We’ve travelled to and around Scotland by plane, train, boat, and
rental car. It’s a great place to visit,
with more interesting things to see than you can ever fit into even a long
trip. In my mind, the Highlands and
Islands (especially the islands!), are the real Scotland , but I’ll admit there are
some interesting things to see elsewhere, including in the cities. So here are a few suggestions for anyone
thinking of travelling to Scotland
– other comments welcome.
Tobermory, Isle of Mull
Getting there – I’ll just recommend trying to get a direct
flight to either Glasgow or Edinburgh, rather than having to deal with
transferring at Heathrow! We’ve also
driven north out of England ,
and once took a train from London .
Staying there – our accommodation has almost entirely been
in Bed and Breakfasts, and we reserve them online in advance. There are lots of other options in urban
centres, but for distant locations, they may be the only option. This fisherman's bothy with a boardwalk out to the beach was one B&B we stayed in.
Getting around – driving in Scotland is easy, and it’s nearly impossible to see the Highlands or Islands without driving, though there are some interesting pre-packaged tours, day-trips or longer (but they tend to have set agendas). As long as you are comfortable driving on the ‘wrong side of the road’, we’ve had no problems outside of the cities. But we drove into
Check out the one-lane road on the Ilse of Mull, below.
Scottish history - I’d strongly advise reading some Scottish
history before you go, to get at least some sense of the rich pageantry of Scotland ’s
past. The story of St. Columba coming to
Iona in 563 to spread Christianity, of the Vikings destroying the coastal
settlements in the centuries before 1000 A.D., of the Wars of Independence
ending in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 (William Wallace and Robert the
Bruce are the two greatest Scottish heroes), of the long line of Stewart kings
and their castles, battles and treachery, the tragic story of Mary Queen of
Scots, all the fascinating stories of Scotland’s history can keep you going for
years!
After James VI of
Below, the Palace at Linlithgow, where Mary Queen of Scots was born.
What was left of the clans were further decimated by the
‘Clearances’, the forced removal of clan members from their homes in favour of
sheep farming. That forced removal fed
the stream of emigrants who became pioneers in Canada ,
the U.S. , and Australia . The Scottish
Highlands and Islands
are now just a shadow of what they were socially 300 and more years ago, but
they’re still one of the most spectacular places in the world to visit in my
humble mind.
Glencoe, site of the Glencoe Massacre
Just stones of the old walls remain to mark the homes of clan members 'cleared' to make way for sheep.
Why bother with this history? Because the landscape you see as a tourist is so much more meaningful once you understand the layers of history that it represents. Reading a little of this fascinating history will make your visit to
What to see – If you’re only staying a few days, I’d pick
Edinburgh over Glasgow, and spend at least a day exploring the famous high
street, from the Parliament to the Castle.
A second day I’d spend visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens, and
climbing Arthur’s Seat (or if you’re not up to that, at least the Salisbury
Crags).
If you're in Edinburgh, check out the memorial to Greyfriar's Bobby!
Other days could easily be spent visiting the coast to the
east as far as Tantallon Castle, St. Andrew’s to the north with its incredible
history, or Linlithgow and Stirling to the west, with their royal medieval castles
to explore.
Below is Tantalon Castle, home of the famous Douglases, with its enormous stone curtain wall facing land. Beyond, protecting it on the other three sides, is the North Sea.
Below is Tantalon Castle, home of the famous Douglases, with its enormous stone curtain wall facing land. Beyond, protecting it on the other three sides, is the North Sea.
The ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, destroyed in the Reformation. Much of the cemetery was originally part of the cathedral; just the twin spires and the wall on the right survive. The square St. Rule's Tower predates it, in existence about 1000 years ago, built to house the relics of St. Andrew, brought here by St. Rule.
Remember, if you’re going in August, the Edinburgh Festival is on. Accommodation is booked up a year in advance, and tickets for the famous tattoo may sell out a year in advance. So plan ahead. This is part of the famous Edinburgh Tattoo, held at the castle in August - tickets bought a year ahead! Mind you, the 'Fringe Festival' in the street is free and fascinating!
If you're like many other tourists, you may be in Scotland to golf or drink whiskey! St. Andrew's is the ultimate golf destination (book well in advance!), and there are whiskey tours in the Highlands and on Islay in the Inner Hebrides.
But my favourite places to visit are in the Highlands or on the
Or you could just follow the west coast from Loch Lomond north of Glasgow all the way to the north, taking in the same islands, as well as the historic
You can return quickly via the main highway from
The possibilities are endless. On our next trip we hope to follow the west coast north, then take the ferry to the
One of the stone houses at Skara Brae - 5000 years old!
Scotland Awaits!
Great post for someone such as me looking to visit Scotland. Do you have a specific book about the history that you would recommend?
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