just back from the highlands for the weekend. My car parked overnight in a secluded public village car park suffered a mysterious flat tyre. The next day the neighbours blanked us and walked off when husband said “good morning”. Not everyone will be happy to see you.
If you do go with kids, then take masses of food and drinks. Not a lot open and those that are have MASSIVE queues, I’ve heard from a. Friend that Skye isn’t opening up until 1st August.

I don't know why you wouldn't be welcomed EatDessertFirst