Drone use is surging throughout the British Isles. England will soon host the world’s largest drone “superhighway,” allowing for routine small cargo deliveries across a 165 mile stretch from Oxford to Coventry.  In neighboring Ireland, Dublin is emerging as a hub for “last mile” fast food deliveries, with two drone companies, Manna and Wing, competing for dominance over the capital’s affluent suburbs.

But elsewhere in the UK, especially in Scotland, the most notable applications for drones aren’t commercial – but private.

Drone hobbyists, local and foreign, are flocking to Scotland to take advantage of the country’s spectacular aerial views – not just its rugged coastlines but its remote ruins and glens surrounded by vast mountain ranges.  The rules for drone flying in these areas are fairly loose as long as the flier has registered his or her drone and obtained a proper permit.  Popular sites like Glencoe and Torridon – dotted with Scotland’s famous castles, many of them built atop small craggy islands – offer ideal places to launch and fly your drone.  Unless the land in the area is privately owned or belongs to the National Trust of Scotland (NTS) – and quite a bit might, in fact – you’re usually good to go.  Otherwise you may be able to negotiate advance permission with the landowners or the NTS.

Elsewhere, though – in and about the main cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, for example – recreational fliers may find themselves far more hamstrung.  You need to apply to local governing bodies who may take weeks to review and approve your application.  And the information you’ll need to provide – including detailed maps of the areas of the city in which you plan to fly, a description of your own risk-mitigation measures for flying near roads or buildings, including (potentially) plans to use a spotter or other forms of ground support – may discourage you from even bothering to apply.

Some wonderful sites like Edinburgh Castle are completely off limits.  And even if approved to fly near a number of other prominent tourist sites, you’ll have to observe strict rules regarding safe distancing from groups of people (at least 50 meters) that won’t be easy to observe in crowded areas, especially city parks.  Locals are known to protest the presence of intruding drones, and summoned police are even known to confiscate them, over the protests of their owners.   The upshot?  It’s probably best to stick to the many scenic views available in far less populated areas.

There’s also Wales.   Though less well known for its beauty than Scotland, the Welsh countryside, especially in the southwest, is filled with lush picturesque valleys and its exquisite sheltered beaches – with their calm turquoise waters and palm trees – are often compared to Bali’s.   Drones are still something of a novelty in Wales but the same basic laws and guidelines apply (always fly under 400 feet with remote piloting and within visual line of sight).  North Wales – home to three nuclear power stations – is especially sensitive to intrusions.  Drone fliers must stay a good 5 miles away from these and other high-security installations.  Otherwise, launch a drone somewhere in the scenic Wye Valley and scan the region freely for hours.  As in Scotland, you’ll soon run across dozens of old castles that will remind you of the country’s rich medieval history.  No, you’re not in the tropics after all – but the vistas are truly exotic.

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