How to get a Scottish IP address with a VPN

Going on holiday abroad and still want to access your favorite content on STV Player, use home banking services, or unblock other Scottish-exclusive services? Then you’ll need a Scottish IP to trick websites into thinking you’re still in Scotland. We’ll be discussing how to get a Scottish IP address using a VPN in just a moment.

We’ll also give you a detailed look at a few of the best Scotland VPNs out there. On top of that, we’ll go over a couple of other ways to get a Scottish IP, and discuss why they aren’t the best choice. Finally, we’ll cover some FAQs towards the end of the article.

Here are the best VPNs to get a Scottish IP address:

1. NordVPN: Best VPN for a Scottish IP address. Comes with 440+ UK servers, including some in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Incredibly fast and capable of unblocking STV Player, BBC iPlayer, and other British or global streaming sites.
2. Surfshark: Low-cost option for a Scottish IP. Offers unlimited connections and has servers in Glasgow and Edinburgh, along with other UK locations. Has Nexus tech to provide stable connections anywhere.
3. IPVanish: Fast Scotland VPN for torrenting and streaming. Provides smooth access to Scottish content with its Glasgow servers and has unlimited simultaneous connections.

How to get a Scottish IP address with a VPN

Here’s how to get a Scottish IP address within minutes:

1. Sign up for a capable Scotland VPN. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Download the VPN on your device(s).
3. Open the app and click to connect to a Scottish server (e.g., Glasgow, Edinburgh).
4. You should now be able to access Scotland-only content like STV.
5. If you encounter issues, try clearing your cookies and cache.

How we selected the best VPNs for a Scottish IP

Here are the factors we considered when choosing the top VPNs for an IP from Scotland. We detail our selection process later on in the article.

• Server availability: Providers with Scottish servers and great worldwide coverage made it to our list.
• Speed: Fast and reliable connections since no one wants a laggy online experience.
• Streaming support: Unblocking STV Player, BBC iPlayer, and so on.
• Safety: Military-grade security and strong privacy protections to keep you safe against attacks and data logging.
• Support: Great customer support in case you run into any issues or want a refund.
• Pricing: Cost-value ratio and a headache-free money-back guarantee.

Best Scottish IP VPNs: At a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for a Scottish IP.

Best VPNs for getting a Scottish IP address

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for getting a Scottish IP address:

Sep 2024

NordVPN is the best VPN for getting a Scottish IP. It has 440+ UK servers, including some clusters in Edinburgh and Glasgow. London and Manchester are also included to provide more general access to UK services.

NordVPN has no issue unblocking STV Player, BBC iPlayer, UK Netflix, ITVX, and other British providers. Better yet, its top-notch speeds let you stream content in HD/4K quality without pesky buffering.

It also has 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and full leak protection. For privacy buffs, NordVPN provides a wide array of specialty servers, including double VPN, Onion-over-VPN, and obfuscated servers for bypassing VPN blocks on restricted networks. Needless to say, NordVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy that’s been audited several times.

The VPN is available for all major platforms, whether you’re on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Apple TV, and others. You also get 10 simultaneous connections per subscription, a generous risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, and access to expert 24/7 live chat support.

BEST VPN FOR A SCOTTISH IP ADDRESS:NordVPN is our top pick. It’s fast, highly secure, and can unblock most services you throw at it. It doesn’t log your online activity, has a built-in threat blocker, and comes with a no-strings-attached 30-day money-back policy.

Read our NordVPN review for more in-depth coverage.

Surfshark is a great all-rounder VPN for Scotland, with plenty of servers in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester, and London nearby. You get a total of 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries, with Surfshark’s advanced Nexus technology tying everything together.

This feature leverages the entire power of the VPN’s network to offer fast and stable connections when torrenting, streaming, etc. You can watch STV, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, or live stream sports like Scottish Premiership matches without interruptions.

Security-wise, Surfshark includes industry-standard protocols like WireGuard, AES-256 OpenVPN, and IKEv2 on mobile devices. It also includes leak protection and a kill switch. What’s more, Surfshark lets you connect unlimited devices simultaneously, making it a fantastic option for extended families or sharing with friends.

Surfshark works on all popular systems, including Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, and so on. 24/7 live chat support is ready to answer any of your queries, and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee for good measure.

AFFORDABLE AND FEATURE-RICH:Surfshark offers stable connections thanks to its advanced Nexus technology. Gain access to any streaming site with ease thanks to its 3,200+ fast servers in 100+ countries, and enjoy unlimited simultaneous connections.

Check out this Surfshark review for more details.

IPVanish is yet another affordable way to get a Scottish IP. You get a decent selection of servers in Glasgow, plus London, Birmingham, and Manchester across the UK. Globally, IPVanish has 2,400+ servers in 90+ locations, so you’re not starved for choice when accessing geo-blocked content from other regions.

As expected, you can unblock local services with IPVanish as well, such as STV, ITVX, BritBox, or Channel 4, among others. The VPN performs well so you can access all your favorite titles from back home buffer-free, or download torrents at blazing-fast speeds.

Like Surfshark, IPVanish has unmetered connections, so you can secure as many devices as you want simultaneously. It has reliable apps for most systems, from Windows to Linux and mobile, complete with a kill switch, WireGuard support, and complete leak protection. Additionally, the provider has a strict no-logs policy to ensure your privacy online.

The provider’s experienced support staff are available 24/7 via live chat, and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee if things don’t work out.

FAST TORRENTING:IPVanish delivers incredible speeds, especially in the torrenting department. Has a good variety of locations, unmetered connections, and is decently capable when it comes to streaming.

Head over to our IPVanish review to find out more.

VPN testing methodology: Finding the best VPNs for a Scottish IP

Not all VPNs have what it takes to make it on our list. Many offer poor performance and security or non-existent streaming support, which is why all of our candidates undergo rigorous testing. Here’s what we expect from the best VPNs for Scotland:

• Servers worldwide and in Scotland: Besides having Scottish servers, you’ll want fast servers globally for when you’re traveling, or want to explore international content without interruptions.
• Fast and stable connections: We perform regular speed tests on all VPNs to ensure the best performance, especially when streaming shows and movies in crisp 4K.
• Great support for streaming: Whether you need a Scottish IP to access STV Player, BBC iPlayer, or other UK services, our recommendations get the job done.
• Bulletproof security: Each VPN on our list includes a strict no-logs policy, impenetrable 256-bit encryption, a reliable kill switch, and full leak protection.
• Expert customer service: We’ve selected only providers that offer a hassle-free customer support experience, whether you have questions about the service or need to request a refund.
• Cost-effective: Some providers charge premium prices without providing much value. We favor VPNs that deliver great performance at a fair price, and offer a generous money-back guarantee if we decide to explore other options.

Consult our VPN testing methodology to learn more about what goes into our decision-making.

Why do I need a Scottish IP address?

You need a Scotland-based IP to access local geo-blocked services while traveling abroad, such as streaming platforms (e.g. STV Player, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, UK Netflix, Channel 4), home banking accounts, restaurant and local business sites, and more. It’ll also help you stream Scottish Premiership matches.

Having a way to get a Scottish IP is useful even if you haven’t left the area. Due to how ISPs have data centers across various regions, it’s not uncommon for your IP address to not match your current location, as seen here. In that example, a person living in London was allocated an IP from Scotland, which could occasionally interfere with website functionality.

What are some other ways to get a Scottish IP address?

Tor Browser

Tor is a browser/anonymizing tool that routes your internet traffic through a series of volunteer-operated servers (or nodes) worldwide. Its usage is mostly restricted to boosting your privacy, getting around internet censorship in restrictive regions, or accessing the dark web.

Of course, you can use Tor country codes to connect to a specific region. This means it’s possible to obtain a Scottish IP address if a node is available locally. That said, this method isn’t recommended for a couple of reasons:

• The Tor network is incredibly slow, and not suited to streaming or other data-heavy activities.
• Tor is used by journalists, activists, dissidents, and other high-risk groups. Putting more strain on the network for leisure activities is considered unethical.

We recommend sticking with a VPN if you’re looking to unblock Scottish content and services. You can view a more detailed Tor vs VPN comparison by following the link.

Proxy servers

Free proxy servers are widely available and you could potentially find one in Scotland. Unfortunately, free proxies come with severe disadvantages and even dangers, such as:

• Being easily blocked by Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and streaming platforms in general
• Slow speeds and lack of encryption which leave you exposed to online attacks
• Intrusive data collection, putting your privacy at risk
• Potential malware infections if a hacker injects malicious code into the proxy server.

Use a VPN with Scottish servers to avoid all the hassle. Then again, even Tor is a preferable alternative if a VPN is not in your budget.

Frequently Asked Questions