Scotland travel advice
Travel advice
Andrew Bateman, from one of our suppliers, Scot Mountain Vacations:
“Outside the hotspots like Skye, the highlands and islands of Scotland are one of the least populated areas in Europe and if you do have an adventurous spirit and a little imagination it is very easy to escape the crowds. The landscape just absorbs people and if I come across more than twelve people on a mountain day it’s a busy one.“
“Outside the hotspots like Skye, the highlands and islands of Scotland are one of the least populated areas in Europe and if you do have an adventurous spirit and a little imagination it is very easy to escape the crowds. The landscape just absorbs people and if I come across more than twelve people on a mountain day it’s a busy one.“
Robert Kidd, from one of our suppliers, McKinlay Kidd:
“Yes it takes a while to get to the Orkney or the Outer Hebrides, but I think the journey is all part of the experience. Our islands are something very special. Cycling on Gigha or walking around Colonsay are my favourites.“
“Yes it takes a while to get to the Orkney or the Outer Hebrides, but I think the journey is all part of the experience. Our islands are something very special. Cycling on Gigha or walking around Colonsay are my favourites.“
Our Scotland Vacations
Orkney & Shetland self drive vacation, Scotland
Self-drive island-hopping through the Northern Isles
From
£840 to £955
7 days
ex flights
Scotland by railway vacation
Experience authentic Scotland independently and car-free
From
£1135 to £1195
8 days
ex flights
Wildlife vacation in the Isle of Mull, Scotland
Spot whales, otters and eagles on Isle of Mull, Scotland
From
£645 to £695
5 days
ex flights
Scotland guided rail tour, Skye & Glencoe
Visit Scottish castles and beautiful gardens by train
From
£1875
7 days
ex flights
Isle of Mull wildlife vacation in Scotland
Ultimate week of wildlife spotting on the Isle of Mull
From
£945 to £1035
7 days
ex flights
Orkney Islands walking vacation
Rugged and remote islands with a fascinating history.
From
£1209 to £1275
8 days
inc UK flights
West Highlands guided rail tour in Scotland
Discover Scotland's Highlands & distinctive islands by train
From
£1875
7 days
ex flights
Hebrides cruise, The Sounds of Mull, Luing, Shuna and Jura
Cruise the Sounds of the Hebrides: Mull, Luing, Jura, Shuna
From
£990 to £1710
7 days
ex flights
Isle of Mull and Small Isles explorer
An extraordinary voyage exploring Mull & the Small Isles.
From
£1155 to £1995
8 days
ex flights
West Highland Line railway vacation in Scotland
Take the "The World's Best Rail Journey" to the Isle of Skye
From
£895 to £965
5 days
ex flights
Scotland island hopping vacation, car free
Explore three contrasting Scottish islands car-free
From
£1275 to £1375
8 days
ex flights
The Cairngorms wildlife vacation in Scotland
A wildlife camping experience in Scotland without the hassle
From
£400
7 days
ex flights
Skye and the Small Isles sailing vacation
Sail Scotland's Small Isles and visit spectacular Skye
From
£1360 to £2280
9 days
ex flights
Skye and the Inner Hebrides cruise, Scotland
A unique cruise to the Isle of Skye and the Inner Hebrides
From
£2080 to £2310
7 days
ex flights
St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides cruise, Scotland
Scottish Cruise to St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides
From
£4480
11 days
ex flights
Hebrides short break cruise, Scotland
Scottish small cruise with a Taste of the Hebrides
From
£1070 to £1375
4 days
ex flights
Whisky and wildlife sailing vacation in Scotland
Malt Whisky and Wildlife Cruise to Mull, Jura and Islay
From
£1360 to £1650
11 days
ex flights
Southern Hebrides and Sea Lochs of Argyll cruise
A Scottish cruise to the Islands of the inner Hebrides
From
£2310
7 days
ex flights
Art cruise in Scotland
Scottish Island cruises perfect for relaxing and painting.
From
£1710 to £2280
7 days
ex flights
Loch Ness & Skye guided rail tour, Scotland
Discover Scotland’s Highlands & Isle of Skye by Rail
From
£1895 to £2045
7 days
ex flights
Rail tour in North Highlands & Orkney
Scotland’s geographic extremities & ancient history by train
From
£1765
7 days
ex flights
Tour of Britain by train
Explore England and Scotland's cities & landscapes by train.
From
£2995 to £3350
16 days
ex flights
Scottish traditional cruise, 4 days
Short break cruise in Argyll on the west coast of Scotland
From
£1010 to £1150
4 days
ex flights
Outer Hebrides and Shiant Isles cruise, Scotland
A magical cruise wandering through the Outer Hebrides
From
£2200 to £2650
11 days
ex flights
Inner Hebrides Wildlife Cruise
A great introduction to the breath-taking Scottish Highlands
From
£825 to £1425
6 days
ex flights
Lands End To John O'Groats biking trip
Britain's classic cycling challenge
From
£1790
16 days
ex flights
St Kilda, Outer Hebrides Cruise, Scotland
Cruise to St Kilda, Monachs, Outer Hebrides and Small Isles
From
£2200 to £2650
12 days
ex flights
Knoydart bunkhouse accommodation, Scotland
Friendly West Highland bunkhouse on the Knoydart peninsula
From
£18
per person per night
Scotland West Coast cruise, Skye and the Small Isles
Scottish Vacation to Skye and the Small Isles | Cruise
From
£2335
7 days
ex flights
Scotland painting & wildlife cruise
Small cruise ship painting experience of Skye & Small Isles
From
£2300 to £2700
7 days
ex flights
Cultural advice
John Hutchison, Chairman at the John Muir Trust:
“Take time to consider the link between people, the land and the place names. There is little awareness about this but so many of the place names have a historical significance and a story behind them. It helps you understand the place and brings it alive.“
“Take time to consider the link between people, the land and the place names. There is little awareness about this but so many of the place names have a historical significance and a story behind them. It helps you understand the place and brings it alive.“
Wildlife tips
Sally Dowden is our wildlife expert and supplier at Speyside Wildlife:
“Don’t think you are going to have to cover huge distances to see a variety of wildlife. In the Cairngorms National Park, the center of the known universe as far as we’re concerned, we can go from high mountain tops with semi Arctic species such as Ptarmigan , Dotterel and Snow Bunting and then you can come down into the moors and see Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel and raptors in the valleys. Then right down to the Rivers Spey and Dee where the wetlands and ancient Caledonian pine forests have another variety of species, such as Scottish crossbill, capercaillie and crested tits. And then you are only half an hour from the coast which is a whole other world. All in a day.“
“Don’t think you are going to have to cover huge distances to see a variety of wildlife. In the Cairngorms National Park, the center of the known universe as far as we’re concerned, we can go from high mountain tops with semi Arctic species such as Ptarmigan , Dotterel and Snow Bunting and then you can come down into the moors and see Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel and raptors in the valleys. Then right down to the Rivers Spey and Dee where the wetlands and ancient Caledonian pine forests have another variety of species, such as Scottish crossbill, capercaillie and crested tits. And then you are only half an hour from the coast which is a whole other world. All in a day.“
Whisky wisdom
Andrew Bateman, Director of one of our suppliers, Scot Mountain Vacations:
"I know this may seem an obvious one but many visitors never get to the truth about Malt Whisky. Although not everyone’s tipple it’s a hugely varied and complex product if you know what to look for. Also, we have a big issue with too many deer preventing the natural regeneration of our native forests and woodlands in Scotland – eat venison! You will be doing the environment a big favour!"
"I know this may seem an obvious one but many visitors never get to the truth about Malt Whisky. Although not everyone’s tipple it’s a hugely varied and complex product if you know what to look for. Also, we have a big issue with too many deer preventing the natural regeneration of our native forests and woodlands in Scotland – eat venison! You will be doing the environment a big favour!"
Our top Scotland Vacation
Orkney & Shetland self drive vacation, Scotland
Self-drive island-hopping through the Northern Isles
From
£840 to £955
7 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Scotland or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Health & safety
HEALTH
SAFETY
Tips from our travelers in Scotland
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
Wear layers - my personal favourite is a wooly hat.![]()
– Patricia Moss
“Travel with elasticated waistbands, the food is plentiful and very good“ - Anne Feeley
“Book in confidence. The relaxation week is thoughtfully planned with just the right rhythm set up, you can trust that it will work. And bring your waterproofs!“ - Lara Gisborne on a yoga vacation in Scotland
“Check out whats on locally for music and dancing - we had a fab time at the local ceilidh on New Years Eve and really enjoyed seeing scottish bands - all at the Village Hall“ - Lindy Brown
“Book in confidence. The relaxation week is thoughtfully planned with just the right rhythm set up, you can trust that it will work. And bring your waterproofs!“ - Lara Gisborne on a yoga vacation in Scotland
“Check out whats on locally for music and dancing - we had a fab time at the local ceilidh on New Years Eve and really enjoyed seeing scottish bands - all at the Village Hall“ - Lindy Brown
We had a fab time at the local ceilidh on New Years Eve and really enjoyed seeing scottish bands - all at the Village Hall![]()
– Lindy Brown
“If you're going to the NW Highlands in midsummmer, take an eyemask! Very little darkness this time of year, and I found it quite hard to sleep“ - Elaine McAdam
“Join in, enjoy the moment, wear layers – my personal favourite is a woolly hat. I traveled solo and felt comfortable from the outset; sharing a cabin was all part of the experience“ - Patricia Moss on our wildlife sailing vacation in Scotland
“Bring waterproofs! We had five solid days of sunshine, but even in these conditions, a waterproof coat and trousers come in very handy for dingy launching and riding, lobster pot launching and retrieval etc where splashing at the very least is inevitable“ - Sophie Hood on our wildlife sailing vacation in Scotland
“Join in, enjoy the moment, wear layers – my personal favourite is a woolly hat. I traveled solo and felt comfortable from the outset; sharing a cabin was all part of the experience“ - Patricia Moss on our wildlife sailing vacation in Scotland
“Bring waterproofs! We had five solid days of sunshine, but even in these conditions, a waterproof coat and trousers come in very handy for dingy launching and riding, lobster pot launching and retrieval etc where splashing at the very least is inevitable“ - Sophie Hood on our wildlife sailing vacation in Scotland
More about Scotland
The best time to go to Scotland is, for many people, when wildlife come out to play, with deer on the highlands, whale watching in the summer, seabirds throughout the year and, less wild but equally heart stopping, lambs in spring.
This Scotland travel guide takes the lid off that clichéd tin of shortbread and looks under that tartan kilt. Revealing a naked, natural Scotland. One where food is world class, and about so much more than haggis. And a country that is packed with wildlife, wild places, mountainous and marine magnificence.
Unlike many countries, when working out where to go in Scotland, you may first want to decide how you want to go.
Scotland small ship cruising vacations take you out onto the country’s most spectacular nautical nirvanas.
Pack your waterproofs, bring your binoculars and pile on the sun cream – wildlife vacations in Scotland prise you out of the office and fling you into the great outdoors.
Forget Braveheart – the Highlands are wild at heart. This is the northwest half of the country, where peat bogs swoop up into lochs and mountains.
Orkney and Shetland Islands vacations set out for two of the most northerly outposts in Britain.
Vacations to the Cairngorms open the doors to the biggest national park in the UK.
You can go your own way on Scotland self drive vacations with a little hands-off help from a self-drive vacation expert.
Traveling in Scotland with kids is always lively, with expeditions such as sailing around the Hebrides, canoeing down the Caledonian Canal, or mountain biking in the Cairngorms.
Scotland has many qualities but one of its finest is giving freedom to roam the countryside.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Krisjanis Mezulis] [Travel advice: Max Hermansson]
[Cultural advice: Einheit 00]
[Wildlife tips: Andrew]
[Whisky wisdom: B K]
[Health & Safety: Roddy Mcdowell]
[Patricia Moss quote: andrewrendell]
[Sophie Hood quote: John Haslam]
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