One thinks of Scotland and immediately he imagines men with skirts, bagpipes and mountainous landscapes. I believe that the image that we all share of Scotland is that of its beautiful and almost magical Highlands. The Scottish Highlands make up one of the historic regions of this small country within England, but it is not the only thing we can know here.
While we cannot banish the classic image of Scotland, the Robert Wallace type in Corazón Valiente, we can use it as a "hook" to go and discover this wonderful nation, rich in history, culture, gastronomy and landscapes. And what landscapes! And what a story! In Scotland, in the Highlands for example, the culture has a clear and strong Celtic imprint. In fact, in this part of the country Gaelic is still spoken much more than English, but today the Scottish postcard has landscapes, culture and many cities.
That's right, in Scotland the landscape is varied, even when one thinks more than anything of gray mountains and mirrored lakes, the famous lochs with its islands, beaches and why not, monsters. Picturesque villages, monuments, old castles, old battlefields, local crafts, small and medieval towns and a range of outdoor activities - these are the wonders that the Scottish land has in store for us.
On other occasions we will specifically address each tourist attraction, but today I would like to talk about the Scottish cities. Each one has its history, its charm, its routes and tourist offers. You can select the one or the ones you like the most to build a Scotland sightseeing tour during your next trip.
Scottish Cities
Beyond Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, do you remember any other city? The truth is that the capital is the most popular and the one that any tourist visits if they have little time to visit Great Britain. But with a little more days there are wonderful cities to expand our knowledge of Scotland, its culture and its history. Aberdeen, a city between historical and modern that makes it stand out. It has many museums, some related to its great maritime history, but it also has beautiful parks and gardens and beaches with beautiful sea views. To eat fish and seafood it is the best destination.
One of Scotland's most historic cities, and once even its capital, is Stirling. In the center is Stirling Castle, home to Mary, Queen of Scots, with its halls, royal apartments, Great Hall and chapel. It also offers great views of the city. On the outskirts is the Wallace National Monument, a site that dominates the landscape and that, of course, reflects the legend that with some questioning Mel Gibson took to the cinema some time ago. There is Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, just half an hour away, to hang out, and if you stay the night Stirling has a multitude of bars and restaurants.
Glasgow it is the largest city in the country. I recommend you get on the tourist bus that concentrates the most tourist spots in the city. Do not miss the Tall Ship, with the history of the city's navigation, the Riverside Museum of Transportation and Travel, a spectacular building with more than three thousand objects on display between bicycles, trams and others. It adds parks, gardens and art galleries and a center with pubs, restaurants and many shops.
Inverness It is the capital of the Scottish Highlands. It rests on the banks of the River Ness and is quite compact so it is easy to get around on foot. You have beautiful Botanical Gardens, a Museum and Art Gallery, a charming flea market that is great for souvenir shopping, Inverness Castle and St. Andrew's Cathedral are among the best. Finally is Perth, a very new city since it has been so since 2007, even though it used to be the capital of Scotland for almost five centuries.
Perth It has many cultural and architectural treasures, cobbled streets of Georgian style in some sector, gardens, very large public parks and a pedestrianized street, the High Street, studded with cafes and bars to relax and socialize. And finally we can't stop talking about Edinburgh, the current capital. Here you must visit Edinburgh Castle with the Stone of Destiny (where all Scottish kings were crowned), go up to Castle Rock to contemplate the city from a good height, get on the bus, visit the Scottish Parliament, the National Museum of Scotland and why not, the Zoo.
Scotland It is famous for its whiskey so you can sign up for the Scotch Whiskey Experience to learn about the distillation of this drink, and try a glass! or visit markets throughout the city. As you can see, this part of Great Britain is really beautiful. I do not recommend much that you undertake the adventure of knowing it in winter since it is cold and that complicates a lot, for example, walking tours through the cities or going to visit the ruins of castles or distant lakes, but outside of that harsh season Scotland awaits you with wide open arms.