Planning a Trip to Scotland

When putting together your plans for a trip to Scotland, there are a number of things that you need to remember. Most notably, you should focus on working out the best places to visit in relation to how much time you have, as well as some of the best accommodation options you can find; it’s also worth considering how you can make the most of your journey by visiting some of the more unusual destinations and sights within Scotland, as well as making your stay more memorable through distinctive accommodation choices that can allow you to see a different side of the country.

First, decide on how long you’re going to be spending in Scotland, and what you can practically do – for a quick weekend break, you’re probably best visiting Glasgow or Edinburgh, which represent Scotland’s major cities – both are accessible by high speed trains and by plane. Edinburgh is ideal for exploring historical sites, and for shopping and visiting museums; Glasgow, by comparison, is home to excellent art galleries, as well as busy shopping districts, with both cities giving you more than enough choices of things to do for a short stay.

Alternatively, you can plan a longer walking holiday, which can be combined with camping and caravanning around Scotland; there are a number of Great Trails that can be taken through the country, from the Great Glen Way to Three Lochs Way, as well as paths within Cairngorms National Park. These walks allow you to learn more about Scotland’s rich history, while also providing opportunities for cozy stays in self catering cottages along the way.

A similar approach can also be taken to visiting the Scottish Isles, and particularly the Orkneys, the Hebrides, and the Shetlands – there you can find remote accommodation, walking trails, rock climbing, lochs, and many other sights and small villages and towns. You can similarly visit the Scottish Highlands to experience some of Scotland’s most rugged and out of the way places, as well as world famous destinations such as Loch Ness.

Getting off the beaten path, you can visit places like the Isle of Arran, which has a fascinating Celtic history, as well as associations with fairies and other hauntings. For caving, you can explore the Smoo Cave in the Highlands, as well as Ossian’s Cave in Dunkeld; within Glasgow’s major cities, it’s also possible to take tours of their more unusual sights, while getting away from the city center to see neighborhoods and outlying villages.

In terms of accommodation and transport, you can get around Scotland relatively cheaply by bus and train, while there are many affordable B & B’s, hotels, and other places to stay – self catering cottages are particularly ideal for island stays. You can also sample more unique forms of accommodation such as Carberry Tower, an authentic Scottish castle hotels that’s located just outside of Edinburgh.