"<i>And any residents kind enough to tell me what time does the sun set nowadays?</i>"

Google is your friend . . .

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...omy.html?n=304

insouciance

Spookily, I used the Glasgow Central to Queen Street Station service today. Walk from the platform straight ahead, past the ticket offices to the left of you and exit at the main entrance on Gordon Street. Slightly to the left again is where the Queen Street bus leaves from. It seems to be on a continuous circle run between the two stations and the journey time took about 6 minutes. The small bus used to be badged SPT but I see now that First operate the service.

bill

I don't worry about traveling by myself in Edinburgh. I don't know Glasgow as well so I am more cautious, but I seriously don't think you have anything to worry about unless you find yourself in the midst of people leaving a football game. In that case avoid the pubs.

My Glasgow list would include the Kevingrove museum. It is centrally located and free. I enjoyed the Glasgow School of Arts tour but I like Mackintosh.

Just saving this for easy-find at some point later on...

Hi,
Just a warning... Even though Feb. is Low season - this is the week-end of the Scotland vs. France Rugby Match (for the 6 Nations tournament), so Edinburgh will be busier than usual for this time of year.
You may want to try one of the city centre hostels like 'Backpackers', where you will be right in the city centre and right near the castle.
I would strongly recommend that you book before you arrive.

Glasgow is a great city too, and it probably won't be as busy this week-end as the match is in Edinburgh.

Thanks for the tip! Do pubs show the match live or is there a place in particular where fans gather to watch the match (other than in the stadium itself?) I watch the occasional rugby so it would be great to soak in the atmosphere

If you can be there, insouciance, try to get a ticket. (there are still some on sale, but they are horribly expensive). The game ends about 5 on Sunday, and you're within 30 minutes of Haymarket Station for getting your train back. Edinburgh will be heaving with French rugby fans, especially along Rose Street. There are rugby pubs, but everywhere will be showing the matches. I don't know if there are TVs in the Cafe Royal, but that would be a good place to start.

Hi again,
Check Hostelworld as it has quite a few dorms in Edinburgh with top ratings and excellent locations including The Royal Mile next to the castle at under 10GBP per person if you are really short of cash. Glasgow seems a bit more expensive but still around 15GBP. I always use Hostelworld and find it very good and I am an older person.

It appears that there are free National Gallery tours in Edinburgh as the web site says. Really wish I had taken the tour but , attendants are very happy to answer your questions if you don't take a tour.
"Blue Badge Guides
Accredited Blue Badge Guides can guide within the gallery, free of charge. Blue Badge Guides are also admitted free of charge to special exhibitions on presentation of their credentials."
Kerry

I'm back from an extremely satisfactory trip

I decided on a whim to go up to Loch Ness and I wasn't disappointed. The Highlands (in general) are by far the nicest place I've been to in Europe, and I've been to quite a number of places in the past few months!

Will try to update with a report soon! (after settling in since sch's starting!)