Scotland is a super place to visit all year round. Regardless of whether the weather is with you or against you'll be overwhelmed by the vibrancy of history and culture you'll find there. With this in mind here is the top five incredible places to pay a visit through the eyes of a Scot residing there.
1) The castles. Wherever you head in Scotland it's going to have a castle nearby. Central scotland is no different and the main ones to visit would be Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Tantallon Castle to be honest the list is limitless so simply visit Historic Scotlands Website or also the National Trust for Scotland.
2) Edinburgh. There is an absolute wealth of things to explore and do in Edinburgh. Here's a quick list of some that spring to mind. Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, The Scottish Government, The Royal Mile, The National Museum of Scotland, The Scottish Art Galleries (three of), Arthurs Seat (it's an extinct volcano in the centre of the city), Mary Kings Close, Dynamic Earth and The Camera Obscura. It's also worth taking one of the numerous dusk lit tours on the Royal Mile where you'll be entertained by tales of ghosts, ghouls and skulduggery from Edinburgh's past. One of the best times of year (and probably the most pricey for accommodation) is in August when the city explodes with theatre groups, comedians, artists and just general exhibitionists. This is known as the world famous Edinburgh Fringe which way back in time was a reaction to the more official Edinburgh Festival which also runs in August. At the end of the Festival there is a huge fireworks display over the castle which is absolutely free to see from nearly everywhere in the city.
3) Glasgow. Larger than Edinburgh, Glasgow has a much more industrial heritage and now has some magnificent attractions. In 2014 it'll also be hosting the Commonwealth Games so the city is now sporting lots of world class venues related to this. It's also got the recently opened Museum of Transport as well as a host of other attractions such as the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum in Kelvingrove, Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art and Scotland Street School, a former Charles Rennie Mackintosh School preserved as the city's Museum of Education.
4) Stirling and Bannockburn. Ok I've cheated a little just to get both in. Stirling has a fine castle and old town and then just down the hill you have Stirling Bridge (where the famous - at least in Scotland - Battle of Stirling Bridge was fought by William Wallace). Then along the road you have Bannockburn, where again there was a famous battle this time fought by Robert the Bruce. Amazingly the Scots defeated the English (very rare).
5) Linlithgow. With it's ancient palace (reputed birth place of Mary Queen of Scots) and large loch, Linlithgow is a great day visit with nice coffee shops and pubs.It's also got Beecraigs Country Park which can basically be explained as an outdoor delight.
So, just a brief list of some wonderful places to visit while on holiday in central Scotland. So the next time you're you're on a self-catering holiday why not drop by and have a wee whisky.
1) The castles. Wherever you head in Scotland it's going to have a castle nearby. Central scotland is no different and the main ones to visit would be Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Tantallon Castle to be honest the list is limitless so simply visit Historic Scotlands Website or also the National Trust for Scotland.
2) Edinburgh. There is an absolute wealth of things to explore and do in Edinburgh. Here's a quick list of some that spring to mind. Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, The Scottish Government, The Royal Mile, The National Museum of Scotland, The Scottish Art Galleries (three of), Arthurs Seat (it's an extinct volcano in the centre of the city), Mary Kings Close, Dynamic Earth and The Camera Obscura. It's also worth taking one of the numerous dusk lit tours on the Royal Mile where you'll be entertained by tales of ghosts, ghouls and skulduggery from Edinburgh's past. One of the best times of year (and probably the most pricey for accommodation) is in August when the city explodes with theatre groups, comedians, artists and just general exhibitionists. This is known as the world famous Edinburgh Fringe which way back in time was a reaction to the more official Edinburgh Festival which also runs in August. At the end of the Festival there is a huge fireworks display over the castle which is absolutely free to see from nearly everywhere in the city.
3) Glasgow. Larger than Edinburgh, Glasgow has a much more industrial heritage and now has some magnificent attractions. In 2014 it'll also be hosting the Commonwealth Games so the city is now sporting lots of world class venues related to this. It's also got the recently opened Museum of Transport as well as a host of other attractions such as the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum in Kelvingrove, Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art and Scotland Street School, a former Charles Rennie Mackintosh School preserved as the city's Museum of Education.
4) Stirling and Bannockburn. Ok I've cheated a little just to get both in. Stirling has a fine castle and old town and then just down the hill you have Stirling Bridge (where the famous - at least in Scotland - Battle of Stirling Bridge was fought by William Wallace). Then along the road you have Bannockburn, where again there was a famous battle this time fought by Robert the Bruce. Amazingly the Scots defeated the English (very rare).
5) Linlithgow. With it's ancient palace (reputed birth place of Mary Queen of Scots) and large loch, Linlithgow is a great day visit with nice coffee shops and pubs.It's also got Beecraigs Country Park which can basically be explained as an outdoor delight.
So, just a brief list of some wonderful places to visit while on holiday in central Scotland. So the next time you're you're on a self-catering holiday why not drop by and have a wee whisky.
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