Top Ten Places to Visit in Scotland

Falkirk, or Fawkirk in Scots, is a nice little town that is worth a stay of a day or two also. And if you want to learn more about the history and inner workings of the Falkirk Wheel, I recommend visiting this web site made by a true enthusiast: http://www.falkirk-wheel.com/ And if that is not enough boats and canals, there is also the ‘Kelpie Project’ to look forward to, statues of these mythical, Scottish water horses that are planned to be added to the Falkirk basin soon.

And yes, they do dive bombing also.  Apart of the seagulls, Ullapool is also known for its dedication to the arts and for being the main cultural center in this part of Scotland. Add a drop gorgeous landscape and excellent hiking possibilities and you see why so many people visit Ullapool regularly.

Additionally nearly everybody in Scotland, at that time, was allowed to marry a couple and in Gretna Green it was the blacksmith that performed the ceremony over his anvil, hence the nick name ‘anvil marriage’ for these irregular marriages.

Gretna Green become a ‘marriage hotspot’, because it was the first Scottish village elopers (runaways) would encounter when coming over the border, as it was on the main London to Edinburgh travel route.

Today the minimum age for marriage in Scotland is 16 for both genders, but still without parental concern necessary, and the ceremony can only be performed by authorized persons. Estimates say that as many as 5000 weddings take place in Gretna Green every year.

Ben Nevis or, as it’s called in Scottish Gaelic ‘Beinn Nibheis’, is not only the highest mountain in Scotland, but also the highest mountain in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Standing at 4409 feet, or 1344m, it is not a high mountain by continental standards, but be careful, like all mountains it can be treacherous and sudden weather changes combined with ill-prepared hikers have caused deaths in the past. This mountain, close to the west coast of Scotland, is a hikers and climbers paradise. And each year at the first Saturday in September, the Ben Nevis fell race is taking place For safety reasons it is restricted to experienced hill or fell runners and limited to 500 participants only. But for the ‘normal’ Scotland visitor a hike up the old, but well marked, pony trail is what most prefer.

It is important to stress that before starting such a hike, local information about weather conditions and forecast has to be sought. A good place to get this is the official Fort Williams website here: Ben Nevis Info. Please follow the advice given carefully and don’t take any risks! Plus take enough water with you to get you up and back, there is no source of drink water on the mountain and be prepared with shoes and clothing for sudden weather changes. As a reward for your efforts you can see from the summit one of the most stunning views available in Scotland.

Often called the ‘unofficial national anthem of Scotland’ the Loch Lomond song is based on a 19^th century poem and sung at the end of many Scottish festivities such as weddings. The area itself is well known for all sorts of outdoor sports possibilities both on land and on / in the water. The Trossachs National Park is a favourite spot, not only for hikers and nature lovers, but also for landscape photographers. The official park website http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/ contains lot of information about what to do and where to stay in the area.

Seals, and even dolphins and other, smaller, whales can be seen and the richness of its bird life makes it a dream destination for hobby ornithologists. As an added attraction you can see Ireland, on clear days, from the coast, as it is only 20km / 12m away. Many historians believe that it was here where the Scotti, the first Scots, came over from Ireland to settle in Scotland and to give it its name.

In case you love water sports, be very careful and listen to local advice, as strong currents are always present here. And if you want to stay longer, the lighthouse, one of the oldest in Scotland, offers accommodation. And if you come in August, make sure not to miss the ‘Mull of Kintyre Music Festival’, more information about that one can be found here: MokFest.

Yes, there are several in this tiny village, we went to the one called ‘Exhibition 2000′ and it was well worth our time. If you are interested, more information can be found on their website, aptly named ‘LochNess.com‘ And last, but certainly not least, there is also the ruin of Urquhart Castle, looking over Loch Ness and with Glenurquhart, or Glen Urquhart, as its back drop. The first records of a castle here date back from the 13^th century, but historians believe that there was a fortress at the same place as early as the 5^th or 6^th century. And yes, most of Nessie sightings have also taken place in this region of the Loch. What I like about the castle, apart from the view and the ruins itself, is the superb visitor center run by ‘Historic Scotland’. The exhibition explains the history of the castle, the region and Scotland in general with an excellent multimedia mix. A great day out if it is raining, happens from time to time in Scotland. For more info look at the corresponding page of the ‘Historic Scotland’ website >here<.

To make sure that the chapel is not closed to visitors, because of a wedding or funeral, make sure to check the website for updates. It is also a good idea to have a read and look around this official website to get some real background information as the chapel can be a bit overwhelming to say the least …

If you go to Scotland, or any other country for that matter, you have to try out the local specialties. Haggis, filled sheep stomach, is available as a starter dish in many restaurants, in case you are reluctant to base a whole meal on it! A wee dram helps to wash it down btw.

And during the day I recommend drinking Irn Bru, the original Scottish energy drink. A bit of an acquired taste for some, but I do like it. So, I hope you like my little article about the best places to visit in Scotland! Thanks for reading ;-)