Things to See & Do in Scotland

Scotland overview

Edinburgh for the history and the views, Glasgow for the art and the energy, and the Highlands for the scenery. These are the places I’d point you to first.

Edinburgh and the Royal Mile

Walk the Royal Mile. It runs through the Old Town from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the narrow closes that open off either side are half the fun. The Old Town and the Georgian New Town below it are a UNESCO World Heritage Site together.

Expect hills, cobbles and stairs. Comfortable shoes matter more here than in most cities.

A quiet cobbled lane in Edinburgh lined with stone houses, flowers and climbing plants, with a church tower at the end — A quiet Edinburgh lane, from my trip

Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill

I recommend climbing Arthur’s Seat for the views over Edinburgh. It is the high point of Holyrood Park, an ancient volcano about 251 metres high, and the park starts at the bottom of the Royal Mile. From the top you look back over the Old Town and the castle, north to the Firth of Forth and Fife beyond it, and south to the Pentland Hills.

The last stretch is steep and rocky, and it can be windy and slippery after rain, so wear proper shoes. If a sea mist (the haar) rolls in, the view can vanish quickly. For a shorter climb, Calton Hill at the east end of Princes Street gives a lovely view over the city too.

The unfinished stone columns of the National Monument on Calton Hill under a blue evening sky — Calton Hill, from my trip

Glasgow

Look for the street art in Glasgow. Huge murals cover walls all over the city centre, and the council’s City Centre Mural Trail links many of them into a self-guided walk with a map you can follow.

Scotland’s largest city also has free museums, including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, plenty of Charles Rennie Mackintosh architecture, and a strong live music scene. It is the natural starting point for Loch Lomond and the west Highlands.

A bright pink “People Make Glasgow” banner on a building beside the curved glass roof of a railway station — People Make Glasgow

Stone vaulted cloisters with rows of columns at the University of Glasgow — The cloisters at the University of Glasgow

The Highlands

The Highlands are stunning, and they reward time. A guided day from Edinburgh or Glasgow can reach Glencoe, the Trossachs or Loch Ness, but a few nights in Inverness, Fort William or on the Isle of Skye let you see them at an easier pace.

Roads in the far north and west are often single track, with passing places for oncoming traffic. Driving times are longer than the distances suggest, which is one reason I like the train or a small-group tour for a first visit.

Steep green mountains rising on both sides of a Highland glen under heavy grey cloud — The Highlands, from my trip

Green ridges and rocky cliffs above a wide Highland valley with small lochs, under a cloudy sky — The Highlands

Haggis, whisky, and whisky ice cream

I tried haggis and really enjoyed it, especially with whisky sauce. My advice: don’t ask what’s in it — just try it. I also loved whisky ice cream, so keep an eye out for it.

For whisky itself, Scotland’s five whisky regions are the Highlands, the Lowlands, Speyside, Islay and Campbeltown, and many distilleries offer tours. If you’re visiting in late January, Burns Night on January 25 is the traditional night for haggis.

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Tell me which cities are on your list, roughly when you’d like to go, and how much of the Highlands you want to see. I’ll plan the route and book the stays, trains and flights.

The initial 30-minute consultation is complimentary. The professional research fee is $50 per traveller aged 2 or older, paid before research begins.

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