Scotland

Scotland is our home country and somewhere that we love to explore and create helpful travel guides for our readers.

With the stunning backdrops of mountains in the highlands and greenery on our doorstep,  it’s hard not to love the place.

Peter is from the east coast and Lauren is from the Western Isles and we do our best to cover as much of Scotland as we can with our content to help you make the most of your trip.

Scotland has so much to offer. One minute you can be in the centre of a bustling city with little sign of greenery and within 20 minutes you can be in some of the most rugged terrain in the country.

Our landscapes draw thousands of visitors from all over the world each year and it’s literally something that we can drive to any time we want.

We definitely consider ourselves lucky to live here.

If you’re thinking of visiting Scotland then here are some of our best suggestions of things to see on the mainland that we’ve visited so far.

Outer Hebrides

Every summer we take a trip over to the Outer Hebrides to see all the things to do in Lewis and Harris. It’s a place that I would recommend anyone to visit and for those of you who are planning a trip over, here are some of the best things to do in Stornoway.

You’ll also need somewhere to get food if you’re visiting, so try some of our favourite restaurants and cafes in Stornoway.

You should also probably be aware that Sundays in Stornoway are different to many other places in Scotland and you should probably be prepared to take a slower pace of life on that day.

We’ve only just scratched the surface there and it’s somewhere that Peter has really grown to love, partially because of the incredible beaches on offer like Luskentyre.

Oh and there’s certainly a bunch of hidden gems that you may not know about on the islands.

If you’re over on the islands then the Harris Gin Distillery Tour is definitely something not to be missed, even if you’re not a big gin lover.

One of the must-see parts of visiting the Outer Hebrides has to be booking a St Kilda trip. We visited and it’s just the most incredible place we’ve ever been. A true “once in a lifetime” experience.

The Outer Hebrides are also the main place in Scotland where Scottish Gaelic is still spoken. You can learn some for yourself through Lauren’s handy video guides that teach you some small phrases of Scottish Gaelic using phonetics to make it easier.

The Outer Hebrides are actually one of the best places to potentially spot the Northern Lights in Scotland.

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

• Up in Aberdeen, there are plenty of things to do, like the newly reopened Art Gallery that’s had a huge overhaul and the thrilling Tolbooth Museum, where you can learn more about the criminal past of the city.
  
• Aberdeen is a city often overlooked when it comes to visiting Scotland, but we cover plenty of reasons answering the questions of “Is Aberdeen worth visiting?” and also answer questions about Living in Aberdeen too.
  
• If you’re looking for a hotel for a special occasion, then check out our top picks of the most romantic hotels in Aberdeen, there’s also a good amount of date night ideas in Aberdeen too.
  
• If museums are what interest you then check out our round-up of the best museums in Aberdeen. Most of them are free too!
  
• Perhaps the outdoors are more your thing. If so, you should check out some of the best parks in Aberdeen including one voted the best park in Scotland in 2022.
  
• Aberdeen nightlife is also worth checking out if you’re in the area and fancy checking out the best bars and clubs in the city. We’ve also put together this handy guide to help you find the best breakfast in Aberdeen too to help with the hangover.
  
• If you’re visiting in November or February, then keep an eye open for Aberdeen Restaurant Week, where many city restaurants offer fantastic deals for two weeks.
  
• Famous for the New Year Fireball celebrations, there are plenty of other reasons to love Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. Some of those include one of the best fish and chip shops and the best ice cream shops in the area.
  
• It’s also home to the world-famous and breathtaking Dunnottar Castle.
  
• Exploring Aberdeenshire is something that everyone should do and is often one of the forgotten areas of Scotland. Start off by taking a trip up to the coastal fishing village that is Pennan and see why it’s a favourite amongst locals. Just a short walk along a rugged coastal track and you’ll find yourself in Crovie!
  
• Just a little north of Aberdeen, you’ll find Cruden Bay and the mysterious Slains Castle, which is meant to have been the influence behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
  
• Fancy an adventure to a hidden quarry in Aberdeenshire? Check out the stunning Tillyfourie Quarry.
  
• Hop on a bus or take the car on a trip to the coastal gem that is Johnshaven just a short drive from Aberdeen where they have some fantastic seafood available at the Lobster Shack.
  
• Head slightly inland and take a wander around the quaint village of Fettercairn and gaze at the stunning Victorian-era, Fettercairn Arch, before taking a drive to Edzell and grabbing food at Sinclairs Larder.
  
• One thing that stands out here is the sheer number of beaches in Aberdeenshire. All with their own perks and quirks.
  
• Fancy experiencing a different side of Aberdeenshire? Why not check out some of the best Aberdeenshire Glamping spots?
  
• Why not take a day trip to Peterhead and see some of the tourist attractions on offer in this coastal fishing town?
  
• If you need somewhere to stay when visiting with extra accessibility options then here are the best choices in the city.

Aberdeen Restaurant Reviews

Dundee

• Dundee is one of our favourite cities to visit and there are plenty of reasons why. Check out our list of things to do in Dundee.
  
• There’s also the nearby Glamis Castle which makes for an impressive day trip from Dundee.
  
• When visiting Dundee, be sure to check out the Sleeperz Hotel if you’re planning to stay overnight. It’s also within walking distance of one of the best bars in the city, Bird and Bear.
  
• After your night’s sleep, head along to The Bach and order yourself some breakfast to start your day off right before exploring all that the city has to offer.
  
• If you’ve got access to a car, then why not take the short drive out to Broughty Ferry? This little suburb of Dundee is so picturesque and draws in thousands of visitors every month. If you’ve got time, you should grab some food from Forgans. It’s one of our favourites in the area.

Until then:

• We can guarantee you won’t find another Pineapple house in Scotland or perhaps even the world.
  
• Take a Gin Distillery tour in Edinburgh and experience how some of the local gins are made as well as get a tasting session.
  
• Or if Whisky is more your thing, then why not take a Whisky tasting tour in the capital instead?
  
• Only a short drive from the city of Edinburgh is the beautiful St Andrews, which draws thousands of visitors each year to the home of golf. It’s easy to see why you should take a day trip to St Andrew’s when it’s got all these things to do.
  
• Somewhere we’ve started to explore more when we’re heading to Lewis is Inverness. By taking some time to actually stop off and experience the city, we’ve discovered just how many fantastic things there are to do in Inverness as well as visiting the brilliant Coyotes Burger restaurant.
  
• Head a little bit further north from Inverness and you’re on the North Coast 500, where you’ll find the lovely town of Wick, where there’s just so much history to explore.
  
• Or head South from Inverness and stop off for an adventure in Fort William where there’s loads of fantastic tourist attractions including Glenfinnan Viaduct, with the passing Hogwarts Express if you time it right.

Travel Guides

• How to get from Edinburgh to Inverness
• Where to store luggage in Edinburgh City Centre
• Do you tip in Scotland?
• Can you drink tap water in Scotland?
• Is Scotland Expensive?
• Explore more of Scotland with the National Trust Membership
• How to get to the Green Loch in Aviemore
• How to get to the Skyfall location in Scotland
• Where to see Highland Cows in Scotland
• What are the best parks in Glasgow?

Places to stay in Scotland

Scottish Recipes

Get a taste of Scotland with some of these simple and traditional Scottish recipes.

• Scotch Pancakes Recipe
• Scotch Broth Recipe
• Mince and Tatties Recipe
• Simple Stovies Recipe
• Scottish Cranachan Recipe
• Aberdeen Butteries Recipe
• Cullen Skink Recipe
• Scottish Lentil Soup Recipe