scotland winter vacation

5 Christmas & Winter Break Ideas in Scotland | VisitScotland

Scotland is known for its breathtaking landscapes, and it’s a fantastic destination to explore during any season. If you’re looking for more than just castles and hills, though, the Scottish winter offers some of the country’s most beautiful sights. From the glistening lochs to snow-covered mountains and dramatic coastlines, this list will help you plan your trip so that you don’t miss out on these magical views.

Visit Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Scotland and is located at the top of Castle Rock, which overlooks Edinburgh city centre. The castle has been a site for human occupation since at least the Iron Age, making it over 2,000 years old. In fact, from its earliest days onwards it has been used as a major military stronghold and residence for Scottish monarchs.

Today we recommend you visit Edinburgh Castle to learn more about its history as well as enjoy spectacular views over Edinburgh City Centre and beyond!

It’s also worth noting that during New Year’s Eve every year thousands gather around this iconic location to watch fireworks light up the sky above them – making this one of the best places to be during this time!

Take a day trip to Glenfinnan Viaduct

Take a day trip to Glenfinnan Viaduct

Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It was constructed by contractor Thomas Brassey between 1854 and 1858 to carry trains over the River Finnan at its narrowest point. The viaduct is 105 metres (344 ft) high and has fifteen spans of 30 feet (9.1 m). It is made from red sandstone from Ballachulish, which gives it an amber-red appearance with white streaks.

See the Culloden Battlefield

Culloden Battlefield is located in the Highlands of Scotland, and it’s a historic site that tells the story of one of history’s most significant battles. It was on Culloden Battlefield that the Jacobite rebellion was finally defeated by British forces. There are walking trails and interpretive signs to help you learn more about this important part of Scottish history. To get there, you can take a train or drive from Inverness (about an hour away), or if you’d prefer to see some other parts of Scotland first before going there, I recommend visiting Loch Ness first.

Wintery walks and hikes in the Highlands

If you want to get a workout while still enjoying the great outdoors, then hiking is for you. The Scottish Highlands offer many beautiful trails and hills for all levels of hikers, from beginner to expert. You can also go skiing or snowboarding in the highlands, which will give you a thrilling rush as well as being an excellent way to keep fit!

Explore the Isle of Skye

  • Travel to Skye by Ferry: If you’re traveling from the mainland and want to avoid a long drive, take a ferry. The Caledonian MacBrayne line runs ferries from Oban, Glenelg, Kylerhea and Uig, with services every day of the week all year round (except Christmas Day).
  • Travel to Skye by Car: It’s easy enough to hire a car on the mainland or at your destination in Skye and drive yourself around this stunning island. Take care not to miss any of these gems on your way!
  • Travel to Skye by Train: There’s no train connection between Skye and mainland Scotland yet—but don’t let that stop you! Head over for some walking tours or cycle trips instead.

Gaze up at the Stirling Castle

  • Visit the Stirling Castle in the winter
  • The castle is a great place to visit in the winter
  • The castle is open in the winter
  • The castle is an excellent place to visit in the winter

Scotland is more than just castles.

Scotland is more than just castles. There are many other things to do in Scotland, including visiting the Isle of Skye, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Culloden Battlefield and Edinburgh Castle.

Conclusion

We hope that our article has given you some inspiration for your next trip to Scotland. The country has so much to offer and there’s no better time than winter. The weather is milder, the crowds have gone home and you’ll have more time on your hands to explore this beautiful country.

We know that when we visited last year, we didn’t want our stay in Edinburgh to end! It seems there are always new things about this great capital city to discover; from ancient ruins hidden away in its parks or museums full of history just waiting for anyone willing enough to look beyond their surface beauty.

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