The Scots have a reputation as a dour, frugal lot. But oh, how wrong that is! With their dry sense of humor and welcoming disposition, the Scots are proud to show off the charms of their homeland. And you can get a lot done in just one visit.
Fly into the nation’s capital, Edinburgh, and make yourself at home for several days. Divided into the Old Town and the New Town, the city unfolds beneath the massive volcanic rock atop which sits Edinburgh Castle. Follow the road along the Royal Mile and you’ll come to Holyrood Palace, home of British monarchs since the 16th century. Along the way are winding, cobbled streets brimming with boutiques and pubs. In the Georgian-era New Town, you’ll find elegant squares, broad avenues, peaceful gardens and Jenner’s, the world’s oldest independent department store.
To feel like royalty yourself, include a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Britannia was home to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family for more than 40 years. Today, the yacht, which has been berthed at the Port of Leith since 1998, is along with Edinburgh Castle, the city’s most popular visitor attraction.
Scotland is known around the world for golf, and there’s no more iconic place to play than St. Andrews, “the Home of Golf,” where the sport began more than 600 years ago. You’ll find seven courses in the immediate area and many more within a half-hour’s drive.
The town of St. Andrews has become even more famous in recent years because it is where Prince William and Duchess Kate met while students at St. Andrews University. This lively university town is home to galleries and cafes, historic sites such as Blackfriars Chapel and St. Andrews Cathedral, and attractions like the St. Andrews Aquarium and the no-longer-operational Scotland’s Secret Bunker, where the nation would have been governed in the event of a nuclear war.
If you’re heading to Scotland’s other major city, Glasgow, stop at the village of Birnam, once a popular vacation spot for Beatrix Potter. The Beatrix Potter Garden and Exhibition Center will charm you, even if you’re well past the Peter Cottontail and Jemima Puddleduck age. Dunkeld, with its beautiful Gothic cathedral and village center, makes a good rest stop.
Then there’s Glamis Castle, childhood home of the late Queen Mum and said to be the most beautiful castle in Scotland. Still privately owned, the castle is open for guided tours and offers an up-close glimpse at Scottish aristocracy and royalty.
Finally, don’t miss The Kelpies. These 30-meter-high horse-head stainless-steel sculptures are located next to the Forth and Clyde Canal, in The Helix, a new parkland project that includes a wetland boardwalk, pathways connecting 16 communities, and a new canal.
Glasgow is just a bit more than an hour’s drive from the capital and well worth a few days of its own. The city is renowned as the home of famed architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, as well as for its transformation from a shipbuilding center to a vibrant, youthful city where old and new coexist seamlessly.
If your time is limited, catch one of the city sightseeing buses, preferably one with a personal guide instead of an audiotape (you’ll get a taste of that Scottish sense of humor as you tour the city). A typical overview will take you past the Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis, the People’s Palace, the Riverside Museum (for transportation buffs), the Botanic Gardens, the West End, the University of Glasgow and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, with more than 8,000 works of art and artifacts.
Then, head straight for the Charles Rennie Mackintosh exhibit, which includes “Miss Cranston’s Tearoom.” Between 1920 and 1921, Mackintosh was the designer for Catherine Cranston’s tearoom empire, and this display is a treat, highlighting both his talent and the social scene of the day. Other Mackintosh-designed tearooms, like The Willow, located on the pedestrian-only Buchanan Street, lined with boutiques, shoppers, and gawkers, are still open for business.
For information, check out visitscotland.com, Edinburgh.org or visitstandrews.com .
Carol Sorgen is a Baltimore-based freelance writer.
Feature image: Skyline view of the city of Edinburgh. Photo courtesy of The City of Edinburgh Council
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