Scottish highlands, islands and cities where landscapes and culture meet

Edinburgh

Beautiful Edinburgh is a majestic city intricately bound to its surrounding landscape. Crowned by an imposing castle balanced atop craggy cliffs and overlooking a wild sea, nature never feels far away. But you’ll also find culture in spades. Each summer the Edinburgh Fringe turns Scotland’s capital into a cultural melting pot, but visit year-round to explore the Scottish Parliament Building designed by Enric Miralles, the medieval Old Town, the Botanic Gardens and neoclassical buildings of the elegant New Town. Take a stroll down the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse or jump on a free tour around St Giles’ Cathedral. When your feet can’t take much more, turn to the city’s burgeoning foodie scene. From elegant fine dining to affordable eats you’ll find restaurants and cafés showcasing Scotland’s best ingredients. Some of our favourites are the smaller neighbourhood places found in the interesting suburbs of Stockbridge and Leith, with The Lioness of Leith a current favourite.

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Islay and Jura

Islay, also known as ‘The Queen of the Hebrides’ and its rugged and brooding neighbour, Jura, are home to some of the world’s greatest (and peatiest) whiskies. Populated by the friendliest, most laid-back folk, you’ll soon find yourself slipping into the gentle pace of island life. Both islands thrum with a vast array of birdlife, basking seals, dolphins and deer. Soak up the deep layers of history at Finlaggan, once home to the Lords of the Western Isles or tackle the rugged hills, aka the Paps, on Jura. Visit distilleries on both islands (take the tour) for a wee dram, tuck into tantalising seafood and splash in turquoise bays, if you’re ok with the cold. Folk festival The Islay Sessions, is hosted every November while both islands run Fèis Ìle whiskey festival (of course!) in May/June.

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Dundee

Dundee has a superb location fanning out along the northern shore of the Firth of Tay. In recent years the waterfront has undergone a massive redevelopment, centred on the construction of the V&A Dundee Museum. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and opened in 2018, it’s the first V&A outside London. The architecturally exciting building, proudly balancing on the River Tay, is ingenious inside and out. Exhibitions cover architecture to fashion, healthcare to furniture, and engineering to video game design. Explore Scotland’s design landscape from past to present and discover little-known stories about Scottish design – some with international impact. Take a breather from the city to go hill walking amongst the glens, visit JM Barrie’s birthplace in nearby Kirriemuir, and stroll the shores of Montrose Basin for fantastic bird and wildlife spotting opportunities. 

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The Borders

The Borders might not conjure up quite the same feelings of soul-stirring solitude as the highlands and islands but its 1,800 square miles of green-hued hills and lush countryside are easily reached and ripe for exploration. And, you’ll find bags of culture too. Visit in May for the Borders Book Festival, a four-day extravaganza with more than 100 events held at Harmony Garden, a glorious National Trust for Scotland garden with views to Melrose Abbey and the Eildon Hills. Over the years this popular festival has grown to include health and wellbeing classes, film, music and comedy events as well workshops and talks. Plus you’ll find a smorgasbord of locally produced food and drink to keep you well-fuelled throughout. Exploring the area could take you along the Borders Abbey Way, on a cycle around Kielder Forest Park, or over the border to Northumberland to hit up the empty east-coast beaches. 

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Eilean Donan

Scotland is famed for its many hundreds of castles, most built to keep marauders out during skirmishes over land, and you never have to travel far to find one. One of our favourites is Eilean Donan in the wild and majestic scenery of the western Highlands. Perhaps the most recognisable and Insta-worthy of castles, it was originally built during the thirteenth century but what you see today dates from the early 1900s. Situated on a small tidal island at the meeting place of three sea lochs and circled by the majestic splendour of the forested mountains of Kintailin, its breathtaking setting explains why visitors flock here. Rich in history and heritage, inside you’ll find period furniture, Jacobean artefacts, ancient weapon displays and fine art. It’s a wildlife-rich area too, so you may spot porpoise, dolphins, otters and all sorts of birds during your visit. The castle’s profile silhouetted against a pink-tinged sunset is something to behold.

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