If you ask most people who haven’t been there before, ‘what are the first three things that you associate with Scotland?’, they usually say Highlands, castles and rain. They’re not wrong, of course, Scotland’s not short of all three of those. However, there’s an intangible joy to exploring Scotland that you don’t really get until you go there. It’s a slow burner sort of a place, which is why we love our long-distance trails there. They give you time to soak it all in, get a little bit soaked but also feel inundated by Scotland’s unique culture and natural beauty. In order to keep the clichés at bay, here are our quick tips for travelling in Scotland, from our in-house Scottish clan.
Understand the concept of freedom in Scotland
Scotland has many qualities but one of its finest is the law that allows freedom to roam throughout its luscious land and seascapes. This is quite something given that, for example, in neighbouring England, 92% of the countryside is not accessible. As well as thanking the Scottish people for making this happen by actively supporting a right to roam ethos, it’s worth reading up on the complexities of the Right to Roam campaign in England. Having said that, on our carefully-crafted itineraries, it’s important to stay on the paths, especially around peat bogs, in order to protect them.
Whisky galore
Many people are keen to raise a glass of local whisky to toast a good day on the hills. There are chances to visit distilleries on some tours, including the Glenfiddich and Glenlivet Distillery on our Speyside Way walking holiday, or Dewars Distillery along the Southern Highlands’ Rob Roy Way, but there’ll be no shortage of other watering holes on the trails. Two fun facts about whisky while you’re at it: first, according to our Scots brigade, it’s only spelled whisky if it’s distilled in Scotland. If it’s distilled outside of Scotland, it must be spelled whiskey, with an e. And second, team Scotland here at The Natural Adventure says that the proper way to drink a dram is with no ice and just a drip of water (if you must).
Take the train to Scotland
Taking the train to, and within Scotland is not only the low carbon way to travel but it is also the best introduction to Scottish slow travel. Travel on the West Highland Railway to start your Great Glen Way walking holiday in Fort William, or take it all the way to Mallaig for hiking tours on Skye. For a perfect finale, treat yourself to the sleeper train if you are heading to England after finishing the West Highland Way, Great Glen Way or the Rob Roy Way, and travel back the Caledonian way.
Getting your head around Gaelic
Most people in Scotland don’t speak Gaelic, although there is a growing interest in it with more Gaelic schools popping in the large cities. You’re most likely to hear it spoken in The Highlands and Islands, particularly in the Outer Hebrides. However, they also speak English too of course. One expression that’s worth learning is slainte mhath, meaning cheers, while raising a dram. You can learn how to pronounce it properly here.
“I took the sleeper train to Scotland once and asked the woman serving on the bar, ‘how do you say cheers in Scotland’. She looked at me blankly and just said ‘cheers’. I got my coat. (In my defence, I’m Irish and everyone says ‘slainte’ for cheers in Ireland, whether you’re an Irish Gaelic speaker or not.” – Catherine Mack, Content Manager, The Natural Adventure
Read up on Scottish wildlife
From badgers to basking sharks, puffins to peregrine falcons, Scotland is teeming with flora and fauna. So pack your binoculars and read up on the tens of thousands of Scottish species that you might spot on Scotland walking holidays. One of the best resources is Scottish Wildlife Trust which not only lists its species, but also manages 120 wildlife reserves around the country. They strive to protect the precious habitats that you might take for granted on a walking holiday, but please do support their vital work by donating to the cause.
What’s in a name?
There’s no better way of making conversation with local people in Scotland than by asking for their help with pronouncing local place names. Scots are a friendly bunch and love it when people take a genuine interest in their culture. For example, on the West Highland Way, Milngavie is pronounced ‘mill-guy’ and Drymen is ‘drimen’. And then there are beauties like Ballachulish, pronounced ‘bah-lach-you-lish, with a perfectly phlegmy ‘ch’. Speaking of which, when you’re describing a loch, it’s good to just go for it with that ‘ch’ sound. A great one to practise with is Loch Lochy, at the start of the Great Glen Way.
Find yourself a festival
We all know about the superb Edinburgh Festivals, and if you can time your visit to attend them, then get ready to party. However, there are many other cultural events happening around the country. The Highland Games, for example, which are held throughout Scotland during summer months. From caber tossing to Highland dancing, these events showcase traditional sports, music and cuisine. You can attend Highland Games in various locations across Scotland such as the Braemar Gathering in Aberdeenshire, Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon, and the Inverness Highland Games in the capital of the Highlands.
There are also many traditional music sessions and ceilidhs (traditional Scottish dancing sessions) throughout the year of course. Local pubs usually host a traditional music night or ceilidh once a week so, depending on where you are staying across Scotland, there will always be the opportunity to visit one. Of course, if you’re really lucky, you may even see the Mirrie Dancers, a Scottish expression for the Northern Lights.
Scotland does wild weather
There’s a great auld word in Scotland, which sums up a grey, wet day, and that’s dreich. So, for example, you may hear someone say, “It’s a really dreich day today, isn’t it?” And with so many wild places comes wild weather, and it’s likely you’ll get at least one day of wind or rain. So it’s worth keeping that in mind when choosing your walking boots or rain jacket, but also don’t count out a sun hat or sunscreen when packing for your Scottish adventures. Those rays do come out and, even when hiding, they can have a harmful effect on your skin. In addition, if you’re opting for a tour that takes you into higher terrain, such as on the Isle of Skye Trail, please read up on our safety tips for hiking in mountainous areas.
Go on, try some haggis
Don’t be afraid to try haggis. Many visitors are put off by how haggis is made but, for our Scottish team members, it’s just like eating another type of sausage. Haggis is, in fact, a unique and delicious mix of peppery offal (which isn’t awful at all) and oats. The classic haggis, neeps and tatties (a meal with haggis turnip and potatoes) also goes down a treat. Modern takes include haggis on burgers, haggis breaded bon-bons, also known as croquetas or tweeds, or even haggis quesadillas. Veggie haggis is very good too, and some meat-eaters prefer it to the original. For more Scottish delicacies, see our blog on the Best food in Scotland.
Respect the kilt tradition
As we mentioned above, not everyone wears kilts in Scotland, but many people do wear them for special occasions. And are proud to do so, and making fun of them, their sporrans or asking what they’re wearing underneath is a bit of a tired old trope. If you’d inherited a kilt with your family tartan from a grandfather, you wouldn’t want someone dismissing it as a bit of fancy dress, after all.
How to avoid midges
Sadly, they aren’t like the Loch Ness Monster – midges, or small flying insects, do exist in Scotland. The west of Scotland is worse for midges than the east and they are particularly prolific between May and September beside water and when there is little or no wind. Midges like to party at dawn and dusk and rest during the day, thankfully, and we do recommend packing a midge net to wear over your head. Trust us, if you’re walking in the west, when the wind is low, you won’t be alone in the net-wearing brigade. Read more in our blog on how to deal with midges in Scotland.
Pack your swimsuit
It will be cold, but until you’ve immersed yourself into the silky waters of a Scottish loch, you’ve not experienced the real Scotland. OK that may be pushing it, because sipping a fine Scottish malt, or seeing a stag on the hills are also fine Scottish moments. However, if you’re up for the challenge of dipping more than your toes on our Scottish adventures, check out our blog on the Top wild swimming spots in Scotland.
Understanding rewilding
One of the leading organisations for rewilding in Scotland is Trees for Life, based in both Findhorn and their new, rewilding centre in Dundreggan, about 10km from Invermoriston on the Great Glen Way. It was founded by Alan Watson Featherstone in 1989, who aims to restore what many of us see as wide open valleys, and which he reminds us is actually a degraded ecosystem, in need of regenerating. Using trees that are indigenous to Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Forest. If you haven’t time to visit, Trees for Life would definitely welcome a donation.
For more tips on travelling in Scotland, you may enjoy the following blogs: Best time to go to Scotland, Best hikes in Scotland, Scotland’s best castles and Best food in Scotland. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact our adventure specialists and make this your year for an adventure in Scotland. Cheers!
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