Scotland – By ‘UnMuseum’

Gulliver’s Jenn’s Travels – By Jennifer Nelson

Seeing Scotland from a traveller’s perspective and listening to our visitors can be an interesting exercise, particularly for those of us who work in the tourism industry, so a big thank you to Jenn Nelson (@unmuseum on Twitter) for her guest post on her time in Scotland.

I arrived in Scotland, in May, to complete the internship requirement of the MA Public History program at the University of Western Ontario. My placement was shared between the National Library of Scotland and the National Museum of Scotland. Being the first student to go on an international placement it was exciting for everyone involved!

Hearing that I had just missed “summer” (which seemingly occurred in April) I waited a few weeks before I really started to travel and see the country, in hopes that summer would return! I eventually gave up waiting and realized that rain was a part of everyday life in Scotland and I just had to suck it up!

One of my first visits in Scotland was to Glasgow. Out of all of the cities I have managed to visit while I have been here, I have to say that Glasgow is one of my favourites. The people are so friendly and the city has a nice, welcoming atmosphere to it. While I was in Glasgow, I took the time to see some of Glasgow’s most recommended visitor attractions; Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Tenement House.  Both are excellent sites to see and you could easily spend a few days in Kelvingrove!

During my time in Edinburgh, I of course got to see the National Museum of Scotland (along with the new section that just opened on July 29) and the National Library. If you’re ever near the National Library, make sure you pop your head in. They have fantastic free exhibits and the one at the moment on banned books is particularly interesting!

I have also visited some other well-worth-the-trip/tweet-these-places such as The Writers’ Museum, The Museum on the Mound, Surgeons Hall Museum and John Knox House. These attractions, apart from John Knox House and Surgeons Hall, were all free. In addition, while touring around Edinburgh, I also visited Camera Obscura and Edinburgh Castle. The only downside to these last two tourist attractions was that they were a bit pricey. It all adds up and being a student, high admission charges were a huge turn-off.

If you want guided tours of Edinburgh – I definitely recommend taking a bus tour. The buses stop just across from Waverley train station, and you have plenty companies to choose from. If you are looking to go a little further afield, definitely try taking a guided bus tour. It’s a lot easier than renting a car and driving around yourself (and potentially getting lost). I definitely recommend seeing The Highlands as there are some great little villages and sites to see. Rabbie’s Trail Burners are a great company to go with and have a variety of trips to choose from.

My top 10 tips for travelling in Scotland:

1. If you’re around in August – definitely get a ticket for the Tattoo and see a few shows at the Fringe Festival. The city is jumping during this time – there’s so much going on!
2. Always take an umbrella or a waterproof jacket. The weather is extremely unpredictable in Scotland, so be prepared for all four seasons in one day.
3. Climb Arthur’s Seat. It’s a bit of a hike, but the views at the at the top are breathtaking.
4. Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the National Museum of Scotland. They’re free and awesome – why wouldn’t you?
5. Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes. There are a lot of hills and uneven sidewalks in Scotland so make sure you have a good, sturdy and comfortable pair of shoes.
6. Visit Loch Lomond. Great views and sites to see here.
7. Take a trip up the Royal Mile and see Edinburgh Castle and Camera Obscura. These sites are a must see.
8. Take a walking tour of the city. There are a variety of great historical walking tours and ghost tours that leave from spots on the Royal Mile.
9. Visit Surgeons Hall Museum. It’s a bit gruesome but extremely cool.
10. Have fun!

Visit Jenn’s blog ‘UnMuseum‘.