Curator’s statement
Scotland is one of those places that you feel you’ve been to before. It’s familiar and exotic all at the same time. The scenery is spectacular and the welcomes are warm. It was the perfect location for a week-long trip with my cousins who all had different interests. It is ideal for a girls’ trip due to the safety, ease of transportation, beauty, and variety of things to do.
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Things to do in Scotland
Hiking the Isle of Mull west coast
Castles
Find your heritage or relive your favorite movie. You will recognize many of the castles and their stories from books, movies, and shows. There are tours that follow Outlander, Game of Thrones, Mary Queen of Scots, or Braveheart locations. We chose areas that had some ties to our family surname. Here are some I love:
Edinburgh Castle is a must-see. This complex is huge, so plan to spend three or four hours here.
Craigmillar is interesting, whether you are a Mary Queen of Scots fan or not.
Blackness Castle outside of Edinburgh is worth the travel. It has a spectacular location hanging over the ocean.
Iona Island, a short ferry ride from Oban, is famous for its sixth-century abbey. Take a guided tour to learn some fascinating history about the role this abbey played in Christianity.
Hiking
This doesn’t have to be a grueling march! There are so many opportunities to explore waterfalls, beaches, mountains, or towns, and it’s always better on two legs. The Isle of Mull was a hiker's dream. Here are some of my favorites:
Calgary Bay on the west side of the island is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. There is a short two-mile round-trip hike to get there through the forest. Save time for the delicious cafe and art center at the base of the hike. I found some beautiful hand-knitted caps there made with local wool.
There is also a beautiful walk to three waterfalls, one of them cascading directly into the sea. This area is called Eas Fors and is a couple of miles north of the Ulva Ferry.
If you are a hiker, then you must climb up to Arthur’s Seat while in Edinburgh. Make sure it’s a clear day. The hike only takes an hour or two, but you get spectacular views back to the city.
Shopping
Stay away from the tourist traps in and around the famous sites. Look for authentic wool, local whisky, shortbread, tartan, and jewelry made with heather, as well as Arran aromatics. There is an excellent Arran shop on the main street in Tobermory.
Spa
Edinburgh has some lovely choices, but we chose to get our massages in Oban at the lovely Perle Oban.
Places to eat & drink in Scotland
Lobster with a view
The seafood in Scotland is some of the best I’ve ever experienced. It’s fresh off the boats and available at food stands or gourmet restaurants. Try the scallops. They are different that any you have ever tasted—tender and sweet. The lobster is also delicious and reasonable in price.
In Oban, I recommend the ferry port. You can pick up the freshest fish and seafood there for excellent prices and eat at the outdoor tables.
Traditional foods such as sticky toffee pudding and Scottish tablet were enjoyable indulgences.
There are pubs everywhere! This is the favorite dining choice of locals. You can get the best local food experience at these.
Whisky tasting. I am not a whisky drinker but it’s a fun experience. They won me over with the one that did not taste peaty.
Edinburgh has some of the best fine dining experiences. I recommend booking at least one while you are in town. There are seven Michelin-starred restaurants here. Try the Timberyard for a modern British twist.
Other restaurants I recommend
The Kitchen in Edinburgh for fine dining
The World’s End in Edinburgh for great pub atmosphere
Tobermory Distillery for whisky tours and tastings
Oban Seafood Hut for outdoor dining from the source
Glengorm Coffee Shop on Mull has amazing pastries, soups, and sandwiches
Need to know
Begin in Edinburgh. There is something for everyone there. A tour can be helpful at the beginning of the trip to familiarize yourself with the main attractions. Then select which ones you want to see in more detail. We toured Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood, The Royal Mile, and St. Giles Cathedral. Then, those of us that had a little more energy climbed up to Arthur’s Seat with a fabulous view of the city down below. This is not recommended if the weather is showing a chance of rain. Our hike was a little slushy! The others stayed in the town for a drier experience and shopped.
Take a train to your next destination. Since we only had a week, we chose Oban, which is a beautiful seaside town. It doesn’t take long to see everything there, but it’s a great spot to take day trips from or get a feel for the small-town Scottish atmosphere. It’s also where I had one of the best meals—from a cart right by the ferry. The fresh scallops were amazing.
The ferry from Oban will take you to the Inner Hebrides. We chose to stay in Mull. That meant we needed a car and none of us had ever driven on the left side before. It was a lot less difficult than I imagined. Oban and Mull were the perfect places to learn since there wasn’t much traffic to maneuver around. Traffic jams consisting of Highland cows were a daily occurrence. The beasts were always calm, but would not be rushed out of the way.
From Mull, one of the best tours was by boat to Staffa and the water caves and basalt columns. We also visited Duarte Castle, drove the west coast that was sprinkled with waterfalls cascading to the ocean, and visited beaches with crystal-clear water. The town of Tobermory was also charming and friendly.
If you choose not to drive, the train from Oban is one of the most scenic in the world. You can head north to the Highlands and ferry to islands for the day.
Travel Advisor
Amber Fox
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