Scotland Travel & Tourism

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.

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For a city that only gained status in 2002, Stirling has a great deal to offer. Lying at one of Scotland’s most strategic sites, it has been the heart of many conflicts including the Wars of Independence. For more than three centuries, monarchs ruled in grandier and craftsmen and merchants practiced their skill below the castle rock.

During the day, the streets and footpaths are filled with the hustle and bustle of retail calamity, but by nightfall all disappears allowing for magical twilight walks through the old town. Winding cobblestone lined streets of the old town cling to the slopes beneath the magnificent castle perched high above the city.

Heritage mile, that which links Stirling’s Old Town to the bustling city center, features some of the most finest historical buildings in Scotland. Old Town is flanked by cobblestone streets and surrounded by clusters of mansions and well-preserved medieval and Renaissance churches. A scenic pathway around the Castle and Old Town rivals those of the city walls of Chester and York. Even the Old Town Jail has been altered from a grim looking reform prison into an impressive visitor attraction.

While traveling through Stirling, make sure to visit Bannockburn Heritage Centre to see the dioramas about medieval Scotland or watch the 12 minute audiovisual display which brings the battles to life. The Church of the Holy Rude should be your next stop with it stunning stained-glass windows and massive pillars of stone.

The main attraction for Stirling is Dunblane Cathedral with its elegant sandstone Gothic style building it is the best detour one can take. The last stop on the tour should be Wallace Monument, which is a remarkable Victorian monument to Sir William Wallace. The monument itself contains displays of Wallace’s powerful two-handed sword and a procession of other Scottish heros, while the more than seven battlegrounds can be viewed from the top.

Image by Micah Sittig via Flickr

When going on vacation, you have to consider the safety of your trip. While it’s important to know the nearest hospitals, of if you are traveling out of the country, it’s important to know the embassy location. However, it might be more important to think of the safety of your money. You are always thinking about keeping your person safe, but there are times when it’s good to think of the safety of your money.

When it comes to taking money on vacation, being safe will require you to figure out how to carry your money with you. There are some things to consider when it comes to money on your vacation.

The first thing you should consider is the overall safety of your money. Wherever you have it or however you choose to carry it, you should be concerned that it is safe. This means, in many cases, keeping your money away from your back pocket or always having the zipper on your purse or carrying pack zipped up to keep it from falling out or being taken.

You have to think about accessibility. You have to be concerned with just how much money you are bringing but that you will have enough money when you need it. It’s important that you have the right kind of currency for the area or that you are always carrying travelers’ checks with you when you travel.

You also want to think about whether the money you are bringing fits in with your overall budget. The money you need might be best off in a prepaid credit card. This way, you can spend your money with no worries of going over your budget. You will want to take some cash with you, if just for things like cabs, but either way, these are the things that you should be thinking about when it comes to vacation money.

The Outer Hebrides are Gaelic-speaking island communities where a slower pace of life is welcome and most everything shuts down on Sunday. Also known as the Western Isles, they are more than 130 miles in length comprised of 119 islands strung along the northwest coast of Scotland.

There are many places to go and sites to see in Outer Hebrides including:

· An Lanntair Art Centre is the centre of the town’s cultural life with art galleries, theatres, cinemas, and restaurants.

· Arnol Blackhouse is less a museum but instead a reminiscent historic building that gives you a fragmented look into a lost world.

· The Blackhouse Museum is a traditional 1955 blackhouse (low-walled stone cottagewith turf roof and earthern floor) with beautiful displays pertaining to the village’s rich history.

· The Callanish Standing Stones form one of the most complete stone circles ever found. It is made of 13 beautifully large banded gneiss stones arranged around a monolith with smaller stones shining from the circle in the shape of a cross, and the reamins of a chambered tomb located at the center.

· Doune Broch Centre located in Lewis uses interactive exhibitions and displays to explain the history of the broch and interpet the life of the people who once lived there.

· Lews Castle was built in 1840 for the Matheson family, who at the time were owners of Lewis. The property was gifted to the community in 1923 and was home for 40 years to the local college. The castle which lays vacant is being developed into a museum and hotel. The grounds are open to the public and are the host of the Hebridean Celtic Festival. This four-day extravaganza is held the second half of July for the enjoymnet of folk, rock, and Celtic music lovers.

Everyone needs to take a vacation every once in a while in order to relax from the stresses of daily life and enjoy time with family. There is a lot of planning that has to be done before taking a vacation, but this is even more true when planning to travel internationally. This is because you won’t be able to come home as easily and communication will also take more effort. Here is a checklist of things you need to do to have all of your ducks in a row before leaving home.

• Book all travel arrangements ahead of time (airplane, hotel, car rental, sightseeing, etc.).
• Find all necessary documents, like passports and visas for everyone that is going on the trip.
• Plan accommodations for your pets.
• Ask someone to check in on your home (water plants and get the mail) while you’re gone.
• Plan for financial emergencies by learning about currency exchange and knowing where to get funds from, like GreatPlainsLending. Also be sure to bring a credit card that is accepted in the area.
• Find out where the closest US Embassy is located.
• Buy the proper power converters so you can use your blow dryer, razor, and other electronic devices, or buy new ones while you’re gone.
• Have a backup plan

By planning ahead, you should be more able to enjoy your trip because you will be prepared in the event of an emergency. Accidents do happen, though, so it never hurts to be aware of what can go wrong. This is especially true when you are going someplace that you are not familiar with.

Once you have done all of the necessary preparations, you can sit back and count down the time until you get to leave. Having everything planned in advance is the best way to ensure nothing goes wrong and that everyone in your travel party has a good time.

In 1999, Glasgow was the UK’s City of Architecture and Design and its display of architectural wonders are definitely an attraction. Central Glasgow has Manhattan-style town planning with far-reaching vistas of the city’s Victorian buildings dotted with medieval and present day accents. But it’s the works of celebrated son, designer, and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Art Nouveau Glasgow style that will take your breath away.

The city’s arts scene has been described as world class with over 200 art organizations. The cutting edge productions by the Scottish Opera at Glasgow City Centre and the Scottish Ballet at Glasgow West End along with high profile exhibition attractions led to the city being crowned a European City of Culture.

Museum and gallery enthusiast can enjoy Glasgow’s rich history and art culture by visiting one of its many attractions:

• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
• The Mackintosh House
• The Burrell Collection
• Gallery of Modern Art
• Scotland Street School Museum
• St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art

Some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery can be viewed from Glasgow. Don’t miss the rolling hills of Clyde Valley, the walking country of East Dunbartonshire, and the rich history filled day excursions to New Lanark, Biggar, Greenock, Gourock, Hamilton, and Paisley.

Glasgow is also a shoppers’ paradise with the Italian Centre in Merchant City, the exclusive designer label shops on Ingram Street, and the boutiques of fashion in the West End. Who wouldn’t want to pull out a chair to relax from a full day of shopping onto the cobblestone lined Ashton and Creswell Lanes’ countless cafes and bars?

Winter is a wonderful time to be in Scotland, especially if you are a first time visitor. All around Scotland, from the islands and the Borders, to the east and the west, tourists can enjoy festivals, art exhibitions, and world-class sporting events.

The goal of the Scotland’s Winter Festival program is to bring together people from all over the world in celebration of Scotland’s rich culture and traditions through the finest Scottish arts, innovation, music, entertainment, food, and drink.

The festival events kick off on November 30 with St. Andrew’s Day, includes Hogmanay celebrations on December 31, and concludes January 25 with Burns Night festivities.

St. Andrew’s Day

St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and November 30^th has been designated as the official national day to celebrate. Scots around the world fly the national flag to Saltire , enjoy feasts including eating customary foods such as fish, haggis, whisky, and Scotch broth, and listening and dancing to traditional folk tunes in celebration.

Hogmanay

Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year. It is the time for celebration of the New Year in a way that only Scots know how to celebrate. Events include street parties with live music, dancing, and plenty of drink along with traditional fire festivals and torchlight processions.

Hogmanay can’t be celebrated without the national custom of first-footing which begins immediately after midnight. The custom involves being the first person to cross the threshold of family or friends bringing symbolic gifts intended for luck to the householder.

Burns Night

The festivities end with Burns Night which is annual celebration of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns. Tartan wearing guests enjoy a traditional feast of haggis, turnips, and potatoes are served with malts or blends of whisky. The event is highlighted with bagpipe music, speeches and toasts to commemorate Burns, and traditional readings.

Events are scheduled all around the country including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dumfries, Perth, St. Andrews, and Stirling. Even some of Scotland’s visitor attractions are taking part of the winter festivities with over 65 venues included in the celebrations.

This is where it all began. Saint Andrews is the birthplace of golf, and you can enjoy the course and experience the rich culture of the land by staying in a luxury hotel in Scotland overlooking the plush fairways of the Old Course. The luxury hotel here is just a short walk from the historic town and has a panoramic view of the golf course as well as the rugged coast line.

The old course at Saint Andrews has hosted a number of British Opens that have been won by golfing greats like Tiger Woods andJack Nicklaus. Jacksays there is no other golf course like it, and Tiger says it is his favorite course to play in the world. You, too, will love this trip back in a time to a course that runs along the ocean.

There are a dozen historic courses in and around Saint Andrews that you can play during your visit. There are also a number of other top luxury hotelsto choose from in the region, including the Gleneagles Hotel and Glenapp Castle. These luxurious locations pamper guests and attend to their every need. From your window at Glenapp Castle you can look out onto their lush gardens and the Irish Sea. At Gleneagles Hotel, you will find three more championship golf courses, including the one that will be hosting the Ryder Cup in 2014, the PGA Centenary Course.

You will not be disappointed in choosing any one of these locations for your visit to Scotland. Each has a charm all of its own, but they share the deep history of the region. Even if you are not a golfer, Saint Andrews still offers so much to see and do. There are beautiful gardens and historic churches and museums to tour. Most of the luxury hotels also offer day spas where a wife can be pampered while her husband is out on the links.

As the jewels in Scotland’s cultural crown, the national museums and galleries house some of the most desirable, valueable, and iconic treasures found around the world.

A trip to Scotland is not complete without at least one awe inspiring museum visit to gain an understanding of Scotland through its history, science, art, engineering, and culture.

In Edinburgh, discover the National Gallery Complex with five exclusive galleries including The Scottish National Galley of Modern Art and The National Gallery of Scotland. These museums house the works of artists from Botticelli to Hirst. More must see places in Edinburgh includes the National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Yacht Britannia, and the Museum on the Mound.

While in Glasgow, stop into the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. This much loved cultural landmark is believed to house one of the most extraordinary art collections throughout all of  Europe. The Mitchell Library, built in part by donations from Andrew Carnegie, includes unparelleled collections from Scots authors such as Robert Burns.

Make sure to include Perth’s Museum and Art Gallery into one of your tours. It is home to more than a million exhibits of interest and houses the works of Beatrix Potter and Warhol. The Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum in Aberdeen is home to important fine art collections dating from the 19^th century through present day.

As a final destination to complete this tour of museums and gallery visit Dundee’s the McManus Museum. A most prized and distinguished attraction, the McManus Museum is housed in the most splendid Gothic Revival-style architectural building. On display is an impressive collection of art, history, natural sciences, archaeology, and world culture exhibits.