Scotland

Eventually, keep heading north out of England and you’ll be in Scotland with its own unbridled beauty, fierce sense of nationalism, and truly unique way of life.

The country consists of one large main land and several island groups, further divided into smaller regions. Altogether, the land supports just a little over 5 million residents, mostly concentrated in Scotland’s six cities, three of which include Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Stirling.

For the most urban feel, the capital city of Edinburgh will be to your taste. Its close proximity to England gives the city a very multicultural feel, with the highest tourism rates in the country, especially during Hogmanay and the summer.

Edinburgh, as a significant arts and cultural center for Scotland, hosts a series of famous international art festivals and celebrations during the summer months, or so-called “festival season.”

Continuing the city circuit, Glasgow will give you more of a local feel than Edinburgh, heavy in Victorian architecture and slow-burning Scottish spirit. Here, you can explore the many historical buildings situated across the city, from Glasgow Cathedral to the Burrell Collection.

Much more remote than the central belt in the lowlands, the highlands and islands of Scotland are wild, fierce, trying, untamed, and starkly beautiful. This region of Scotland contains Great Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, most mysterious lakes, Loch Ness, and thickest glens.

In the summer, many of these small towns will hold the world-famous Highland Games. Originally organized by clan chiefs as a way to get the strongest competitors for their armies and bodyguards, the game now draws a huge amount of onlookers and competitors each year in many different athletic sports including caber tossing, Scottish country dancing, Piping, and cycling.

Stop by Inverness, one of the busier cities in the Highlands, and visit Inverness Castle, originally blown up in the 15th-century and rebuilt in the 19th to become a local sheriff’s court. Visit nearby Loch Ness and try and catch a glimpse of the legendary monster, Nessie.

As if Scotland main weren’t breathtaking enough, the Isle of Skye is truly something amazing to behold. Tourists are drawn to the Isle for its spectacular views and great walking and mountain climbing.

Scotland

More websites about travelling to Scotland