Here at Exclusive Holidays HQ we agree that Scotland is one of our favourite places to visit on our coach holidays and we can’t wait to be heading back there later this year!
Here are our top five reasons to visit Scotland:
SCENIC DRIVES
Top of the list has to be the landscape – lochs and mountains, forests and streams – a stunning backdrop that offers us some of the most stunning and scenic drives of anywhere in the UK. Admittedly Nigel isn’t quite so keen on the single track roads, particularly in more rural areas, but they’re a small price to pay for the panoramic views across the wilds of the Highlands and Islands.
WHISKY TASTING
If you’re partial to a wee dram, Scotland has plenty to offer and is home to over 130 distilleries, making it the greatest concentration of whisky production in the world. As well as well-known and famous brands, you can also discover new and exciting options as no two whiskies taste the same.
We’re partial to a drop of Scapa which hails from the Orkney Islands – sadly though it’s quite difficult to find in the shops outside of Scotland!
WILDLIFE
The wildness of Scotland means it is home to some incredible wildlife which you may spot on our travels – from osprey, golden eagles and ptarmigan to red deer, mountain hare, dolphins and minke whales.
Despite many trips to Scotland – and dolphins being a regular visitor to the Scottish coast where my in-laws live – I’ve never actually seen a dolphin in the wild. A few years ago we were staying on the isle of Barra and had a free day, so we decided to go for a hike along the coast, hoping to see golden eagles and dolphins which were both common in the area.
We didn’t see a single thing – and after an 11 mile hike we returned to the hotel to be told by our passengers “We’ve seen dolphins here in the bay today!”
CULTURE & HISTORY
It’s always great to experience the culture and traditions of places you travel to, and Scotland is no different. This could be as simple as hearing bagpipes played by a pipe band, sampling local cuisine like haggis, bannocks or cranachan, or immersing yourself more deeply and discovering more about the history of the area.
One of the most fascinating and poignant places to visit is Culloden Moor battlefield, where you can discover more about the battle which ended the Jacobean uprising of 1745 in the museum, before walking in the footsteps of the Highlanders across the battlefield itself.
MYTHS & LEGENDS
No visit to the Highlands is complete without a little Nessie spotting! When we’re driving along the shores of Loch Ness, we do like to keep an eye out in case she pops up to say hello to our coach passengers. Keep your cameras handy just in case…..
Do you agree with our list of things we love about Scotland or is there anything you’d add?
Exclusive Holidays offers Market Harborough Coach Holidays and Kettering Coach Holidays. Pick up points throughout our local area for South Leicestershire Coach Holidays & Northamptonshire Coach Holidays. Coach Holidays depart from Kettering, Northampton, Wellingborough, Rushden, Market Harborough, Desborough, Rothwell and Lutterworth.