Thanks to our vibrant culture and unrivalled countryside, Scotland is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination. Whatever the time of year, there's a good reason to come to Scotland. Visitors can experience our Hogmanay, attend a Burns Supper, explore the architecture of Rennie Mackintosh, sample some whisky, visit a Highland games or get married in a Scottish castle! Peruse the list below for inspiration for your stay in Scotland...
Burns Supper
Scots have given the world many great things but one thing that's often missed off the roll call of achievement is the Burns Supper, the annual celebration of the life and work of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns. Ranging in style from the formal and rather stiff to the intimate and casual, all share the desire to commemorate one of the greatest poets the English language has known.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Credited with pioneering the Modern Movement in Scotland, Mackintosh was respected around the world yet, for a time, seemed a forgotten man in his native land. Ironically, having died almost as an unknown, his distinctive designs are now exhibited in museums around the globe and have spawned an entire genre of merchandise that pays homage to his originality.
Gaelic Scotland
Gaelic and its related culture are among Scotland's greatest treasures and both have had a profound influence on the nation's social history. Today Gaelic is spoken in communities in the north-west of the country. Though the number of native speakers has fallen gradually over the past couple of centuries, Gaelic and its culture have never attracted quite the amount of interest as they do today.
Scotland's Gardens
In spite of its northerly latitude, Scotland is blessed with an astonishing range of micro climates which allow a breathtaking variety of flowering plants to thrive in every corner of the country. In hundreds of gardens, ranging from Edinburgh's world-renowned Royal Botanic Garden to the small private gardens that open as part of Scotland's Garden Scheme, plant-lovers can revel in captivating combinations of colour and scent.
Highland Games
Any trip to Scotland during the summer months just wouldn't be complete without a visit to at least one Highland games. The games, which take place from Aberfeldy to Tomintoul, are a unique mix of the sporting, the cultural and the social. They usually comprise a programme of field and track events, piping and Highland dancing competitions and 'heavy events'.
History Written in Stone
How much do you know about Scotland's history? Walk in the footsteps of our ancestors by visiting one of Scotland's historic attractions. Capturing the nation's history, each property promises visitors a memorable experience and a slice of Scotland's story. From prehistoric standing stones and medieval abbeys to impressive gardens and magnificent castles, Scotland's rich heritage sites offer an escape into another world.
Hogmanay
Looking for a new year break? Scottish new year holidays are very popular. In Scotland, new year's eve is known as Hogmanay and is enthusiastically celebrated every year from Shetland to the Borders. Edinburgh and Glasgow are the main focus for partying, playing host to elaborate open air concerts and massive street parties. Festivities start in the early evening and reach a climax when the bells chime at the turn of midnight.
Literary Scotland
For those looking for a literary experience, Scotland has much to offer. The capitial city, Edinburgh, is known to be a book lover's paradise. Recently named UNESCO's first City of Literature, every August the city hosts the Edinburgh International Book Festival - the world's biggest book festival - in Charlotte Square Gardens. There are many other literary events throughout Scotland to choose from...
Mysterious Scotland
Given its rich - and often bloody - history, it's no surprise that Scotland has more than its fair share of myths and legends. Sitting in the comfort and safety of our home, it's easy to dismiss these as little more than good fireside tales, the product of an over-fertile imagination and too many drams... but sometimes we experience something different from the everyday reality in which we are grounded...
Scotland's Larder
Scotland's larder has always overflowed with some of the finest produce to be found anywhere in the British Isles - and in some cases, further afield. Chefs can draw on the best quality ingredients from both land and sea to produce traditional and contemporary menus across a wide range of culinary styles, offering you gastronomic experiences of the highest order.
Summer in Scotland
One of the many pleasant surprises awaiting visitors to Scotland is the sheer number and diversity of events that such a relatively small country has on offer. During the summer months particularly, there is a huge range of events that reflect both our contemporary culture and our rich history and heritage. Whatever your particular passion, you're guaranteed to find it being celebrated in a top-class event somewhere across the country.
Touring Scotland
As a place to visit for a holiday, Scotland is hard to beat. Touring Scotland, you'll discover great places to stay, warm, friendly people, inspiring scenery, superb food and drink, fascinating culture and history and a vast range of things to see and do. It's easy to get here from everywhere in the UK and once here, it's just as easy to get around.
Whisky
Unlike almost any other drink, Scotch whisky has its own mystique, albeit one that can intimidate those with little experience of it. In fact, there's no secret to enjoying it, no esoteric knowledge required to appreciate it. All you need is a desire to experiment and a little practice to establish your own preferences to be guaranteed a unique and sublime taste experience.
Wild Scotland
Scotland boasts Europe's highest density of golden eagles, three-quarters of Britain's red squirrels and two-thirds of the global grey seal population. There are internationally important colonies of seabirds, such as puffins and gannets plus the world's most northerly resident colony of bottlenose dolphins. And there are few better places than Scotland to catch a glimpse of otters or ospreys, minke whales or pine martens.
Traditional Music
Scotland through the 1980s and 1990s saw an explosion of roots and dance music and, at the same time, a renewal and revisiting of traditions that had seemed perilously close to destruction. The new century has found Scottish indigenous music in remarkably fine health. Outstanding young musicians and bands abound, either faithfully recreating the traditions of old or finding bold new ways to interpret and express them.
Tying the Knot
Is it because there is something very sexy about men in kilts? Is it because there's the cachet of tying the knot in an ancient Highland castle? Whatever the reason, a Scottish wedding is the ideal choice for thousands of couples each year seeking a truly romantic setting in which to make their vows. Popstars, actresses and fashion designers have all been seduced by the magic of a Scottish wedding.
