5 Reasons to Fall in Love with Scotland

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Despite weather that can change in an instant and a pricey British pound, there sure are a lot of things to love about the country of Scotland. In total, I've spent more than a month traversing this little UK nation, from Edinburgh's Royal Mile during the height of festival season to the tranquil hills of the Highlands, falling in love with just about everything along the way.

Here are my 5 reasons to fall in love with Scotland:

Reasons to love Scotland

The Lochs

Scotland has some pretty famous lochs (or “lakes” for you normal English-speakers). But even the ones that you haven't heard of (i.e. the ones without monsters-in-residence) are stunning. Up in the Highlands, the lochs and mountains make for my favorite kind of landscape.

Loch Lubnaig in Scotland

Scottish Highlands

Loch Shiel

RELATED: A Highland Fling with Haggis Adventures

The Castles

Scotland really is like something straight out of a fairytale — “Brave” got it right. Not only does Scotland have some very pretty lakes, but those pretty lakes very often have medieval castles sitting on their shores. There are hundreds of castles in Scotland, and I never tired of seeing them.

Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland
Eilean Donan Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Stirling, Scotland
View from Stirling Castle

The Landscape

Along with all the gorgeous lochs, Scotland has some truly awe-inspiring scenery — especially up in the Highlands. As wowed as I have been with the landscapes in places like New Zealand and Iceland, parts of Scotland (like the Isle of Skye) definitely give them all a run for their money.

Scottish Highlands

Kilt Rock, Isle of Skye

Ferry to the Isle of Skye

RELATED: The Isle of Skye: Still My Favorite Part of Scotland

The Cities/Towns

Scotland isn't merely a land of hills and lakes, though. It also has some great cities and towns. Cities like medieval Edinburgh and underrated Glasgow offer up plenty of things to do, while smaller towns like Oban and Protree are so cute they hurt.

Edinburgh Royal Mile
Edinburgh Royal Mile
Calton Hill in Edinburgh
Calton Hill in Edinburgh
Portree, Isle of Skye
Portree, Isle of Skye

RELATED: August: The Best Time to Be in Edinburgh?

The Scottishness

Lastly, Scotland is just so… Scottish! Nowhere else in the world will you find men in kilts, impromptu bagpiping, or adorable Highland cows the way you will in Scotland. Not to mention that Scottish people are incredibly friendly and proud to be Scottish — so refreshing!

Bagpiper in Edinburgh

Hairy Highland Coo

If you haven't spent any time in Scotland yet, you have no more excuses – get yourself there ASAP!

Have you been to Scotland? What else do YOU love about the country?

 

*Note: Part of my love of Scotland is definitely thanks to the 5-day Highland Fling tour I took with Haggis Adventures in 2012, and the 3-day Isle of Skye tour I took with Highland Explorer Tours in 2015. Yes the tours were complimentary, but my opinions about Scotland are entirely my own!

"It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and, if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might get swept off to." - JRR Tolkien

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61 Comments on “5 Reasons to Fall in Love with Scotland

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  1. Absolutely breathtaking! I had the pleasure of visiting Edinburgh and Glasgow a few years back, but I never made it into the Scottish Highlands. Those landscapes are GORGEOUS!

      Oh man. The Highlands are the BEST! One of my favorite places in the world, to be honest.

    I love this article! I’m currently planning a 2 week trip to England and Scotland is a definite must see. Thank you for the tips! Now I have places marked to visit.

      I agree that Scotland is a definite must-see!

    Hey! I just stumbled upon your post and was amazed at the beauty Scotland holds. Chances are next year I will be studying abroad in Edinburgh, but I saw someone comment saying that it is “dark and depressing.” Is that true?

      I guess it depends on what you’re used to! The weather in Scotland CAN often be moody, and winters can be cold and dark. But I’m from Ohio, which has very similar weather. And, actually, I’ve been to Scotland in the summer and had gorgeous weather. I think Edinburgh is a beautiful city, and there’s so much history there!

    MY HOME!! I love Scotland, thank you for this you did it such justice.
    I cannot believe you were at Loch Sheil!! I literally live in the next village to Acharacle, in Strontian.

      Scotland is incredible. It’s one of those places that I don’t think I would ever tire of visiting!

    I love Scotland almost as much as I do my home country of NZ. Have also married a Scot. Also in love with Scotch Whisky. (Note: The spelling of whisky from Scotland does not have an “e” in it. That’s only whiskey from Ireland or America has the extra letter.)

      It’s a very easy country to fall in love with. (And thanks! I’ve learned my whiskeys from my whiskys from my bourbons now. 😉 )

    And there’s what Blair Athol distillery and many another one produces !

      Yup, lots of distilleries in Scotland to choose from!

    Scotland is beautiful! I’d like to go back to visit the Isle of Skye. The entire landscape is something straight out of a fairytale.

      The Isle of Skye is stunning. I want to go back and visit again!

    I’ve been living in Glasgow for 6 months now, and I cannot tell how happy I am here. Not only are the people nice and open, but the city is so dynamic and full of resources. It’s going to be heartbreaking the day I have to leave to continue my studies in France. I love Scotland so much 🙂

      Scotland is a very easy place to fall in love with, for sure! Glad to hear you’re enjoying life in Glasgow.

    […] Reviews Thursday Traveler(s): The Spain Scoop What’s it Like to Travel with Haggis Adventures? By DangerousBiz On February 22, 2013 · Add Comment Over the past 6 months or so, I have fallen in love. Not with a person, though, but with a place. And that place is Scotland. […]

    […] you’re only going to visit one part of Scotland (though, why would you do that?! the whole country rocks!), my advice would be to make that one part the Isle of […]

    Wow, I had no idea those lochs were so beautiful. I’ve mostly seen grainy dreary footage from loch ness monster documentaries. Yours are infinitely better 🙂

      Scotland is definitely much more than dreary Loch Ness monster footage! 😉

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