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Best time to visit
85 things to do in Scotland
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Winter
Cold, wet and gloomy season is not good for outdoor activities
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Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing
Scotland provides excellent conditions for winter mountaineering and ice climbing for both beginners and experienced climbers
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Salmon and Sea Trout
Fishing for Scottish salmon and trout is not as easy as it might seem, you can learn the art during informative fishing lessons
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Boxing Day
The occasion has nothing to do with fists and punching, but rather boxes full of gifts
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Diving
The west coast boasts the most spectacular diving sites but the east coast won't disappoint either
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Osprey Watching
Once ospreys seemed to have left Scotland forever, but a pair of the fish-eating birds returned to the Highlands and restored its population
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Hogmanay (New Year's Eve)
Hogmanay is a unique way to celebrate the New Year with torchlights, bonfires, fireworks, and loads of music
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Cruising on a Vintage Steam Boat
Even if you do not fancy visiting museums, you will definitely enjoy a sail on the Vic 32 proclaimed a "smokey living museum"
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Edinburgh International Festival
A showcase of the world's best music, dance, theatre, and opera in Edinburgh every August
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Cruise to Staffa
The trip to Staffa amazes with wildlife encounters, puffin colonies, and the geometric shapes of Fingal's Cave
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Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
It is a great Scotch fun to intoxicate oneself to traditional Celtic singing, dancing, and storytelling
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Ben Nevis
True hikers will not respect themselves having visited Scotland without ascending its highest summit
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Edinburgh Festival Fringe
A unique blend of thousands of known and less-known artists performing a wide variety of shows in smaller venues around the city
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Beltane Fire Festival
Celebrate the arrival of summer in Scotland with music, bonfires, and uninhibited behaviour
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Swans
During winter Scotland hosts these elegant guests from Iceland and Siberia
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Autumnal Castles
Scottish castles nested atop extinct volcanoes or on the loch islands and cliff edges are beautifully surrounded by fall colours
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Celtic Connections
Musicians from Celtic countries and further lands annually reunite in Glasgow in the celebration of folk music
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Cranberries
These berries delight visitors of Scotland in late autumn and early winter
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Ceres Highland Games
Ceres Highland Games are the oldest and most cheerful events celebrated in Scotland
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Seal Pups
The world's largest grey seal population and their cute pups inhabit the shores of the Scottish Orkney Islands
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Scotland's Most Remote Pub
The waterway to the Old Forge Pub overlooks Europe's Last Wilderness, and the very pub pleases with strong ale, langoustines, and live music
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Barnacle Geese
These tri-coloured birds are numerous in Scotland—they bark as if they were dogs and are believed to have originated from mollusks in Scottish folklore
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Haddock
Cold-smoked, hot-smoked, dried, canned, frozen, served with chips, drowned in milk, or in a Scottish soup—so many ways to eat Haddock
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Berry Season
Scotland abounds in strawberries, blackberries, currants, and other juicy sweets
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Burntisland Highland Games
Burntisland Highland Games are the second oldest games in Scotland and are a perfect opportunity to have some quality time.
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Birdwatching
Thousands of skuas, auks, dotterels, ptarmigans, and eagles highlight Scottish birdwatching season
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Heather
Purple heather blooms on ornate open Scottish fields, heathlands, wetlands, and forests
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Stirling Highland Games
Multiple fun events combined with stalls full of local products are the main attractions at Stirling Highland Games
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The Burry Man
Follow the Burry Man throughout the streets of Queensferry as he drinks whisky and spreads good luck
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Autumn Foliage in Scotland
Though Scots Pine is definitely the king of the Highlands, in autumn it lets other trees outshine it with beautiful colors
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Surfing
It is not true that the treacherous Scottish waves leave no opportunities for inexperienced surfers—there are options for everyone
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Burns Night Celebrations
Scotsmen respect their national poet and commemorate his legacy by cooking his favorite meal on his birthday
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Common Ridings on the Scottish Borders
Though today there is no need to protect the Scottish borders, the Scots still celebrate their centuries-old traditions and history
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Burning of the Clavie
This Pagan feast may be erased from Gregorian calendar, but not from people's minds
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Edinburgh Military Tattoo
A memorable representation of dance, military pageantry and music as part of the Edinburgh Festival
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Stand Up Paddleboarding
"Row, row, row the board, gently down the stream"–yes, the board, no misspelling here. This sport combines surfing with kayaking
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Cowal Highland Gathering
At Highland dances, Scottish boys and girls perform in national costumes dancing to the traditional sounds of the hornpipe
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Coasteering
The brave and curious will enjoy exploring the nearly inaccessible craggy coastlines of western and eastern Scotland
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Seafood
Lobster, mussels, clams, and other Scottish seafood is made into delicious seasonal salads, stews, and specialties
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Hunting Season
The season starts with grouse, snipe, and ptarmigan then proceeds with other wildfowl and finishes with deer
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Golf
Golf courses of Scotland will impress you with breathtaking scenery—especially the course on the River Clyde encased by the Ayrshire hills
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Dog Sledding
The beautiful Scottish winter is experienced to its fullest sledding across the Cairgorm mountains with lovely huskies
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Fairy Pools of the Isle of Skye
Emerald-coloured pools possess magic powers that make you dive into the water, no matter how chilly it is
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North Berwick International Highland Games
Dancers, world-pipe bands and other stunning events make North Berwick Highland Games the perfect place for a day full of fun
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Oysters
Once the very Roman emperor deemed Scottish oysters as the best shellfish in the world
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Horse Flat Racing Season
Musselburgh Racecourse provides year round great racing action with 27 racedays
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Lamb Meat
Scottish lamb is the sweetest and the leanest in the world owing to the excellent Highland pastures
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The Ba' Game
When charged up Uppies and Doonies fight for the leather trophy ball, the townspeople protect their dwellings with wooden barricades
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Up Helly Aa
To mark the end of the Yule season, thousands of Vikings traditionally burn the galley with thousands of torches
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Starling Murmuration
A stunning sunset show performed by migrating starlings
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Haggis
Sheep's insides are sewn into its stomach, boiled, and served with "tatties and neeps" and a glass of Scotch Whisley for Burns Supper
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Braemar Gathering
The Gathering is famous for its hospitality, friendship, multitude of events and the presence of the Royal Family, and it's only a 2-hour drive from Edinburgh
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Red Deer Rutting
The loud clash of red deer signals that rutting season is on–time to watch the stags' fight
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Apple Season
Traditional apple scones, pies and scrumbles are the highlights of this delicious season
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Canoeing, Kayaking and Sea Kayaking
Scottish white water rivers and lochs offer some of the best canoeing and kayaking trails in the world
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Snowdrops
Delicate snowdrops rising up from the snow are able to console and inspire even the saddest souls
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Skiing and Snowboarding
A great choice for winter holidays—Scottish ski resorts are a more affordable alternative to the Alps
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Hillwalking or Munro Bagging
To become a "completer" you have to bag not less than 284 Munros
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Lunan Bay Bathing Season
Every princess would have enjoyed a swim on an appealing pink beach overlooked by a castle
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The Jacobite Steam Train
Did you know that the route of the Hogwarts Express passes through the Scottish Highlands?
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Dolphin and Whale Watching in Scotland
Minkes, humpbacks, fins, orcas, and playful bottlenose dolphins will amuse you during the seasonal cruises
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Garden of Cosmic Speculation
A unique space inspired by science and mathematics
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Kitesurfing & Windsurfing
One of the best destination in Europe for surfing of all kinds
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Edinburgh Christmas Market
A winter wonderland in the heart of a fairytale city
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Christmas Lights
Edinburgh celebrates the most wonderful time of the year
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Halloween
Celebrate the transition from summer to winter in a traditional Celtic way
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Christmas Markets in Scotland
Scotland loves Christmas! It hosts some of the best Christmas Markets in the UK
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New Year's Eve in Scotland
New Year's Eve in Scotland is celebrated loudly and passionately, making it a perfect destination for this holiday season
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St. Patrick's Day
An excellent excuse to go pub crawling in one of the largest Scottish cities
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Strathaven Balloon Festival
Enjoy a free weekend of fun at Scotland's only festival of ballooning
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Chinese New Year in Edinburgh
The largest Lunar New Year celebration in Scotland
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Glasgow Christmas Markets
Experience the best-in-class Christmas shopping in the city of Glasgow
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Guisachan Gathering (Golden Retriever Festival)
The cutest dog show in the ancestral home of golden retrievers
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Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
10 days of excellent music with over 170 performances
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Callander Jazz and Blues Festival
The largest rural jazz and blues festival in Perthshire
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The Castle of Light
Scotland's largest projection show creates unforgettable memories throughout the holiday season