The UK is one of the world’s most popular destinations for international students. A big reason for this is the range and depth of the tourism options available. With an outstanding transport infrastructure and countless attractions, sights and sounds, the UK really is a great place to visit and an outstanding environment in which to study. In this article, Hotcourses international student editor - Nuannat Simmons – introduces you to one of the highlights: Scotland.
For international students who have just arrived in the UK, there are many things to do in the first few days or weeks:
- settling into your new accommodation
- making new friends
- perfecting your English language skills
- writing assignments and making a start on your reading list
- exploring the nearby area
- registering with your local doctor
When all of the above have been sorted, you have settled into a routine and are beginning to feel at home, this is a great time to begin thinking about making a trip to see what the rest of the country is like.
Accommodation in Scotland
The UK is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and has full range of activities and attractions on offer to you. There are plenty of ways to travel cheaply too, so you can do a great deal on a student budget. Cheap hostel accommoadtiona is readily available in both England and Scotland. In most places, you can get a bed for as little as £10 per person, per night.
Top Attractions
Scotland is a country at the very northern tip of the British Isles. Here, the UK’s scenery is arguably at its most dramatic and beautiful. There are major cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, where you can visit fabulous festivals and famous monuments like Edinburgh Castle.
Scotland also has wonderful wildlife locations waiting for you to explore. There’s a variety of wildlife to see, such as puffins, sea eagles, deer and you can even see a basking shark on a boat tour from the Isles of Skye.
Activities
If you want to stretch your legs and get up into the mountain air, try walking to the top of Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in UK) at Fort William, or go fishing for Mackerel at the beautiful sea loch at Ballaculish.
Why not savour the magic and mystery of Scotland’s rugged landscape by following in the footsteps of Harry Potter and jump on the stream train at Fort William on its way to Mallaig? For more details visit westcoastrailways
The Weather
Be aware that the weather in Scotland can change very quickly from sunny and warm to very wet and very cold, so make sure you bring warm clothes with you, even in the summer time.
During peak seasons (June-September) and especially during the major festivals such as Hogmanay or the Edinburgh Fringe, accommodation fills up very quickly, so be sure to book in advance. You can travel to Scotland by car, coach or train or via internal flights, but we recommend going overland, as this allows you to see the landscape change as you head up into the highlands – a truly unforgettable experience and one to savour.
Further Reading
To read a blog from Nuannat about activities in Cambridge, England, click here
or you can read her article about tourist attractions in London.
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