Scotland, with its eclectic blend of old world charm and new world glitz hosts some of the most romantic and exciting luxury vacations in the world. Scotland not only scorns the common description that has been given to it, it gets absolutely antagonized by it. Clichéd descriptions of the country abound – postcard greetings with tiny Highland terriers on them, checkerboard tins of shortbread, scores of diamond-patterned pullovers and jerseys. These images can drive most Scots to explosive fits of defiance. But still Scotland has this habit of living up to its classical image – from the ruined, ancient castles that perch on almost every hilltop to the summer hazy glens that turn purple with heather, you’ll be lucky if you happen to stumble across a group of bagpipers marching down the streets on gala day.
In Scottish history, the Celtic self-indulgence somehow intertwines with the sterner Calvinism, and where the losers of wars and battles are somehow more romanticized than the victors, Scotland is often described by its breathtakingly gorgeous scenery. This legendary scenery, which has been known to make famous poets weep with joy, is at time half hidden under a thin glaze of drizzly mist. Scotland’s major contribution to medieval battle was the blood-curdling, chaotic charge of the Highlander, yet today, it has civilized considerably and has given the world the television, penicillin and steam power. It offers some of the most high-end, ultra-trendy and some of the nicest luxury hotels of the world, which are a complete contrast to the glens and moors that we visualize when we think of Scotland.
Scotland, the land of Glenfiddich, the Loch Ness Monster, and the famous Rosslyn Chapel made famous by the author Dan Brown, is known to be the world’s favorite honeymoon spot. What with all the greenery and the quaint music of the bagpipes playing in the background, Scotland is your dream come true.
Tourism happens to be one of the largest business sectors of the country and provides employment for nearly 200,000 people every year. Millions and millions of tourists flock to Scotland for its culture, landscape, history, folklore, and of course to grab a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster!
The climate in Scotland is very unpredictable – one minute it could be hot and sunny, while the next minute it could be raining. Throughout the day, there will be wide variations in temperature. In the winter, however, the temperature will rarely drop to freezing point or below.
Attractions
The Edinburgh Castle draws tourists from all over the world and is busy all year round. St. Margaret’s 12th century Castle is absolutely stunning and should not be missed. The Scottish National War Memorial is also another must-see tourist spot. The ancient Forth Bridge, which is more than 100 years old, has now become an international symbol for Scotland. Other main tourist attractions include: Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s Gallery, the Royal Mile, The Royal Museum, the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh’s Millennium Dome, the National Gallery of Scotland, the Scottish Parliament and the Edinburgh Zoo are a few of the places that draw incredible numbers of crowds.
Things to do:
Scotland offers all sorts of activities ranging from sports to cultural activities to even leisure activities. For the active traveler, activities like golf, fishing, sea fishing, stag stalking, soccer, rugby, skiing, rock climbing, hill walking, off-road driving, trekking, horse back riding, and exploring some of the heritage sites and ruins that the country has to offer can be a fun way to enjoy your luxury travel vacation.
Whatever may be your itinerary or budget, it isn’t too hard to find a place to stay in Scotland. From bed and breakfasts to motels to charming cottages and Celtic Castles, the types of accommodation available in Scotland are wide and varying. After all, who wouldn’t want to stay in a Celtic castle? Scotland boasts of some of the trendiest and most lavish luxury hotels of the world, and if you want to stay in style but don’t have the money for it, scattered all over the countryside are some of the best small luxury hotels of the world. If luxury travel is your theme, then there are several luxury resorts in Scotland to make you feel comfortable and pampered.
If you happen to be traveling in style on one of the luxury world cruises that stops in Scotland, then Edinburgh and Invergordon are must see places if you have the time. With so many options for cheap luxury cruises and discount luxury cruises available, who wouldn’t want to make sure they scheduled on that makes a stop in Scotland?