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By admin, on March 6th, 2012
 There are so many reasons why families love camping in Scotland. From the fairy tale castles, the search for the loch ness monster, spending time roaming around the sand dunes – it’s all here for the whole family to enjoy.
Everybody knows that Scotland is home to beautiful coastline and lochs, but did you also know it has an indoor tropical rainforest? How about a farm park with fun games and animals? And then there’s the Museum of Childhood just to jog mum and dad’s memory a bit… there’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to Scotland.
Campsites in Scotland are blessed with some of the most breath taking scenery right on your doorstep. Staying at a park gives you all this yet you don’t have to worry about a thing – just pitch up and all the services you need are on hand.
In Scotland campsites range from basic pitches to luxury motorhomes, whether you’re after a budget break or a home from home for a longer stay. But the facilities are all-important wherever you stay, especially when it comes to families.
Millions have been invested into Haven’s parks so that everything from washing to hiring a highchair is easier than before. Touring wardens, free hot water, play areas and other facilities – because when you have a family you need everything to hand. So whether you need cash, a launderette, an off license or a tin of beans, you only have to step out of your tent or motorhome.
And what about things to do during your visit? Well, Scotland is famed for the Military Tattoo, the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, Fringe Festival, Book Festival and the Edinburgh Marathon as well as other musical, sporting and traditional events. So at this rate you’ll have trouble pinning it down to just which week you choose to visit.
It’s all waiting for you and your family – and with the Easter break around the corner there isn’t a better time to book an Easter camping break. If you fancy discovering the isles just a boat ride away from the mainland, or taking the kids to the Zoo to meet the pandas all the way from China – all you have to do is book today and you’re one step away from an Easter escape to the Highlands.
By Alan, on March 4th, 2012
 Scotland is well known as the home of golf, and for this reason when one visits the country with the intent of playing golf it’s usually somewhat of a sporting pilgrimage.
The country offers dozens of world class gold courses in every region with the top two courses easily identified as St. Andrews Old Course and Muirfeld & Royal Dornoch.
Of course, while visiting Scotland one might want to take some time to check out some of the local scenic sites, and one easy way to do this is to investigate the many castles that dot the countryside.
Some of the most notable castles that are still standing in Scotland include the Ayrshire Culzean Castle, the Edinburgh Castle, and the Perthshire Blair Castle.Of course, one cannot visit Scotland without taking some time out to see Loch Ness.
As a bonus, not only do you get a trip to see where the Loch Ness Monster lives, but there are also some golf courses nearby so that you can get a round off or two. Some of the best golf courses that are located close to Loch Ness are Kilspindie, Nairn, and Nairn & Dunbar.
Outside of golfing, the Urquhart Castle is nearby and the area also offers plenty of hiking trails and craft shops.Finally, outside of being the home of golf Scotland is also the home of whiskey as it was the first country to actually create the sharp spirit.
With this in mind, whiskey drinkers will want to stop by one of the many distilleries that can be found along the countryside or make a special trip over to the Isles of Islay & Jura in the Southwest as they offer a great history lesson into how the best whiskey is produced.
By Alan, on March 4th, 2012
 Scotland is well known as the home of golf, and for this reason when one visits the country with the intent of playing golf it’s usually somewhat of a sporting pilgrimage.
The country offers dozens of world class gold courses in every region with the top two courses easily identified as St. Andrews Old Course and Muirfeld & Royal Dornoch.
Of course, while visiting Scotland one might want to take some time to check out some of the local scenic sites, and one easy way to do this is to investigate the many castles that dot the countryside. Some of the most notable castles that are still standing in Scotland include the Ayrshire Culzean Castle, the Edinburgh Castle, and the Perthshire Blair Castle.
Of course, one cannot visit Scotland without taking some time out to see Loch Ness. As a bonus, not only do you get a trip to see where the Loch Ness Monster lives, but there are also some golf courses nearby so that you can get a round off or two. Some of the best golf courses that are located close to Loch Ness are Kilspindie, Nairn, and Nairn & Dunbar. Outside of golfing, the Urquhart Castle is nearby and the area also offers plenty of hiking trails and craft shops.
Finally, outside of being the home of golf Scotland is also the home of whiskey as it was the first country to actually create the sharp spirit. With this in mind, whiskey drinkers will want to stop by one of the many distilleries that can be found along the countryside or make a special trip over to the Isles of Islay & Jura in the Southwest as they offer a great history lesson into how the best whiskey is produced.
By Alan, on March 4th, 2012
 Located on the north-eastern coast of Scotland, the region of Moray has always been popular with tourists from all over the UK, and even the rest of the world, thanks to its remote historical castles, championship standard golf courses and, of course, whiskey.
Whiskey may be the number one tourist purchase in these parts, but many visitors also head to Moray to experience the real Scotland; far away from the cities of the Central Belt, this region is very different from most tourists’ Scottish experiences in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
No trip to Moray would be complete without a visit to one of the region’s 50 distilleries, including world renowned brands such as The Famous Grouse and Johnnie Walker. Hardcore whiskey fans can even follow the Malt Whiskey Trail though the Moray countryside, taking in some of the most interesting and oldest of the region’s distilleries. If no-one wants to drive, there is a regular bus service through the area which stops at the gates of the most famous distilleries.
Theatre and history combine in Moray, the setting for Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”. The lush, green countryside is dotted with medieval fortresses and more modern buildings, like 16th century Brodie Castle. Home to countless works of art from across the centuries, Brodie Castle is one of the undoubted highlights of any trip to Moray.
Another highlight is the Moray countryside itself, especially along the coast where rocky coves hide tiny fishing villages – and if you are lucky, you may even spot dolphins out at sea. There are hiking routes along this stretch of Scotland’s coastline, as well as inland around Moray’s hills, while those who prefer their walks to have more meaning are spoilt for choice when it comes to world-class golf courses.
Just a short distance from Aberdeen, Moray is an ideal day trip destination but there is more than enough in the area to keep tourists entertained for longer.
By Alan, on February 29th, 2012
 Scotland’s west coast has been a tourist trap for decades thanks to its spectacular scenery, in particular, visitors enjoy the novelty of being able to take local ferries across to one of the many islands which line this length of the coastline.
One of the larger islands, Mull, has plenty of attractions to keep tourists entertained for several days, though many only visit the pretty destination on a day-trip from the mainland.
Mull, and its equally popular neighbour Iona, have a wealth of holiday accommodation on offer, especially country cottages for rent which are ideal for families with young children or travellers who enjoy a bit of independence. Food and drink may not be up to the standards of Scotland’s more cosmopolitan cities, but if you enjoy fresh fish and Scottish whisky, there is no better destination in the whole country.
Most visitors have their own car, which is the best way to explore this remote corner of Scotland. There is public transport in the form of a local bus, but the service is irregular even in the summer months. Your landlord will no doubt be happy to give you some hints about the best places to visit on Mull if you ask, while the Tourist Information Centre in Craignure has local maps, leaflets from island attractions and vital practical information about ferry times.
If the weather forecast is good and your party has plenty of energy it is possible to hire bicycles which are a great way to get around this small island, where the roads are always very quiet. Mull’s main town is Tobermory, little more than a village, but still home to an excellent arts centre and a theatre which hosts touring performances from comedians and musicians as well as local drama groups.
The Ross of Mull Historical Centre nearby is a great introduction to Mull’s story and an important tool for those researching their own family history in the region. Last, but not least, Tobermory distillery may not be the island’s most famous whiskey manufacturer, but it is the easiest to get to if everyone wants to be able to sample the produce.
It is the area’s natural beauty which continues to attract thousands of visitors each year and the island is crossed by various walking trails; keep your eyes peeled for some of the many wild birds and other wildlife which make Mull and its neighbouring islands of Staffa, Ulva and Iona their home.
Iona itself is worth a day trip on the small foot passenger ferry which runs between the two islands. Iona Abbey is one of the most important historical sites in the UK while Staffa is better known for its unique geological features. In spring and summer make sure you take the pleasure boat trip from Staffa around the island of Lunga, to see thousands of puffins nesting on the cliffs.
Back on Mull and those walking trails take visitors to castles, beaches, distilleries and picturesque villages, both by the shore and tucked away in the hills. The island even has its own Munro, if you fancy challenging yourself with a bit of hillwalking. Bird watchers, geologists and foodies will all find something for them on this tiny island, which is several holiday destinations rolled into one. There is no shortage of excellent quality accommodation options either, from those family cottages to cheap and cheerful hostels.
Somewhere in between those two options is the Sunart View Bed & Breakfast which has been run by Sarah Darling and her husband Mike for many years.
Both have lived on Mull for most of their lives, and as well as giving guests a warm Scottish welcome will be able to provide lots of local hints and tips about the best sights to see, no matter what time of year you visit. Located in the main village of Tobermory, the Sunart View is handily located for all the island’s attractions and the local bus service from the ferry port.
By Alan, on February 22nd, 2012
 If you’ve lost your taste for overpriced drinks and food, and are becoming less interested in overcrowded beaches, then it would be a good idea to think about something a bit different for your next holiday.
The perfect location for this might be one of the islands in Scotland.
Located just to the west of Scotland is Campbeltown, and it is becoming a very popular destination for people who are looking for a break from their everyday lives. The population is about 5000 and there is a great deal to do and see on the island. There is an enormous amount of wildlife and some fantastic walks that be can be taken across the island.
Water sports are also popular for people seeking a more active holiday. If you’re looking to do some fishing then there are plenty of boat trips organised where you will be able to spend a day out on the water relaxing. For those who enjoy golf there is a club on the island which was established nearly 140 years ago.
One of the best times of year to visit is August when you will find the Mull of Kintyre Festival, which hosts a great many bands from around Scotland as well as several international acts. As this is Scotland, it is no surprise that there are several distilleries on the island. One of the most famous is the Springbank Distillery and this will be a great place to visit if you are a whiskey lover.
Found in the southern Hebrides is Islay, which can be another fantastic island to visit. It has only 3000 inhabitants but enjoys over 130 miles of coastline. The scenery here is incredible and completely unspoiled. The wildlife here it’s just as impressive as it is in Campbeltown and spending time outside on this island is a great activity.
Both of these locations enjoy moderate climates because of the Gulf Stream which keeps the cold weather away. Whichever island you are choosing to visit in Scotland it is easy to find accommodation to suit your needs as there are plenty of options.
By Alan, on February 18th, 2012
 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.
By Alan, on February 11th, 2012
 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.
By Alan, on February 5th, 2012
 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.
By Alan, on January 27th, 2012
 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 6th century and Robert the Bruce in the 13th. 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.
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