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Visiting UK? You MUST read this!

Apologies to all if this has already been posted. WILL FOOT-AND-MOUTH STOP YOU IN YOUR TRACKS? Foot-and-mouth disease, a virus affecting cloven-hoofed animals like cows, sheep, cattle, and goats, has spread through England, Scotland, and Wales with lightening speed and is now suspected of having reached France and Belgium. No cases have been reported in Ireland, but measures are being taken to prevent possible contamination. Although the disease doesn’t affect people, we can carry it on our clothes, shoes, and cars. If you’re traveling to the British Isles soon -- particularly to Wales, where the outbreak is most serious -- note that to curb the spread of the disease many events have been cancelled and thousands of country roads and footpaths have been closed, as have many tourist sites: * In England, Stonehenge, Hadrian's Wall, and Blenheim Palace are closed, along with other historic properties/attractions in rural areas. For more info, see http://tips.etravels.net/cgi-bin9/fl...BjIXe0B160sPUv For information about Blenheim in particular, e-mail [email protected] * Britain's National Trust has decided to close virtually all of its historic houses, gardens, and other properties. Find out more: http://tips.etravels.net/cgi-bin9/fl...BjIXe0B160sPVw * Snowdonia National Park farm and grazing land in Wales is closed. * Roughly 50 percent of all British zoos are closed. London Zoo is open, but is off-limits to those who have been on farmland within seven days prior to visiting. * Cars leaving Britain through the Chunnel and via the Kent ferry port may be stopped and disinfected, which usually involves driving through a pit of disinfectant. * National parks in Ireland are closed and farm visits prohibited. The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin is postponed, and in Cork it has been cancelled. Restrictions will be enforced through March 16 at the earliest. For up-to-date information on particular destinations, contact the British Tourist Authority at 1-800-462-2748 or see their website at http://tips.etravels.net/cgi-bin9/fl...BjIXe0B160sPWx Check the situation in Ireland on the Irish Tourist Board site: http://tips.etravels.net/cgi-bin9/fl...BjIXe0B160sPXy For more Travel Like a Pro tips, visit eTravels.net http://tips.etravels.net/cgi-bin9/fl...BjIXe0B160e3tj

Today the US also stated travellers returning from Europe will have shoes disinfected. No import of foreign meat etc. This is important to stay aware of for those of us looking forward to a trip .

The Irish Tourist Board web site is www.ireland.travel.ie where details of what is open & closed are listed.

Please keep topping. Important information for those travelling to the Briish Isles. Thanks to Soluna

While I understand the seriousness of this matter, what are the restrictions on bringing beef into the UK? Where I live, beef jerky is pre-packaged and a real snack treat. Can I bring it with me to tide me over on my visit to the Isles? Thanks, Red

The US airports are using Beagles to sniff incoming passnegers from Europe for meat products. Sealed meat products to theUK would seem OK, however I would check . J

Red : US beef has been banned from sale in UK (& rest of EC I think) for some time due to hormones, but I don't think there is a ban on bringing some for personal consumption. Anyway if they catch you they'll just take it off you, not prosecute you. Beef jerky is available in the UK,but not widely. There is no shortage of meat, in fact there is a glut - many are sending animals to the abbatoir while they are still allowed to move them. F & M does not make meat unsafe.

Is there any indication as to how long the tourist spots (Blenheim, etc.) will be closed? We are planning a trip for late August and may want to change our travel plans. Please send answer to [email protected]

Is there a central place where one can check what visitor sites in Scotland are closing? www.scotexchange.net has a lot of good information about the disease, but I haven't been able to locate a list of visitor sites that are affected. We are planning a trip to Scotland in May (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Nairn/Inverness, Skye, Stirling is our rough itinerary) and wondering how the trip will be affected. Thanks.

From my understanding of the news, until it seems as though F&M has "peaked," restrictions will keep getting tighter. Peaking, I suppose, would be assumed if no new cases were reported for a number of days; I really have no idea. This morning it sounded as if any animals who might have been in contact with an infected animal would be slaughtered now.

thanks for the info, we leave tomorrow. to the top.

to Carol, when will you be Scotland, we are going in May . For information try gouk.about.com it seems to try to keep up to date information and you can email for more. Sheila, how close is Markinch to Kilquonquar ? I manged to get a map of the rail system and it wonder if it is necessary to go back into Edinburgh to go to Perth from say Markinch or Kirkcaldy??? Thanks Joyce