Scottish Highlands

Question 1

Edinburgh to Highlands Day Trip Highlights

Answer

The Kelpies

Stirling Castle

Lake of Menteith

Aberfoyle

Duke’s Pass

The Scots love their myths. In Scottish mythology, a kelpie is a water-dwelling spirit that has the ability to shapeshift. In this famous attraction, two kelpies are depicted in the form of horses. The horse-heads are about 30 meters high and are a treat to the eyes. This is the perfect place to begin the journey as the place is famous and may get crowded as the day rolls on.

Sitting high on an intrusive rock formation, the Stirling Castle takes the cake for being the largest and the most important of Scottish castles. Its defensive advantage meant that it had a significant bearing on Scottish history. Parts of the castle were built in the 14th century, while most of it dates back to the early 18th century. The castle is a visual treat as well owing to its magnificent architecture.

The Highlands boasts a number of beautiful lakes and Lake of Menteith is one of them. Located in the upper reaches of the Forth and Teith rivers, Lake of Menteith has a number of inhabitable islands on it. The lake is shallow and can completely freeze over, making way for a curling tournament. This is believed to be the only water body in the country to be referred to as a lake.

Aberfoyle is a popular holiday village in Scotland. Despite being officially denoted as a village, Aberfoyle has a main street that is lined with cafés and shops designed towards enhancing the experience of the tourists. This village will acquaint you with the Scottish way of life. The golf course in the village is one of the scenic attractions in Scotland.

Even a simple drive can be a mystical experience in Scotland if you pick your spot right. Duke’s Pass is a mountainous pass connecting Aberfoyle and Brig o' Turk which is considered to be one of the best drives in all of Britain. It was originally built in the 19th century as a connector, but soon became a tourist attraction owing to its superlative landscape.

Question 2

Other Edinburgh to Highlands Day Trip Highlights

Answer

Hairy Coos

Trossachs National Park and Loch Lomond

Loch Katrine

Deanston Distillery

Doune Castle

Highland cattle are of great interest among people who deal with animal husbandry. These rather odd looking cows and bulls are slowly gaining mainstream popularity owing to the high butterfat milk and low cholesterol beef that they provide. Hairy Coos are well adapted to the harsh Highland climate and their long horns help them in digging out plants from under the snow cover. On this day trip, you get to spot these typical Highland coos and maybe even click a few selfies with them!

Trossachs National Park provides you with the essence of the Scottish Highlands. With the Loch Lomond at the heart of it, the Trossachs is the perfect place to witness the sunset. You may spend the rest of the time fishing, or if you have time, even camp out. If you are on a stringent schedule, opt for one of the Loch cruises. There are a number of water-based activities to choose from as well.

Steeped in natural beauty and history Loch Katrine is another crown jewel of the Scottish Highlands. If you are visiting with your family, Loch Katrine has the potential to enthrall you all day. Apart from sailing in the famous Sir Walter Scott, you may also take a walk around the loch and absorb the highland landscape, or cover the entire area on cycle. It will surely be a memorable experience.

On the ledges of the river Teith lies the Deanston Distillery, whose history dates back to the 1960s. The current site of the Deanston Distillery was previously a cotton mill. Since its inception, the distillery has made a name for itself by never wavering from its traditional method. Visit the place to gain an in-depth knowledge of the functioning of a distillery and taste some of the best Scottish beverages available.

Such is the appeal of the Doune Castle, that it has made its appearance in three wildly popular television shows and movies. This medieval stronghold has served as the backdrop for significant parts of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, HBO’s Game of Thrones, and the Starz adaptation of Outlander. Its pragmatic architecture made it a perfect defensive garrison in its illustrious history.

Question 3

Best Ways To Go From Edinburgh To Highlands

Answer

Via Train

By Car

Organized Tour

Trains are the most reliable way of getting to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh. ScotRail Has a reliable service running from Edinburgh to Stirling, which takes you to the heart of the Highlands. You also opt for LNER service. The one-way trip takes less than an hour.

Scotland is famous for its lush landscape, and a drive would be a perfect way to experience it. Take the A90 from Edinburgh and get to M9 via the A904. This route takes roughly an hour with typical weekday traffic.

The best way to experience all the highlights of the Scottish Highlands, however, is to take an organized tour. These tours come with guides and pre-booked time slots that make the experience hassle-free and streamlined.