Menu
Travel Advice for Visitors to South West Scotland
last updated 13th October
We love welcoming visitors to our beautiful corner of Scotland. In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, it is vitally important for the protection of all that we do that as safely as possible.
Tourism businesses across our region have worked hard to put in place the necessary processes to keep you safe.
So we ask all visitors planning to come to the region to also play your part.
Please stay informed, the UK and Scottish Government guidelines are constantly evolving, so it’s important to be aware of the latest guidelines and advice as it applies to you (see summary below).
Please plan ahead, many businesses, attractions, outlets etc may not be open or have changed their opening hours, they may be limiting access or limiting group sizes etc, so please reach out to them ahead of your visit and check that they are opening and can accommodate you.
Please protect yourself and others by being considerate to local communities and following the Scottish Government guidelines which are there to keep us all safe.
Restrictions in Scotland:
- The Scottish Government wants people to be safe but has not advised that booked holiday accommodation in October needs to be cancelled. They want visitors to think about whether you need to travel, especially if you live in or would be traveling to central Scotland (see details under local restrictions below).
- Bars, pubs, restaurants and cafés are permitted to open during the day from 6am to 6pm for the service of food and non-alcoholic drinks only.
- Hotel restaurants will be able to operate beyond 6pm but only for residents and without alcohol.
- Bars, pubs, restaurants and cafés can continue to serve alcohol outdoors up to the existing curfew time of 10pm and subject to the 6/2 rule on group size.
- Shops must ask customers and staff to maintain 2 metres physical distancing and re-introduce additional measures such as one-way systems.
- You are not allowed to meet up with another household in any home (there are exceptions to this rule for those that live along, non-cohabiting couples, childcare and tradespeople)
- You can meet up with one other household in hospitality or outdoors including in a private garden up to a total of six people (children under the age of 12 need not be counted in the total of six but do count towards the household total of 2)
- Young people between 12 and 18 can meet outdoors in a group of six from different households.
- Stay at least 2 metres away from anyone outside of your household at all times, unless in a specific setting where a 1 metre distance is advised due to additional precautions (eg hospitality). This doesn’t apply to children under 12.
- Face coverings are mandatory on public transport, in shops, tourist attractions, cinemas and pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés when not at your table.
Local Restrictions
There are a number of areas in Scotland which have been placed under tighter restrictions than those set out above. These restrictions are in place until Sunday 25th October and apply to the following regions.
- Ayrshire and Arran
- Edinburgh and Lothians
- Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley
- Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Stirling and Forth Valley
The restrictions are as follows
- All licensed premises, with the exception of hotels for residents, must close indoors and outdoors from 6pm on Friday 9th October to Sunday 25th October.
- Takeaway service will still be permitted.
- All cafés will be able to remain open from 6am till 6pm to support social isolation, but cannot serve alcohol.
- Snooker and pool halls, indoor bowling alleys, casinos and bingo halls will be closed.
- Avoid public transport unless necessary – eg for travel to school or work
- Anyone in this area is advised to think carefully about whether they need to travel outside of the region they live in. If it is necessary, they should plan to do so safely.
Advice and Restrictions for Visiting Hospitality and Attractions.
- If you are showing signs or symptoms, or others in your household are unwell or symptomatic PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL or visit hospitality services.
- If you or one of your party develop symptoms whilst on holiday, please self-isolate in your accommodation and follow the advice from the Scottish Government.
- Please pay attention to and follow all instructions and advice that is provided by businesses and their staff – this is for your safety and that of other customers and staff
- Provide your contact details when using hospitality services to support Scotland’s Test and Protect service, this is a mandatory requirement for businesses.
- Wear a face covering in enclosed spaces
- Keep your hands clean – use the hand hygiene products that are provided for your use, or use your own, before or after you touch any common areas – businesses will also be doing this but regular hand hygiene is good practice and reduces the risk of transmission
- Catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue and dispose of any tissues into a bin and wash hands immediately
- If you go somewhere outdoors and it is too crowded to remain at a distance of 2 metres, please consider leaving and finding somewhere else to go.
- Many businesses are asking customers/visitors to use contact free payment for hygiene regions and some are following a ‘contactless payment only’ policy.
Contact Tracing App
All residents and visitors should download the Protect Scotland app for free from the Apple and Google Stores. The app will alert you if you have been in close contact with another app user who has tested positive for Coronavirus. It supports contact tracing and works through Bluetooth anonymously, protecting your privacy.
Visiting from other parts of the UK
Now the travel restriction has been lifted and accommodation has reopened, you can visit from other parts of the UK.
For those living in areas of England currently under tighter restrictions we would ask people to only travel to Scotland for essential trips to help keep the virus under control. Please stay up to date with the latest advice from the UK and Scottish Governments see links below.
Visiting from outside of the UK
Visitors from some countries are being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Scotland. Please check the list of countries from which you can travel without quarantine restrictions.
Every visitor must provide their journey and contact details before they travel to the UK.
Links for the latest updates:
Scottish Government Guidelines for retail, tourism and hospitality customers
