Discover Scotland: Holiday apartment for national parks and history

Scotland’s two national parks encompass some of the country’s best wildlife habitats and landscapes and offer numerous opportunities to experience the outdoors. From lochs, mountains, forests and coastal paths, the range extends from dramatic scenery to quiet wildlife watching.

Nature and mountains

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park encompasses 21 lochs and one other lake, where visitors can swim, sail, paddle and windsurf. In the same national park, possible activities include hiking, climbing, paddle sports and mountain biking. Cairngorms National Park encompasses 55 Munros and five of the six highest peaks in the United Kingdom. Rare wildlife such as pine martens, ptarmigans and wildcats lives there; winter activities include ice climbing, snowboarding and skiing.

Forestry and Land Scotland looks after hundreds of paths and marked trails in its forests. In the forests managed by Forestry and Land Scotland, paths run through towering trees and dunes, where visitors can spot seals and red squirrels. Scotland’s forests also offer opportunities for recreational cycling, family bike rides and mountain biking.

Culture and history

Stirling Castle is considered one of Scotland’s most important stone castles and is essential to understanding the nation’s history. Visitors can explore the battlements and the castle’s three main areas while enjoying views over Stirling and the surrounding landscape. The restored Royal Palace of Stirling Castle is considered to be the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots.

On the shores of Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle conveys more than 1,000 years of history. The ruins offer insights into the Middle Ages and the lives of their aristocratic inhabitants. Climbing Grant Tower provides panoramic views of Loch Ness and the Great Glen. The Calanais Standing Stones open up an even deeper historical perspective: the well-preserved Neolithic monument was erected 5,000 years ago and was a site of ritual activity for at least 2,000 years. Visitors can walk among the megaliths.

Culloden Visitor Centre features a 360-degree theatre that presents the battle immersively. The accredited Culloden museum presents the history of the 1745 Jacobite uprising from both Jacobite and government perspectives and displays weapons and unique artefacts. At Culloden Battlefield, visitors can walk along the battle lines and see the soldiers’ graves beside the memorial stone in the centre of the battlefield.

Living traditions

Highland Games in Scotland combine competitions in strength, endurance and speed with music and dance, celebrating Scottish culture and community. They take place in towns and villages from late spring to early autumn. Scotland’s cultural diversity also includes Scottish Gaelic, Gàidhlig, one of Scotland’s indigenous languages, shaped by centuries of storytelling, song and landscape. Visitors can experience Gaelic culture at music festivals and literary events exploring the language, storytelling, singing and community.

Whisky and Scottish cuisine

Scottish whisky tourism includes cask tastings in warehouses, behind-the-scenes insights, tours of historic distillery sites and seasonal whisky festivals. Scotland also offers a relaxed whisky-tasting route through one of the world’s most famous whisky valleys. Scottish food and drink culture can be experienced through immersive tastings, guided tours, hands-on workshops and visits to local producers. Scottish cuisine includes seafood, haggis and cranachan.

Scenic roads and landscape routes

The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic road through northern Scotland that can also be travelled by bicycle or on foot. On the west coast, the Argyll Coastal Route runs through mountainous landscapes and offers views of lochs.

More destinations in Scotland: Edinburgh, Jedburgh, Hawick, Carrbridge, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Longniddry, Forfar.

Aberdeenshire, Argyll And Bute, Angus, Highland, Dumfries And Galloway, Inverclyde, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire.

Moray, Hebrides, Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire, Lothian, Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire.

The Scottish Borders, Midlothian, Perth And Kinross, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Fife, East Lothian, Stirling.

Glasgow, Outer Hebrides, City of Dundee, East Dunbartonshire.

To the overarching travel overview: Great Britain.