With travelling abroad being put on the backburner for this year, we need to start to explore the beautiful destinations available without having to head to the airport. Scotland is home to some of the most breath-taking towns and villages within the UK, making a Scotland staycation the perfect option for your summer. If you are looking to travel around Scotland and perhaps need a bigger car fit for all the family, there are many places to hire a car in Edinburgh and across the rest of Scotland so do not worry, you are covered!
Seaside getaways
Scotland has an amazing collection of beach destinations to escape to and explore. You can’t beat a UK beach holiday and if you get the weather they are some of prettiest beaches in Europe. All the beaches are dog friendly too! Some top picks for a Scotland staycation are:
- Isle of Lewis & Harris – This beach has pristine white sand & turquoise waters, the perfect destination for your staycation.
- Caithness & Sutherland – At the very north of the mainland on the NC500 route, is some of Scotland’s best scenery and powdery sand beaches.
Outdoor activity
Scotland boasts great scenery and nature, this means it is the perfect place for hiking, biking, mountaineering and other outdoor activities. There are also a variety of lochs and rivers perfect for water sports such as kayaking. In the winter months Scotland is great for skiing with 5 ski resorts across the country. Some of the best-rated places for outdoor activity during a Scotland staycation are:
- Cairngorms National Park – This is the largest national park in the UK, it has mountains, forests, rivers and glens as well as offering a huge number of outdoor activities. It is also a great place to spot wildlife as well as being a great stop off on your way to Aberdeen from Inverness.
- Loch Lomond – Scotland has several lochs, perfect for hiking and cycling routes as well as the perfect place to take a dip after a long stroll. There is also a steamship, which is a great opportunity to take in the scenery.
A Scottish city break
You may think that city breaks are only available in Europe, however Scotland boasts some of the most picturesque cities in the UK. If you are looking to holiday in Scotland this year it is the perfect place to get the best of both worlds, whether you’re looking for a beach holiday or a city break. The most popular cities for a Scotland staycation are:
- Edinburgh – Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, it has breath-taking architecture as well as a range of bars, restaurants, art galleries and shopping centres to suit everyone’s taste.
- Glasgow – Glasgow is a great city to visit if you like the hustle and bustle of city life and great nightlife. It is a great place for music lovers offering an eclectic mix for everyone. Alongside this they also host a range of botanical gardens and Victorian architecture.
Great Views
Scotland has many iconic places to see outstanding sights. Some of the most breath-taking can be seen on the NC500, a 516 mile scenic route that takes you around the northern coast of Scotland. So if you choose Scotland for your staycation, do not forget your camera. Some of the best destinations to get the views whilst on Scotland staycation are:
- Isle of Skye – This is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Scotland, it has breath-taking scenery and great hiking spots as well as something for the kids, ‘fairy glen’ and ‘fairy pools’ which are thought to be the home of fairies.
- Loch Ness – Undoubtedly the most well-known destination in Scotland and the Scottish Highlands, because of the mythical creature the Loch Ness Monster. It is worth a trip to see if you will be the one to catch it on camera.
Cuisine & Whiskey
Scotland has a plethora of traditional food and drink, such as haggis, shortbread and irn bru. However, there is much more to it than this, due to the many coastal locations, they have a great range of freshly caught seafood, as well as different types of Scotch whiskies to try. If you are a foodie, on your Scotland staycation you must visit:
- Oban – Is sometimes known as the ‘seafood capital’, if you are a seafood fan you must add this destination to your trip.
- Speyside – This is a great place to discover the malt whiskey trail in Speyside. There are around 50 distilleries located here, if you are a whiskey fan, this would be the perfect location to visit.
Scotland has so many amazing things to offer, from an assortment of outdoor activities, beautiful beaches to great cities, they have everything you could possibly need from a Staycation. This is why Scotland is one of the most underrated holiday destinations and there is no time like now to go and explore all it has to offer!
Photo by James Lygate from Pexels
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