Donan castle, Scotland, UK by Andrew Urquhart / License: Creative Commons

At the start of 2013, The Office of National Statistics reported that international tourism to Scotland has risen to 2.3million. Also in 2011, over 6.9 million trips were made to Scotland by both domestic and international tourists according to a report by the Great Britain Tourism Survey. These figures are indicative of Scotland’s growing popularity among holidaymakers.

There is so much to do and see in Scotland. Due to a rising visibility in blockbuster films, Scotland has begun to attract visitors of all ages and from all over the world. If you are thinking about visiting Scotland here are some of the top attractions that the country has to offer:

Scottish Highlands and Northern Islands

The word ‘rugged’ takes on a new meaning when you visit the Scottish Highlands, believed by many to be the heart of Scotland’s craggy character. From Britain’s deepest lake in Loch Ness to its highest peak on Ben Nevis, the Scottish Highlands offers you visions of crumbling castles and heather covered moors. Recently, James Bond’s latest film “Skyfall” showed the Highlands, especially Glencoe, in all of their chiselled beauty to a worldwide audience. Fort William is a must see due to its centuries of history intermingled with the latest outdoor activities. Many claim that Fort William is the outdoor capital of the world and a walker’s paradise due to its scenic walks, mountain bike tracks, and challenging ski slopes. 2013 has also been declared as the Year of Natural Scotland and many special events have been organised to highlight Scotland’s natural beauty. Whiskey enthusiasts can find a range of traditional distilleries in the Scottish Highlands such as the Oban Distillery, one of Scotland’s oldest producers of single malt Scotch whisky.

Glencoe, Scotland, UK by Thierry Gregorius / License: Creative Commons

Outer Hebrides

Wildlife enthusiasts will love the Outer Hebrides or Western Isles for the amazing number of eagles, whales and dolphins that can be found on the 119 islands, out of which only 5 can really be called inhabited. The HebCelt music festival on the Isle of Lewis in July, is one of the most popular summer attractions in the Outer Hebrides. This year’s line-up includes Van Morrison, The Travelling Band and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Edinburgh and Glasgow

For history lovers, these two major Scottish cities offer visitors glimpses into Scotland’s turbulent history as well as containing fantastic shops, museums, art galleries and stunning architecture. Don’t miss the historic Edinburgh Castle and Glasgow’s wide range of shops in the city centre. In the summer, art and comedy fans can experience the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which features a wide range of acts as well as a cascading firework show and spectacular music from the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. In 2014, Glasgow will be the destination of choice amongst sports enthusiasts as the city will be host to the Commonwealth Games.

View of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by dun_deagh / License: Creative Commons

Golf Holidays

Scotland is a popular destination for golf enthusiasts, the Fife town of St. Andrews is commonly known as the Home of Golf. The old course built before 1574 is considered sacred by the true golfers. In 2014, Scotland will be an unmissable destination for golfers due to the prestigious Ryder Cup tournament at the PGA Centenary Golf Course at Gleneagles in Perthshire. There are many other famous golf courses to see in Scotland, including the exclusive Loch Lomond Golf Club.

Fiona writes for LHH Scotland, leading provider of luxury self-catering accommodation across Scotland.

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Glen Coe Scotland Hike by Craig James

Glen Coe, Highlands

Located in the Highlands and once part of the county of Argyll, Glen Coe is one of Scotland’s most beautiful areas. In fact it is part of the National Scenic Area which includes Ben Nevis. On one side the glen is framed by rugged mountains; on the other, the landscape is gentler. Once owned by Clan Donald, the area is part of the National Trust for Scotland and is guaranteed to stay wild. Glen Coe is a popular tourist attraction partly because of its history (it was where the infamous 1682 Massacre of Glencoe took place). Just as importantly, it offers excellent climbing and walking routes. The main settlement is the village of Glencoe, which offers lots of self-catering accommodation for visitors to the area.

Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park is a relatively new park which was established in 2003. The largest such park in Britain it is 4,528 km squared and includes parts of the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray and Perth and Kinross regions. The park encompasses the Cairgngorms Mountains, home to five of Scotland’s highest mountains. The tallest of these is Ben Macdhuit at 1,309 metres. The mountains can stay snowy for much of the year and have experienced the coldest temperature ever recorded in the UK, -27.2 degrees Celsius. So it’s no surprise that the area is known for skiing and winter sports, including ice climbing. Wildlife spotters also enjoy a visit to this region. The national park includes the remains of the ancient Caledonian forest and is a good place to spot wildlife including deer, hares, squirrels, wild cats, otters, birds and even reindeer!

Cairngorms National Park by Alden Chadwick

Glenan Bay, Argyll

For something a bit different, check out Glenan Bay, which is a walker’s paradise – and a beautiful spot to picnic. Start at the Glenan Forest Nature Reserve and step back in time to see unspoilt countryside. While many of the trees aren’t that attractive, the views certainly are and visitors enjoy the chance to enjoy the Glenan Bay vista. Away from the main path, the abandoned village of Glenan, which dates back to the early 14th century, can be seen. Glenan Bay is popular with campers and stargazers as the pitch black night and lack of light make it easy to spot the constellations.

Scotland has a lot to offer and these three locations offer a fantastic introduction to its natural beauty.

Emma Ross writes for Embrace Scotland, a leading provider of self catering cottages in Scotland.

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More than four hundred twenty years ago, there was an active super volcano that existed in the area. A fierce eruption occurred back in the Silurian period which created most of the cauldron-like formation. After the end of the last ice age, a giant glacier had formed in the region and as it receded, it carved out the coe.

Glen Coe, Scotland, UK by Christian Kadluba

The area is less than seven hundred meters wide in many spots and more than sixteen kilometers long. The narrowest point of the coe is known as the Pass of Glen Coe and can be found roughly in the center.

In order to get top Glen Coe, you will need to enter the area at the base of the Meall a’ Bhuiridh mountain, not too far from Rannoch Moor. For nearly 12 kilometers the coe runs almost due west from the moor before making a turn to the northwesterly direction. At the other end of Glen Coe is where you will find Loch Leven and the famous village of Glencoe.

Throughout the length of Glen Coe, you will see the ancient River Coe which was formed as the glacier melted away. At the Pass of Glen Coe, one can see waterfalls as the water makes its way out to the sea.

The resulting properties of Glen Coe are simply amazing. Each year, countless visitors make their way to the area to see the many attractions that the coe has to offer. The site is very popular for those who just like to walk in beautiful surroundings and is known as an adventure for those who love the idea of climbing a rock face.

For those who come to Glen Coe for walking, the best place to start is at the Devil’s Staircase which was cut into the boulders. The staircase is more than 352 meter high and can be a challenge for most people.

Rock climbers who make their way to the area tend to go straight for the 1,018 meter tall Buachaille Etive Mòr. Over the years, climbing the face of the mountain has grown in popularity as a result of countless races and scrambles that have been held in the area over the years.

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