this destination is pure dead brilliant
welcome to mojo travels and today we're
counting down our picks for the top 10
reasons to make scotland your next
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scotland let us know in the comments
number 10 the epic landscapes as you
explore scotland you get that sense that
for all the culture to be found in the
cities
this land is fundamentally wild there's
just something awe-inspiring about the
rugged beauty of the scottish
countryside and its many visually
arresting features
photographers in particular will find it
hard to return home given the seemingly
never-ending photo ops available
it's all just so dramatic the highlands
which occupy
hundreds of square miles of northwestern
scotland encompass some of the country's
most scenic views and
impressive backdrops a few natural
highlights include scott's view
the old man of store and loch torden as
seen from ben a mountain
the west highland line which you may
recognize from a certain film franchise
about a boy wizard is a great way to
experience scotland's diverse
landscapes number 9 food for the soul
although modern scotland is full of fine
dining and multi-ethnic restaurants when
you think of scottish food
chances are that haggis is the dish that
comes to mind
a mixture of organ meats vegetables
grain and spices encased in a sheep's
stomach
admittedly isn't the most compelling
description but we
always recommend trying local
specialties and scotland is no exception
that being said you should note that
scotland has far more to offer than this
challenging traditional dish the
scottish people have a long history of
cooking hearty filling food that is
unpretentious
but undeniably satisfying and rarely
lacking in flavor
stoves is a working class meat and
potatoes dish that
always hits the spot carnivores won't
want to miss the opportunity to try a
jigget of lamb
grouse or how touty braised chicken the
salmon is out of this world
and if you've got a sweet tooth scottish
tablet a fudge-like dessert
is a must try number eight
adventure activities there's no better
way to work an appetite and earn your
scottish supper
than to spend your day in the great
outdoors as previously mentioned
scotland is absolutely stunning and
hiking is one of the best ways to really
get your money's worth
a few of the most popular trails include
the hike to the old man of hoy on the
archipelago of orkney
and stackpoly mountain's ridge circuit
both of which are single day hikes
if you're looking for a more epic track
consider setting out to conquer the
scottish national trail
or a portion of it over 530 miles long
it winds through much of the length of
scotland
from kirk yetim to cape roth of course
hiking is just one of the many
activities to be enjoyed
cycling fishing downhill skiing
horseback riding
golf windsurfing rafting zip lining this
is very much a choose your own adventure
sort of trip
number 7. architecture and gardens you
could easily spend an
entire trip to scotland exploring the
countryside and small town culture
but doing so means missing out on
scotland's equally amazing city life
and the cultural attractions that come
with it as you explore glasgow and
edinburgh you're likely to be taken
aback by just how diverse their
respective skylines are
in glasgow you've got the victorian
glasgow city chambers the mitchell
library
which is built in the edwardian baroque
style and the ultra-modern riverside
museum
over in edinburgh adam house the gothic
st giles cathedral
and the post-modern scottish parliament
building are just a few of the standouts
amidst these many notable buildings
however are green spaces that are no
less impressive
like the winter gardens beautiful
gardens are hidden all throughout both
cities and with names like the garden of
cosmic speculation
jupiter artland and dunbar's close they
demand
investigation number 6. whiskey culture
if you're the sort of traveler who
enjoys tasting the local culture
scotland is a great choice most
destinations have a national beverage
but few enjoy such recognition and
international acclaim as scotch whiskey
scotland does whiskey like other
countries do wine boasting over 100
distilleries
spread across five distinct regions
though some might be content to sip on
any good scotch
a trip to scotland is a crash course in
the distinct flavor profiles of the
various regional scotch whiskies but the
country's alcohol excellence
doesn't end there though far less widely
recognized scotland is today a major
world player in the world of gin
with over 50 brands of course like
elsewhere in the united kingdom
scotland is a great place to just sit
back and enjoy a pint of locally
produced beer
number five scarabre when you think of
ancient
man-made structures what are some of the
first examples that come to mind
go ahead we'll wait chances are that you
guessed famous places like the pyramids
of egypt
stonehenge and various ruins from
ancient greece
though less internationally known than
the aforementioned sites scarabrae
actually beats most of them in terms of
its age
this neolithic settlement was inhabited
between 3180 bce and 2500 bce
and sits on the bay of scale in orkney
and despite its age and exposure to the
elements
scadabre remains remarkably well
preserved earning it the nickname the
scottish
pompeii visiting this unesco world
heritage site makes for
a fascinating look at early human
history providing unique insights
specific to scotland
interestingly enough scada prey was only
discovered in 1850
when severe weather revealed a
previously buried bridge to locals
number four glasgow and edinburgh with
all due respect to aberdeen and dundee
which are both worth visiting in their
own right glasgow and edinburgh remain
in a class of their own when it comes to
culture
and travel appeal the question is which
of the two will you prefer
glasgow and edinburgh have a
long-running rivalry and outsiders are
often asked to pick a favorite during
their travels
edinburgh the country's capital feels
more historic and having a hilltop
castle overlooking the city definitely
adds a certain wow factor
it's also a shopper's paradise on the
other hand
glasgow which is the larger of the two
feels like a contemporary cultural
capital
but manages to do so while also boasting
plenty of quaint commercial areas
characterized by little shops and
cobblestone streets
the truth is you're gonna love them both
number three atmosphere as you travel
across scotland
the landscape and scenery inspires
visions of childhood fairy tales and
mythic creatures
the countryside as a whole has a
larger-than-life sense of wonder to it
but there are some specific landmarks
that feel especially magical
the appropriately named fairy pools on
the isle of skye live
up to the hype it's not hard to imagine
small winged creatures flitting about
these crystal clear pools of water
the gulf of kori vreken is a whirlpool
that brings to mind all manner of
mysterious sea creatures
even if nessie sticks to her namesake
law puck's glenn
the callanish stone's finnick len the
lost valley
for those with an active imagination
there's no shortage of sights to inspire
of course second only perhaps to the
fairy pools fingal's cave
which looks as if it were carved by
giants is among the country's
greatest natural treasures number 2
castles edinburgh castle might be among
the most conveniently located castles to
visit but it's just the tip of the
iceberg
if you've got a passion for impressive
structures that date back hundreds of
years then scotland is really a must
visit
it's basically a country full of castles
braemar castle is located in cairngorms
national park and feels like your
quintessential 17th century fortress
complete with turrets and a dungeon dun
robin and blair by contrast
are both notably more ornate and lavish
and as if these towering structures
aren't impressive enough in their own
right
many of them also overlook lakes or of
course lochs as they're known locally
and the coast taken all together the
views rarely fall short of picture
perfect
some great examples of castles that
overlook the water include aelin donnen
and a notor whether you like your
castles in ruins or as if they just fell
out of a fairy tale scotland has got you
covered
number one festivals and events scotland
is a country of proud and welcoming
people
locals take great pleasure in not just
celebrating their traditions culture and
history but also
sharing it with travelers from all over
the world so while scotland makes for a
great destination any time of year
it's worth trying to book your flight at
a time that will enable you to partake
in one of their many festivals
of course with over 200 such events
occurring annually you're hard-pressed
to visit at a time where there isn't an
overlap
edinburgh celebrates the arts with its
annual fringe festival
burns night celebrates one of the
country's most beloved sons
poet robert burns and you haven't
experienced new year's eve at its best
until you've partaken in hogmanay
if you want to see something really
special however head to the shetlands
for uphelia
a festival celebrating the viking
heritage of the region
with costumed parades viking boats and
torches aflame
uphelia makes for a totally surreal
experience
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