A place of heritage and history for many Australians, Scotland is rightly a popular bucket-list destination. There’s so much more to this country than first meets the eye. A cultural powerhouse, Scotland is packed with innovative tastes and outdoor adventures set to get your blood pumping.
Experience Edinburgh with world-leading galleries, night life and restaurants, nestled in the foreground of its ancient castle standing proud on a cliff edge. Head to Glasgow for dynamic street art and booming music scene, or Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park for breathtaking scenery and outdoor adventures. With a few film locations and Munros in the mix, we’ve got the lowdown on where to start. It’s time to strap on your walking boots, there’s even a whisky or two in store…
A tale of two cities: Edinburgh and Glasgow
Scotland’s capital is its most popular gateway, especially for those driving up from England. Coach tours, train links and domestic flights are also available, making it an easy place to reach no matter your origin.
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Edinburgh’s famous for many of its attractions, and tourists love the history of Edinburgh Castle, the shops of the Royal Mile and the views from atop Arthur’s Seat. And while these are all worth a visit, make sure you don’t miss out on other hidden gems around the city.
To the southeast of the city, outside the old city walls, discover Craigmillar Castle. Known as the city’s ‘other castle’, it was historically used as a retreat for Scottish armies and even became a safe haven for Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th century. While Edinburgh Castle has been updated throughout the years, Craigmillar Castle is much closer to its ancient roots.
UNESCO-listed Calton Hill is another attraction not to miss. A short walk and climb from Princes Street, Calton Hill offers panoramic views over the city, and you could easily spend a day admiring its onsite attractions. The most prominent of these are Nelson Monument and the National Monument, based on the Parthenon in Athens but never quite completed.
A seriously cool neighbourhood worth wandering through is Leith, a hub for foodies with a strong cafe and pub culture and live music. If you love gin, sip a cocktail at Lind and Lime Distillery. Leith also happens to be home to the Royal Yacht Britannia.
While it’s easy to wander the streets and soak in the history yourself, there are plenty of options for guided tours, too. Take a walking tour around the New and Old Towns, get spooked on a night-time ghost tour, geek out on a Harry Potter themed walk or learn about Scottish culinary delights on a Secret Food Tour
Going to Glasgow
From the capital to the country’s largest city it’s just an hour’s drive. If you aren’t hiring a car, you can take a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street station in around 50 minutes.
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Rewards await without having to search for them in Glasgow, a city known for its intrigue and residents’ penchant for having fun. To get your bearings, join a city centre walking tour or see the city’s burgeoning street art scene. Think ancient streets and ornate cathedrals. Download Dr Who for your trip over and search for iconic Glasgow filming locations once you arrive.
Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Museum is one of the country’s finest, while a visit to The Burrell Collection is also a must as it won Art Fund Museum of The Year 2023. The Barrowlands is Scotland’s most iconic gig venue according to Time Out (having entertained the likes of David Bowie, The Clash and The Smiths), and Celtic and Rangers hold one of the fiercest rivalries in world football. For foodies, Finnieston is establishing itself as one of the UK’s best fine-dining quarters.
The incredible natural surrounds
From Glasgow, there are three big things to tick off: bag a munro by scaling Ben Nevis (or one of many smaller peaks), explore the wilds of Glencoe and take in the scenic beauty of Loch Lomond.
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Part of the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Loch Lomond is the largest loch (or lake) in Great Britain. The more northerly Loch Ness is larger by volume, and it has more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined—a necessity when you have a mysterious monster lurking in its depths.
There’s plenty to do on and around Loch Lomond. Walk or mountain bike along its bonnie banks, take a boat ride over the water or get up close and personal with wildlife. You can do this by pony trek, visiting the SEA LIFE centre or going to the bird of prey centre. For an immersive gleaming experience, spend a few nights at Lennox of Lomond, a family-run farm with quad biking and hiking tours on the shores of Loch Lomond.
For the more actively inclined, Loch Lomond marks a stopping off point along the West Highland Way. While this 96-mile trek (155 kilometres) starts in Milngavie, just outside Glasgow, it takes in Loch Lomond before it heads up (and down and up and down…) to Fort William in the Highlands. And just outside Fort William? Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the United Kingdom.
There are many tracks to get to the top, including the Mountain Track (sometimes referred to as the Tourist Path). This gives those who are inexperienced on mountains a way to get to the summit. Be sure to check weather conditions before setting off.
Also on the way to Fort William is the famous Glencoe. This historic village is a great way to experience the Scottish Highlands. Built on the remains of a supervolcano, the nearby hills and mountains were formed by granite from ancient explosions. Climb these, walk the nearby trails or learn about the history of the local clans.
Become a film star
Once you’re in Glencoe, you may notice that some of the scenery looks oddly familiar. Anyone familiar with Daniel Craig’s Skyfall may remember James Bond escapes to Scotland for a while. Skyfall Lodge is filmed and canonised as Bond’s family home, with his father hailing from the region. Bond author Ian Fleming grew up in Glen Etive, a 15-minute drive to the east of Glencoe.
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If you’re a fan of 80s and 90s movie classics, a visit to Eilean Donan is a must. Sitting majestically on its own tiny island in the Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland, this famous Castle has been the backdrop to numerous films. James Bond – The World is Not Enough for one, and the sword swinging 80’s hit Highlander, starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery.
For Outlander enthusiasts, Inverness should be central to your trip as you discover the true story behind the famous Jacobite history. See where the last battle on British soil, The Battle of Culloden, took place, a 15-minute drive out of the city centre. Then, head to Leakey’s Bookshop in the centre of Inverness. Once an old Gaelic Church, it was used as a war hospital for those wounded in the battle.
Edinburgh is no stranger to film crews, boasting several filming locations for Avengers: Infinity War. Head to Cockburn Street where Scarlet Witch and Vision take a romantic stroll. See the Gothic architecture along the Royal Mile, the backdrop to a fight scene with Vision flying overhead. Or visit Edinburgh Waverly train station where the Scarlet Witch, Vision, Black Widow, Captain America and Falcon take on some of Thanos’ villains. Whilst in the city, walk down Victoria Street where super cars were spotted screeching round its corners for the filming of Fast & Furious 9.
Enjoy the Speyside trail
For a true taste of Scotland, journey for around two hours by car to Aviemore to discover the famous Speyside Malt Whisky Trail. There are more than 50 distilleries in the area, more than any other whisky-producing region in Scotland. Many offer tours and tastings, so no matter how long you stay, there’ll be ample opportunity to try the water of life.
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Some of the most well distributed Speysides include Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Glenlivet. But if you want to fit in with the locals, be sure to try The Macallan (and never drop the ‘the’ when you’re ordering it).
Of course, whisky is distilled all over Scotland. Stroll along Prices Street for three cocktail tastings, delicious cuisine and rooftop views on a Johnnie Walker Experience walking tour. You can try a lowlands Glenkinchie, head to the Black Isle for a Singleton or go further north for Glenmorangie. Wherever you end up, you won’t be far from a nip.
Head to the quaint village of Fochabers, approximately 50 miles (80 kilometres) west of Inverness, and visit the Baxters Highland Village. Sample the culinary delights of this brand and learn about its history that started life as a small family grocery shop in 1868.
Seafoodies listen up. Hit The Seafood Trail which stretches through Scotland’s spectacular west coastal scenery, journeying to eight seafood restaurants with accommodation options on route.
For a truly wild adventure, book a foraging experience which can be found across the country before then sampling the goods.
If you’re looking for even more cultural sights, natural wonders and adventure galore, venture on a coast-to-coast road trip from Liverpool to Newcastle and beyond, or pop down to Britain’s stunning South West.
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