Scotland Travel & Tourism

Planning a trip to Scotland? The best time to vacation is from May to October, which is likely to have the warm and sunniest of weather. No matter when you go, expect to experience some rain, so pack an umbrella or rain jacket.

There are many vacation destination stops that are a must include for any itinirary.

Edinburgh

The city of Edinburgh is captivating from every angle. Plan several hours of time to explore the city on foot, take a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle, and enrich yourself in the history of the land.

Midday take a leisure walk down Royal Mile and Princes Street to enjoy the many shops, restuarants, and local pubs. End the day by heading to the Beehive Inn for an informal dinner with drinks followed by a guided walking tour to discover the colorful characters of Edinburgh.

Highlands

Before taking a tour of the Highlands, stop in Glencoe Village’s visitor center to obtain information packets and see displays of the area. Get ready to start the tour with a trip to Urquhart Castle for a look at the castle ruins, gorgeous scenery, and a panaromic view of Loch Ness.

Take out your camera and follow up with a scheduled boats cruise of Loch Ness and Shiel which includes scenic views, local wildlife, and an anormous amount of Nessie watching.

Shetlands

While in the Shetlands, take a visit to Mousa Broch, known as the finest and most well-preserved Iron Age tower. The next stop is to explore Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement. The highlights of the settlement include Viking long houses, medieval farmstands, oval-shaped Bronze Age houses, and Iron Age broch and wheelhouses.

The trip to Shetland is not complete without taking in the scenery which includes beautiful sheer cliffs, rolling green hills, dreary moors, and numerous lochs and inlets, making it an ideal place for fishing, walking, and cycling. Have a camera ready for encounters with the wildlife. Shetland is famous for their ponies, but travelers can also easily find migrating birds such as the Puffin and seals sunny on the white sandy beaches and rocks.

The cuisine of Scotland is a mixture of cooking traditions and practices. The distinct attributes and recipes are of its own, but share much with other European cuisine resulting from foreign, local, ancient, and modern influences.

Scottish delicacies include:

• Cullen Skink – a hearty soup made from smoked haddock, cream, shellfish, and potatoes.
• Seafood – due to its freshwaters Scotland produces some of the world’s finest seafood. Prized by chefs the world over and high on the export list, seafood items include langoustines, oysters, crabs, salmon, lobster, and scallops
• Sirloin – Scotland has the five best beef breeds in the world including Aberdeen Angus, Longhorn, Shorthorn, Galloway, and Highlind.
• Game – game meats are plentiful in Scotland including pheasant and venison
• Haggis – Scotland’s national dish made up of chopped heart, lungs, and liver of a sheep which is cooked in a sheep’s stomach bag. Popularly served with neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes).
• Scotch pie – traditionally made with mutton and slightly spiced
• Square sausage – a common breakfast favorite is made from a flavored thin square of beef or pork which has been fried or grilled and served in a roll
• Porridge – Scottish oat meal served for breakfast with salt as topping

Enjoy the meal with Scotland’s famous:

• Beer and ale – is usually served in pints and there are many Scottish micro-brewery brews to choose from
• Irn Bru – extremely popular, bright orange-colored, fizzy soft drink that is loaded with caffeine. It is said to be the best cure for a hangover and acidic enough to clean a coin.
• Whisky – notice it is whisky without an “e”. This bevarage is the most famous export of Scotland

The deep dark narrow freshwater loch that stretches for 23 miles between Inverness and Fort Augustus is known as Loch Ness. It is the second largest Scottish loch with a surface area of 21.8 square miles and is approxiamately 755 feet at its deepest point. Loch Ness contains more fresh water than all the lakes, rivers, and reservoirs in Wales and England combined and is considered the largest body of water on the Great Glen Fault.

The A82 which runs along the western bank offers the most stunning views of the loch. Visitors can see rugged hills that climb steeply from the loch’s dark water and savour the beautiful surroundings from the many lookout points along the road. The loch covers a complete circuit of about 70 miles and is considered a challenge to drivers not used to driving on the left. Buses and boats are available for daily sightseeing tours.

Loch Ness is the alleged home of Nessie the Loch Ness monster. Nessie is a mythical creature that is said to dwell in the Loch and has been spotted on occasion by locals and passerbys. The sighting of Nessie leads credence to the remote possibility of potential survivors of the long-extinct plesiosaur which lived until around 65 million years ago.

The local attractrations include Urquhart Castle, the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre, and the Original Loch Ness Monster Centre. The castle may be in ruins; however Urquhart Castle with its four turrets and position at Strone Point offers spectacular views and is the perfect spot for Nessie watching.

The new visitor centre is partially beneath ground level and includes a video theatre, displays of medieval items, a restaurant, and large gift shop. The Loch Ness Centre offers video footage of monster sightings, exhibits of underwater monster hunt equiptment, and a gift shop.

From Easter through December, you can schedule a one hour monster cruise aboard the Nessie Hunter which has been specially equipted with sonar and underwater cameras.

The Isle of Arran is an undiscovered jewel in Scotland’s crown with picturesque landscaping, village shops, culinary delights, cozy pubs, and wonderful accomodations. It is renowned for its wildlife and many species of deer including the Roe and sharks include the Basking are a common site.

The heartbeat of Arran is Brodick, where visitors congregate along the coastal road to view and admire the town’s long curvy bay. As the coastal road continues to the north, Corrie a small pretty village comes into view. Corrie has a hotel, village shop selling sculptures by local artist Marvin Elliot, and one of the starting tracks up Goatfell peak.

Many will concur that the only way to enjoy the Isle of Arran is by strapping on hiking boots to take a challenging scenic walk in the mountainous north or renting a bicycle to cyle the island’s circular roads.

It is not void ofa few tourist attractions. Brodick Castle and Park should be the first stop on any tour.  Keep in mind that only a small portion of the castle is open to the public. At first the castle gives you the initial impression of an animal morgue upon entrance into the hunting gallery with all the prized deer heads displayed on the walls. However, take note of the intricate fireplace in the library and the peculiar table furnishings in the formal dining room. The steep entry fee to the attraction is justified by the extensive grounds with various trails among the exquisite rhododendrons.

On the west coast is the largest village called Blackwaterfoot. Plan on taking a walking tour of King’s Cave and combine it with a visit to the Machrie stones. In Whiting Bay, amongst the small sandy beaches and village shop is Arran Art Gallery; one of the best places to find exquisite landscape paintings and drawings of Arran.

At the end of a long day of hiking and sightseeing, stop it at one of the many legendary watering holes for the local brew and live music.

Everyone loves to share their adventures when they travel internationally. The problem is that making a phone call back home to share those exciting adventures can be very expensive. Depending upon the country you are visiting, a phone call back home can cost anywhere from a few cents a minute to a couple of dollars. This potential major expense can cause many travelers to miss out on sharing some of the exciting adventures of overseas travel with their friends and family. However, there are a few ways overseas travelers can make calls back home without having to spend a fortune.

The first way that international travelers can call back home without having to spend a lot of money is by using a calling card. Calling cards are prepaid cards that the traveler purchases before they travel to their destination. Once they reach the destination the prepaid card has an allotted amount of money that can be used for international calls. These international calls are generally cheaper because the company that provides the calling card will offer a reduced rate on international calls.

Other popular ways international travelers can call home without having to spend a large amount of money on international calls is by purchasing a prepaid cell phone. Prepaid cell phones can be purchased at your vacation destination and can often come with some great plans and even offer the choice of using a simple cell phone or a smartphone. Some of the international cell phone plans that are offered through prepaid cell phones can include unlimited calling to local and international phone numbers and even unlimited text and web browsing.

While calling cards are still popular among travelers, many international travelers are making the switch to using a prepaid cell phone because it allows them to only pay for what calls and texts they make, which allows them to save money while they are traveling.

Located astride the River Ness at the Northern end of the Great Glen resides Inverness. Known as the primary city in the Highlands, visitors overflow the area in summer intent on shopping and sightseeing after a morning of monster hunting for Nessy in nearby Loch Ness.

Inverness is a beautiful place to take a stroll along the picturesque River Ness or schedule a cruise on the Moray Firth in search of bottlenose dolphins. Travel during the month of September and be delighted to hear the sounds of bagpipes since Inverness is the host city for the Nothern Meeting. The Nothern Meeting is considered to be the most prestigious solo piping competition in the world.

Another can’t miss experience is the annual City of Inverness Highland Games in July. The event is a way to celebrate Scottish culture and heritage through music, dancing, and athletics. The highlight of the event is watching kilt wearing sportsmen compete in athletic events including the caber toss, hammer throw, and stone put.

Inverness also has its share of tourist attractions including the Urquhart Castle, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness Castle, and Ness Islands.

Urquhart Castle dates back to the 13^th century. From the fragmented castle ruins, tourists are offered the most majestic views of the deep, dark, and narrow Loch Ness below.

After years of major renovations and extensions, the Eden Court Theatre has reopened. It is known as the Highlands’ main venue for history, art house cinema, and culture events including stage performances of dance, music, drama, film, comedy, and children’s events.

Serving the Sheriff’s Court atop a hill above the city centre lays Inverness Castle. This picturesque castle dating from 1847 has Baronial turrets and pink-sandstone accents.

Of course the main attraction in Inverness is the Ness Islands. Only a twenty minute walk from the castle, no one can resist taking a leisurely stroll along the river, finding an ideal picnic spot, or taking in the mature Scots pine, fir, sycamore, and beech trees.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is historical, cultured, and cosmopolitan rolled together. The city is perched upon numerous extinct volcanoes and rocky crags which sheltered by the Firth of the Forth shoreline to the north.

Due to the Gulf Stream, prevailing westerly winds are pleasantly mild making May, June, and September the ideal time for travel. Rain is always expected but changes quickly from a rainy morning to a sunny afternoon. It is not uncommon for haar, a dense chilly fog to appear but can easily be escaped by heading a few miles inland.

Edinburgh holds many international festivals each year to attract visitors, performers, and artisians. Its firework displays are astounding with ruby and emerald colors exploding in the air as cascades of sparkling streams reflect down the walls of the castle.

Edinburgh Castle is the main attraction which dominates the city skyline. From its ramparts, you can look down to see medieval lanes, sweeping terraces, and the modern capital below. Its galleries present the most cutting-edge art, restuarants, clubs, and bars to create a cosmopolitan flair mixed with a distinct Scottish twist.

Find time in your busy itinerary to take part in Edinburgh’s tradition of climbing Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park. A climb requiring a bit of endurance, it is well worth the hike up the extinct volcano to see the best vantage points of the city and countryside below. Later in the evening head back to the Royal Mile for a walking ghost tour if you dare, followed by a romantic candlelit dinner at The Witchery by The Castle.

Spending a few days in Edinburgh? Don’t forget to sign up for the Edinburgh city pass to enjoy free access to over 25 top attractions and gain exclusive offers for restuarants and shops throughout the city.

If you’re currently planning a trip to Europe, such as Scotland, perhaps you’re like many vacationers. Many visitors to Scotland find that they do not want to leave Europe, which is understandable. However, it isn’t inefficient, in terms of cost, to extend one’s vacation and visit another area within Europe. You can find some great deals on skiing in France, for instance, that can add a lot to your current plans.

Regardless of your level as it relates to skiing, if you’ve wanted to ski France is a wonderful place to enjoy the slopes. On your vacation, you can take skiing lessons to learn how to ski or improve your skill level in the fun activity.

If this sounds interesting to you, you can take a look at some of the many ski resorts in France. The features of these ski resorts can be quite impressive; from restaurant-quality dining as you would expect in France to childcare options for young children, and much more. These resorts make for a number of great activities when you’re not on the slopes or seeing attractions in France.

France of course has no shortage in destinations for skiing vacations. You could head to the Pyrenees near the French-Spanish border or the French Alps which are a must-see if you have never been in this area as well. There are some great deals that you can find to enjoy beautiful and breathtaking locations such as these.

Take the opportunity to consider a once in a lifetime vacation. Perhaps heading to France can make for a wonderful Europe vacation, with another country or two on the list if you have the time. Skiing in France makes for a great vacation option, whether you want to visit one of the most beautiful and romantic countries in the world or need something for the whole family.