Scotland | Experience the Trip of a Lifetime | Stay in a Pub

History & Heritage

From the stone circles that are scattered across Scotland’s islands, which are thought to date back 5,000 years, to the opening of the new Scottish Parliament in 1999, Scotland has a rich and colourful history. As you travel around Scotland, uncover stories of heroes, villains, fallen monarchs and bloody battles. Find out more about Scotland’s literary greats, trace back your family history and marvel at some truly breathtaking castles, monuments and architecture.

Landscapes

Scotland is home to over 11,000km of beautiful natural landscape just waiting to be explored. There is majestic coastline with islands nestled throughout it, magnificent mountains and forests and stunning rivers, lochs and more. It’s the perfect place to visit if you want to escape to the great outdoors and get way from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

With all this marvellous natural beauty, Scotland is also home to an abundance of wildlife and plant life. There are over 1,400 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and 47 National Nature Reserves (NNR). Scotland’s landscape has made it into a haven for adventure enthusiasts, walkers and mountain bikers. The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, is Scotland’s first National Park and is home to the Arrochar Alps, one of the more popular climbing regions in Scotland.

Cycling

Cycling in Scotland is one of the best ways to discover and see the wonders on offer in this remarkable country. To find out about where to cycle and the many routes on offer throughout Scotland visit the National Cycle Network. There are plenty of routes to choose from ranging from quiet country lanes, flat city trails, to the more adventurous and strenuous trails across the Highlands. There something for all the family so don’t leave the bikes at home!

Mountain Biking

For those adrenaline junkies and adventure sports enthusiasts why not discover Scotland by mountain bike? If you are a keen mountain biker, 7stanes is the place to visit. From the Scottish Borders to Dumfries and Galloway, 7stanes offers bikers some of the most incredible biking trails in the world.

You can also watch world-class mountain biking races including the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, which sees the mountain biking elite rattle down the Nevis Ski Range in the Scottish Highlands.

Fishing

Some of the world’s finest fishing takes place in Scotland. Throughout the year visitors can take part in freshwater and sea angling and try their hand at catching Atlantic salmon, pike or common skate. Or If you want to try sea fishing then Scotland’s incredible coast and sea offers visitors some great opportunities for both boat and shore fishing.

Golf

Scotland truly has so much to offer to those visiting. The country is the ‘Home of Golf’ and over the year many keen golfers visit Scotland to experience some of the world’s best courses and watch the world’s greatest players compete. The most famous courses include the Old Course at St Andrews, and the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles.

Walking

One of the best ways to discover and explore Scotland is by foot. You’ll be able to experience the beauty of the country at your own pace and discover the stunning treasures on offer across Scotland. To find out more about walking in Scotland please visit Scotland’s Great Trails which has information on long-distance routes that take you through breathtaking landscapes and past ruins and more.

Watersports

As with many outdoor sports, Scotland is the perfect place for watersports. There’s not just fantastic coastline but hundreds or rivers and lochs offering guests one of the greatest places to try and experience watersports. But don’t worry you don’t have to be experienced to enjoy the lochs or rivers, Scotland has plenty of outdoor activity centres and instructors on offer across the country.

^{(Photo: ©VisitBritain/Joe Cornish)}