Scotland as a destination
Scotland is a land packed with beautiful landscapes, dramatic history, and friendly people full of character and good humour, while retaining traditions and customs that may have disappeared in some other parts of Europe. Traces have been left by ancient peoples such as those who built Skara Brae on Orkney in the Neolithic era (between 3,000BC and 2,500BC) and lived in crannogs, brochs, hill-forts and castles throughout the country.
Britons, Picts, Scots, Angles and Vikings have all contributed to the diverse and unique cultures of Scotland which can still be detected today. Descendants of these ancient peoples still populate this country and have created many different Scottish identities in its diverse regions and districts.
In the Western Isles, Gaelic is still spoken, while the range of dialects from Ayrshire Scots to Aberdeenshire Doric, as well as Orkney and Shetland Norse inflections, and not forgetting the fabled Glaswegian patois, all enrich a great experience of the country.
Scotland has a diversity of scenery: the mountains and seascapes of the Western Highlands, the Hebridean islands (all of which have their own unique culture), the cosmopolitan cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the pastoral lowlands of Ayrshire, the rolling hills of the Borders or the red pantile roofs of the East Neuk of Fife.
The country is full of attractions including castles, palaces, brochs (iron age stone towers), burial mounds, standing stones, stone circles, country parks, long distance walks, battlefields, clan visitor centres, highland games, whisky distilleries, iconic golf courses and tv and film locations familiar to us all.
In addition, there are the natural geographic features such as white sandy beaches, heather-clad mountains, scenic rivers and endless sea and fresh-water lochs. And if monsters are your thing, we have at least two, Morag in Loch Morar and of course, her more famous cousin Nessie in Loch Ness – you may not catch a glimpse but it’s always fun to have a look.
The country is alive with festivals, such as Highland Games, sporting events (golf, rugby, football and shinty to name a few), folk, cultural, book and art festivals, battle re-enactments, food and whisky showcases, and the capital’s world-renowned major festivals: The Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Hogmanay Festival in December.
Dependent on timings and locations for your visit, it may be possible to incorporate these events into a wider tour of Scotland.
Alternatively, to escape the biz of the crowds it’s hard to beat a walk on the white sandy deserted beaches of the West Highlands with a view of distant islands and the beach to yourself.
And you’re never too far from good food and drink, with many hotels and restaurants making the most of Scotland’s excellent larder.
As well as being famous for whisky, Scotland now has a plethora of excellent gin distilleries scattered throughout the country. Visits can be arranged to whisky or gin distilleries and to some of the country’s thriving craft and real-ale breweries.
If you are in the right place at the right time, you may be lucky enough to catch a folk session, part of a thriving traditional music scene dotted across the country.
There really is something for everyone.
