5 Unforgettable Experiences to Have in Scotland

A few hours after arriving in Scotland, a fellow traveller posited a question: “What’s your first impression of this place?”

He’d journeyed to Scotland numerous times, held Scottish heritage, and considered it something of a second home. But it was my first time, and he wished to see it through fresh eyes, as if for the first time once more. I considered him for a moment before I replied, “It’s spirited. Not spiritual, exactly… but it’s alive.”

The following week spent exploring the country proved first impressions never lie, though I couldn’t have predicted the profound impact Scotland and its unique experiences — both expected and unexpected — would leave on me.

These are the moments that have stayed with me since. When it comes time to plan your own trip, start constructing your list here.

Explore Ancient Castles

It’s said there have been around 3,000 castles in Scotland throughout the years. Not all are accessible (not all are still standing) but there remain hundreds to visit and explore.

An Instagram feed favourite has to be Craigievar Castle. A short drive from Aberdeenshire, it’s famous for its distinctive pink harling, a traditional Scottish roughcast render, which lends a fairytale-like appearance that has long been thought to have inspired Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle (it’s rumoured a photo of Craigievar Castle was found on his desk following his death). 

Breathtaking in an entirely different way is the dramatic Dunnottar Castle. Positioned atop a 50-metre cliff and backdropped by the North Sea, harsh winds and corrosive sea spray have tested its limits throughout the decades. Today it’s primarily in ruins, but at its most magnificent this impregnable fortress secretly safeguarded the Scottish Crown Jewels and played host to notable visitors like Mary Queen of Scots.

Meet the Locals

Drive a short distance out of the city towards the Highlands, and it won’t take long before you spot Scotland’s most charming locals. Highland Cattle — more affectionately known as Highland ‘Coos’ — are defined by their shaggy coats, swoopy fringes, and impressive horns. 

They’re built tough to withstand Scotland’s bitterly cold winters, but this inherent resilience hasn’t hardened their gentle nature. These big softies welcome a wee pat, and thankfully there are a number of estates where you can get close to them.

I visited Farm Stop in Aberdeen, which in addition to a coos, also offered close encounters with sheep, piglets, ducks, rabbits, donkeys, and Shetland ponies. 

Feast on Local Produce

I didn’t expect one of the most memorable meals I ate in Scotland to be one I cooked myself, but that’s exactly what happened when I took part in a cooking class at The Cook School on Ballintaggart’s stunning property in Highland Perthshire.

With a ‘field to fork’ ethos that emphasises the use of the finest Scottish ingredients, many of which are sourced directly from their own kitchen garden, orchard, or small-scale local suppliers, no two classes produce the same menu.

During my visit in October, our group enjoyed a three-course lunch of monkfish ceviche with fresh chillies and tart, pickled damson plums; tender barbecued venison with coal-cooked potatoes, fire-kissed chard, and chimichurri with herbs picked fresh from the on-site gardens; and perhaps the best lemon loaf on the planet with a sweetened gooey curd centre.

But it wasn’t just the quality of ingredients and the resulting feast that set this cooking class apart from others I’ve taken in the past. It was the cosy barn setting, the willingness of head chef and owner Chris Rowley to share trade secrets, and the palpable feeling of community.

Standing at the barbecue feeling the sun’s apricity on my face, tossing greens and squinting from the fire’s billowing smoke, it felt truly akin to preparing a meal with your friends. That’s what Ballintaggart seeks to capture in each one of its classes.

Visit an On-Screen Icon

A place as picturesque as Scotland – with its rolling mountains, moody skies, and historic towns – makes for the perfect backdrop to today’s most compelling on-screen stories. You’ll know already about Scotland’s ties to Harry Potter (if not, add Loch Shiel, Victoria Street in Edinburgh, and Glenfinnan Viaduct to your itinerary), but Scotland has a rising star in the small town of Falkland.

Outlander, playfully described by my tour guide as “50 Shades of Tartan”, has truly elevated this beautifully preserved place onto the map. Amidst the photo opportunities where fans can be spotted recreating their favourite scenes, shop owners along the high street have leaned in to embrace the show’s lore, by stocking souvenirs and trinkets that day and weekend-trippers can take home with them.

Get Lost in Edinburgh’s Closes

It’s easy to get distracted on your way through Edinburgh by the allure and mystery of the closes scattered across the Old Town.

Of the estimated 250 closes in Edinburgh, around 90 still stand today. Named after historic residents or their trades (for example, Brodie’s Close, after Deacon William Brodie — a cabinetmaker and city councilor by day and burglar and gambler by night), these labyrinthine alleyways provided passage through the densely packed buildings within the medieval city walls, and possess an intriguing, at times dark, past.

Today, they frame some of the more beautiful views of the city’s charmingly askew stone dwellings, skyline of slate roofs, and cylindrical chimneys.

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