Holidays in Scotland can are available many types together with wildlife watching, tucking into conventional food and drinks, or selecting an adventurous exercise for the entire household! Travelling solo? There are various secret escapes to find, corresponding to wilderness walks and trails. Take your choose! Observe canals, the Scottish coast, or stroll amongst dramatic forests, lochs, and glens.
Both approach, should you head to Scotland for Burns Evening then determine to remain longer fill your time with tales of fable, magic, and folklore, inside Scotland’s contrasting landscapes.
We’re excited to share Scotland’s traditions, wildlife, and high locations inside one of many UK’s most unusual areas.
High Vacation Locations in Scotland
- Edinburgh, Scotland’s historic capital for a high metropolis break.
- Fort William is legendary for being the primary city within the UK to gentle up its streets utilizing hydroelectricity in 1896.
- The North Coast 500 (NC500) from Inverness Citadel and again once more is Scotland’s reply to ‘Route 66’.
- Loch Lomond is the biggest (by floor space) of Scotland’s 30,000 freshwater lochs.
- Loch Ness is the mysterious dwelling of the legendary monster.
- The West Coast of Scotland is the place you could find sandy shores.
- Dumfries, the place you’ll be able to be a part of The Massive Burns Supper Pageant to have fun the lifetime of Robert Burns.
Obtain our high cities to have fun Burns’s night time infographic.
Household Holidays in Scotland
Scottish Holidays by The Sea
If a vacation in Scotland on the seaside hasn’t crossed your thoughts, you’ll be stunned on the variety of areas you’ll be able to go to. There are various miles of dramatic and exquisite shoreline. Go east to search out Fife’s Blue Flag seashores or head North West to observe white horses from the Atlantic, crash in opposition to rugged bays.
Alongside the Western Highland shoreline, uncover all of the bays, coves, and islands among the many Internal and Outer Hebrides, such because the Isle of Skye. Dumfries and Galloway within the south additionally present adventures alongside sandy seashores. Some sit on the sting of historical forests!
Volunteering Holidays in Scotland
A volunteering or conservation vacation in Scotland will provide you with new and memorable experiences. You’ll even be giving one thing again to a local people. Discover a collection of volunteering breaks led by the Nationwide Belief for Scotland and select to take care of or monitor wildlife, corresponding to breeding seabirds on a distant island. Or, should you’re enthusiastic about conservation work, take up an archaeological, cultural, or woodland undertaking to take care of Scotland’s panorama and historical heritage.
Outside Exercise Holidays in Scotland
Should you’re with a bunch, there are numerous adventures to have in Scotland’s wilderness. In winter, meet up with pals within the Cairngorms throughout a ski vacation. In summer season, study to kayak with household within the West Highlands. For a household exercise vacation, embrace mountain biking, canoeing, geocaching, and wildlife watching, whereas studying about Scotland’s myths and legends. Whichever exercise you determine on, observe all security tips and put on/use the security tools supplied. Fortunately Free Spirit Journey Insurance coverage consists of over 100 actions without cost.
Nonetheless, if that seems like an excessive amount of pleasure, enhance your images expertise by immersing your self in a images vacation in Scotland. Drive across the Internal Hebrides and cease to seize nature along with your digital camera (or along with your telephone!). When it’s time to relaxation and refuel there are many incredible resorts to select from, some with alternatives to bask in award-winning delicacies.
Scotland’s Nationwide Meals
To buy a few of Scotland’s finest produce meet award-winning Scottish producers at Edinburgh’s Farmer’s Market on Saturdays who’ll be comfortable to share the place it’s been sourced and made. Strive seasonal greens, wealthy cheeses, and native venison. Then end up some Cranachan. This conventional Scottish dessert is created from oats, cream, whisky, and raspberries.
Suppose one other Scottish custom is frequently consuming a plate of haggis with neeps and tatties? Suppose once more! Scotland’s nationwide dish might seem on many menus however they simply need you to strive it! So begin with some haggis bites.
Scottish Holidays in Winter for {Couples}
See the Northern Lights!
To see the magic of the skies, go to Scotland between December and February. The Orkney Isles is alleged to be the most effective locations to observe the Northern Lights. Nonetheless, when the sky is obvious and darkish, you might also catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis in Shetland, on the Moray Coast, in addition to The Isle of Skye.
The Isle of Skye is a superb possibility as a result of it has 9 Darkish Sky Discovery Websites. As an example, you possibly can spend the day exploring Duntulm Citadel and Talisker Distillery earlier than watching the Milky Approach with a dram of whisky. Should you love astronomy you possibly can e-book a darkish sky vacation in Scotland to go stargazing and go to the Galloway Forest Park in Dumfries. Whereas away, control the Aurora Watch UK web site. You could be fortunate sufficient to be there when the aurora is energetic.
Maintain some binoculars readily available for an Astro journey in Scotland! We now have extra alternatives to see the aurora till 2028. From 2024 there’s been a rise in photo voltaic exercise and eruptions from the solar, together with photo voltaic flares that deliver large bursts of power into area.
Mountaineering and Strolling Holidays in Scotland
In a earlier strolling holidays weblog, we referred to The West Highland Approach as a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. Nonetheless, for a strolling vacation that isn’t as difficult, hike alongside a bit of the Nice Glen Approach, which runs from Fort William to Inverness. By following the Caledonian Canal and forest tracks you’ll be able to relaxation at Loch Lochy with a picnic and look out for the well-known, legendary monster at Lock Ness.
The Abriachan Eco Campsite Cafe is the very best inhabited croft in Scotland. Additionally, there’s a collection of nice pubs and Inns to remain in alongside the Nice Glen Approach. The place higher to relaxation after a day’s strolling, maybe with a scorching toddy in hand, subsequent to a roaring fireplace?
Scottish Holidays for solo travellers
Holidays in Scotland for you and your canine
A Scottish canine strolling vacation will be relished by strolling throughout Scotland’s vivid landscapes. Take your choose! Strive a low-level 3-mile stroll round Loch an Eilein or discover a longtime footpath, alongside the Scottish Nationwide Path. For simple strolling observe the part via the Borders and alongside the canal towpaths.
For one thing more difficult, plan for a trek down the Cape Wrath Path – Scotland’s wild north. Keep in mind that Free Spirit’s Exercise Pack 2 will cowl climbing, mountain strolling, or trekking as much as 2,000m however you’ll want to finish it whereas in an organised group.
Scotland Golf Holidays
It shouldn’t be a shock that there are over 550 golf programs in Scotland. Golf derived in Scotland from a recreation performed alongside the jap coast. After King James IV of Scotland turned the primary {golfing} monarch (1502), golf grew in recognition. At present, one of the best months to play golf in Scotland are April, Might, and June. One of many oldest programs on the planet is Musselburgh Hyperlinks, in East Lothian.
Coupled with a while spent on the spa after a spherical or two a golf vacation will be one of many extra wholesome and enjoyable journey decisions.
Horse using holidays in Scotland
Escape into Scotland’s dramatic surroundings on horseback, throughout a horse care or path using vacation. Should you’re a newbie, spend a couple of days studying the best way to take care of and groom a horse. You may also e-book a using lesson. Then trot among the many Glens in Crieff, Perthshire, or throughout the Crimson Level seashores on the Western Isles. For these extra skilled, spend per week exploring the paths of Knoydart, West Highlands, or the Mull of Kintyre. Right here the terrain is various and an excellent stage of health will likely be required.
The best way to get to Scotland
Like several vacation, it’s your alternative in terms of travelling there and again once more. Should you reside in northern England, you is perhaps comfortable leaping within the automotive to start a self-drive vacation in Scotland the place can discover secret sights. Why not discover some off-the-beaten-track areas? Nonetheless, should you reside additional away, it is perhaps simpler to get there by reserving a coach, prepare, or journey by air.
When travelling from the south of the UK, make your method to London earlier than reserving a direct flight to considered one of Scotland’s main cities. A flight from London to Edinburgh will take between 60-90 minutes. You may also fly direct to Glasgow. To start your vacation within the Scottish Highlands, take a flight to Inverness or Aberdeen. Should you select to fly, most locations are served by Loganair.
You may also journey to Scotland by prepare from Birmingham or London Euston.
Prepare followers might want to expertise a swift in a single day journey (and high hospitality) by boarding the Caledonian Sleeper prepare at bedtime from Euston. You’ll be able to select to wake in a number of of Scotland’s greatest cities from Glasgow to Inverness after a hearty Scottish breakfast served within the eating carriage.
However, plan a Scotland vacation on the rail by testing considered one of Scotland’s Nice Scenic Rail Journeys. 2025 has been named the 12 months of the prepare as a result of it’s 200 years for the reason that begin of rail journey. So, look out for some rail-related occasions round Scotland too!
Scotland’s Uncommon and Quirky Vacation Lodging
Calm down throughout your vacation in Scotland by staying in a log cabin, caravan, or self-catering cottage. Nonetheless, listed here are some quirky lodging concepts to get you excited!
Get in contact with nature! Keep in a yurt amongst Scotland’s rolling hills and heather. You could find a yurt vacation alongside the coast, or round a farm. Both approach, there’s no want for tent pegs – simply easy glamour.
Do self-catering in a log cabin with spectacular views of a loch! Right here you’ll be able to disguise from the hustle and bustle of life. Should you like the thought of a luxurious lodge with a log burner and BBQ, you may have the chance to remain cosy all 12 months spherical.
Improve your journey by staying in one thing distinctive. A keep in a Sky Shepherd Hut is full with electrical heating, blankets, and plug sockets. All mod cons will likely be supplied as you drift off within the Isle of Skye’s rugged panorama. Get pleasure from peace and look out for wild donkeys!
Should you’re on the lookout for lodging some place else that’s simply as uncommon learn our uncommon staycation concepts weblog.
Journey Insurance coverage for Holidays in Scotland
We hope we’ve got impressed you to e-book a singular vacation in Scotland. Give your self the liberty to plan, create and e-book your break the way in which you need to! There are various vacation packages to select from. Simply don’t neglect Free Spirit Journey Insurance coverage and all the advantages it might give you.
