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Congestion around Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Forth Road Bridge is becoming a daily occurence. Into-city queues build up from 7:30 to 9am and out-of-city from 4:30 to 6pm. If you can, avoid these areas during the rush hours. Radio Scotland (810 MW/92–94 FM) issues frequent road reports at peak periods.

Not a serious problem for visitors as football is not a summer sport and fans are usually well behaved. However, they can be boisterous and noisy, and cause traffic congestion.

These minute flies, which come in clouds and cause itching bites, are the curse of the west coast. They love warm, windless evenings and boggy terrain. From the end of May to mid-Sep they can pop up to ruin an al fresco evening. Dozens of repellents are available, but the wonder cure has yet to appear. Midge nets are essential for campers.

In remoter parts of Scotland and particularly on the islands, the volume of trade does not justify long opening hours, so it’s easy to be caught out. Don’t assume that shops or restaurants will be open late. And in the Western Isles in particular, Sunday is still predominantly a day of rest (see Sabbatarianism) .

Accommodation in Edinburgh for the August festivals gets booked up months in advance. This is the most extreme case but you should reserve beds and tickets for main events in advance of any festival in Scotland, and also car space on ferries during peak periods.

Scotland’s northern latitude and unpredictable weather pattern mean that conditions can alter rapidly. Winter weather in the hills can be particularly severe and apt to change with very little warning. Avoid getting caught out by taking sufficient clothes for the worst the season could throw at you, and listen to weather forecasts, which are updated regularly on radio stations.

The controlled cull of Scotland’s over-population of red deer is an essential aspect of estate and countryside management, besides being an important source of income. The main “Stalking Season”, as it’s called, runs from mid-August to 20 October. During this period, or wherever signs are posted, walkers are requested to seek permission from estate owners before they take to the hills.

Although theft from cars is not common, it does occur. To reduce the risk, avoid leaving valuables on display when you leave your car. If you lose anything, contact the nearest police station to see if it has been handed in – it does happen!

If you come to Scotland from a country that drives on the right, confusion over the direction in which to look for on-coming traffic can easily catch you out. Use pedestrian crossings wherever possible, and, if driving, take particular care when rejoining a road after a break and when approaching road junctions, especially roundabouts.

The Scots are somewhat touchy on the subject of national pride, and for good reason (see Moments in History) . Take care not to refer to Britain as “England” or – even worse – to Scotland as “England”. The latter is a guaranteed conversation-stopper.