Scotland is famous primarily for its spectacular scenery, but it also offers a rich historical and cultural heritage, together with a wide range of activities. The populous central belt is the focus of most economic activity, centred primarily on the major cities, Glasgow and the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Scotland’s landscape is as varied as it is beautiful. Rugged peaks sweep down to breathtaking lochs, glistening in remote glens like Glen Affric near Inverness and Loch Trool in Galloway. A straggling coastline, with white sandy beaches, sheltered bays and rocky cliffs, looks out to the remote islands in the Atlantic. To the south, the rolling hills of the Borders, lush lowland pastures and extensive woodlands present a softer beauty.
The country consists of the southern Lowland area, a region of moorland and pastoral scenery – where most of the population is concentrated – and the northern Highlands, dominated by the Grampian Mountains and Ben Nevis (1,344m/4,140ft), the highest peak in the British Isles. The whole of the exceedingly beautiful coastline is indented with lochs (particularly in the north and west). Off the west coast there are many islands, the largest of which are Skye and Lewis, the latter being part of the Outer Hebrides. The Orkney and Shetland Islands lie to the northeast of the Scottish mainland, across the Pentland Firth from John O’Groats.
Edinburgh is among the outstanding cities of the world, where the medieval Old Town contrasts with the elegant Georgian New Town. Other towns, notably Glasgow, display a wealth of Victorian architecture. Everywhere you can find ancient castles and houses. Prehistoric forts, stone circles and burial mounds can be explored, particularly at the Neolithic Heart of Orkney, Scotland’s latest UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Scotland’s rich musical heritage has feet tapping to bagpipes, fiddles and accordions. The best Celtic music can be heard at either the Girvan Traditional Folk Festival in May or the Newcastleton Festival in July. While the Edinburgh Festival in August is of course an unmissable event on the calendar. A paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, play golf on the world’s most famous course at St Andrews; go fishing, sailing, diving or join the walkers, cyclists and climbers on the hills, in woodlands and on deserted country lanes.
Finally, at the end of the day, relax with Scotland’s greatest export, a dram of fine malt whisky.
KEY FACTS
Location: Northern part of Great Britian
Population: 5.12 million
Capital: Edinburgh
Language Spoken: English. Gaelic is still spoken by some, mostly in the West and Highlands
Country Dialling Code: +44
Money & Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP; symbol £)
Weather: 'Varied' describes Scotland's climate perfectly. There are wide variations in climate over small distances, and a sunny day will often as not be followed by a rainy one. Although the country nudges the Arctic Circle, the Gulf Stream winds keep the temperature mild (well, relatively mild). The Highlands, however, can have extreme weather at any time. The east coast tends to be cool and dry, with winter temperatures rarely dropping below freezing (but watch out for the bone-chilling winds off the North Sea). The west coast is milder and wetter, with average summer highs of 19°C (66°F). May and June are the driest months; July and August the warmest. In the north the summer sun barely sets; the winter sun barely rises.
WHEN TO GO
The main tourist period is April to September, and the height of the season is during the school holidays in July and August when accommodation, be it campsites, B&Bs or luxury hotels, is at a premium. Edinburgh in particular becomes impossibly crowded during the festival period in August, so book well ahead. Statistically, your best chances of fine weather are in May, June and September; July and August are usually warm, but may be wet too. In summer, daylight hours are long; the midsummer sun sets around 23:00 in the Shetland Islands and even Edinburgh evenings seem to last forever in June and July. Conversely, in December the sun doesn't show its face for very long at all.
TOP THINGS TO DO
• Take a ‘hop on/hop off' open-top bus tour around all the main sights in Edinburgh (website: www.edinburghtour.com), including Edinburgh Castle (website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk), which dominates the city skyline from its position atop a volcanic crag; relax on a sunny day in the central Princes Street Gardens.
• Don't miss the annual Edinburgh Festival, among the world's biggest arts events (website: www.eif.co.uk). Shows might range from a short open-air concert to a full-scale production by the Royal Shakespeare Company or the London Symphony Orchestra.
• Sports fans can make the pilgrimage to Hampden Park in Glasgow, the national Scottish football (soccer) stadium. Guided tours are available (website: www.hampdenpark.co.uk).
• Island-hop by ferry between the many Hebrides (to the west), including Skye (website: www.skye.co.uk), Lewis and Harris (website: www.visithebrides.com), the Orkneys (website: www.visitorkney.com) and Shetlands (website: www.visitshetland.com) to the north.
• Walk, climb or ski on Aviemore in the Grampians (website: www.visitaviemore.com).
• Boat on Loch Lomond, Loch Ness or Loch Katrine.
• Cycle on the extensive network of signposted cycling routes and off-road trails for mountain biking. On small country roads there is often little traffic. Bicycle hire and cycling tours are available throughout the country.
• White-water raft on the fast-moving Highland rivers.
• Golfers will be in their element, with some 500 courses nationwide, among them the Old Course at St Andrews, the ‘Home of Golf' (website: www.standrews.org.uk), and further top championship courses at Carnoustie, Turnberry, Royal Troon and Muirfield.
• Sample Scotland's lip-smacking export at whisky distilleries (website: www.maltwhiskytrail.com) on the east coast, between Inverness and Aberdeen.
TOP THINGS TO SEE
• Spot wildlife in Scotland's more sparsely inhabited areas. Red deer, golden eagles, peregrine falcons and wildcat are some of the creatures inhabiting mountainous regions, while the lower slopes of the central Highlands provide sanctuary for red squirrel, capercaillie (grouse) and pine marten.
• Whet the cultural taste buds in Glasgow at the world-famous Burrell Collection (website: www.glasgowmuseums.com), where more than 9,000 assorted paintings, tapestries and antique furniture are on view. For a more modern approach, the Glasgow Science Centre (website: www.glasgowsciencecentre.org) features interactive attractions and the 127m (416ft) revolving Glasgow Tower.
• Admire Stirling Castle (website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk), a former home of Mary Queen of Scots, while the nearby Old Town Jail (website: www.oldtownjail.com) gives an unpleasant insight into life in a Victorian prison.
• Commemorate ‘Braveheart' William Wallace, 13th-century scourge of the English, at the imposing Wallace Monument (website: www.nationalwallacemonument.com), just outside Stirling. Climb the spiral staircase to the top for wonderful views across the Forth Valley.
• Wonder at the scenery of the Highlands - perhaps the most famous region in Scotland. On their southern fringes at Callander, the Rob Roy Visitor Centre (website: www.robroyvisitorcentre.com) tells the story of another Scottish folk hero. The views from the road north out of Callander are also among the finest in the country.
• Look up at Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, from Fort William (website: www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk).
• Try and catch a glimpse of the infamous Loch Ness monster. You can learn all about ‘Nessie' at the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre, Drumnadrochit (website: www.loch-ness-scotland.com).
• Step aboard the Discovery (website: www.rrsdiscovery.com), docked at Dundee, on which Captain Scott made his ill-fated Antarctic voyage.
• Be sure to see Dumfries in southern Scotland, former home of Robert Burns, Scotland's most celebrated poet. See his very own chair at the Globe Inn (website: www.globeinndumfries.co.uk) in the centre of town.
TRAVEL TO SCOTLAND
Flying
Continental Airlines (website: www.continental.com) flies to Edinburgh and Glasgow from the USA. Delta Airlines flies from the USA to Edinburgh (website: www.delta.com). British Airways (website: www.britishairways.com) flies from England to Edinburgh and Glasgow; other airlines flying between Scotland and European cities include easyJet (website: www.easyjet.com) and bmi (website: www.flybmi.com). From New York to Edinburgh is 7 hours 45 minutes, and to Glasgow is 7 hours 40 minutes.
Main Airports
Edinburgh (EDI) (website: www.edinburghairport.com) is 12km (8 miles) west of the city centre. To/from the airport: Lothian Buses; website: www.lothianbuses.co.uk) runs a bus between the airport and the city centre, and there is a night bus. Taxis are available (journey time - 25 minutes).
Glasgow (GLA) (website: www.glasgowairport.com) is 14km (9 miles) west of the city centre. To/from the airport: Paisley's Gilmour Street station is 3km (2 miles) from the airport. It is easily reached by taxi or bus. All buses depart from outside the main airport terminal. Scottish Citylink (tel: 0870 550 5050; website: www.citylink.co.uk) runs regular services to the city centre and other destinations in Scotland. Taxis are available (journey time - to city centre 20 minutes; to Paisley station 5 minutes).
Facilities: Edinburgh and Glasgow airports are both of a high international standard and include bank/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, car hire, restaurants and bars.
Aberdeen (ABZ) (website: www.aberdeenairport.com) is 11km (7 miles) northwest of the city centre. To/from the airport: Aberdeen and Inverness trains stop at Dyce station, which is a short taxi ride from the airport. There are frequent bus services from the city centre to the airport. For details, contact First (tel: (01224) 602 200; website: www.firstgroup.com). Stagecoach Bluebird services also run to the airport (tel: (01224) 591 381; website: www.stagecoachbus.com/bluebird). Taxis are available (journey time - to city centre 20 minutes).
Inverness (INV) (website: www.invernessairport.com) is the major airport serving the Highlands, with transfer connections available to airports in the north of Scotland. It is 14km (9 miles) east of the city centre. To/from the airport: Taxis and buses run. Facilities: ATM, bar/restaurant and bookshop.
Ferry
Main ports: Aberdeen (website: www.aberdeen-harbour.co.uk), Cairnryan (website: www.cairnryanportdevelopment.co.uk), Lerwick (website: www.lerwick-harbour.co.uk), Oban, Rosyth and Stranraer (website: http://stranraer.ports-guides.com).
Routes include P&O Irish Sea ferry service between Cairnryan and Larne (journey time – 1 hour) (tel: 0870 242 4777; website: www.poirishsea.com); and Stena Line’s service between Stranraer and Belfast (journey time – 1 hour 45 minutes) (tel: 0870 570 7070; website: www.stenaline.com).
Smyril Lines (website: www.smyril-line.com) runs a service between Hanstholm (Denmark) and Lerwick, continuing to the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The ferry goes via Bergen (Norway) in the summer. Superfast Ferries (tel: 0870 234 0870; website: www.superfast.com) operates services between Rosyth (just outside Edinburgh) and Zeebrugge (Belgium).
Rail
There are two mainline routes into Scotland from England: from London Euston up the west coast to Glasgow Central and beyond to Perth and Inverness; and from London Kings Cross up the east coast to Edinburgh and beyond to Dundee and Aberdeen. For details, contact National Rail Enquiries (tel: 0845 748 4950; website: www.nationalrail.co.uk).
Road
Scotland is connected to the main UK road network by good trunk roads, and has several internal motorways. Main access from England is via the A74/M74 (Carlisle to Glasgow), the A696/A68 (Newcastle to Edinburgh via the Cheviots) and the A1 (Newcastle to Edinburgh via the coast).
TRAVEL AROUND SCOTLAND
Flying
There are several small airports in the north of Scotland that are served by flights from Glasgow and, in some cases, from Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh as well. These include Barra, Benbecula, Kirkwall (Orkney), Sumburgh (Shetland), Stornoway and Tiree. For further information, contact Glasgow Airport (see Getting There).
Ferry
Ferry services operate between the mainland and all the Scottish islands. Caledonian MacBrayne (tel: 0870 565 0000; website: www.calmac.co.uk) operates the largest network of ferries on the River Clyde and west coast, serving many islands, including the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Northlink Ferries (tel: 0845 600 0449; website: www.northlinkferries.co.uk) operates services to Orkney and Shetland; from Aberdeen to Lerwick; and from Scrabster to Stromness (journey time - 1 hour 30 minutes).
Rail
There are good services connecting all the main towns, particularly in the Edinburgh-Glasgow area. Many of the routes that pass through the Highlands (such as: Perth-Inverness; Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh; Glasgow-Fort William-Mallaig) are spectacular. The network extends right up to Thurso and Wick in the extreme north of the country. Overnight services are available on First Scotrail's Caledonian Sleeper connecting London Euston with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William (tel: 0845 601 5929; website: www.firstscotrail.com).
Road
The main motorways within Scotland connect Edinburgh with Glasgow (M8), Edinburgh with Stirling (M9) and the Forth Bridge, near Edinburgh, with Perth (M90).
In general, the internal trunk road network is better and more direct on the east coast, and roads north of Inverness tend to be slower and often single track. Snow is common in winter, especially in the Highlands, and motorists are advised to follow local advice concerning weather conditions. The main cross-country road, the A9, connects Perth with Inverness and Thurso.
Car hire: Self-drive cars are widely available in the major centres.
For information on regulations, documentation and emergency breakdown services, see Getting Around in the main United Kingdom section.
Travel in Towns and Cities
All the major towns and cities have bus services. Glasgow also has an underground and a suburban train network.
POPULAR PLACES TO VISIT
Edinburgh: Edinburgh is unique among Scotland's cities. Tourism, its proximity to England, and its multicultural population set it apart. There's up-to-the-nanosecond dance clubs in 15th-century buildings and firebreathers outside Georgian mansions: this is a place that knows how to blend ancient and modern. Edinburgh's superb architecture ranges from ancient churches to monumental Victorian masterpieces - all dominated by a castle on a precipitous crag in the city's heart. Pick any street to stroll - you'll be wowed by sudden vistas of looming battlements, cold volcanic peaks and hills steeped in memory.
Glasgow: Glasgow is the most Scottish of cities, with a unique blend of friendliness, urban chaos, black humour and energy. It boasts excellent art galleries and museums, as well as numerous good-value restaurants, countless pubs and bars and a rollicking arts scene. Although Glasgow lacks the instantly inspiring beauty of Edinburgh, it's one of Britain's largest, liveliest and most interesting cities, with a legacy of appealing Victorian architecture and several distinguished suburbs of terraced squares and crescents.
Inverness: Scenically located on the shores of the inner Moray Firth, Inverness is the place to experience the region's remote open spaces or enjoy a little monster hunting at nearby Loch Ness. Although Inverness dates from the 1200s, few pre-19th century buildings remain because of its tumultuous history.
Orkney Islands: Dramatic coastal scenery, abundant marine bird life and Europe's greatest concentration of prehistoric sites are just 10km (6mi) off the north coast of Scotland. Twenty of the 70 Orkney Islands are inhabited, and the climate is surprisingly mild (for the Scottish isles!)
Scottish Highlands: Rugged, remote, romantic and rare - Scotland's famous Highlands make up one of Europe's great wilderness areas. Return to an era when Sunday was sacred, explore a Stone Age village, spend time with the local wildlife or meet the people that history has failed to humble. The region boasts Britain's highest peaks and most spectacular glens, fascinating archaeological sites, mysterious loch monsters and massive seabird colonies. It's the place to get your heart pumping by scrambling over dramatic ridges, or slow the pace down by strolling along peaceful waterways.
Shetland Highlands: This is the place to be if you like a good yarn and a bit of isolation. The Shetland Islands are remote, windswept and treeless; their nearest neighbour is Bergen in Norway; only 15 of the 100 islands are inhabited; there are a lot of birds; and the islands are awash with knitwear (eg, Fair Isle's textiles.
St. Andrews: When the sun manages to tear a hole through the clouds, St Andrews is one of Scotland's most fascinating and enjoyable towns. Nestled into a wide sweeping bay, it combines an international student population with those bonded by their reverence for belting little white balls with a stick.
Stirling: Like a mini-Edinburgh, Stirling has one of Scotland's grandest castles - sitting atop an extinct volcano - an impossibly charming cobblestoned old town and the best-preserved town wall in the country. But it's the history that stands out - Bannockburn, William Wallace and the crowning of James VI.
