GETTING TO THE ROYAL SCOTS COLLEGE

By Road From Madrid Airport

On leaving the car park and driving in front of the terminal building, follow the signs for SALIDA (exit)/MADRID; once you find yourself on the exit road at the far side of the car park from the terminal, get into the outside (right hand) lane, ignore signs for Madrid Centro and take the cut off for BURGOS/M40 NORTE. The M40 is the ring road round Madrid. If you imagine Madrid as a clock face, the airport is at 2 o'clock, and the M40 takes you (anti-clockwise) to the 10 o'clock position where you take the turn off marked A6 /LA CORUNA. (If you are starting off from Madrid centre - or have come of the N 40 too early - watch for signs to A6/VILLALBA/LA CORUNA)

Staying on the A6, which is motorway standard, you quickly pass through the outermost suburbs of Madrid and go through the tunnel under the Guadarrama Mountains; keep going until you see the turn off for AVILA (follow the BLUE motorway signs) and you will quickly reach the toll booth where you will be charged about 8 euros (at time of writing).

Keep on the motorway until you reach the Avila bypass; look for the Salamanca turn off and join the N501. Keep on the N501 until you come to Salamanca, which is just 100 kilometres away from Avila.

Once you reach Salamanca you will see the river (Rio Tormes) on your right and will come to a series of roundabouts and bridges, which I will now attempt to talk you through. First, a big roundabout with a bridge off to the right (Puente de San José)... go straight through roundabout and ignore bridge; next, another big roundabout with a metal bridge off right; ignore and head straight on; on your right you will see a small stone pedestrian bridge, the Roman Bridge or Puente Romano; next, another roundabout with bridge off right (Sánchez Fabres)... ignore the bridge and take the turn off straight in front to you, which takes you onto a road which has a garden center and then Uni playing fields and running track. TAKE THE NEXT BRIDGE on the right, the PUENTE DE LA UNIVERSIDAD. On crossing the river, you come to a built up area: take the first left immediatele after the bridge; at the foot of the hill take a right; you should pass the FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE INFORMACION on your left; we are the next building on the right; there is a brass plaque beside palm tree at front door: it should read ROYAL SCOTS COLLEGE.

I you miscount roundabouts and get lost in the town, head for the ESTACIÓN DE AUTOBUSES, which is very near us. When in doubt, phone us on 923 254011.

Good luck!
 

How to get here by public transport from Madrid:

There is a bus almost every hour from the bus station in Plaza Conde Casal; the company concerned is called AUTO-RES and the journey itself lasts two and a half hours. The College is very near Salamanca bus station. From Madrid Airport you can join the Metro system; this is very useful if you only have light luggage. Another option is the Airport bus to Plaza Colón in the centre of the city ... and then Metro or taxi. The third (and easiest) option is a taxi; this normally costs about 20€.

How to get here by road from Valladolid Airport:
On leaving the airport, turn right and head for Valladolid city. Before coming to the city itself, take a cut off to the right, A62, which is marked for Tordesillas. Stay on this Motorway standard road (following signs for Salamanca and Portugal) until you reach the Salamanca bypass. Ignore the first few signs for Salamanca and take the cut off marked Salamanca/Ledesma.
Come up the ramp and turn left, towards the town. On the edge of town you encounter a large roundabout. Take first right and continue on till you come to the last roundabout on this stretch of dual carriageway, take a left downhill (past the cemetery on your right). Go straight through the roundabout at the foot of the hill and continue for about 100 yards; after a set of (normally) blinking traffic lights, turn first right, pass a football park on the left, then a residence; the Scots College is the next building on the left.

How to get here by public transport from Valladolid Airport:
While you wait for your baggage, buy a ticket for LINECAR, the service to the city bus station. Once there, go to the AUTO-RES desk and buy a ticket for Salamanca.