The best places to visit, recommended accommodation, budget travel, hostels, web sites, guidebooks and more.
Hello and welcome to my Scotland guide, which I hope you will find useful. If you are thinking of going to Scotland - DO IT - it's a brilliant place. This page is aimed at giving you a wealth of information listed under various headings - please e-mail me if you know of any sites that should be included, any links that no longer work, or any sites that you think are not good enough to be here! While the information is categorised under headings, there are also links within those headings to information on the best places to visit in Scotland, from the beautiful city of Edinburgh to the scenery of the Highlands and Islands - so 'click away' if you like the sound of a place and then use your 'back' button to return here. In fact, why not bookmark this page, so that you can keep coming back to it as you follow the links.
Where to Stay:
Hotels and Bed & Breakfast:
For a guide to recommended Edinburgh Hotels and to book your Edinburgh hotel accommodation online, OneClickTravel.com Hotel Reservations offers a list of Edinburgh hotels with descriptions and secure online reservations. An even wider range of hotels in Scotland can be found at Active Hotels, who not only offer accommodation in the cities and towns (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Stirling, Aberdeen, Perth, etc) but also in smaller villages and countryside areas - type a location into their hotel search engine and you will get a list of hotels in or near the location of your choice, including hotels in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
For information on other accommodation in Scotland have a look at Milford UK Accommodation and Travel Service, which includes Hotel, Guest House, Bed and Breakfast
(B&B) and Self Catering (Rental) accommodation throughout the UK. The 'Scotland the best' web page
and book also have lists of the best hotels in Scotland from the most luxurious (and expensive) to good budget hotels and guest houses.
Hotels in Edinburgh:
Recommended hotels in Edinburgh include The Howard Hotel in the New Town; Malmaison Hotel Edinburgh which is located in Leith; the Royal Terrace Hotel which forms part of a quiet Georgian terrace below Calton Hill; and the Holyrood Aparthotel which combines the convenience of self catering apartments with the facilities of a hotel. Edinburgh's newest luxury hotel is The Scotsman Hotel on North Bridge, constructed from the former offices of the Scotsman newspaper.
If you want to stay in a real Scottish Castle, the Dalhousie Castle Hotel is a historic 13th century castle located in forest and parkland next to the Esk River, 7 miles from Edinburgh.
Hotels in the rest of Scotland:
You can find a list of hotels in Inverness; and hotels in hotels in Glasgow; at One Click Travel. For hotels in the rest of Scotland, there is a list of online hotel reservation sites and other useful UK travel links at UK Travel Web.com. In Fife, the Belvedere Hotel is located in a seaside conservation village in central Fife within easy reach of St. Andrews, Elie and other famous local golf courses. If you want to stay in a real Scottish castle, the Inverlochy Castle is set in spectacular mountain scenery, near Fort William. The Glengarry Castle Hotel is a two-story Victorian baronial mansion located on the grounds of an old castle destroyed in 1746, and overlooks a beautiful loch. More castle hotels in Scotland can be found at CelticCastles.com. If you are interested in Castles, also take a look at the Scottish Castles web site.
Self Catering Cottages:
Renting a holiday cottage in Scotland for a weekend or a week can be a cost effective option, particularly for families or groups. You can search for self-catering cottages in Scotland at Country Cottages in Scotland who have hundreds of self catering properties of all shapes and sizes. Whether you want to holiday in a cottage or a castle, by the sea or in the mountains, from the Cairngorms to Caithness, you'll should be able to find suitable holiday accommodation.
Hostels:
In Edinburgh, I can recommend the Royal Mile Backpackers Hostel at 105 High Street - right in the centre of the old town. However it is small (30 beds) and popular so book in advance or go early! Their phone number is 0131 557-6120. Another good Edinburgh hostel is the central High Street Hostel at 8 Blackfriars street which is also popular and can get crowded, so phone ahead
(0131 557-3984).
The nicest SYHA hostel in Edinburgh is Eglinton at 18 Eglinton Crescent (0131 337-1120). A pleasant hostel in a lovely building, although not as central as the others. In summer you can stay in the University Halls at Cowgate Tourist Hostel (0131 226-2153). Located right in the centre of town (112 Cowgate), this is an excellent place to stay.
For info on Scottish hostels try Scotlands top hostels.
Regarding hostels - well if you get to the Isle of Skye, there is a wonderful independent hostel called Dun Flodigarry near Staffin, which is north of Portree. With the mountains and strange rock formations of Northern Skye on one side and the sea on the other, a stay at this hostel makes a wonderful break. There is an excellent pub next door to the hostel but not much else around - so take plenty of food! More information on other hostels in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland can be found at Highland Hostels.
Independent Backpackers Hostels Scotland is an association of over 100 independent hostels throughout Scotland. For a free list of Independent hostels in Scotland, write to: Rebecca Field, Secretary IBHS Fraoch Lodge, Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire. PH24 3BN. Please enclose an A5 size stamped envelope with your address on or an international reply coupon. Or you can email secretary@hostel-scotland.co.uk or phone tel # +44 (0)1479 831331. They also have an excellent web site at www.hostel-scotland.co.uk which provides details of all 103 Independent Backpackers Hostels throughout the Scottish mainland and the islands. As their web site will tell you "Most of the hostels listed are privately owned and the majority are family run. They all provide a good standard of hostel style accommodation at a fair price in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. They have a minimum of rules, no curfew and no membership is required. The hostels are open, and their facilities are available, all day. Most are open all year round".
For a list of Scottish Youth Hostel Association hostels contact them at 7 Glebe Crescent, Stirling, FK8 2JA or see their web site. A list of Edinburgh hostels resides at Hostels Edinburgh. There is also an excellent book called 'Backpackers guide to Scotland' - details below. The 'Scotland the best' web-site and book have a list of the authors favourite hostels - Carbisdale Castle north of Inverness is highly recommended if you are up that way, but very popular! Rua Reidh Lighthouse is another wonderful, remote hostel, in the North West Highlands of Scotland and is highly recommended. They also offer an interesting range of all-inclusive hiking holidays, which leads us on to the topic of.........
Activity and Adventure Holidays in Scotland:
Scotland is a great place for outdoor sports and activities, despite the unpredictable weather! Take a look at the Activity Scotland Web Site for information on a wide variety of activity and adventure holidays in Scotland, including climbing; cycling / mountain biking; fishing; golf; hiking / walking; horse riding; multi-activity; skiing; sea kayaking; white water kayaking; study & special interest holidays; watersports and wildlife holidays. Another good site for information on outdoors activities in Scotland is Scotland Online, which focuses on walking; climbing; mountain biking and snowsports (skiing and snowboarding). The Internet Guide to Scotland also has information and links to Scottish companies offering walking; mountaineering and cycling holidays, as well as other outdoor activities such as white water rafting; pony trekking / horse riding and sailing. The attractive web site of the Scottish Tourist Board also offers a search which links to outdoor activities and holidays. If you are interested in wildlife, the island of Mull is probably the best base for whale watching trips and boat trips to see the puffins. Try the Inter-Island Cruises web site for more information on what is available.
Best places to visit:
Well, lots - but I would say : Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth are the most attractive of the towns and cities.
Edinburgh:
Edinburgh was recently voted the best city break in Britain for the fourth year running by readers of a national newspaper [The Guardian Travel Awards] and is a great place to visit at any time of year. Busiest during August when the Edinburgh Festival is in full swing, the city also makes a popular destination at New Year for the Hogmanay celebrations.
Attractions include Edinburgh Castle, perched high on a rocky outcrop; Camera Obscura on the Royal Mile near the Castle, the new Dynamic Earth below the rugged crags of Holyrood Park; Holyrood Palace at the end of the Royal Mile; the Royal Yacht Britannica moored in Leith; the Royal Botanic Gardens and of course the wide variety of shops, restaurants, pubs and bars. Further information on Edinburgh's museums and galleries, tourist attractions, sightseeing, shopping, local events, festivals, bars, cafes and nightlife, restaurants, and theatres can be found in this Edinburgh city guide.
Of Edinburgh's many restaurants, I can recommend Fishers - a seafood restaurant in Leith who also have a newer branch in the New Town called 'Fishers in the City'. Other good places to try include The Tower, which is located above the new Museum of Scotland and offers stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town. The Atrium in the Foyer of the Traverse Theatre is another good place for lunch or dinner, while the bistro Blue upstairs is equally good and open late. Although slightly out of the way, an excellent place for lunch is Valvona and Crolla on Elm Row - a great little cafe at the back of Edinburgh's finest deli.
The Trossachs: The Trossachs is an area which many people rush through on their way to the Highlands, but it is well worth stopping for a while to explore this area of forests, lochs and hills. The Trossachs are easy to reach from Stirling - if you are looking for a good base from which to explore the area, avoid the dreary town of Aberfoyle and head for one of the smaller villages of Brig O Turk or Kilmahog, for example.
A friendly bed and breakfast located half a mile up a single track road in Brig O Turk is Frennich House, which has it's own riverside woodland garden. The helpful owners (and their dog Barnie!) will greet you with home-made shortbread and tea when you arrive and the breakfasts are delicious too. Attractive self-catering accommodation is also available at the house. Good food can be found at the Brig O Turk tearoom (who also do evening meals) and at the Lade Inn Pub in Kilmahog, who also have informal ceilidhs with local musicians on most Saturday nights. More bed and breakfast accommodation can be found at the riverside Bridge End Cottage in Kilmahog (within staggering distance of the pub!) and at the comfortable Creag-Ard House in Milton, which has stunning views over Loch Ard. Backpackers on a budget can stay at the Trossachs Backpackers Hostel near Callander.
If you don't have a car, then the Trossachs Trundler is a Classic 1950's bus which offers a summer bus service from Stirling to the Trossachs and links the towns of Callander and Aberfoyle. The bus also stops at beautiful Loch Katrine, where it is timed to connect with the sailings of the steamer boat 'Sir Walter Scott.' The Trossachs Trundler also stops at Brig o'Turk; Kilmahog; the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park Visitor Centre and Lake of Mentieth (where you can take a short boat trip to visit the ruins of a 13th century priory on the island of Inchmahome). The city of Stirling also makes a good day trip from Edinburgh - a cheap day return train ticket only costs six pounds with the journey taking just under an hour.
The Scottish Highlands and Islands: In the Highlands and Islands you're spoilt for choice when choosing where to visit, but favourites include: Applecross,Glen Coe, Glen Nevis, Isle of Skye,Isle of Arran,Isle of Mull,Orkney Islands, Ullapool, Killin, Torridon and Plockton - all these places have hostels or camping in or near them! Also consider Glen Etive (camping only) Glen Affric and Glen Lyon, as well as Ullapool and Loch Maree in the North West.
While Edinburgh is one of Europes great cities; the Highlands and Islands offer some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery in Europe. Gorgeous Plockton is a very pretty village in a sheltered spot and makes a good stopover on the way to Skye - hostel accommodation is available at Plockton Station Bunkhouse and there are also a number of hotels and bed and breakfasts in Plockton. Nearby Applecross is another stunning location - you can go on guided Sea Kayaking holidays as well as Summer or Winter Mountaineering trips. After a hard day's paddling or walking, relax in the beer garden of the friendly Applecross Inn with a beer and a round of squat lobster or crab sandwiches as the sun sets over the sea and distant hills of Raasay and Skye - heaven!! Further north, Loch Maree (left) and Torridon offer stunning wilderness scenery of mountains, lochs and sea. A train journey to Fort William or Oban from Glasgow will give you a good view of Highlands scenery, while the train journey from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh (near Skye) passes through equally attractive countryside.
Glen Lyon in Perthshire has often been called Scotland's loveliest Glen and the comfortable Invervar Lodge offers fantastic food (bring your own wine and whisky) and friendly service in the heart of the Glen - the four poster is perfect for that get-away-from-it-all weekend break!
In the Cairngorms, head for the excellent Glen Clova Hotel which offers reasonably priced rooms in the hotel and budget accommodation in the bunkhouse for less than £10 a night. Walk up Lochnagar or in beautiful Glen Doll to enjoy some of the best scenery in this part of Scotland. More accommodation can be found in Braemar, where backpackers will also find the friendly Rucksacks Hostel.
The Orkney Islands have some of the best archeological remains in Northern Europe including the fascinating Skara Brae. The attractive town of Stromness makes a good base and has a syha hostel and an independent hostel. For lots of useful information on the heritage of the Orkney Islands, take a look at the excellent OrkneyJar.com.
Scotland is brilliant for walkers and climbers, offering everything from easy strolls to rock
climbing. Regarding walks/mountains etc - the best sites that I have seen are Scottish Sport; Munro Magic; Walking Wild; Scotland Online; Scotland's Mountains
and NCR Hillwalking. (A Munro is a mountain in Scotland which is over 3000 feet in height - there are 284 of these and a 'munro bagger' is somebody who tries to climb them all!). Also try Walks on the Isle of Skye
and Mountain Photographs of Scotland, as well as the excellent Outdoors Magic web site which covers the whole of the UK. Scotland's most popular long distance walk is the West Highland Way from the outskirts of Glasgow to Fort William. The West Highland Way is 152km (95 miles) long and around 50,000 people walk parts of it every year.
Recommended Reading:
For further reading and information I highly recommend the following, from personal experience and the comments of others:
Scotland the best! An award-winning guidebook which describes the 'best' of Scotland in categories ranging from Hotels and Restaurants to Outdoor and Historical Places as well as Walks, Sports, Shopping, Galleries, Museums, Theatres and Music. Has extensive information on Edinburgh (where the author lives) and Glasgow as well as highlights of the Scottish Islands. Has received rave reviews, including "The best guide to any country we've ever used": Mr and Mrs Cunningham of Chicago, Illinois; "Excellent": The Observer; "Brilliant": The Sunday Express; "Infallible and quite brilliant": Daily Telegraph; Sunday Times"Makes all other guides to Scotland redundant" and "The one the Scots use": Edinburgh Evening News. The new edition has recently been published. For more details and comments on this book click here. This book is also available from Amazon UK.
Scotland: The Rough Guide Popular guide with recommendations for hotels, hostels, restaurants and sights.
For further information on this book click here.
Also available from Amazon UK.
Edinburgh: Mini Rough Guide. An excellent pocket sized guide to the city of Edinburgh. Highly recommended.
For further information on this book click here.
Also available from Amazon UK.
Blue Guide: Scotland The 12th edition of this well established Blue Guide has been completely rewritten and reorganised by its new, Edinburgh-based author. Rolling countryside, ruined abbeys and palaces, quiet fishing villages, ancient kingdoms, hills and valleys of the Border country, clifftop castles, country houses, peaceful lochs, ancient forts, the majestic Highlands, magical islands - Scotland is an outstandingly varied and beautiful country. As well as advice on when to go, how to get there and how to make the most of your visit, there are suggestions on interesting places to stay and eat, boat trips, cycle routes and walks.
For more information on this book click here.
Also available from Amazon UK.
Lonely Planet: Walking in Scotland. A detailed guide to walking in Scotland from Lonely Planet. Recommended walks throughout Scotland. For further information on this book click here.
Also available from Amazon UK.
All the above books can be ordered at up to 30% discount from Amazon.com by clicking on the books.
To search for any book, video or music CD; type the title or subject keywords below and click "Search."
If you want to buy prints, posters, postcards or calendars of Scotland, there are some stunning photographic images on sale at EarthGallery.net which features the photographs of Colin Prior, one of Britain's leading landscape photographers.
Jobs:
If you are wanting to work in Scotland and are looking for a 'live in' job then Live in jobs should be able to help you. They find jobs with accommodation for backpackers in hotels, pubs etc.
Transport information can be found at Scotrail(Trains) as well as at Citylink (Coaches). The coach is by far the cheapest option, however the trains are more relaxing and very scenic rail journeys can be enjoyed from Glasgow to Fort William/Oban or from Inverness to Kyle on the West Coast.
One option is a Scotrail Travelpass. If you are
in London, you can always take the Sleeper (night train) from London to Fort William and wake up in the Highlands!
For the lowest fares book at least 7 days in advance. See the QJump website for booking train tickets and checking train timetables online.
In more remote areas the only public transport is the Royal Mail Postbus, however these are an excellent way to get around and meet the locals! For a group of 3 or 4 people, it can be cheaper to hire a car and this also makes it much easier to visit the more remote parts of Scotland!
Weather:
Aah yes, the famous Scottish weather! Believe it or not it doesn't rain all the time and when the sun does shine, you will realise why Scotland has been described as such a beautiful country.
Best time to come is probably May or June, which is Spring and early Summer. Autumn (fall) colours can also be very pretty around October. Coldest weather and shortest days are from December to February, but the Highlands can look stunning in the snow and the New Years Eve Hogmanay party in Edinburgh is not to be missed. If you want to know what the weather is like now, try the weather forecast for Scotland. For more weather forecasts, as well as statistics and a general overview, try the UK Met Office guide to the Scottish climate. For hillwalking and other outdoor activities, take a look at Geoff Monk's excellent Mountain Weather Forecast for the Scottish Highlands.
Other sources of information:
First point of call should be the 'Scotland the best' web page, based on a book by Peter Irvine (see details above).
This is an excellent guide and he has rated the best things in many categories.
Your next stop should be the fantastic Internet Guide to Scotland, which is jam packed to bursting with useful information, pictures and links.
Online city guides with information on everything from museums and galleries, tourist attractions and sightseeing, to sports and recreation, shopping, local events, restaurants, bars and theatre are available for Aberdeen; Edinburgh; Glasgow and Inverness.
London Links. Your guide to the best of London - from hotels and restaurants to pubs, museums and sights.
London Hotel Guide A guide to recommended London hotels - from budget to luxury accommodation.
Scotland Web Cams. Links to various live web cams around Scotland - from Aberdeen to St Andrews.
Panoramic Web Cams. Links to various Scottish virtual interactive webcams (not live) which let your mouse move you around scenic views of cities and mountains.
The Hunger Site. Make a FREE donation to charity just by clicking a button - your donation is paid for by sponsors.
UK Travel Web: Useful site offering links to recommended sites for UK travel - everything from hotel, airline ticket and car rental reservations to travel insurance, online maps, currency convertors, train timetables and tickets and cross channel ferry bookings.
While Edinburgh is one of Europes great cities; the Highlands and Islands offer some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery in Europe. Gorgeous Plockton is a very pretty village in a sheltered spot and makes a good stopover on the way to Skye - hostel accommodation is available at 
