The Rough Guide to Scotland 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) [Paperback]

Rob Humphreys (Author), Donald Reid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 2008 | Series: Rough Guide Travel Guides

Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Scotland, your ultimate companion to this stunning country. The full-colour section introduces Scotland’s highlights, from the spectacular wildlife of the Hebrides to the deserted golden beaches in South Harris. Explore the cultural quarters of Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as the open spaces of remote glens, windswept Hebridean beaches and architectural masterpieces. The guide takes a detailed look at Scotland’s history, literature, politics and cultural life with expert background on everything from Mackintosh masterpieces in Glasgow to Munro-bagging in the Glan Shiel Mountains. There''s plenty of practical advice for experiencing the great Scottish outdoors, from whale-watching to mountain biking, sea kayaking, hill-walking and surfing; information on all the best accommodation, transportation and restaurants plus lively reviews of hundreds of shops, bars and clubs. Explore every corner of Scotland with the clearest maps of any guide.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Donald Reid is an Edingurgh resident and has written the Rough Guide to his home town as well as titles to Scotland and South Africa. Rob Humphreys has been writing for Rough Guides since 1989, He is author of Rough Guides to Scotland, London, Prague, Czech & Slovak Republics and St Petersburg.

Product Details

• Paperback: 752 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 8th Revised edition (June 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858280702
• ISBN-13: 978-1858280707
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #848,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The High Road to Scotland..., June 14, 2008

By 

D. S. Thurlow (Alaska) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rough Guide to Scotland 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

"The Rough Guide to Scotland 8" is the very latest edition (June 2008) of a compact and highly informative planning resource for one of the world's great travel destinations. Scotland manages to combine modern, dynamic cities with some of the best-preserved heritage sites of the British Isles and some of the most outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities in Europe.

"The Rough Guide to Scotland" is nicely organized into sections to facilitate vacation planning. An introductory section provides the first-time visitor with some welcome hints on when and where to go, including some can't-miss sites. Next, the guide covers the basics of travel to and within Scotland, accomodation, food, and other travel essentials.

The heart of the guide is a series of 17 regional sections, covering everything from the big cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow to the Central Highlands, remote Northwest Scotland, and the major island groups of Skye, the Hebrides, the Orkneys, and the Shetlands. Each regional section identifies visitor highlights, backed by narrative, maps, graphics, and black and white photographs to assist in putting together itineraries. Information on individual attractions usually includes operating hours and website addresses. Regional information on accomodation and dining are included.

Scotland may offer something for everyone. The cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow have the latest in shopping and modern culture. The famed Scottish Highlands are easily accessible by road or train, yet offer a broad choice of challenge from the afternoon stroll to the week-long backpacking expedition. Edinburgh has a fascinating array of excellent museums, while large numbers of castles, whether intact or ruined, are open to inspection by the tourist. Even the little border town of Gretna Green offers some interest; it was once England's favorite place for quicky marriages, based on a difference between Scottish and English law, for which it drew mention in a Jane Austen novel.

A concluding section in the guide provides essays on history, music, and books about Scotland. Special color sections scattered through the guide address Scotland's unique architecture, festivals, and outdoor recreation. The quality of maps and city graphics should enable the average tourist to do detailed planning. Those planning to drive and/or hike may wish a driving map or detailed Ordnance Survey charts in addition to what is provided in the guide.

"The Rough Guide to Scotland" is written in standard Rough Guide language, addressed to the average traveler and not shy about expressing opinions on which sights are worthwhile and what to expect in the way of manners and customs. This guide is very highly recommended to those interested in planning a fascinating vacation in Scotland, and as an orientation guide to those fascinated by Scottish culture.

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Rough is right, August 19, 2006

By 

Cheryl "Cheryl" (Rockport, Maine USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Scotland, 7th Edition (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

It's good for history, but "Guide" is a very loose translation. I might term it the "curmudeon's view of Scotland" instead. It really gives no guide on how to get around in the country from place to place, it focuses on destinations but the book is not helpful with getting there. The maps are totally inadequate. For example, I wanted to go from Glasgow up to Skye and it was impossible to find what to see or where to stay along that route without consulting a different map and then looking in the Rough Guide's skimpy index for the names of towns along the way (that were only found on the other map I bought). For my purposes this is not a good guide at all. If you already know where you're going and how to get there and what to expect along the way, and just want some history and current facts about what is there, it will be good for you.

25 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very thick book filled with nothing, January 2, 2007

By 

Isaac VanDuyn (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rough Guide to Scotland, 7th Edition (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

I prefer the Let's Go series of travel guides, but purchased this guide because the Scotland section in Let's Go Britain 2007 is fairly small, and I thought a dedicated guide might be worthwhile in discovering more of Scotland.

So far, I am highly disappointed with this guide. It is full of historical, political, and other "social studies" type knowledge, but has very little practical information for trip planning. It is a dry read compared to the eager writing of the Let's Go Britain guide. The authors of this book seem like they are trying to keep an impartial view, which is not really an approach that works.

Prices are not included for most things in the book, which is extremely frustrating and makes it nearly impossible for a person on my (reasonable but not infinite) budget to plan. Additionally, very little information is given on how to reach the sites mentioned in the book. The information given is vague, with statements like, "just outside of Aberdeen," and no further detail. Again, this level of detail is insufficient for planning a successful trip. My time outside of the U.S. is precious to me, and I do not want to spend it getting lost.

The last thing I want to mention about this guide is that because of the lack of any rating system, there is actually too much information. Because no attempt is made to specify which sites are most memorable or impressive, everything in this book flows together. Many places of interest are described, but I am left with the feeling that they are all equally worthwhile (or perhaps NOT worthwhile because of the same-y tone of the guide), and have no idea how to decide which ones I should see. I'm sure they all ARE worthwhile in their own way, but I don't have time to see anything, and some editorial guidance would be appreciated.

So far, I have ended up planning my entire trip using only the small section in the previously mentioned (and highly recommended) Let's Go Britain 2007. If you have a large budget, know little about the history of a country and want to learn more, are willing to give yourself a little time to find places, and do not want any opinion in your guidebook (which some might prefer), the Rough Guide might be for you. It does have a large quantity of information and is obviously well researched, which is why I did not give it 1 star in the rating.

Caveat emptor.