Scotland
“In Scotland, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes”. Billy Connolly
Britain’s “second kingdom” offers mountains, castles, and quaint towns galore. Although joined to England since the 18th century, Scots have clung to a distinct culture.
If England is the green and pleasant land, Scotland is the wet and rugged realm. Scotland is to England what Texas is to America, and Bavaria to Germany: a place on the edge, fiercely independent, with its own traditions. In Glasgow you’ll find a lively, modern city, contrasting with the historic charm of Edinburgh. To the north you’ll find the Highlands, home to the Queen’s favourite castle, Balmoral, as well as Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. The whole of Scotland is dotted with stately homes and old castles. These are interspersed with whiskey distilleries, producing the finest drams in the world.
Time it right, and you’ll be here in time for one of Scotland’s many festivals. Burns Night is a must if you’re visiting in January, an evening of music, dance and hearty food. Hogmanay is one of the largest New Year parties in the world. The Edinburgh Festival in summer is a staple of the European arts calendar, attracting big names as well as new talents.
Places to Stay:
Activities
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Abbotsford House, Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Home to the renowned novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford offers an insight into his interesting and fluctuating life. Most famous for The Lady of the Lake, Waverley and Rob Roy, this house was built on his literary career.
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Ayton Castle, Eyemouth, Scotland
Situated North-West of Berwick-upon-Tweed near the small town of Ayton, Ayton Castle is a truly marvellous site worth visiting and a real jewel in the crown of Scottish castles.
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Balmoral Castle, Balmoral Estates, Ballater, Scotland
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to come into the possession of a 1987 £100 Scottish banknote, then you may have noticed a towering, grey stone building printed on the back. This is Balmoral Castle, functioning as a Scottish retreat and holiday home for the royal family since 1852.
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Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland
Just outside the Cairngorms National Park, Blair castle lies within the sprawling Atholl Estates and enjoys spectacular views across Highland Perthshire.
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Bowhill House, Selkirk, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Home to the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Bowhill House has an extraordinary past, playing a significant role in the history of Scotland.
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Cawdor Castle, Nairnshire, Scotland
Cawdor Castle stands five miles west of the town of Nairn. Built in the late 14th century by William, 3rd Thane of Cawdor, it has an ancient and mysterious history. Legend has it that a dream led the thane to build the castle on the site of a holly tree
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Dalkeith Country Park, Via The King's Gate, Dalkeith, Edinburgh, Scotland
Tucked away only five miles from Edinburgh, Dalkeith is a perfect retreat from the city and was previously home to the Duke of Buccleuch. When he was executed for treason in 1685 his widow took over and it’s thanks to her, the Duchess Anne Scott, that this Baroque palace stands today.
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Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland is a piece of history, a work of art and a place for entertainment on the Scottish Queensberry Estate in Dumfries and Galloway. One of the Scotland's top historic houses, the “Pink Palace” owes its name to its 17th Century Renaissance architecture and is home to the Duke of Queensberry.
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Edinburgh Castle
Perched upon the brooding black crags of an extinct volcano, some experts regard Edinburgh Castle is the very reason for Edinburgh's existence.
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Forter Castle, Glenisla, Perthshire, Scotland
Have you ever wanted to live like royalty? Well now at Forter Castle, you can, and with Wi-Fi that too. Just on the fringes of Cairngorm National Park, this bricked beauty of a building was first built in 1560 by James Ogilvy, the 5th Lord of Airlie in Glenisla, Scotland. He built it to protect the Balloch pass route to Glenshee from invaders.
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Glamis Castle, Glamis Village, Forfar, Scotland
Glamis Castle, as it stands today, began being built in 1400 and has been the ancestral home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372. Renowned occupants include Mary Queen of Scots, HM the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, who was born there. It is also believed that the castle inspired Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
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Manderston, Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland
Manderston House is a grand Edwardian house near Duns, Scotland. The house is close to the Scottish Borders, around 25-30 minutes drive from Berwick-upon-Tweed and around an hour and a half from Edinburgh, so you can easily take a day trip there if you’re visiting any of these places.
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Scone Palace, Scone, Perthshire, Scotland
Scone Palace (confusingly pronounced ‘Scoon’) was named after the medieval village in which it was built, in the city of Perth, Scotland. Built in the 12th century at the top of Moot Hill, the crowning place of past kings of Scotland, a visit to these grounds ensures a step into a history, even richer than the plush surrounding greenery.
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The Lighthouse, Glasgow
The Lighthouse, designed in 1895, is a visitor centre, exhibition space and venue in the centre of Glasgow which promotes design and architecture.
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Thirlestane Castle, Lauder, Berwickshire, Scotland
Thirlestane Castle is a truly Scottish castle, steeped in history and seen as one of the ‘Greatest Houses of Scotland’. Thirlestane dates back to the 13th century. Originally built as a defensive fort, Thirlestane has evolved over the years, with the Maitland family rebuilding it into a home in 1590.
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Traquair House, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, Scotland
Traquair has been lived in for over 900 years, making it the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. The 12th-century mansion was originally owned by the kings of Scotland. It later became the home of the Earls of Traquair and is now lived in by the descendants of the Maxwell Stuart family.
