Scotland! - Viator.com

Sláinte, Scotland!
Scotland. The name alone conjures visions of cobalt lochs set amidst secret glens, of tartan-clad warriors
charging from the dreich (dreary) weather to drive back invaders. Scotland is an intoxicating blend of scenery,
history and hospitality that haunts travelers and calls them to “haste ye back.”
From Glasgow’s urban Victoriana and vibrant music scene to Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town and worldrenowned festivals, Scotland’s cities deftly wrap the past and present into a cultural Celtic knot that spans
eras as easily as neighborhoods. Beyond the cities lies Europe’s last great wilderness, the remote and
romantic Scottish Highlands and islands that beguile the wanderer’s heart.
In this guide, we’ll show you the allure of old Caledonia so you can travel like an insider in Scotland!
Meet the Insiders
When Irene spent a semester abroad in Scotland,
it instantly became one of her favorite destinations.
She loves the Scottish Highlands, the Royal Mile
and Edinburgh Castle, and Glasgow.
Keith has spent a decade discovering Scotland’s
cultural, historical and natural wonders, from
windswept glens to rollicking pubs.
Insider’s Guide: Scotland
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Best of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle
Holding court in the sky above Edinburgh,
Edinburgh Castle compels you to return to the
Middle Ages. Wander its narrow lanes, gaze
upon the Stone of Destiny and Honours of
Scotland, and glory in royal views over the city.
Finish your tour by kneeling in St. Margaret’s
Chapel – the oldest building in Edinburgh – and
say a prayer for the foolish armies who tried to
take the castle by force.
The Royal Mile
Running between Edinburgh Castle and the
Palace of Holyroodhouse, the atmospheric
Royal Mile is the grizzled, Gothic heart of
the city, lined with age-blackened medieval
architecture, convivial restaurants and pubs,
kitschy souvenir shops and niche museums.
Skip the tartan tat and explore the countless,
narrow closes snaking off the Mile to capture
that heady feeling of traveling through time.
Arthur’s Seat
The best views of Edinburgh are found atop
Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano in the center
of town that blesses the skyline with natural
drama. Arthur’s Seat’s naked eminence is
wreathed in legend – some believe it was the
location of Camelot – and in the evening light
it resembles a sleeping lion. When the weather
is clear, make the hour-long hike to the hill’s
windy crest and see for yourself.
Insider’s Guide: Scotland
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Best of Glasgow
People’s Place & Winter Gardens
Glasgow’s oldest city park, the People’s Palace
and Winter Gardens, provides a cultural look
at Glaswegian life since 1750. Follow the arc of
Glasgow’s social history through a wealth of historic
documents, paintings, photographs, films and
exhibits before retiring to the Winter Gardens, a
Victorian conservatory filled with palms and exotic
tropical plants, for a relaxing afternoon tea.
Glasgow Cathedral
The only cathedral on mainland Scotland to have
survived the Reformation intact, the medieval
Glasgow Cathedral drips with Gothic splendor on
the site blessed by St. Ninian in the Fourth Century
A.D. Admire the ancient beams, traditional stained
glass and carved screens before drifting through
the adjoining mist-shrouded Necropolis, a chilling
graveyard straight out of Poe’s imagination.
Buchanan Street
Sweeping through the heart of Glasgow’s Style
Mile, Buchanan Street’s grand Victorian buildings
boast some of Scotland’s best shopping, bars and
cafés. Buchanan Street bustles with those hunting
out new fashions and gawking at Art Nouveau
treasures while street performers entertain the
crowds. Refuel at the gorgeous Willow Tea
Rooms, a shrine to the late Scottish architect
Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Insider’s Guide: Scotland
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Detour
Best Day Trip: Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands
The Highlands reward those who take time to explore them,
whether on a day trip from Edinburgh or Glasgow, or on a
longer stay. If time is short, Linlithgow Palace is a perfect outing
from Edinburgh.
“
This tour was one of the
best experiences of my
life. The Highlands are
amazing and the experience
was only heightened
by the knowledge and
general awesomeness of
our guide.
- Melanie B.
“
The mystique of the Highlands draws travelers to Scotland’s
shores, and for good reason: One look upon the austere beauty
of its sweeping glens and towering mountains, murky lochs and
heathery moors is enough to captivate the viewer for a lifetime.
Revel in the romance of historic castles, muse at Loch Ness’s
dark waters, breathe in the calm of villages like Dunkeld and
Kinlochleven, sample the world’s finest whiskies in Speyside, or
view the spectacle of the Scottish Highland Games in the summer.
See all day tours from Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness
Insider’s Guide: Scotland
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Explore
Best Scottish Isle: Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is a land of enigmatic duality, at once a small
place in the minds of travelers who seek to “do Skye in a day”
and a vast, trackless span of sharp mountains and rolling
heath, full of tourists yet overflowing with sacred places that
have seemingly never echoed with the human voice. Skye’s
fame is just. With its vivid blue lochs, towering cliffs and cozy
pubs, there are few places quite as enchanting – especially
when the sun is shining.
Insider’s Tip
If you’ve gone as far west as Dunvegan
Castle, continue a bit further to the
Neist Point Lighthouse standing along
the otherworldly western sea cliffs.
Skye’s numerous peninsulas are home to myriad treasures, from
ancient Dunvegan Castle to the fiery whisky of Talisker Distillery,
from the mystical Fairy Pools to the monolithic Old Man of Storr.
But Skye is not alone among Scotland’s great islands; consider
the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands, Islay and Arran.
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Indulge
Best Culinary Experience: Eating (and Drinking) Like a Local
Traditional dishes have long suffered ill repute, but this perception
of Scottish cuisine is fading. Across the country, restaurants
create exquisite menus around the products of Scotland’s
bountiful larder, from fresh seafood to wild game to local fruits
and vegetables. In the cities, gastro tours take in the astounding
breadth of cuisines with a focus on provenance and tradition.
“
This tour was a perfect
taste of Scotland. It
really offered something
for anyone who wants
to know about whisky
making and tasting.
- Linda V.
“
From simple pleasures to foodie experiences fit for
connoisseurs, Scotland is a paradise for those seeking
indulgence. Malt whisky tops the list of delicious fare, and
from Islay to Speyside more than 100 distilleries provide
in-depth tours and tutored tastings of Scotland’s national
drink. Since no two single malts are the same, your Scotch
whisky wanderlust is unlikely to ever dry up.
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Imagine
Best Way to Bring Your Favorite Characters to Life: Movie & TV Tours
Scotland’s stunning scenery brings the imagination to life,
so it’s no surprise that the country has been a setting for
countless books, movies and shows.
Explore the world of Harry Potter by riding the Hogwarts
Express (Jacobite Steam Train) or visiting Alnwick Castle
just over the English border. Enter the Da Vinci Code
inside Rosslyn Chapel, take a turn in Skyfall at Glen Coe,
run from the zombies of World War Z in Glasgow, or
step into Prometheus and The Dark Knight Rises in the
Scottish Highlands. You can also visit locations from
the hit US TV series Outlander on a private tour from
Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Insider’s Tip
Outlander fans can relive Claire and
Jamie’s journey from Craigh na Dun
to Castle Leoch by hiking gorgeous
Tulloch Ghru through the Cairngorms
National Park.
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Play
Best Place to Hit a Round of Golf: At the World’s Oldest Course
Booking ahead may secure you a round on the world’s
foremost golf course, but most visitors opt for a guided walking
tour. The prestigious New Course, challenging Jubilee Course,
characterful Eden Course and beginner-friendly Balgove Course
provide opportunities to golf in historic surroundings, while the
most recent additions, the Strathtyrum and Castle courses,
offer even more memorable golf experiences.
“
If you love golf, this is one
place you need to visit!
It is a delightful day trip
from Edinburgh.
- Thomas B.
“
Laying claim to the world’s oldest golf course, the coastal town
of St. Andrews has been the home of golf since the 15th century
and remains Scotland’s premier destination for international
golfers. Situated in dramatic fashion along the Fife coast, St.
Andrews Links comprises seven public courses including the
famous Old Course, which has hosted an incredible 28 Opens.
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After Hours
Best Nightlife: A Spooky Walking Tour
For all its modern vibrancy, Edinburgh’s history is as dark as
the rock upon which the castle stands. Ancient tales of sordid
events sleep in the city’s stained stones, from the thieving
Deacon Brodie to the bodysnatchers Burke and Hare. Today, the
famous Royal Mile teems with carefree shoppers and sightseers,
but lurking beneath the streets of the Scottish capital is an
underground realm of hidden vaults and secret passageways
once trafficked by squatters and notorious criminals.
Insider’s Tip
For maximum chills, take a ghostly night
walking tour of Edinburgh or spend a
night’s vigil in the unspeakably dark Blair
Street Vaults.
A host of enthralling walking tours brings the Old Town’s lamp-lit
streets back to life at infamous sites like the eerie Greyfriars
Kirkyard, haunting Mary King’s Close and claustrophobic South
Bridge Vaults. The ghosts of history abound in these dark
places – do you have the mettle to face them down?
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Pssst!
There Are More Than 1,200 Castles in Scotland
Nothing represents Scotland’s mysterious and romantic atmosphere quite like its castles. These hilltop fortresses
with their distinctive crenellations and sky-flung towers capture the imagination and lay bare the thick layers of
history heaped upon Scotland. More than 1,200 castles are scattered throughout Scotland, and you can visit
many of them, even on a day trip from Edinburgh or Glasgow.
In the south, Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Stirling Castle form a triumvirate of unmatched
grandeur. For a taste of the silver screen, make for Doune Castle, which has been featured in Outlander, Monty
Python and the Holy Grail and Game of Thrones. From Glasgow, clifftop Culzean Castle in Ayr and Brodick Castle
on beautiful Arran are within striking distance, while the Highlands overflow with castles, from Eilean Donan to
Inverness and Urquhart to Dunnottar. Royal Deeside in the Cairngorms National Park lays claim to the title of castle
country; here sit beautiful Drum and Craigievar castles, as well as Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s highland residence.
Insider’s Guide: Scotland
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Viator Recommends
Best Physical Challenge:
Bagging Munros
Burn off the haggis and whisky with a climb up one
of Scotland’s 283 munros. A munro is a summit of at
least 3,000 feet, and ‘munro-bagging’ has become
the gold-standard challenge for serious hikers and
hill-walkers who must battle often extreme weather
to reach the summits. Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest
mountain, poses a heroic test for those who wish to
do more than simply stretch their legs.
Best Way to See It All: Hop-on
Hop-off Bus Tours
When time is of the essence, there’s no better way
to capture a sense of Edinburgh and Glasgow than
by hop-on hop-off bus tours. These convenient
tours take in the best sites around town, from
Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace to Our
Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, and from George
Square to Glasgow Cathedral to Byres Road in
Glasgow. Jump off to explore, and catch the next
bus to resume the tour.
Best Way to Save:
Sightseeing Passes
The British Pound tends to put a dent in any visitor’s
funds, and one of the best ways to save in Scotland
is to purchase sightseeing passes, which offer
admission to more than 75 attractions over three
or seven days of validity. It only takes a few visits
to make these passes cost effective, and the more
attractions you visit, the more you’ll save.
Insider’s Guide: Scotland
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Viator Recommends
Scotland’s Stone Circles
Wedged between the lochs of Harray and
Stenness on the Orkney Mainland, two of
Scotland’s finest standing stone configurations
– the titanic Ring of Brodgar and curious
Standing Stones of Stenness – are remnants
from eras unknown, dwarfing the Great
Pyramids in age. In the Outer Hebrides, the
Calanais Standing Stones provide yet another
dumbfounding glimpse into Scotland’s
mysterious past.
Hardian’s Wall
Cross the border into England and visit the
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s
Wall. Built in the Second Century A.D. by the
Roman emperor Hadrian, the wall marked the
northernmost limit of the Roman Empire. The
ruins of Hadrian’s Wall stand as the greatest
monument of Roman Britain and make for a
wonderful walk between Chollerford and Walton,
where the remains of forts and temples await.
Scotland’s Biggest Events
From world-renowned festivals to cultural
merrymaking with roots in bygone eras, the
Scottish know how to throw a party. In the
summer, the Fringe Festival and Royal Military
Tattoo clog the streets of Edinburgh while the
hinterlands abound with Highlands Games.
Hogmanay is a New Year’s celebration second
to none, and the Norse-rooted Up Helly Aa in
Shetland will burn the chill from your bones.
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