Why You Should Put Scotland on your Bucket List

Be it the luscious landscape, majestic wildlife or mystical creatures part of Scottish lore, Scotland is beaming with fun things to do and places to see. There is a certain magic to the country that can’t be encapsulated in words, whether you’re traveling through the Highlands, lowlands or islands.

We’ll do our best to give you a taste below, but book a Wander Like Travel consultation today so you can go feel it for yourself!

Castles & Estates

Scotland makes it delightfully simple to wander like a Royal with approximately 1,500 castles to visit - each so richly embedded into Scotland’s geography and culture. Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, Edinburgh Castle, and Dunrobin Castle & Gardens are our absolute favourites with their unique elements of style, grace, class and beauty along with rich history. Manors and estates are equally as integrated into Scotland’s beautifully rugged landscape. Inspired by the mountains and meadows, rivers and lakes of the Perthshire countryside, we recommend Gleneagles Townhouse, which boasts the most exquisite of luxury estate rooms and is the perfect place to stay for a week of golf, wellness and fine dining. You’ll feel as though you wandered right onto the set of a Hollywood film.

Friendly People

Whether you’re on the hunt for your next castle or cup of tea, you won’t find a friendlier place in the world than Scotland and a new friend who can point you in the right direction. In 2024, Perthshire was named the Most Welcoming Region on Earth by Booking.com and for good reason. “Scottish tourism is renowned for its warm welcome so it’s fantastic to see Perthshire named the most welcoming region in the world, and that four out of ten of the most welcoming U.K. destinations are also from Scotland,” said Caroline Warburton, Destination Development Director at VisitScotland, of the win. Glasgow was similarly honored as the friendliest city in the U.K. by the prestigious Conde Nast Readers Choice Awards in 2022. “It’s a city where complete strangers will talk to you as if you’d been at school together,” wrote CN Traveler’s Steve King.

Whiskey

Steeped in tradition and centuries of expert ritualistic craftsmanship, Scotland’s whiskey offerings are second to none. With a wide spectrum of expressions, from fruit-forward and honey sweet to savory with notes of peat, the country is also home to new takes on deeply rooted tradition and is known as an innovation hub for whiskey experimentation. We recommend a trip to Aberlour Distillery, surrounded by the stately Highland scenery of Ben Rinnes in the heart of Speyside. Nearby natural springs provide exceptionally pure, soft spring water used for making the most exquisite single malt. With so many options for whiskey in Scotland, we recommend THIS be the one you send home to the whiskey connoisseur in your life!

Outdoor Adventures & Walks

Scotland may be known for its castles, bagpipes and whiskey, but the country’s remarkable geography proves it is a hiker’s paradise as well. Ben Nevis is the United Kingdom’s tallest mountain and was once a massive active volcano that exploded and collapsed on itself approximately one million years ago. The views from the peak are as dramatic as that story! Situated in the north west Highlands, 125,000 hikers a year climb Ben Nevis for spectacular views that look like heaven. Arthur’s Seat is another ancient volcano that provides crystal clear views of beautiful Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. It is also the site of a large and well-preserved fort, one of four in the area that dates back 2,000 years. Fantastic 360-degree views abound for those willing to make the hike! Finally, Scotland’s largest national park is called the Cairngorns, and was named a 2024 top U.K. destination by Conde Nast. “The magnitude of it all offers moments of much-needed silence from the thrum of modern life as you take in some of the UK’s rarest flora and fauna,” wrote Rosie Conroy in her description. “Thrill-seekers will love flying birds with master handlers from Elite Falconry or exploring the area at break-neck speed in the four-wheel-drives of Highland Safaris.”

Bagpipes

Yep, we said it. Here at Wander Like, we cannot get enough of the hauntingly beautiful sounds of Scotland’s national instrument - the bagpipe. Interestingly, they are not native to Scotland, though they have become so closely identified with it. Historians suspect bagpipes originated in the Middle East as early as the first century BCE, with the earliest evidence of their appearance in Europe to be the 9th century. Today the Scottish Highland bagpipe is traditionally used for pastoral and festive music as well as for marching bands and military purposes.

Tartan

Tartan is fun. And tartan is everywhere you look. In Scotland, a particular type of plaid called tartan has special cultural and historical significance. You’ll find it on kilts, wallpaper, carpets and everything in between. While plaid and tartan are terms often interchanged in North America, in Scotland, traditionally people wear a tartan pattern emblematic of their “clan,” or surname. While there are no laws to this - just tradition - the Scottish Register of Tartans can help you determine what color and pattern belongs to your family if you are of Scottish descent!