Menu
Travel Advice for Visitors to South West Scotland
last updated 14th July 2021
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.
Current Restrictions in Dumfries & Galloway (Level 1)
- you can meet socially in groups: of up to 6 people from 3 households in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight
- of up to 8 people from 3 households in an indoor public place like a café, pub or restaurant
- of up to 12 people from 12 households outdoors in your garden or a public place
- under 12s do not count towards the total number of people or households meeting outside but do count towards the number of households indoors
- you do not need to physically distance from family and friends in a private home
- you can travel anywhere in Scotland in Levels 0, 1 or 2 but must not enter a Level 3 or 4 area unless for a permitted reason
- up to 100 people can attend weddings and funerals
Places and business that can open at Level 1 include:
- cafés, pubs and restaurants
- all shops and stores
- all close contact services including hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons
- gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
- tourist accommodation
- all visitor attractions
- all public buildings like libraries and community centres
- all entertainment (apart from nightclubs and adult entertainment)
- stadiums and events – with maximum numbers
Current Restrictions in South Ayrshire and East Ayrshire (Level 2)
- you can meet socially in groups of up to:
- 6 people from 3 households in your home or theirs – and can stay overnight
- 6 people from 3 households in an indoor public place like a café, pub or restaurant
- 8 people from 8 households outdoors
- under 12s do not count towards the total number of people or households meeting outside but do count towards household numbers indoors
- you can travel anywhere in Scotland in Levels 0, 1 or 2 but must not enter a Level 3 or 4 area unless you have a permitted reason like going to work or caring for a vulnerable person
- up to 50 people can attend weddings and funerals
Places and business that can open at Level 2 include:
- cafés, pubs and restaurants
- all shops and stores
- all close contact services including hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons
- gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
- tourist accommodation
- visitor attractions
- public buildings like libraries and community centres
- cinemas, theatres, concert halls, amusement arcades, casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, funfairs and snooker/pool halls
- stadiums and events – with maximum numbers
Testing
Everyone is encouraged to get tested, as around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms. Testing is free and results are available in around 30 minutes. Read guidance on getting tested.
Planning Future Visits
If you are thinking about visiting our region in the future once the restrictions are eased, we want to reassure you that tourism businesses across our region have worked hard to put in place the necessary processes to keep you safe. Any business will be able to tell you whether you need to book in advance and what safety measures they will be operating when you visit.
But we do 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.
Please plan ahead, many businesses, attractions, outlets etc now require booking, have limited access or group sizes etc, so please reach out to them ahead of your visit and check that they are opening and can accommodate you. Some attractions which have been unable to accommodate social distancing rules have remained closed so please check in advance that where you wish to visit is open.
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.
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
You can now travel around Scotland and stay overnight from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
You cannot travel to Scotland from Bedford, Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen. This applies from midnight on Sunday 23 May, and Manchester and Salford from Monday 21 June, this will be reviewed weekly.
Visiting from outside of the UK
Travel from some countries to Scotland is now possible.
From Monday 17 May, a new list of countries with coloured grading will be launched.
- Green – you will not need to quarantine on arrival, but you will have to take a PCR test for Covid-19.
- Amber – you must self-isolate on arrival for 10 days, and take two PCR tests.
- Red – you will be required to quarantine at a managed isolation hotel for 10 days.
You can see all of the countries on the current list.
International visitors will be required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test, taken no more than 72 hours before travel. Further information is available from the Scottish Government on pre-departure testing.
If you’re coming from outside the Common Travel Area, you will need to self-isolate in a designated quarantine hotel for 10 days at a cost of £1,750 per person. During this self-isolation you will be tested for COVID-19 on days two and eight.
Every visitor needs to provide their journey and contact details. This applies to those who land in another part of the UK, and travel on by other means to Scotland.
Find out more on health checks when entering Scotland.
Links for the latest updates:
Scottish Government Guidelines for retail, tourism and hospitality customers
