Explore the holiday travel at Scotland
Explore empty beaches and turquoise seas and greet the morning with a view of several red deer that may gather around your cottage door. If you are looking for an unusual holiday, Scotland offers you natural wonders, enchanting castles and modern cities.
Isle of Lewis, Scotland / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Martin Monroe
The Edge of the Land
The Isle of Lewis is at the north westernmost tip of Scotland and one of the larger of Scotland’s Western Isles. Lewis isn’t really an island. It’s attached at its southern tip to Harris. These islands are the centre of Scotland’s Gaelic speaking culture. Crofting communities lived here until well into the 1970s.
The capital, Stornoway, is the only sizeable town in the Western Isles. Seals sometimes visit the harbour, especially when the fishing boats come in on Thursdays and Fridays. Responsible travel is vital on Lewis where the community keeps a strict observance of Sunday worship. All businesses are closed on this day.
Stay in a crofter’s cottage and explore the countryside and isolated beaches. Uig Beach on the south west of the island is the largest beach in Lewis. Tolsta Beach at the northern tip is famous for its “bridge to nowhere”, an unfinished bridge that was supposed to link the area to Ness, a village community at the northernmost tip of Lewis.
Tolsta beach, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Iain and Sarah
There are prehistoric Neolithic sites in the centre of Lewis. The Callanais Standing Stones are carved out of the pale grey Lewis gneiss and arranged in the shape of a Celtic cross. Eleven other stone circles are dotted around this neighbourhood. These are some of the most impressive megaliths in Europe and far more spectacular than Stonehenge.
After you have visited the castles, museums and shopping centres in Edinburgh, Stirling and Glasgow, it may be time to get away from it all. Scotland has the perfect location for a castaway, although this will be in some comfort. If you are looking for an unusual place to stay, try the Rua Reidh Lighthouse in Wester Ross at the entrance to Loch Ewe on the mainland.
Rua Reidh offers a view over the Highlands scenery, the Isle of Skye and Western Isles over the sea. It was built by a cousin of the writer, Robert Louis Stevenson. Wander around the countryside and see golden eagles, dolphins, deer, otters and seals. There are guided tours to see the wildlife and rock climbing courses for those who feel energetic.
Rua Reidh Lighthouse, Wester Ross, Scotland, UK / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by ms.akr
View From the Slopes
Try Scotland’s Central Highlands for exhilarating skiing holidays. Aonach Mor, about two miles north east of Ben Nevis, offers some of Scotland’s longest lasting snow. It’s possible to ski here until well into May. This is the best area for off-piste skiing and snowboarding.
The north face of Ben Nevis is popular for gully skiing. These are steep skiing descents between 45 and 60 degrees and can be even more challenging than this in continental Europe. The best time for this sport is between March and mid-May.
Corrie Sneachda, further north in Inverness-shire, is a glacial formation with steep sides. This offers the ultimate in extreme skiing. Responsible travel is recommended here as a number of skiers and mountaineers have been killed tackling the steep sides of the corrie.
Enjoy your stay in Scotland from the wonders of its wilderness and extreme sports to its thousands of years of cultural heritage.
AUTHOR BIO
Fiona Blake writes regularly on skiing holidays for a range of travel websites and blogs. She is also a specialist guide to the Western Isles.
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