From Edinburgh's dramatic hilltop castle to the remote West Highland steam train, a Scotland holiday is a trip through an untamed landscape and noble history. Picturesque fishing ports with pastel-hued houses and the Shetland Islands’ heather-coated hills bring peace and tranquility. Glasgow’s Georgian and Art Nouveau architecture keeps urbanites happy.
Take your loved one’s hand to climb Edinburgh’s extinct volcano Arthur’s Seat for sunset city views. It’s easy to find romantic solitude in the remote Orkney Islands, where you can explore the lonely Neolithic landmarks. In noble, granite-clad Aberdeen, take a romantic stroll alongside the beach Esplanade, then dine on haute cuisine along the Castle Trail.
Kids will love the hands-on exhibits at Glasgow Science Centre, its titanium curves gleaming on the banks of the Clyde. Edinburgh’s summer festivals are packed with family entertainment, from street theatre on the medieval cobbles, to the pipers and drummers at the Military Tattoo. Try and spot the chirruping dolphins and basking seals off Aberdeen’s coast.
Sample the local malt whiskies on the lush hills of Isle of Arran in a cosy bar, where you’ll probably get to hear a live-music session. In dynamic Glasgow, night-owls head to live music bars in the West End’s cobbled mews. Edinburgh enjoys year-round festivals so there’s usually an evening performance, from baroque ensembles in churches to opera at the Festival Theatre.
Wake up to a hearty Scottish breakfast of bacon and eggs with black pudding, and potato scones, drenched in butter. Carnivores will love a succulent Aberdeen Angus beef, and fish fans can dine on succulent smoked salmon from Dumfries and Galloway’s sandy coves. Feast on local venison in Glasgow’s upmarket restaurants.
