Edinburgh & the Lowlands

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is sometimes dubbed the Athens of the North. With its famous castle, cobbled streets and royal pageant, this lively and vibrant city is simply captivating. Away from the capital, Glasgow is a dynamic city to explore, while there are ancient castles, links golf courses to play, rivers to fish and old fishing ports to discover, seemingly at every turn.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, has long been thought of as one of the finest cities in the world. With its famous castle, quirky cobbled streets and royal pageant, this lively and vibrant city is somewhere anyone wanting to get a real taste of Scotland should go, and if you are lucky enough to be there in August, you can enjoy the fun and culture of the world’s largest festival. Along the Fife coast north of Edinburgh are the university town of St. Andrews and the atmospheric fishing ports of Crail and Anstruther, which together make a very enjoyable day trip from the capital.

The Scottish Borders are just as impressive as their capital city, with a rich history and phenomenal scenery, and there is plenty to explore and see from the pastoral beauty of the Tweed Valley to the mystical stone carvings of medieval Rosslyn Chapel. For those who fancy a spot of sport while on their vacations, Scotland has unrivaled golf courses, including Troon and St Andrews, and fly-fishing is also high on the agenda in this part of the world.

Across from Edinburgh, Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and this former industrial powerhouse has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, becoming one of Europe’s cultural capitals, and anyone who has a yen for the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh or who appreciates a bluff sense of humor should definitely make a point of staying a night or two. For those who like the odd drink, this is the perfect destination for a whisky tour or two. With an inordinate number of distilleries in this region, it would be rude not to sample the local delicacy.