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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Borthwick Castle was built by Sir William Borthwick in the mid 1400s on the foundation of an older castle. In the mid 1500 Mary Queen of Scots visited not long after she married James Hepbert who was the Earl of Bothwell. A group of 1000 men came to kill the Earl of Bothwell. The Queen of Scots negotiated with them while her husband escaped and then she escaped in the morning disguised as a page boy. In the 1600s Cromwell attacked Borthwich Castle damaging the parapet.

There is said to be an apparition of a page boy stalking the halls of Borthwick Castle. 

You can easily find this castle as it is in the Edinburgh area 13 miles from the Edinburgh Airport.

You can enjoy this historic Scotland castle on your Scotland vacations because it is now a hotel with all the modern connivances and historical ambiance. This is a wonderful place for weddings or just the honeymoon.

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Scotland castles are majestic, and are located in some of the most beautiful parts of the world. These castles were built for a purpose and much of there history isn’t all that pretty. These fortresses were built to keep out the enemy, and often sat on top of dungeons used to imprison and torture those that could not be trusted.

Who was there enemy?

Since the beginning of humanity people have gathered together as families into groups. These groups would look at the other groups nearby and start to worry that the others might be bigger and stronger then themselves. They would think the other group might try to overtake us and kill the ones I love and maybe carry away the rest. Or, maybe you belong is the strongest group? You would look at the weaker groups and thing that they might want to take yours over and make its people there slaves. We have to get them before they can get us. 

This has been the way things have been for so long on every continent. In fact this is still the way things go now. This is not a political statement, just an observation of how we humans protect ourselves. In Scotland’s history these groups were called clans. These clans were a group of families that stuck together and had a common ancestor. They were always looking at the nearby clans with distrust and sometimes bloodlust in there eyes.

We don’t want to forget about another group to the far north that considered trade such a way of life and an essential part of there survival that they would attack anyone that got in there way. You guessed it; I am talking about the Vikings. Although many of Scotland clans very likely had Viking in there ancestry, this group was still a treat and therefore many of Scotland’s castles were built to perfect its inhabitants from them.

The Newer Castles have History to

Scotland also has castles that have a much more recent history. Most were erected to protect the people inside because they were the rulers, and there for in constant danger of being murdered and there empire taken over. A few more recent of Scotland’s castles were actually built by wealthy families that had very little to do with royalty. These of course are the ones that were built more for looks than protection. They are also rich in history.

Above photo of Aberlemno Kirkyard by Keri’sKicks  -(back and catching up)

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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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Glasgow is a beautiful Scotland city with gardens, history, and modern amenities that make it a wonderful place for your Scotland vacations. A day in Glasgow can have enough activity and rest to make a perfect day for all Scotland Vacations.

Wake Up

Wake up when you feel like it after getting a nice restful sleep in a quant bed and breakfast of inn. Get ready for the day in a bright cheerful room with a view of historic Glasgow.

Breakfast

Getting breakfast close by is going to save you time and stress, so go ahead and enjoy the breakfast that is included with your room. If the morning meal is not included then go the inns restaurant or a place within walking distance.

Tour the Peoples Palace

The people’s palace is a wonderful museum that represents the people of Glasgow past and present that have made an impact as well as Glasgow’s social history. 

Lunch

Keeping things simple go have lunch at the glasshouses whole foods snack bar nearby. If it isn’t to your taste or isn’t open then ask an employee where to eat that is really close. Sit back and soak Glasgow in while eating your lunch.

Walk Through the Glasgow Green

The Peoples Palace is attached to a wonder full park and winter gardens. You are there and we are tying to keep things enjoyable and stress free, so exploring this wonderful park should be your evening’s activities. Get some exorcise while you are there by walking all the paths.

Dinner

Since you are most likely going to need to take some sort of public transportation to get back to your room you might as will stop at a nice restaurant on the way to have your dinner. Get advice from locals before deciding on which restaurant to go to. They know what is good in there neiborhood.

Off to Bed

After having a fun day it is so nice to come back to the same room where your things are waiting for you. Watch a bit of the local TV if you want to better understand the culture and relax before bedtime.

Above photo of a street in Glasgow Scotland by dweinberger

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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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Do you need to relax and smell the roses on your next vacation? Life is so busy and tiring that when you have a short break from it sometimes you just want to get away from home and relax somewhere else. You don’t need a hectic vacation where all you do is check sights off of your list after you have run through them. Will you even remember all of those places you had to see once you get home? Are you going to need a vacation after your vacation because you are so exhausted from it? Are you looking for a truly relaxing and enjoyable vacation that you will have no trouble remembering for years to come? If you do, you need to pick a single destination. Scotland has plenty of these single destinations that you can go to and relax. 

You could visit a single small town and enjoy taking walks though and around it. Most places in Scotland have nice places to stay and place to eat as well as local attractions to visit. The point is to take things slowly and really see, smell, and feal the area around you. 

One such place in Scotland that you could enjoy is Castle Lock. Castle Lock is a beautiful lake. This is the prefect destination for your Scotland vacations. This is a loch that you can get some exorcize or just sit back and commune with nature. What are the main things to do at Castle Loch?

The Fishing

The fishing is world renowned and the fish are large and begging to be caught by you. Just make sure you get the proper licenses before you start fishing to keep everything friendly.

Wildlife and Bird Watching

There is a path that goes around almost the entire lake. Take your binoculars and see what types of animals you can spot.

There are many other places that a tired person in need of a refreshing vacation can enjoy in Scotland.

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You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy Scotland castle vacations. If you like old crumbling buildings, opulent palaces, or just the countryside castle vacations are for you. It isn’t hard to imagine the kings, queens, lords, ladies and the many servants that once walked the halls of any historic castle your visit. Here are a few castles worth putting on your itinerary for your Scotland vacations.

Edinburgh Castle

You can’t have a Scotland vacation without a visit to Edinburgh castle. This has to be the most famous castle of them all in Scotland. This castle consists of a few different building most of which you can tour that were built in different eras. There is a lot of walking here to be sure to wear good shoes. If you plan your trip right you can enjoy the Edinburgh military tattoo.

Glamis Castle

Do you enjoy the though of castles that would exist in fairy tails? If you do you can’t mill Glamis castle. This is an important castle in Scotland as it has a very strong royal past with the Queen Mother; Elizabeth Bowes-Loyn called it her home and even had her second daughter there. If you enjoy ghost tails then be sure to ask about the resident ghosts when you visit.

Castle of Mey

The castle of Mey is so far north that you could see the Orkney Islands on a good day. This castle was the home of the Queen Mother that was the widow of George the VI when she bought it in the 1900s and restored it. You can visit this castle during the warmer months.

Above photo of Invergarry Castle Ruin by jacob earl

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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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