Things to Do in Scotland

Formed 40 million years before the last ice age, the Cairngorms are especially popular among mountain bikers, snowboarders, sea kayakers and hikers. They’re also a hit with the Scottish Queen: she spends every summer there at Balmoral Castle and Estate.

More than 50 of the Cairngorms’ mountains reach over 2,953 feet, and the national park boasts five of the United Kingdom’s six highest mountain summits. Those looking for a challenge can hike up the summit of Cairngorm’s namesake mountain, while the more leisurely crowd can take the much-used mountain railway to the top. Once up there, remember that it’s a Scottish tradition to take a “wee nip” of whisky. Cheers!

The national park is home to 25 percent of the UK’s native woodland, which is vital for endangered birds like the Capercaillies and Scottish Crossbills who breed only in Scotland’s Caledonian Forest. The primeval-looking region contains dozens of rare animals and birds, including 50 reindeer that were reintroduced to the Cairngorms by a Swedish herdsman in the 1950s. Look out for wild cats, pine martens, red squirrels and ospreys, too.

Arduaine Garden The Arduaine Garden is a coastal garden located on the south slope of the Arduaine Peninsula on the west coast of Scotland. Covering 20 acres, it was founded in 1898 and enjoys the warming effect of theNorth Atlantic Drift. As a result, it is home to a wide variety of flora, including rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, Blue Tibetan poppies, giant Himalayan lilies, palms and tree ferns. Visitors may also spot wildlife such as kestrels, seals, badgers and porpoises.

Two waymarked paths lead visitors around the garden. The shorter, green path leads past several smaller pounds before heading to the larger Heron Pond. The longer, blue path follows the length of the garden before emerging to the Owls’ Walk, which leads to a great viewpoint. It then continues around the top of the garden and back down to the Inside Garden. A stroll around both paths will take around an hour.

The Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve encompasses nine mountains within the southern slopes of the Ben Lawers and Tarmachan ranges in Scotland. The mountain ranges stretch for nine miles and seven of the mountains are Munros – mountains more than 3,000 feet high. Ben Lawers itself is Scotland’s tenth highest Munro and the highest in the Scottish highlands, standing nearly 4,000 feet about Loch Tay. Inaddition to the mountains, the nature reserve is known for its arctic-alpine flora, including many rare and endangered species and more than 500 types of lichen. Visitors can also spot wildlife such as red deer, ravens, black grouse and ptarmigan.

One popular route through the nature reserve is the circular Edramucky Trail that goes around the lower slopes, while another, more challenging route heads up to the tops of Beinn Galas and Ben Lawers.  Great views are possible, of Ben Lomond and Glencoe to the west and Cairngorms to the north. Guided walks are available during the summer months and the best time to see alpine plants and colorful wildflowers is between June and August.

Located just yards from the Old Course at St. Andrews, the British Golf Museum tells the story of more than 500 years of British golf. With more than 17,000 items from the 17th century to the present, it boasts the most comprehensive golf collection in Britain, and is considered one of the best worldwide. A true celebration of golf, the museum’s collections are divided into club life, clothing, leading amateurs, origins of golf, the royal and ancient game, tools of the trade, early professional golf, the Open champions, Olympic golf and the international game. The museum is also home to a large film archive, including the earliest footage available of a golf match in 1898 and Open highlights dating back to 1914.

Items on display in the museum include equipment, trophies, medals, photographs, programs and artwork, while highlights include a ball pattern-making press, Bobby Jones’ flicker books Steve Ballesteros’ shoes, handwritten golf rules from the 18th century and the Ladies Amateur Championship Challenge Cup.

Hairpin bends aren’t just for the Alps. At Bealach Na Ba Pass in the remote Scottish Highlands, you can drive along the greatest road ascent in Britain. Full of twists and turns through the remote Highland landscape, the historic road runs from the pretty coastal village of Applecross right through the mountains up to 2,054 feet, making it the third-highest road in Scotland. 

 

The drive can be a little scary at times, but just take it slow and be courteous enough to use the passing places. Local etiquette on Scotland’s single-track roads is to give the person who "gives way" a cheery wave or raise of the hand to say thanks. 

 

When you get to the top of Bealach Na Ba, enjoy the views across the sea out to the isles of Skye, Rum and the Outer Hebrides. From the top car park, there are some great peaks to explore if you’re an experienced hiker, and as you’re already over 2,000 feet up, half the work has already been done for you.

Reflecting more than 700 years of Scottish history, the 13th century Blair Castle is a must see for anyone visiting Scotland. Spread out over 30 rooms, the castle’s collections provide a broad overview of Scottish life over the centuries. Displays include furniture, artwork, arms and armor, porcelain, embroidery, lace, relics and various family treasures.

Visitors touring the castle learn about the history of the building and its owners, the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. The Picture Staircase is home to the family portrait gallery, while the Tapestry Room features tapestries that once belonged to King Charles I. The 18th century Dining Room showcases local landscape scenes and ceiling plasterwork depicting the four seasons and the Ante Room commemorates the life of the 10th Duke, who gave the castle and grounds in trust to the nation of Scotland. The largest room in the castle, the Ballroom remains unchanged from when it was completed in 1876 and is still used for balls, wedding receptions and private dinners.

The castle grounds are well worth a stroll as well. Laid out in the 18th century, they include a walled garden, a wooded grove, and an adventure playground for children.

Originally built as a Norman defense in the 11th century, imposing Alnwick Castle has been expanded piecemeal over the years, and encompasses medieval, Gothic, and neoclassical elements. The castle—about 85 miles (137 kilometers) from Edinburgh—has caught the eye of location scouts, who picked it to serve as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films and Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey.

Alnwick Castle still functions as the primary residence of the Duke of Northumberland, Ralph Percy, though the property welcomes visitors for several months every year. The castle is a common stop-off on day tours from Edinburgh, which typically make additional pit stops at key sights in the Scottish Borders, such as the market town of Kelso and the ruins of Melrose Abbey. Other organized day tours travel between Scotland and England, combining a visit to Alnwick Castle with sights south of the border in Northumberland, such as Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island and Flodden Field, where a major battle took place between the English and the Scots in the early 16th century. At Alnwick, you can choose between a castle ticket, a garden ticket, or a combination ticket that provides access to the castle and the gardens. 

Alnwick Castle is located in the village of Alnwick in Northumberland, just off the A1 highway, which connects Edinburgh and Newcastle. The nearest rail station is Alnmouth, which is about 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) from the castle. A taxi from the station takes around 10 minutes. The X18 bus also connects Alnmouth to the castle. 

The castle is open to the public from April through October. Summer is the best time to explore Alnwick garden. The estate is at its quietest in the morning. 

During its open months, the castle not only gives visitors access to the staterooms, dining room, library, and guard chamber, but it also hosts a series of free guided tours, demonstrations, and workshops. You can take part in broomstick flying training sessions, join Harry Potter–themed tours, learn medieval crafts, and watch longbow demonstrations.

Famous for its distinctive flavored whiskies and high alcohol content (often bottled at above the minimum 40%), the Ardberg Distillery has been producing whisky since 1815. Despite closing down temporarily in 1981, the distillery reopened in 1997 and has rebuilt its reputation as an innovator in the Scotch whisky scene. Ardberg even hit the headlines in 2011, when it sent a cask of whisky to the International Space Station – an experiment to monitor the effects of zero gravity on whisky maturation.

Today, the Ardberg Distillery is open for guided tours, and visitors can explore the 19th­-century distillery, view the natural water source and sample whiskies in the Chairman’s Study. Also onsite is a holiday cottage, Visitor Centre and the Old Kiln Café.

Scotland’s smallest working distillery has just three distillers handcrafting its ‘Uisghe Beatha’ (water of life), sourcing water from the Chapelton Spring in the Romach Hills near Forres and using Scottish barley in the process. Established in 1898, Benromach Distillery opened and closed several times over the last century before being revived and refitted in the 1990s by bottling company Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin. The now-

redundant landmark red-brick Victorian chimney still remains and a visitor center was installed in the old barley-drying house; HRH Prince Charles officially declared the distillery open for business in 1998. Every task, from maturation in the copper stills to bunging the oak casks, is overseen or executed by hand and Benromach is once more known for creating award-winning single malts, some batches smoked with a hint of peat in the traditional Speyside manner. 

Now firmly ensconced on the Malt Whisky Trail through Speyside, Benromach Distillery is open for guided tours and tutored tastings of various drams; visitors can also bottle their own single malt to take home.

A visit to the Angus Folk Museum is a great way to get a taste of Scottish rural life 200 years ago. Six 18th century cottages display one of Scotland’s finest folk collections, with many items donated by friends of Jean, Lady Maitland, or purchased at sales or auctions.

Start your tour in the reception and shop at one end of the interconnected cottages before moving on to the typical Scottish farmstead featuring a “Life on the Land” exhibition. The Smiddy features all of the tools of a working blacksmith and in the Dairy, you can see what was needed to milk cows and make butter or cheese. There is also a laundry, stable, quarters for unmarried farmer laborers and a large area for spinning and weaving, as well as a Victorian school room with blackboards, maps and an abacus. You can also see a Glenisla hearse – a horse-drawn wagon that was used to carry wealthy parishioners to their graves.

Founded back in 1779, the Bowmore Distillery holds the prestigious title of the Isle of Islay’s oldest distillery and the first of the island’s eight renowned distilleries is often the starting point for whisky-tasting tours. The distillery now has holiday cottages for guests on­site, as well as an award­-winning visitor center and a tasting area within the legendary Bowmore No. 1 Vaults - the underground maturation warehouse, where the whisky is aged in oak casks.

Tours of the Bowmore Distillery are also possible and visitors can learn all about the whisky distillation process, watch as the grain is milled and the malt is smoked used a traditional peat­fired kiln, and discover how the distillery produces 2 million liters of whisky each year, before sampling a dram of the celebrated Single Malt.

One of several peaks in the long-extinct volcanic ridge that towers behind Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat offers hill walking in the heart of the city. Set within the 640-acre (260-hectare) Holyrood Park, it’s also the site of a 2,000-year-old hill fort. On a clear day, the summit promises spectacular views of the cityscape. 

At just 823 feet (251 meters), Arthur’s Seat isn’t exactly Everest, but it is an uphill climb. Climbing the peak is a great way to get some exercise while sightseeing. Choose between several easy ascents that typically take 30 to 60 minutes. Hop-on, hop-off bus tours and private sightseeing tours of the city usually stop near the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Queen’s Drive, with visitors continuing on foot from there. The path from the Holyrood side of the park is scenic but also one of the longer routes to the summit. If you’re tight on time, park near Dunsapie Loch and walk from there instead. Radical Road, which runs along the base of the Salisbury Crags, also offers excellent city vistas. 

A parking lot is located on Queen’s Road near the Palace of Holyroodhouse, at the east end of the Royal Mile. The lot is a 15-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley railway station. The No. 6 bus runs from Edinburgh Old Town to Queen’s Drive. 

Arthur’s Seat is busiest during the summer season, when vacationers flock to Scotland’s capital. Go in the early morning hours to avoid the crowds and witness the city springing to life. It can be bracingly cold between November and April, so dress in warm clothing. 

While you’re in the park, seek out the romantic ruins of St. Anthony's Chapel, which stands on an outcrop near St. Margaret’s Loch and is visible from Arthur’s Seat. Little is known about the chapel’s origins, except that it has existed since at least the 15th century. Nowadays, just the north wall of the crumbling gray stone structure remains standing, bearing more resemblance to a castle than a chapel. 

With a history dating back to 1881 and a reputation for producing some of Scotland’s finest smoky malt whiskies, the Bruichladdich Distillery has long been a popular destination for whiskey lovers. As one of several distilleries on the Isle of Islay, Bruichladdich distinguishes itself by producing gin as well as whiskey, and still using its traditional Victorian­era machinery for milling and mashing.

Regular tours of the Bruichladdich Distillery allow visitors to learn about the historic art of whiskey production, watch the unique process in action and see the giant fermentation vats, before sampling some of the legendary whiskey.

Barry Mill The Barry Mill is a Category A listed watermill located half a mile north of the village of Barry, not far from the town of Carnoustie in eastern Scotland. Found in a fairly secluded area next to the Barry Burn, the mill consists of three floors: a meal floor (the basement), a milling floor and the top floor. The original mill standing on the site was destroyed by fire in 1814 and the current mill dates from the rebuilding. It was commercially operational until 1984, processing oats into oatmeal, and was restored by the National Trust of Scotland in 1992.

Guided tours of the mill are available and worthwhile in learning more about the process of milling grain into oatmeal. Actual milling takes place on Sunday afternoons and uses a pair of French burr stones made in Edinburgh in 1880.

Sweeping through the heart of the Style Mile in Glasgow city center, Buchanan Street hosts some of Scotland’s best shopping, bars, restaurants and cafes.

A hodgepodge of high street and designer names tucked inside some of Glasgow’s grandest Victorian buildings, Buchanan Street is especially busy on Saturdays, when the young and glamorous hunt out new fashions and street performers entertain the crowds.  

At the north end is the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Buchanan Galleries shopping mall, which hosts more than 90 brand-name stores. Toward the southern end, the refined Art Nouveau atmosphere and designer goods of Princes Square draw ladies who lunch. One of the most upmarket retail streets in the United Kingdom, Buchanan Street is also home to the flagship House of Fraser department store, which boasts Scotland’s largest beauty hall and is conveniently located right across the street from Princes Square.

Fans of the late Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh will love Buchanan Street’s Willow Tea Rooms, replete with the iconic designer’s signature high-backed chairs. Look out for Nelson Mandela Place as you shop ‘til you drop; in 1986, the handsome square was named after Mandela in protest of his imprisonment by the South African Apartheid regime.

Believed to be the oldest standing castle in Scotland, austere Aberdour overlooks the Firth of Forth and has its origins in the 12th century. Built of stone and starting life as a narrow, tall ‘hall-house’, it was the work of the aristocratic De Mortimer family and was later fortified and repeatedly extended until the 17th century.

Today sections of the castle’s gently crumbling ruins are open to the public and visitors can wander around at will. The roof has caved in on the older part of the construction but the later additions are better preserved; the chapel retains some of its original stained glass and there’s a quasi-preserved ceiling painting depicting fruit and trees on the first floor of the eastern wing. Adjacent is a fragrant 17th-century walled garden with formal plantings of flowers and a round hive-shaped dovecote to admire.

Recently the castle has reached a brand-new audience as the stand in for Sainte Anne de Beaupré’s monastery in France from the hit television series ‘Outlander’, written by US writer Diana Gabaldon.

The ancient church of St Fillan’s stands right next to the castle and is also worth stopping by; it dates from 1123. Aberdour Castle is included on private ‘Outlander’ tours and royal tours of the palaces of central Scotland, both of which depart from Edinburgh.

Often referred to as the “ship that never sailed,” Blackness Castle is a 15th century fortress sitting on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, not far from Edinburgh. With a long, narrow shape resembling a ship, the castle has been used as a residence, prison, artillery fortification and fortress over the centuries. Technological innovations were made in the 16th century and a cast iron pier with a gate and drawbridge was added in 1868. When the castle was restored between 1926 and 1935, most of the 19th century additions were removed and the medieval era features of the castle were restored.

Though most of the buildings are empty today, the castle is open to the public as a historic monument. An exhibition provides insight into the history of the castle, including information about the powerful Crichton family, for whom it was built. Visitors can also climb the towers or the curtain wall of the castle for sweeping views of the Firth of Forth; the best views are from the central tower. The castle has also been featured in the “Outlander” television series and is a stop on many “Outlander” themed tours.

Brodick Castle is a Victorian estate on the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland. Set against the backdrop of Goatfell Mountain, the castle is made of red sandstone and built in a Scottish baronial style.  The original tower house was destroyed but was later rebuilt and added to multiple times over the years. The castle today features 800 years of history, including collections of porcelain, silverware,paintings, sporting trophies and period furniture.  The castle grounds include landscaped gardens, ponds, waterfalls and more than 10 miles of wooded trails, as well as three national collections of rhododendrons.

Established in 1951, Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve in the Scottish Highlands is Great Britain's oldest national nature reserve. It covers an area of more than 18 square miles ranging from lochs to mountains. The nature reserve is home to many rare plants and protected animals, including red deer, golden eagles, and pine martens. Several hiking trails of varying difficulty are available for exploring the area. Three paths that start near the visitor center are open all year. For those looking for longer hikes, there is a woodland trail that goes through the ancient pine forest, and a mountain trail that climbs into the mountainous terrain and offers a more strenuous excursion. 

Beinn Eighe itself is a huge cluster of rugged mountains, ridges, and scree-covered slopes between Loch Maree and Glen Torridon. This area offers opportunities for more challenging trekking for more experienced hikers.