For those contemplating a journey to the northern reaches of Great Britain, a land known by the rather less alarming name of Scotland, be warned: this is not a place for the faint of heart, the easily deterred, or those who prefer their travel experiences entirely devoid of mist, melancholy, and the persistent suspicion that something rather large and ancient might be lurking just beneath the surface of a seemingly placid loch. One might hope that a simple list of essential experiences could adequately prepare one for the peculiar trials and tribulations that await. However such a list can only offer the most fleeting and ultimately insufficient glimpse into the baffling, beautiful, and often bone-chilling realities of this windswept country. Prepare yourselves, therefore, for a guide to what one simply must encounter, whether one desires to or not, when venturing into the land of tartan and tenacious weather.
Here are the most essential things to do when you travel to Scotland, according to my research.
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If you don’t do at least 10 of these 22 things when you travel to Scotland, you haven’t really been to Scotland.
- Visit Edinburgh Castle
- Explore the Isle of Skye
- Drive the North Coast 500 (NC500)
- Try Haggis
- Hike in Cairngorms National Park
- Discover Glencoe
- Drink some Scotch Whisky
- Visit a museum
- Experience the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- Cruise Loch Ness
- Go Stargazing
- Walk the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
- Use at least 2 forms of transportation
- Ride The Jacobite Steam Train (the “Hogwarts Express”)
- Attend a Highland Games
- Pet some Highland Cows or Shetland Ponies
- Explore the Outer Hebrides
- Spend £10
- Visit a Scottish beach
- Drink an Irn-Bru
- Explore the Glasgow arts scene
- Explore Inverness
Enjoy! If you’re looking for more, here’s everything I’ve written about Scotland.
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