You can get so much more out of Scotland vacations by studying up on its long history before you go. It doesn’t matter if you are of Scottish decent or not, the Scotland clan system is fascinating.

I recently enjoyed a series called “Clans of Scotland”. The narrator just goes through what he considers the biggest or major clans of Scotland. He does not include all of the clans that existed so don’t be surprised if the clan or last name you are looking for isn’t there.

If you ever wondered why Scottish history was so bloody and families hated each other just because of their last name then you will enjoy all of the stories in this series.

To enjoy this show before your Scotland vacation then click on “Clans of Scotland“.

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When you think of having a Scotland vacation you are probably envisioning fields of heather in the highlands, crumbling castles on cliffs, and hill walking in a nice kilt. You can see and do all of those things while in Scotland either on your own or with a package tour like a Scotland cruise. 

Do you want to have a Scotland vacation that that is wrapped up in one neat bundle? Sometimes we want to be really picky and personally plan every aspect of a vacation. You have very specific places that you want to see and just don’t have interest in anything else. You want to control every moment of your day from morning till night. If that is what you want then be prepared to do a lot of work and have a lot of frustration along the way. 

A better alternative if you really want to have a relaxing Scotland vacation is to book a Scotland cruise. You can cruise the locks, island waterways, canals, and around the coast. If this is your first time visiting Scotland then having everything taken care of for you is going to make your trip memorable for the beautiful views and amazing experiences instead of being frustrated.

If you want to learn more about having a Scotland cruise then check back for our updates.

Above photo not of a Scotland Cruise but of Sandy (or James) Linton, his boat and bairns taken around 1845 by National Galleries of Scotland Commons

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Have you ever had a vacation that wasn’t really a vacation at all? If you don’t know what I mean by that then let me explain. You work hard all year and it is finally time to take your vacation. You pick a place to go and start deciding what you simply must see once your get there. You have been thinking about this place all year and there is so much to see. You list is long. When you get to your destination you start visiting all of these sites and checking them off your list. You might even need to practically run though these places to have time to see them all, in the style of the Griswold’s in Europe. When you get home you are exhausted and can’t remember half of what you saw. This in no way to have a vacation.

You should have a really fun, relaxing, and refreshing vacation that you will fond memories for years to come. To make sure you have this type of vacation you need to make sure you don’t put no much on your itinerary for each day and then be flexible when you get there. You should also say in the same place for several nights. If you can stay in the same place for the duration on your vacation you will have a much more relaxing time. 

If you must have a daily itinerary then just put one or two things on it. If you can have a Scotland vacation without the schedule then you will have a more enjoyable time.

Above photo of Smoo Cliffs Scotland virtualwayfarer

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If you are coming from the relatively young cities of North America you will find yourself surrounded by the historic building of old Scotland on your Scotland vacations. People have been building and rebuilding fortifications and infrastructure out of stone in Scotland for centuries. Much of these you can still see today. History is an important part of Scotland and dear to the Scottish people, so historical buildings and objects have been kept safe and are on display for you to enjoy.

Who Built Old Scotland?

The answer depends on what you consider to be old Scotland. You have the Celts or Picts that populated Scotland long ago and have left some of there walls, artifacts and traditions behind. They tended to fight among themselves and so they needed to build fortifications to try to stay safe. When the Romans came they took everything that they could over. When they reached a far northern area that was to wild to be tamed by them they erected a wall. Hadrian’s Wall was guarded by the Romans for a long time and you can still see parts of it today. 

Castles and Other Homes

Scotland castles are a great place to see old Scotland. Scotland has many castles for you to visit form all eras. You could see castles with parts that are different ages in it as most castles were added on to and parts rebuilt over there long histories. If you come from North America then even the houses that are only one hundred years old will likely seem very old to you.

Religious Buildings

If you are looking for what is old in Scotland be sure to visit the old churches. They have lots of character and can give you a glimpse into the lives of the Scottish people over the centuries. The churches are also beautiful and often have a tour guide to explain the different aspects of them to you.

Above photo of Tomnaverie Stone Circle near Tarland Aberdenshire Scotland by fitaloon

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Scotland’s Highlands are not just mysterious and rugged; they are also beautiful and full of fun things to do on you your Scotland vacations. People spend there vacations in the highlands of Scotland every year so they can smell the fresh air, immerse themselves in Scotland rich history, and get some exorcise. And you can to if you want to. Here are a few activities that you can enjoy when you visit.

Walking and Becoming One with Nature

Walking has been a favorite pastime in England and Scotland for a very long time. All you need to do is reed a Jane Austen book to understand that. If you love to see things on foot then make sure you fit a few good walking paths into your itinerary. You can find well trod paths all over the country to spend an afternoon or even a week exploring.

Golfing Isn’t Just an Obvious Activity, it is a Fun One Too

It has been said that the sport of golf started in Scotland and if you go there you will soon realize that it is true. You can golf on coerces that have been used for the sport since the beginning. If you are a golf lover you could easily spend your entire Scotland vacation on the golf courses. These golf courses are set in interesting and beautiful locations, so you won’t miss out on what it is to be in Scotland.

Castles are Abundant and are Calling Your Name

Exploring both castle ruins and renovated ones is educational, entertaining, and a lot of good exorcise. Scotland’s highlands are full of castles of all shapes and sizes for you to enjoy. You can imagine what it would have been like to have been the lord or lady of the castle and roam the gardens.

Above photo of the Scotland Highlands by jacob earl

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Have you noticed that there are a lot of choices when deciding what you put into your itinerary? You could spend six months touring all of the sites and experiencing all of the possible activates in Scotland and never see and do it all. So, what type of Scotland trips should you include on your Scotland vacations?

Big Cities

Scotland big cities have a lot to offer. You can visit the museums and monuments during the day and then enjoy fine dining and the local pubs at night. There is a wide range of accommodations in these big cites. You will have no problem finding a place to stay that will fit your budget and your taste.

Small Towns

Scotland has more charming small towns and villages that you can relax in than I could possibly list here. As with small towns in all the countries of the world they will offer both a glimpse into the past as well as the comforts of the present. If you want a quiet Scotland vacation where you can stop to smell the roses then aim for a nice small town.

Scotland’s Famous Castles

You can’t make a trip to Scotland and not visit at least a few of Scotland’s castles. It has been said that Scotland has so many castles there is at least one on every hillock. This might be exaggerating, but only a little. You can visit refurbished castles as well as the ruins. You can tour some of them and stay the night in others. The only thing you can’t do is miss them.

Above photo of a boat in Scotland by velodenz

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If you have been watching the news things look pretty grim. I don’t have to tell you what the newscasters are reporting, because you already know. Yip a lot of people have lost there jobs, but the vast majority have not. Some people are even prospering. Whatever your thoughts on the economy are, if you can travel right now then why not. If it makes you feel better then consider that you are helping to keep people employed. You might even be able to get a fantastic deal to. If you are going to travel this year then here are a few reasons that you should have Scotland vacations.

There is so Much to See and Do

Let’s start with the obvious reasons to have Scotland vacations. Sometimes it is good to be reminded. Scotland has a long and interesting history. It does not matter if your ancestors are from Scotland or not. You can tour or even stay is historic castles. You can enjoy the cities and the night life they have to offer. Scotland is filled with lively pubs for you to enjoy. There are festivals like the one in Edinburgh in August accompanies the “Edinburgh military tattoo”. There are also highland games that will keep you entertained.

Scotland Vacations and the Exchange Rate

Here is the biggest thing to keep in mind when you are considering Scotland vacations this year. In many ways the US dollar falling is bad, unless you are traveling to Brittan. As of this writing it would take $130 of our dollars to equal there $100 which is better than it used to be. We are getting a better exchange on the conversion so that makes it a great time to visit Scotland.

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Scotland is estimated at around 30,000 SQ miles. That is a lot of ground to cover while on your Scotland vacations. Few people have the time or money to see it all. You are probably finding that you will need to pick and area or two to visit instead of the whole thing. So where do you start to look for the right part of Scotland to visit. Read on to find out the character of each area and visit back for lists of things to do in each area for your Scotland vacations.

Scotland Vacations in Edinburgh 

Edinburgh is known for its Edinburgh castle that sits on top of and old volcano. Although that is a perfectly good reason to choose Edinburgh to visit there is so much more to the city and the greater area. The center of Edinburgh is split in half by Princess Street Gardens. The north sides was built in the age of reason and are Greaten style. The south site is Old Town where you will find medieval architecture and tight allays and closes. Edinburgh also has many museums so it is a cultural destination.

Scotland Vacations in Dumfries

Dumfries is a town of only about 30,000 residents and known for being the resting place for Robbie Burns. This is a quiet town that you might only want to visit for a day, but it is a perfect jumping off place to visit the region surrounding it such as the Solway coast. As Burns also spend his last five years there you will find a few places to see that are associated with him. In the nineteen sixties there was building that got rid of many original building, but what is left of the red sandstone buildings to be worth a look.

Scotland Vacations in Glasgow 

Glasgow is situated on the river Clyde, which makes it the perfect place to have been an industrial giant. Glasgow tents to have a gritty feel and bad part of town because of its failed industry in the 1960s and 1970s. Today Glasgow can seem to be a stark gray city, but is now known for being a city of culture. You will find very imaginative museums, which demonstrate Scotland’s past, present, and future. The architecture is definitely worth a visit to Glasgow it itself.

Scotland Vacations in Skye

Skye and the Western Isles have many intriguing things to see. This Area does not have many pubs; instead it is full of churches. You can take a scenic ferry to the island or the less scenic road. Skye is considered the centered of Gaelic culture. If you are a real outdoorsman than you should have no problem finding enough to keep you happy for a week of two in Skye. If your just in it for fantastic view than this is also the place for you.

Scotland Vacations in the Inverness

Inverness is located in the spectacular Highland of Scotland and known as the only city in the Highlands. This area is full of castles and other historic sites. Inverness is a busy hub that is the perfect place to stay or get transportation while exploring other parts of the Highland. Inverness sits on the river Ness and has a few foot paths worth taking.

Above photo of Scotland – Trotternish/Island of Skye by vtveen

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The Scottish countryside is beautiful with unique flora and fauna, majestic farms, breathtaking seaside cliffs, and castle ruins steeped in history. Scotland also has flourishing urban towns with intriguing museums, historical castles, regal cathedrals, and exciting pubs. If you’re not an outdoorsy person who likes spending all your time in the countryside chasing Scottish highland cows, you’re in for a treat. Scotland has some great urban cities that are perfect for your Scotland vacation.

Museums

Scotland has so much history it’s bound to be full of museums. You can find all types of museums in Scotland’s cities. You can find ancient castles that have been turned into museums in most of the larger cities and even some of the smaller ones. You will also find all types and sizes of historic buildings that are housing Scotland’s antiquities. Scotland also has modern museums with fantastic examples of Scotland’s best modern art. Look for the National Gallery of Scotland which includes the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh.

Restaurants

You might have heard that Scotland, like England, is not known for its legendary cuisine. Bland food might have been the only offerings in the past, but today that simply isn’t true. You can feast on anything from fast food to gourmet food and all sorts of ethnic foods in between. Like everywhere else in the world, you will have the best selection in the largest metropolitan areas. Of course seafood and fish are prominent on most menus if you are by the coast. It is no longer necessary to eat haggis in Scotland, in fact in many places you might have trouble even finding haggis. On the other hand you’ve got to try a Deep Fried Snickers Bar.

Pub Crawls

You can visit all sorts of museums, gardens, and restaurants during the day, but what is there to do at night? So many urbanites like to enjoy the benefits of city life during the evenings too. The perfect activity to fill your evenings is right downtown.  If you arranged your lodgings right they might even be right down stairs. On Pub Crawls you basically walk or “crawl” from pub to pub. If you look around you can find official Pub Crawls to take that are like a tour.

Above photo of Port O’ Leith bar, Eninburgh by Ross Angus

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Scotland is the birthplace of golf, so it goes without saying that if you are a golfer you simply must get in a game or two. Scotland has more than 500 golf courses scattered across its lush landscape. Everyone can find the prefect golf course to satisfy the golfer in them. If you enjoy golfing then getting the chance to play is going to be the best part of your Scotland vacation.

Historical Golf Courses

It isn’t known exactly when the great game of golf was invented, but since golf’s beginning the game was enjoyed by everyone in Scotland from paupers to royalty. If you want to tee up where golfing celebrities have been playing for so long then aim for St Andrews Links. This is a links course, which means that it is by the sea and therefore has plenty of natural sand dunes, few trees, and few water hazards. At St Andrews Links you can get tee times in the old course or the castle course. Just be aware that this famous golf course is very popular, so getting a tee time is going to take some real effort. Once you are out on the course it will all be worth it.

When to go

If you’re planning on doing some golfing on your Scotland vacation or if golf is going to be the center of your Scotland vacation then it’s good to plan for golf season, which is technically from the beginning of April to the end of September.  The busiest times are in May and September. You can easily find a nice place to golf all year long in Scotland if you don’t mind the cold weather. No matter what time of year you visit be prepared for unpredictable weather. Bring waterproof shoes and a warm wool sweater to go under your jacket.

Above photo “Tees” by foxypar4

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