We will be driving through the Highlands of Scotland for two weeks in September. We will be in England and Scotland for 5 weeks. My question is about banks. My bank offers services through Barclay Bank. However I don't see any branches in Ullapool or Portree. We plan to drive in the remote Northern Highlands. From Inverness we will drive to Bettyhill (family heritage), drive the coast to Ullapool, drive on to Torridon, then on to the Isle of Skye. This drive will take a week with stays at each place. Any way, what banks will I find in the two larger cities I mentioned? The B&B's I have reserved want to be paid in cash. So maybe while in Inverness I should get cash there? Maybe I should prepay my B&B's before we leave for our trip? What do you think?
Posted by
Glasgow, Scotland
1637 posts
The four main Scottish banks are the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Bank of Scotland, the Clydesdale Bank and the TSB. The Clydesdale has the best notes. Check which your bank has a relationship ship, as you are unlikely to find any of branches of Barclays in Scotland out with the largest cities.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Bettyhill which I went through last week from memory doesn't have a bank, so get some cash in the bigger towns, but best to check with your B&B as they will have good local knowledge, which may save you carrying cash for longer than you need to.
Sometimes pubs and small shops have cash points inside, but you will have to pay a transaction fee to use these. Scottish bank notes are legal tender in England, so no need to separate them. Likewise, English notes are accepted in Scotland. Note that the Scots have £1 notes, whereas these are coins in England.
Bank of Scotland is by far the commonest bank in Scotland.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32683 posts
It is Barclays with an "s".
Their branch finder is at http://ask.barclays.co.uk/branchfinder/
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I have just found a new lovely Internet tool, Nearest Bank. You enter the town that you are wondering about and they tell you where the closes bank is! For Bettyhill they list Thurso, Lairg, Helmdale....
BTW there is a Barclays in Inverness.
Pam
Posted by
Leesburg, VA, USA
340 posts
You should still be able to use the ATM (cash points) at other banks, you'll just have to pay a transaction fee.
Posted by
OP
Redding, California
244 posts
Thank you all for the information ! The web links are very helpful!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23231 posts
......you'll just have to pay a transaction fee...... Not necessarily true. It depends totally on your bank as to the charges accessed. Last week we spent a week in Scotland, used a variety of cash points and pay no transaction fees at any of them. Many of the cash point had a sign that said, "Free Money" meaning no charge by the cash point to use the cash point.
Posted by
Leesburg, VA, USA
340 posts
Sorry, I guess I should have said " usage fee" when using an ATM at a non-member bank partner instead of "transaction fee". Bank of America has Barclays as an international partner, so there is no usage fee when withdrawing funds at their ATM, but if you use an ATM at another bank you'll be charged $5 for each transaction.