The local bus service is fine for taking visitors from the ferry port to the main towns, but to really explore the island and get off the beaten track a car is a necessity.

In the past, many . . . → Read More: Skye, one of Scotland’s most popular destinations]]> Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations, despite its remote location and relative lack of public transport options.

The local bus service is fine for taking visitors from the ferry port to the main towns, but to really explore the island and get off the beaten track a car is a necessity.

In the past, many drivers may have been reluctant to take their four-wheeled pride and joy on Skye’s roads, many of which were little more than rutted tracks. Money from the EU has been spent on improving the island’s infrastructure in recent years, however, and that included a project to improve many of the main roads.

Although it is possible to see the main sites on Skye on a day trip from the mainland, if you can spare the time it is much better to take a few days over seeing everything this beautiful Scottish jewel has to offer. There are plenty of accommodation options no matter what your budget, from cosy guest houses in the main towns and villages to dormitory-style hostels out in the countryside.

Drive over on the bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh to save yourself the ferry fare and to enjoy a spectacular first view of the island spread out below you. The main road is fairly nondescript until the village on Broadford when it starts to hug the coastline; luckily there are plenty of lay-bys where drivers can pull over so they don’t need to miss out on any of the viewpoints.

First port of call should be the Sligachan Hotel, a popular resting spot for hikers and hill walkers and home of some excellent real ales, including the local brew Red Cuillin. The coast road then continues, past the sea lochs between the west coast of Scotland and the islands, until you find yourself in the pretty town of Portree. Stop off to admire the view from the harbour, or you can enjoy a different kind of view at the town’s Aros Centre which has web-cams monitoring the local population of sea eagles.

From Portree head north along the narrower but still well-maintained B855. There are occasional stretches which are single lane, but keep your eyes peeled for other vehicles and use the frequent passing places to avoid any problems. However, this road is a little-used gem and despite the fabulous views north to the mainland and neighbouring islands, travellers could easily find themselves completely alone.

The road ends up in Uig, which is a charming town in its own right and also the departure point for ferries to the Outer Hebrides and Lewis. Whether you are waiting for your boat or looking to kill some time, pay a call at the Ferry Inn and sample their excellent real ale selection. You can either follow the road around the coast and back to Portree or head for the historic town of Dunvegan.

Dunvegan is definitely worth an hour or two of your time on Skye; home to a medieval castle and also a great place for boat trips. The local fishing boats take tourists across the bay to Skye’s seal colony. This road then heads back to Sligachan and offers breathtaking views of the Cuillin hills. It should be quiet enough for even the driver to sneak a few peaks at the surrounding scenery,or you could just park up and take a few unforgettable photographs to remember your magical trip to Skye.

If . . . → Read More: Inverness, the capital of the Scottish highlands]]> Inverness, the capital of the Scottish highlands, offers plenty of holiday attractions, which is why hundreds head to the city every year to get away from their routine and step into a land of discovery. Even better, Inverness is easy to reach from London, Birmingham, and Bristol since it is only a one hour flight away.

If you hit the airlines at the right time you can get a ticket for about £50 so it is easy to get a great holiday deal. The following are just a few of the best attractions to check out while in the Highlands At some point in your trip to Inverness make sure to spend some time visiting the Culloden Battlefield which is the sight of the last battle that was fought on the soil of Britain.

The battle itself took place in 1746 and changed the final fate of Scotland when Charles Edward Stuart was unable to get back the throne for his family. Now there is a visitor centre that is located directly on the battlefield which offers interactive shows that are great for families and there are guided tours for those that want a closer glimpse into history.

Another great stop is the Moray Firth which is a large sea inlet near the city’s end that is home to a large amount of dolphins. By taking a quick trip to the Firth you will get the chance to see dolphins swimming up close which can be a great way to spend a few hours of the day. Plus, if you head out towards the Firth during the late afternoon you can catch some great shots of the sunset and the dolphins making it well worth your time if you want to capture some amazing images.

Of course, you cannot head to Inverness without stopping by Loch Ness the home of the legendary monster.  The locals refer to the monster as ‘Nessie’ and thousands of tourists head to the Loch every year to see the lake and wistfully the monster as well.

Even if you never get to see ‘Nessie,’ the lake itself is still one of the most stunning views in the country.  Near the lake are also some great picture perfect villages including Foyers, Drumnadrochit, and Ford Augustus that you can easily spend a few hours in exploring their charm and local cafes.

While in Inverness you will want to spend some time actually seeing the city of 90,000 people that is situated neatly in the heart of the highlands. The city itself lies along the banks of the Loch Ness river sublet and offers some great food options as well as some quality boutique shops.

Plus, the people are extremely friendly so if you are looking for some great experiences all you have to do is track down the nearest local and ask for some advice. The transport system is also reasonably easy to use making it simple to get around even from the outside of the city.

The landscape in the area is incredibly dramatic, mostly due to the extreme weather conditions . . . → Read More: Outer Hebrides offer wilderness and culture]]> When people think of the Outer Hebrides mystical beauty is probably something that comes to mind. Located off the West Coast of Scotland they are on the utmost limits of Europe and face the very rough conditions of the North Atlantic Ocean.

The landscape in the area is incredibly dramatic, mostly due to the extreme weather conditions that have been lashing the islands for millennia. There are a wide variety of attractions for tourists in the Hebrides and one of the best islands to visit is the Isle of Lewis which has a wide range of attractions for visitors to enjoy.

One of the most famous things to visit on the island is the Callanish Standing Stones. Recently however the naming policy on the island has changed and there is now a preference for the use of the local language, Gaelic. This means that the signs directing people to the stones now point to Calanais Standing Stones – although they still remain popularly known by their former name.

They are certainly one of the most spectacular sights in all of Europe and they are definitely worth making the effort to get to. If you don’t have your own vehicle then it can be quite challenging to reach them but there is a limited bus service that will take you to the stones but you will need to investigate what time it runs.

Close by to the stones is another important site, Carloway Broch, again, because of the change in the language policy, this site has been renamed Chàrlabhaigh. It is a structure that looks much like a cooling tower and dates back to the Iron Age. You can easily access the inside of the structure but it can be quite treacherous so be careful while exploring. Particular care should be taken if you want to explore between the two walls as this can be quite dangerous.

While not quite as ancient as the places above, another important historic site is Gearrannan Blackhouse Village where there are many buildings in a cottage style. Historically, this is what almost every resident of the Hebrides lived in but today there are very few examples of them remaining.

Some of the few remaining examples have been turned into accommodation that can be rented on a self catering basis, if you are interested in the island’s history this could be well worth the money. The facilities inside these buildings have generally been restored to a fully modern standard and have all the amenities you would expect. If you don’t fancy renting one then it would still be a good idea to visit one of the tea rooms that are now often housed within them.

These are just some of the many great places that you can visit on the Isle of Lewis. As well as these historical attractions there are plenty of stunning beaches for people to enjoy, many of these are located on the south-west coast of the island. Galleries and museums are plentiful in Stornoway, the largest town.

However, the midges can be deterred quite effectively with insect repellent and/or protective head gear, and the . . . → Read More: Loch Ness a monster of a lake]]> It is simply a fact of life that a visitor to the famous Loch Ness in Scotland is more likely to be devoured by mini-monsters in the form of tiny insects (midges) than by the fabled Monster of the Loch.

However, the midges can be deterred quite effectively with insect repellent and/or protective head gear, and the Loch Ness Monster is still awaiting its first meal of unwary tourist . . . as far as we know.

Loch Ness is deep, and dark, and inherently mysterious, shadowed as it is by towering mountains that are sometimes obscured by lowering clouds.  Though it is not the longest or deepest lake in the UK, the way it was formed, on a side-slip fault line, makes it the UK’s largest body of fresh water, a volume of more than all the rivers, lakes and reservoirs of England and Wales combined.  So there’s plenty of space for a monster or three, and the atmosphere is definitely conducive to propagation of the myth.

It’s OK if you don’t actually see a monster, because there is such a lot of completely natural and awe-inspiring beauty that it’s already a sensory overload.  The motorway A82 runs along the lake’s western shore and offers a series of breathtaking views around and across Loch Ness.  The eastern shore is much less travelled, beckoning the seeker of relative solitude and probable adventure.

One spot not to be missed is the ruined but still hugely imposing edifice of Urquhart Castle at Strone Point.  History was made here, and the castle is part of  Scottish heritage that includes St Columbia in the 6^th century and Robert the Bruce in the 13^th.  There is an audio/visual production that will raise your consciousness as well as the hair on the back of your neck.

Being the most famous lake in Scotland and arguably the world, Loch Ness has welcomed the tourist trade, but is far from being overwhelmed by it.  It lies in remote splendour some 170 miles north of Edinburgh, with only a few roads in and out and only a couple of towns.  Inverness is the largest, and the only one with an airport, but there are several other small towns including Fort Augustus at the southern tip of the lake, where there is an ‘official’ tourist office.

For the hike of a lifetime, the Great Glen Way is a walking trail that stretches 73 miles from Fort William in the south to Invervess in the north.  Much of it hugs the shores of Loch Ness and the scenery is reward enough for most anyone, but as a note of interest, it’s also the site of many a ‘sighting’ of the elusive Nessie.

The Scottish Highlands, where Loch Ness broods in its own atmosphere of haunting beauty, remain the most sparsely populated area of Scotland, and visitors outnumber locals by a substantial margin.  You can find excellent accommodations on and near the lake, and there’s no lack of good restaurants and single malt whiskey.  Whether you meet the Monster or not, it’s an unforgettable experience.

With this wonderful mix of the old and the new Edinburgh is a city that will appeal to . . . → Read More: Edinburgh is a city with amazing buildings]]> Edinburgh is a city that manages to balance contemporary character and the city’s traditions very well. It is a city with World Heritage Sites as designated by UNESCO as well is brilliant modern museums designed to educate and inform.

With this wonderful mix of the old and the new Edinburgh is a city that will appeal to everyone. If you are looking for the perfect place to stay while exploring the city and its surrounds then staying in an apartment in Edinburgh is the perfect option.

One of the best sites in Edinburgh is Gladstone’s Land, which dominates the Royal Mile. The building was constructed in the early 17th century and was once the home of a wealthy merchant. The building today still has the painted ceilings that were installed in its first construction.

There are also several reconstructions and replicas of 17th-century items in order to add authenticity to the house. There are many places to stay on the Royal mile and if you are choosing to stay in this part of Edinburgh you will be centrally located and nearby most of the main tourist attractions.

Scotland is somewhat known for its stately homes and one of the most wonderful you can visit is Hopetoun House which is located in South Queensferry. This is a brilliant example of architectural heritage in Europe and it was designed by the famous Scottish architects William Adam and Sir William Bruce. If you’re looking for a great day out away from the city then this stately home is a fantastic location to visit.

In a beautiful landscape you will find the historic villa of Newhailes which was built in the 17th century. The interior is very well decorated and the building has been very well maintained by the National Trust. There is a wonderful collection of furniture and paintings throughout that have been immaculately restored and kept in fantastic condition.

Exploring the outdoors here is also possible as the house is located in beautiful parkland. There is also a visitor centre to provide some more information about the home and also provides a place where you can get refreshments.

About half an hour’s drive from the centre of Edinburgh city you will find Lennoxlove House, which was once the home to the Duke of Hamilton. It was constructed in the 14th century and is one of the most stunning landmarks in this part of Scotland.

There is a great deal of memorabilia about Mary Queen of Scots and also a large collection of period furniture. The paintings are one of the main reasons to visit this house; and there is a wide collection of vivid paintings which are sure to impress any visitor.