Scotland in May

[Abraxan]

We have a rolled over holiday planned for a May half term but can't figure out if it will go ahead or if I need to be making some form of changes once again.

We have a flight to Inverness booked from England.
Then we plan to hire a car to drive the Nc500
We have 4 or 5 hotels booked on route, stating 1 or 2 nights in each.

Does anyone have any vague idea if we are likely to be able fly?

Will we be able to hire a car?

Will we be able to use hotels or should we look to changing to self catering?

I know mostly no one can give a definite answer but wondered how it might work or if it's another one to try and move - goodness knows when til this time though.

Look on the Scottish Government website?

There is a comprehensive plan - and clear dates - for easing lockdown.

We had done so but couldn't find the answers we needed. Maybe it's been updated since our last search. I'll try again.

Not a clue when travel into Scotland will be allowed
I’ve not seen my family in Aberdeen since Xmas 2019 due to covid restrictions and still no closer to booking anything or my parents coming to see their grandparents

I’d be hopeful by then but no dates obvious at the moment

Grandchildren even

So hard for those with family there. Sorry to here it's been so long for you.

My aunt lives in Scotland and wasn't able to get to her mum's funeral in England.
We've not yet been able to take both grandparents asked back to Scotland for their final resting place either, though don't plan to,do that on this visit. Will do that when other relatives can go and by car.

The Scottish government hopes to lift all restrictions on journeys in mainland Scotland on 26 April.

On 26 April:
• all retail premises, libraries, museums and galleries, tourist accommodation would be able to open
• the hospitality sector would be able to reopen outdoors for the service of alcohol, and potentially open indoors for non-alcohol service.

We have booked self catering in Aberdeen the first week in June.

On 17 May, it is hoped that groups of four people from two households would be able to socialise indoors in a private home.

More at www.gov.scot/news/timetable-for-further-lockdown-easing/

Having said that, I don't know if I'd feel confident staying in several hotels and going on a plane. We're driving and self catering. Means we can see family but be safe.

We’re driving and self catering end May, start of June. I’m (reasonably) confident that will be okay, I’d really not have the same confidence in your plan.

Maybe some research into your self-catering options wouldn’t be remiss. Could you change your car rental for a motor home? 😀

@tenlittlecygnets

Having said that, I don't know if I'd feel confident staying in several hotels and going on a plane. We're driving and self catering. Means we can see family but be safe.

Tbh I, not concerned about catching covid.

I had it, was ill enough to be in hospital, in October and both me and dh has had our first vaccination. I should have had my second by then. So the risks to us personally are fairly low. The risks to others from us is fairly low too I'd have thought - we text twice weekly plus we don't really mix loads on holiday.

We stayed in hotels last summer, both in England and abroad. We didn't fly but did use the trains and other public transport.

@womanity

We’re driving and self catering end May, start of June. I’m (reasonably) confident that will be okay, I’d really not have the same confidence in your plan.

Maybe some research into your self-catering options wouldn’t be remiss. Could you change your car rental for a motor home? 😀

Motor home round the Nc500 isn't really advised for the roads. I know lots do it but all the research suggests not.

In October we changed hotels to self catering. We then couldn't go as I was ill with covid. On rebooking we reverted back to hotels so that we could do the actual,route rather than be in one location. Many of the self catering options it needs to be for a week. We are going for 10 days and didn't really one just one base.

We were figuring that if we are allowed to fly then chances are we are allowed to stay in a hotel.

I keep looking and trying to make a final decision in what to do.

If we cancel we lose the flight cost.
Our hotels all have free cancellation but they are seem so nice and welcoming in emails that it would seem a shame to cancel if we don't have to. Their emails give the impression that they want to welcome guests back and, perhaps, need to to recoup their lost income.

Maybe by the next April date we may know more

I’m in Scotland, I’m hopeful the hotels will be open but it may be flying that’s the issue as still illegal. Can you get a voucher for your flights to use again & get the train maybe?

Flying is not illegal. Plenty of my husbands colleagues (oil industry) fly to Aberdeen from other UK airports.

It’s illegal for holidays, work comes under extenuating circumstances

I think it's very likely to be fine. The only uncertainty is the travel from England. ScotGov have said that they hope travel from the rest of the UK will be from 26th April or shortly thereafter. There's a lot of pressure on them to confirm a date ASAP, I'd have thought in the next week or two.

@Doidontimmm actually Loganair dont even actually ask your reason for flying when checking in currently.

Regardless, if holidays are allowed in May, flying will be allowed.

@Pemberleys

Look on the Scottish Government website?

There is a comprehensive plan - and clear dates - for easing lockdown.

There’s really not. Especially in relation to cross border travel

@TweedPig

I think it's very likely to be fine. The only uncertainty is the travel from England. ScotGov have said that they hope travel from the rest of the UK will be from 26th April or shortly thereafter. There's a lot of pressure on them to confirm a date ASAP, I'd have thought in the next week or two.

I thought 26th April was Scotland wide travel then 17th may for UK wide travel?

I don’t think there is a date set for uk travel

I don't believe there's been a date set yet for UK wide travel by Queen Nicola of Covid. It's 26th April for travel within Scotland and she said it was hoped that would include the rest of the UK but it's not specifically mentioned in the road map at present. If it doesn't happen then the next "phase" date is 17th May. I would put money on it being lifted before the elections.

I wouldn’t be sure @emmathedilemma. A lot of her supporters are very keen on the “border” closure.

I would not bet against there being restrictions on travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK at that point.

And even after the 26th, different areas in Scotland will be at different levels based on infection rates. So whilst NC500 is all in one area, I’d that area is in a high level/tier, you may find it difficult to move round.

Whilst it’s unlikely Highland would be under heavy restrictions as it’s sparsely populated, you never know.

My understanding was that when lockdown ends in Scotland, everywhere goes into the equivalent of old level 3, with the aim that by end June everywhere is in level one? But I could have picked that up wrong.

hmm good point @WouldBeGood I'm planning to do a border raid early May, I've reached the point where I'm a grown adult willing to make my own decisions on risk!
The BBC website says travel to elsewhere in the UK "should" be lifted on the 26th April.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53166816

Today's update: travel to elsewhere in the UK expected to be lifted on 26th April www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56733608

@Abraxan
Jacks Self drive are a fab car hire company which I've used for work loads. meet you off the train (I'm sure they have an airport service too) Good value and don't mess you around with lots of extras. I think you'll be fine for May. Enjoy