If there’s one thing the Scots know how to do well, it’s throwing a good party! And if St Andrew’s Day isn’t reason enough to celebrate we don’t know what is. St Andrew has been the patron saint of Bonny Scotland for over 1,000 years and on the 30th November, Scots around the world down tools, grab their kilts and have a good, old fashioned shindig!
Rumour has it that St Andrew didn’t actually set foot on the shores of Scotland and that this day of commemoration was actually introduced by our friends across the pond. Here at Klook, we recommend that you, seize every opportunity to take a trip to Scotland as there really is no place quite like it. Rolling highlands steeped with majestic beauty, vibrant cities crammed with culture, and the warmest of Scottish welcomes wherever you go, and if you’re a big fan of tartan you’ll most certainly be in your happy place.
With so many celebrations taking place across Scotland next week, there’s no better time to visit and if you’re wondering where to kick-start your Gaelic adventure, Edinburgh is it.
Enjoy Edinburgh’s top tipples and tours…
To really get a feel for this beautiful and historic city, book onto the Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Bus Tour where you can stop at your leisure and visit some of the city’s most iconic spots such as Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street, and Holyroodhouse Palace. You’ll discover so much history and heritage as you tour the city with a knowledgeable guide. If you prefer to explore on two feet, another great way to see the city is on a two-hour walking tour, where you can learn about Scottish legends from an experienced guide.
Keep the Scottish chill at bay with a wee dram of whisky and if you’re there on St Andrew’s Day (30th Nov) then raise a toast to the patron saint himself. To make things easier for you, our Scotch Whisky Experience will be the perfect opportunity for you try a drop of the golden stuff while learning all about the process of whisky making, from barley to bottoms-up.
Fun fact: the Scots spell whisky with a ‘y’ and the Irish spell it whiskey, with an extra ‘e’ – make sure you use the right one in any of your whisky reviews!
Go in search of Scottish legends…
You’ve heard about the legend of Loch Ness, but it’s time to see for yourself whether there really is a mysterious monster living in the darkest depths of the loch. Take a tour from Edinburgh through some of Scotland’s most epic scenery, where Nessie may or may not be waiting for you. But first, you’ll need to pass through the untamed wilderness of the Highlands, taking in historic castles and Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis.
If you’re keen to explore as many man-made wonders as well as natural wonders, the West Highlands Lochs, Mountains, and Castles Day Tour will allow you to do just that.
Travel from one historic castle to the next, including Doune Castle which any GOT fans will recognise as Winterfell, but has also appeared in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Outlander. End the day with a trip to the UK’s largest loch, Loch Lomond. It may be the biggest, and in our opinion it’s also one of the most beautiful, but don’t just take our word for it, go and see it for yourself…
This selection of tours only scratches the surface on all that Scotland has to offer, so if you haven’t found what you’re looking for here, why not keep looking…?