Cottages in Scotland

Scotland is a huge playground for nature lovers, offering incredible landscapes that will remain in your memory for years to come. Not in vain, its nature has been the scene of numerous stories and legends. Its majestic mountains that try to touch the sky, the lakes that dot the rugged landscape and the impressive castles that populate the Highlands make it a fairytale destination where there is no shortage of heroes, monsters or writers. Loch Lomond, the Old Man of Storr, Loch Ness, the Orkney Islands, Lake Shiel, Ben Nevis, the Glen Coe Valley or the Isle of Skye are just some of the places that will make you fall in love with Scotland. You have to live it to believe it!

It’s time to indulge your senses! Scotland’s green scenery is not the only feature that draws people to the north of England. In addition to its beauty and natural attractions the culinary scene is one of the best features we must admit as this bountiful land boasts tons of fresh produce. From splashing fresh salmon and trouts to the delicious lobster in the Highlands. The fresh seafood and the shellfish is a delicacy that will raise your taste buds, especially the “Arbroath Smokies''. Try the succulent Aberdeen Angus steaks and the popular and iconic Haggis, made of sheep’s pluck mince with spices, oatmeal, onion and suet. It usually comes with neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes). Least but not last, sweet treats will be the icing on the cake after a delicious meal. The Scottish tablet is a piece of heaven with sugar, condensed milk and butter. And the perfect pudding? Sticky toffee pudding! A delicious moist sponge cake with dates, toffee sauce, and vanilla custard or ice cream. Too good to be true? One will never be enough!

No isit is complete without trying some of the best Scottish whisky! Distilled by artisans and experts, the distilleries open their doors for those who wish to know about the process making of this liquid treasure. They offer guided tours that will give you an inside of the history of whisky throughout the centuries, including a whisky tasting at the end. Try some “wee dam” and decide which bottle you will buy at the end of the visit. You might want to take a few back as a present!

Edinburgh is a city with a magic atmosphere with the cobbled streets of the Old Town leading to Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. From the castle you have incredible views of the city. Visit the monuments and the memorials in Calton Hill and get sweeping views from Arthur’s Seat. The city is loaded with history, architecture and a well-deserved UNESCO World Heritage Site status. If you want to enjoy the Edinburgh Fringe festival , plan your trip in August!

Many films have used the incomparable settings and lush green landscapes of Scotland as the perfect backdrop for magic stories or medieval battles. The Harry Potter series or Braveheart are some of them. Take some time to explore the mountains, the natural parks, the old castles or the hundreds of lakes and islands and revive those scenes, but now, with you as the main character. You can even climb Ben Nevis, the highest point in the United Kingdom!

As a golf lover, you must know that Fife is a renowned destination in southwest Scotland for its golf as well as for some of Scotland's best scenic attractions. And within the Kingdom of Fife, St. Andrews is the world-famous Home of Golf! With 10 fantastic golf courses you can choose from and of course, the renowned Old Course, the first golf course ever built. So, golf lovers, this is Mecca for golf. Furthermore, the British Golf Museum in St. Andrews explores around 500 years of British golfing history. What are you waiting for?

When you hear Loch Ness, the first image that comes to your mind it’s probably that of the large marine creature that inhabits this lake in the Scottish Highlands, Nessie. Is it a myth? A legend of Scottish folklore? Is it true? Well, the Drumnadrochit Hotel’s Loch Ness Exhibition shows pictures and fascinating exhibits that will challenge even the most skeptical minds.

From well preserved medieval strongholds to haunted towers, romantic cliff top remains, turreted fairy-tale castles. We can say that Scotland is dotted with spellbinding castles that will leave you speechless. Visit the famous Eilean Dolean Castle or discover some of the less known gems including Dunrobin Castle, Floors Castle, Fyvie Castle, Culzean Castle and Country Park or Drummond Castle and its beautiful gardens. There is no doubt that Kilburn Castle or Dilerton will make your day as well but for a very different castle, you might want to see Kelburn Castle, depicting interwoven cartoons on the exterior walls, although the interior is lush and sophisticated and it has a magnificent Chinese garden.

The Isle of Skye is a top location to visit in Scotland, west of the Highlands. In it you will find some of the most spectacular landscapes in the entire country including the cliffs of Kilt Rock, Dunvegan Castle, Eilean Donan Castle or the pretty town of Portree. The history of the island covers years of incredible facts, dinosaur fossils, Clan Warfare, and the infamous “Bonnie Prince Charlie”. Visit the castles of Clan MacDonald and Clan MacLeod. Enjoy the outdoors to release your inner bird watcher and enjoy viewing seals, otters, red deers or dolphins. Go for walks and hikings and reach the challenging Cuilin Range or the Trotternish Ridge.