I'm a female in my early 20's and I'll be travelling around Scotland in April and May for 3 weeks by myself. I don't have the trip planned because I was thinking that I would just go wherever I felt like going at the time. Some people say that for safety I shouldn't go out after dark, go into pubs and I shouldn't really talk to strangers because if they found out I was travelling alone it could be a bad thing. What do you think?
As for what kind of luggage to bring, some people have said that a big backpack is awkward to get on and off trains so I should bring something with wheels. Any recommendations?
I was wanting to go to the Orkneys and I wasn't sure how many days I should go for.
I'm planning on having the train be my main transportation but I realize it doesn't go everywhere, so what are buses like in the highlands? Is the system easy enough to figure out?
Are there any nice places (hotel/B&B) in Edinburgh that are close to the main sights that isn't going to break the bank?

Although not specific to Scotland, if you seach this BB using words like solo and female travel there are many many good threads with tons of helpful hints already posted.

Personally I swear by a 22" rolling suitcase and a medium size tote or pocketbook for train and bus travel.

As for going out at night and talking to strangers, IMO that totally depends on the situation. Some neighborhoods I would feel fine about, some people I would feel fine about... others definitely not. That's an instinct you need to develop for safe traveling, especially if it's not a skill you already have in your everyday life.

I've been travelling alone in Europe since I was 19 and with very, very rare exceptions never felt unsafe. But as Suze has said, you do have to have -- or develop -- a sixth sense of which are safe areas and and which are not.

I don't know Scotland personally, but I would think that never going out after dark or never chatting with a stranger in a pub would be being overly cautious. I would suggest staying in B&B's and trusting your your hosts' advice about where and what to do safely.

Ingy

You're right to not plan. At that time of your year you should let your inclinations and the weather be your guide.
If you follow the advice of the cautious, what bother coming?

Be sensible, tread the middle ground and you'll be fine.

Personally I like backpacks because they leave your arms free, but it's different strokes for differnet folks.

Do go to the Orkneys. Get the train to the top of the line and the boat from Scrabster. On Orkney take buses and you'll find if you're walking you won't even have to hitch. People will stop to pick you up. What are you going for? let that determine how long you stay.

Buses? Highlands? Mmmmmm.... not great. But you'll manage. It's not an easy system to figure out. In Highland Region they've got an on line adviser- I've posted the link before. But that won't cover the islands. But, let me repeat, you'll manage.


You seem a little diffident with all this. My country is one of the friendliset in the world. People will look after you. Smile and ask.

And email me if you think I might be able to help.

Sheila, you are so right - some very friendly people in Edinburgh. Cannot wait to revisit.

I'll never understand why people want to go to the Orkneys. Not a tree in sight, winds that will blow from the North, very cold in May and a sea journey that could well bring up your breakfast. Somewhere in literature there is a poem called "the Bloody Orkneys". Try to reseach it if you don't believe me

It's "Bloody Orkney", actually.

Bloody Orkney

This bloody town's a bloody cuss
No bloody trains, no bloody bus
And no one thinks of bloody us
In bloody Orkney.

The bloody folk are bloody mad
The bloody roads are bloody bad
Good night the bright is bloody sad
In bloody Orkney.

Oh bloody crows, Oh bloody rain
No bloody kerbs, no bloody drains
The council's got no bloody brains
In bloody Orkney.

The bloody things are bloody dear
A bloody bob for a bloody beer
And is it good? No bloody fear
In bloody Orkney.

The bloody dances make you smile
The bloody bands are bloody vile
It only cramps your bloody style
In bloody Orkney.

The bloody flicks are bloody old
The bloody seats are bloody cold,
You can't get in for bloody gold
In bloody Orkney.

No bloody fun, no bloody games
No bloody times. The bloody dames
Won't even give their bloody names
In bloody Orkney.

There's nothing greets your bloody eye
But bloody sea and bloody sky
Roll on the mob! we bloody cry
In bloody Orkney.

It's nonsense, of course. Orkney is a lovely place. Lovely towns, fine scenery, fantastic birds and superb pre-history.