Activities in Scotland
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FEATURED
5-Day Best of Scotland Experience from Edinburgh
5 days (Departs Edinburgh, United Kingdom)
by Viator
Experience the natural beauty of Scotland on a 5-day small-group tour through the Lowlands, Northern Highlands, West Coast and the magical Isle of Skye.…Not LP reviewed
from USD$622.62 - All activities
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Castle O'Burrian
Just 1.5 miles north of the ferry pier, a cute little wooden signpost marked 'puffins' points the way to Castle O'Burrian, the most accessible puffin-watching spot in Orkney. A 10-minute walk from the road leads to a clifftop view of the puffin colony on the sea stack's grassy summit; the birds are in residence from late April to August.
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Hoy Walks
There are pleasant walks along the low cliffs at Cantick Head at the island's east end, where there’s a Stevenson lighthouse and a poignant memorial to the crew of the Longhope lifeboat; and at the Hill of White Hamars nature reserve, on the south coast.
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Rousay Tours
Offers guided taxi tours of the island, including wildlife-spotting (seals and otters) and visits to the prehistoric sites. They also provide general taxi service.
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West Coast Walk
One of the best coastal walks in Orkney begins at Kirbest farm car park and leads north for 5.5 miles to Noup Head through increasingly dramatic seacliff scenery (allow three hours one way). Pick up a copy of the Westray Walking Guide leaflet from Kirkwall tourist office or the Haff Yok Cafe.
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Westness Walk
The south shore of Rousay from Midhowe Tomb to Westness Farm has been described as the richest archaeological mile in Britain, recording 5000 years of Orkney history. Here you can see the remains of human habitation ranging from the neolithic through the Iron Age to Viking and Pictish burial sites, medieval farms and the 12th-century St Mary's Church.
The coast here is a good place for watching seals and otters, looking out across the turbulent tidal waters of Eynhallow Sound to the Broch of Gurness. The little island of Eynhallow, now uninhabited, was once a sacred place, and houses the ruins of an early Celtic chapel (the name is Old Norse for 'holy island').
Tourist…
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Plockton Boat Hire
If you fancy exploring the bay and seeing the village from the water, you can rent one- and two-person canoes and rowing boats from this operator on the Plockton waterfront. Lifejackets are supplies; no previous experience is necessary.
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Witch's Trails
35km of forest road and singletrack. Hosts the annual cross-country world championships, and the annual 10 Under The Ben endurance event.
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Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Maintains several reserves on south Mainland and on the island of Fetlar.
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Shetland Nature
Operates wildlife watching holidays and day trips in Shetland.
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Corryvreckan Whirlpool Viewpoint Walk
The walk to a viewpoint for the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, the great tidal race between the northern end of Jura and the island of Scarba, is a good one. From the northern end of the public road at Lealt you hike along a 4WD track past Barnhill to Kinuachdrachd Farm (6 miles). About 30m before the farm buildings a footpath forks left (there’s an inconspicuous wooden signpost low down) and climbs up the hillside before traversing rough and boggy ground to a point 50m above the northern tip of the island. A rocky slab makes a natural grandstand for viewing the turbulent waters of the Gulf of Corryvreckan; if you have timed it right (check tide times at the Jura Hotel),…
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Evans Walk
The only real trail on the island is a stalkers’ path that leads for 6 miles from the main road through a pass in the hills to a hunting lodge above the remote sandy beach at Glenbatrick Bay. The path leaves the road 4 miles north of Craighouse (just under a mile north of the bridge over the River Corran). The first 0.75 mile is hard-going along an interwoven braid of faint, squelchy trails through lumpy bog; aim at or just left of the cairn on the near horizon. The path firms up and is easier to follow after you cross a stream. On the descent on the far side of the pass, look out for wild orchids and sundew, and keep an eye out for adders basking in the sun. Allow six…
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Paps of Jura
Climbing the Paps of Jura is a truly tough hill-walk over ankle-breaking scree that requires good fitness and navigational skills (you’ll need eight hours for the 11 long, hard and weary miles). A good place to start is by the bridge over the River Corran, 3 miles north of Craighouse. The first peak you reach is Beinn a’Chaolais (734m), the second is Beinn an Oir (784m) and the third is Beinn Shiantaidh (755m). Most people also climb Corra Bheinn (569m), before joining Evans’ Walk to return to the road. If you succeed in bagging all four, you can reflect on the fact that the record for the annual Paps of Jura fell race is just three hours!
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Galloway Red Deer Range
Near the loch there are ranger-guided walks of the Galloway Red Deer Range. During rutting season in autumn it’s a bit like watching a bullfight as snorting, charging stags compete for the harem. Walks take place at 11am and 2pm Tuesday and Thursday, and at 2.30pm Sunday from mid-June to mid-September.
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Tullibardine
Just up the road, 3 miles from Auchterarder on the A9, you’ll find Tullibardine, Scotland’s newest distillery. It’s just off the A9 and reopened in 2004 after being closed for 10 years. Tours are short and sweet, which means ‘tasting time’ comes around nice and quick.
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Black Isle Brewery
Range of organic beers.
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Bowman's Tours
From April to October, Bowman's offers a Three Isles day trip (adult/child £49/24.50, 10 hours, daily) from Oban that visits Mull, Iona and Staffa; the crossing to Staffa is weather dependent.
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Cairngorm Brewery
Creator of multi-award-winning Trade Winds ale.
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City Sightseeing
These double-decker tourist buses run a circuit along the main sightseeing routes, starting near the tourist office on George Sq. You get on and off as you wish. A ticket, bought from the driver or in the tourist office, is valid for two consecutive days. All buses have wheelchair access and multilingual commentary.
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City Sightseeing
Bright-red, open-top buses depart every 20 minutes from Waverley Bridge.
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Classique Tours
Bus tours of the western isles in vintage 1950s coaches, departing from Glasgow and staying in atmospheric country hotels.
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Colonsay Brewery
Produces lager, 80/- and IPA.
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Glasgow Taxis City Tour
If you're confident you can understand the driver's accent, a taxi tour is a good way to get a feel of the city and its sights. The 60-minute tour takes you around all the centre's important landmarks, with commentary. The standard tour costs £35 for up to five people.
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Haggis Adventures
Offers backpacker tours, with longer options taking in the Outer Hebrides or Orkney.
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Heart of Scotland Tours
Specialises in mini-coach day tours of central Scotland and the Highlands, departing from Edinburgh.
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Hebridean Princess
Luxury cruises around the west coast of Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and the Orkney and Shetland islands (HM the Queen chartered this ship for her summer holiday in 2010).
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