What Not to Miss in Scotland
Scotland is a country filled with beautiful landscapes, rich history, delicious food (and drinks!), and friendly locals. There is so much to see and do here that it can be hard to narrow it down. Not to mention that Mother Nature can also throw a wrench in your plans, with her ever and quickly changing climate.
Michael and I went to Scotland in September on a combined trip with London. This gave us a short 5 days to explore this amazing country. My best advice is to rent a car. If you’re short on time, like us, it’s a must, but even if you have an extended trip a car is the only way to see the beautiful countryside. Like I mentioned earlier, Scotland’s weather can change quickly and a car gives you the freedom to alter your plans.
So here are my favorite things from our trip to Scotland that can easily be fit in a short itinerary or a prolonged road trip. Enjoy!
1. Hiking
Or as they say in Scotland: hill walking. There is absolutely no better way to take in the rugged and breathtaking landscapes than to engulf yourself in the hills and mountains. The most popular hike is by far Ben Nevis, the highest Mountain in the British Isles. Fort William is the common base camp for this hike. We did not get to hike Ben Nevis due to weather, but are plenty other (and shorter) options to explore:
Old Man Storr, Isle of Skye
Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh
Callander Craggs, Callander
Glencoe Lochan, Glencoe
2. Castles
Scotland is filled with historic and ancient castles of various sizes, styles, and restoration. Each historic landmark tells a story of the people and events that shaped the history of Scotland. Historic Environment Scotland offers 3 & 7 day passes that allow you entrance to over 70 historic attractions throughout the country. If you plan on visiting several of the locations, this is a great deal for you to explore historic Scotland!
3. Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd is Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer found in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland.
The Cairngorm Reindeers are located 6 miles East of Aviemore (which is worth a visit in and of itself) in Glenmore Village. They offer hill trips up to the herd daily from March-December. Please check their website for specifics and closings. There is a 20-40 min walk up to the reindeer, but the views are amazing and once you arrive the reindeer are precious.
4. Home of Golf
St. Andrews Links, The Home of Golf. I’m not a golfer by any means, but the course where it all started was fun to experience. Located on the water and visited by golfers from all over the world (many waiting years for their spot) the links have a charm about them. You feel this history as you walk through the course and can even stand on the iconic stone bridge. St. Andrews itself is filled with golf memorabilia, so even if you don’t know much about the classic sport before you go, you will by time you leave!
Besides the golf course, St. Andrews has plenty more to offer. A quaint college town filled with coffee shops, authentic pubs, and shopping. You can also tour the St. Andrews Castle, Cathedral, and West Sands Beach from the movie Chariots of Fire.
5. Scotch Tasting
Even if you are not a whisky drinker, or drinker at all, I still highly recommend a distillery tour! Scotch is a large part of the Scottish culture, and they take great pride in the distilling process. Made differently than American or Irish Whiskey the tours will take you through the process of what it takes to make a Scottish Whisky.
6. Edinburgh
Edinburgh stole my heart and I could have spent forever in this amazing city. Filled with pubs, hikes, history, and royalty, this city has everything you could want.
As I mentioned early, Arthur’s seat hike is located in Edinburgh and a must do when visiting. You can also visit Holyrood Palace, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland, and historic Edinburgh Castle.
Scotland has numerous other sites and attractions to visit besides those listed here. However, when you are short on time, you must concentrate your activities into a smaller radius. This trip allowed us to spend enough time at each stop to explore and see the sites without feeling overly rushed. I hope you fall in love with Scotland as much as we did!
Want more ideas for things to do in Edinburgh? Check out my post on 48 Hours in Edinburgh for more!
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