visiting scotland?
Meet SaltireBlue | Don't Forget | Speed Limits | Speed Cameras | Emergency Services
Petrol Stations | Currency | Single-Track Roads | Motorcycle Hire | Parking
Are you planning a motorcycling trip or holiday to Scotland? Then why not email us and let us know.
SaltireBlue MCC would be delighted to answer any questions you have. Whether you require suggestions for routes to take, recommendations for places to visit, or simply information about the gay scene in Scotland, we will try and help you as best we can.
Meet SaltireBlue
It is not often fun biking alone. So if you are visiting Scotland by yourself and would welcome the company of fellow bikers for a coffee or a meal, then do not hesitate to get in touch.
Most of our members are based in or around Scotland's major cities, so arranging to meet somewhere convenient is usually not a problem.
We would also like to welcome members of other GLME affiliated clubs to join us at any SaltireBlue MCC event which takes place during your trip to Scotland.
Don't forget...
In the UK we ride on the left side of the road.
You may think, "how could I forget that?" But it is surprising how many tourists we see each summer in Scotland who temporarily lose their memory. This often happens after road junctions when automatic driving habits take-over.
Along many tourist routes in Scotland, directional arrows are painted at regular intervals on the left side of the road to act as a useful reminder.
Speed Limits
All distances displayed on UK road signs are shown as miles and not kilometres. Similarly the speed limits displayed on UK road signs are also shown in Miles Per Hour (mph) and not Kilometres Per Hour (kph).
The UK National speed limit for cars and motorbikes are:
70mph (112kph)
on motorways and dual-carriageways
60mph (96kph) on single carriageways
30mph (48kph) in built-up areas.
The 30mph speed limit usually applies to all traffic on all urban roads with street lighting unless signs show otherwise, for example 20mph, 40mph, 50mph.
If the tachometer unit of your motorcycle has the function to switch its display from kph to mph then we would recommend you do this for the duration of your visit.
Speed Cameras
Across the whole of the UK, all road users must be aware that the speeds at which we ride or drive will be monitored by both fixed and mobile speed cameras.
Fixed cameras are often very easy to see. They are usually coloured with red and fluorescent yellow diagonal stripes and positioned at the left side of a road. Fixed cameras can often be found in urban areas at junctions control by traffic lights.
Mobile speed cameras are less easy to spot. As their name suggests, the camera is mobile, which means it is usually housed within a special police vehicle which moves from one location to another.
A list of where to find fixed and mobile speed cameras can be found on the Scottish Safety Camera Programme web site.
This Programme aims to make Scotland's roads safer for all road users by changing the behaviour of motorcyclists and drives. The Scottish Safety Camera Programme want to ensure that all motorists are aware of the dangers of excessive and inappropriate speeds. The aim of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme is to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on the roads of Scotland each year.
Emergency Services - Dial 999
No one likes to think about using the emergency services, especially when on holiday. However as much as we try to prevent them, accidents can happen.
Should you require the police, fire, ambulance or coast guard services in an emergency situation simply telephone 999.
More information about First Aid On The Road and what to do in the event of a traffic incident can be found at the online version of the UK Highway code.
Petrol Stations
Scotland is a amazing country that contains wonderful roads and breath-taking scenery that will make you want to just keep on motorcycling.
However you should always keep an eye on your fuel gauge. The further away from Edinburgh and Glasgow you ride, the less frequent the petrol stations. So before going for a run it is always wise to make sure that your bike has a full tank of fuel.
Most bikers will use Unleaded petrol. However some petrol stations also provide Super-Unleaded and Ultra-Unleaded brands of petrol which owners of high performance motorbikes may prefer.
Fuel in the UK is sold in litres. Prices advertised at petrol stations show the price per litre in Pounds Sterling.
Currency
In Scotland the currency used in Pounds Sterling.
One Pound (£1) is divided into 100 pence (p). Denominations for coins used across the whole of the UK are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. Denominations for paper-based banknotes are £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100.
In addition to banknotes used in the UK that are produced by the Bank of England, three Scottish Banks – Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland – are all authorised by the UK government to produce banknotes which display their own names and have their own designs.
So when you holiday in Scotland it is quite possible for your money to contain a Bank of England £5 note, a Bank of Scotland £10 note, a Clydesdale £20 note and a Royal Bank of Scotland £50.
The following links will show you the banknote designs currently produced by the Bank of Scotland, the Clydesdale Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Single-Track Roads
No matter where you journey in Scotland, it is almost inevitable that at some point you will have to ride along a single-track road. If you do, great care is needed when traveling along these types of roads.
To begin with single track roads usually do not have any road marking. You will also find that the tarmac surfaces are often inferior to other roads in Scotland.
As single-track roads tend to go over remote hilltops and through dense forests loose debris can build-up at the sides of the road. Sometimes debris can also be found in the middle of the road too!
At various intervals along single-track roads you will reach a section which is wider and has a sign with the words PASSING PLACE on it. This is an area where two vehicles can pass one another safely.
Depending on the terrain of the land, the passing places may only appear on the right side of the road. In which case it will be the responsibility of the vehicle coming towards to pull-in and let you pass.
Another consideration to remember when motorcycling along single-track roads are the people who live locally. It is not unusual to ride around a corner and find a farmer coming towards you in his tractor, a herd of sheep being moved by a crofter from one field to another, or a teenager in a "hot-hatch" driving far too fast.
Motorcycle Hire
Unfortunately there are only a limited number of companies who provide motorcycles for hire in Scotland, and in the UK. So if you are planning to visit Scotland and want to rent a motorcycle once you get here, we suggest you think about this in advance.
Cupar Motorcycles have been providing motorcycle hire for over 10 years and have branches in both Cupar and Perth. Another Scottish company who rent motorcycles is RentaMotorcycle, based in Cambuslang near Glasgow.
Parking
For more information about motorcycle parking, especially within towns and cities, please see the City Parking section of our web site.