First minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced the latest indicative phases of relaxation of travel restrictions in Scotland, with July 3rd set as the date for the lifting of the travel distance limit for leisure.
Self-catering holiday accommodation will also be permitted, as long as there are no shared facilities between households. Outdoor hospitality, meanwhile, will be permitted to reopen on July 6th, subject to the Scientific Advisory Group review.
From July 10th, people will be allowed to meet in extended groups outside, with social distancing in place. Households will also be able to meet up indoors with up to two other households, again adhering to social distancing measures.
Children and young people will be able to resume organised outdoor contact sport, while all dental practices will be able to start seeing registered patients again for non-aerosol routine care from July 13th and non-essential shops inside shopping centres will be allowed to open.
From July 15th, hairdressers and barbers can reopen with extra hygiene measures and museums, galleries, monuments, cinemas and libraries can reopen with social distancing and other measures like ticketing in advance.
Ms Sturgeon did say, however: “Let me be clear that each step on this path depends on us continuing to beat the virus back. That is why we must do everything in our power to avoid steps being reversed.
“The central point in all of this is the virus has not – and it will not – go away of its own accord. It will pose a real and significant threat to us for some time to come.”
If you are thinking about a staycation north of the border later this year, what about coming to see us at Walkabout Scotland for an Isle of Skye walking holiday? Highlights of our tour include Loch Coruisk, Coire Lagan, Boreraig and Suisnish, and Camasunary Bay.