Hi, im in Scotland too, where are you based?
When flying for me I make sure the battery in both the phantom and the controller are fully charged. Check where I'm going to fly and see what obstructions are around, and make sure the return to come is set higher than them, don't lose line of sight with your drone.
Keep it in beginner mode for your first flights to build up confidence with the phantom, they are pretty simple to fly. Keep away from any airports or airport flight zones.
Try and start in large open areas, I like to use the beaches here as nobody is on them and you have plenty room to avoid any people.
Try and learn everything the controller can do and as I told a good friend of mine, do not put it in sports mode for a good few flights, he did and crashed it.
Watch for power lines, my other friends P4 lasted 10 minutes out of the box before hitting one and trashing his P4.
Just bear in mind the area you are flying in. I try to take off and land well away from people.
There will be plenty people here who will go into a lot more detail but thats what I do, I've been flying them since the original P1
Enjoy it and keep to the limits when flying.