If you’re planning a family trip around Scotland, there are a few things you’ll probably sort out before leaving home. Where are we staying? Which route are we taking? Have we booked the ferry? And, if you’re driving around the Highlands, where are we going to find a petrol station?
Your phone tends to become part of all of this.
It’s useful for maps, weather forecasts, ferry times, finding somewhere for lunch and checking the opening hours of the next castle. With children in the car, it can also be useful for keeping everyone entertained on a long drive.
If you’re visiting Scotland from outside the UK, it’s worth sorting out your mobile data before you arrive. An eSIM can be a straightforward way to do it.
Table of Contents
Staying Connected on a Scotland Road Trip
A Scottish road trip can look quite different from a city break.
You might spend the morning exploring Edinburgh, then drive for several hours before reaching your next stop. The following day could involve a ferry to Skye, a beach walk, a castle and a campsite somewhere that feels very far from anywhere else.
You won’t always have Wi-Fi when you need it.
Mobile data is useful for checking directions, finding accommodation, looking up a restaurant or checking whether the supermarket in the next town is still open. It also means you can contact your accommodation if your plans change.
If you’re travelling from abroad and need a separate number for a verification code while you’re away, you can get a number for verification with eSIM Plus. Just check the details of the service before buying, as virtual numbers don’t work with every website or verification system.
For most travellers, though, the main reason for getting an eSIM is much simpler: having mobile data without paying high roaming charges.
What Is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM that’s built into your phone.
Instead of buying a physical SIM card and taking out the one already in your phone, you download an eSIM plan and add it to your device.
That can be handy when travelling. You can arrange everything before leaving home, so you aren’t standing at Edinburgh Airport after a long flight trying to find somewhere that sells UK SIM cards.
Many newer phones can also use two SIMs at the same time. You could keep your usual SIM for your normal number and use the eSIM for mobile data while you’re in Scotland.
Before buying one, check that your phone supports eSIMs and isn’t locked to your current network.
Do You Actually Need an eSIM?
Maybe not.
If your existing mobile plan includes UK roaming at no extra cost, there may be little point in buying another SIM or eSIM. Check with your provider before your trip.
For visitors from outside the UK, it depends on your home network. Some plans include generous roaming allowances, while others charge separately for data or give you a relatively small allowance.
It’s worth checking before you arrive.
If your current plan is expensive to use in the UK, an eSIM can be a cheaper option. You can choose a plan based on how much data you expect to use rather than simply accepting whatever roaming package your normal provider offers.
What About the Scottish Highlands?
This is one area where a little preparation pays off.
Scotland has plenty of places with good mobile coverage, but there are also remote areas where your phone might show no signal at all.
You can drive for quite a while through the Highlands without passing a village. Some single-track roads wind through empty-looking landscapes, and there may not be a convenient café or petrol station just around the corner.
The same applies to parts of the islands.
Skye, Mull, Harris, Lewis, Orkney and Shetland all have areas where coverage can be patchy. An eSIM doesn’t change that. It still relies on the mobile network available in that particular place.
So don’t treat mobile data as your only backup.
Download your maps before heading somewhere remote. Save your accommodation details and ferry bookings to your phone. If you’re heading out for the day, make sure you know roughly where you’re going before you lose signal.
It takes a few minutes and can save a lot of frustration later.
Taking the Ferry to the Islands
Island trips are one of those times when having your travel information stored on your phone really helps.
If you’re catching a ferry, you’ll want to know the departure time and where you’re going. Once you arrive, you may need directions to your accommodation or want to check what’s open nearby.
The islands are also exactly the sort of places where you shouldn’t assume you’ll have a perfect mobile connection.
If you’re travelling to the Outer Hebrides, for example, download anything you need before setting off. The journey itself can take you through areas with limited coverage, and you don’t want your entire day’s plans sitting behind a loading screen.
The same rule applies to ferry tickets, booking confirmations and important addresses.
Keep them available offline.
eSIM or Physical SIM?
For a short holiday, an eSIM is often the less fiddly option if your phone supports one.
With a physical SIM, you have to remove your existing card and keep it somewhere safe. That tiny piece of plastic has an annoying habit of disappearing when you need it.
An eSIM stays on the phone.
You can also leave your normal SIM active on compatible phones, which means you don’t necessarily have to give up your usual number while travelling.
There is one thing to check first: your phone needs to be unlocked and compatible with eSIM technology.
What About a Virtual Phone Number?
A virtual phone number is a slightly different thing from an eSIM.
An eSIM is about connecting your phone to a mobile network. A virtual number is a phone number supplied through an online service.
You probably won’t need one just for a Scotland holiday. Your normal number and apps such as WhatsApp should continue to work when you’re using an eSIM for data.
There are times when a second number can be useful, though. You might need one to receive a verification code, register for a service or keep your personal number separate while travelling.
If that’s the reason you’re looking for one, check what the number actually supports before relying on it.
How Much Data Will You Need?
Think about how you normally use your phone.
For maps, messages, weather forecasts and occasional searches, you won’t need an enormous amount of data.
If you’re streaming films in the back of the car, uploading lots of photos every day or using your phone as a hotspot for a laptop, you’ll use considerably more.
Families can get through data surprisingly quickly, particularly if everyone is using the same connection.
Downloading films, music and podcasts before leaving home is an easy way to reduce your usage. Offline maps are worth downloading too.
That way, you can still find your way around if the signal disappears halfway through the Highlands.
What Should You Check Before Buying an eSIM?
Before choosing an eSIM for Scotland, check a few basic things:
- Is your phone eSIM compatible?
- Is it unlocked?
- Does the plan cover the UK?
- How much data is included?
- How long does the plan last?
- When does the validity period begin?
- Is it data-only?
- Does it include calls or texts?
- Can you use your phone as a hotspot?
- Which mobile networks does the plan use?
The last point is particularly worth checking if you’re planning to spend most of your holiday outside Scotland’s cities.
A cheap data plan isn’t much use if its network has poor coverage along your route.
Do You Need an eSIM for a Scotland Holiday?
For some travellers, an eSIM will be completely unnecessary. If your normal mobile plan already gives you affordable UK roaming, use it.
For everyone else, it can be a useful thing to arrange before leaving home.
You can land in Scotland, turn on your phone and get on with the holiday rather than finding a SIM shop before you’ve even collected the rental car.
And if you’re heading into the Highlands, remember that good planning matters more than having the latest phone plan.
Download your maps, save your bookings and keep the important details somewhere you can reach them offline.
Then, when you reach that beach on Skye or finally get to the viewpoint you’ve been driving towards all morning, put the phone away for a while.
There are plenty of better things to look at in Scotland.