Vacation Home Rental

Scotland is an immensely popular destination for vacations as it is greatly suitable for a wide range of vacations.  If you like breaks in the countryside the landscape ranges from masses of glorious coastal destinations to mountains and woodlands found further inland perfect for mountain climbers, hill-walkers, hikers, ramblers.  In the following article I  take a look at Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital.

The city of Edinburgh features some of the most impressive museums and galleries in the whole of Britain and within easy access is an impressive collection of fortified houses, castles, country houses and historical buildings well worth visiting. The city of Edinburgh is a city of two halves, the Old Town and the New Town, which are immensely different to each other, but both are a World Heritage Site.

As a capital city it is surprisingly green and within a short distance you will find yourself amid the most breathtaking countryside. 2 of the finest open areas in the middle of the city are the Royal Botanic Gardens and Princes Street Gardens. Situated on Princes Street are the common high street shops, in the West End you will find stylish boutiques, in the New Town you will find many designer goods and in the Old Town there are lots of independent artisans, designers and merchants.

The city of Edinburgh is world renowned for it massive number of festivals. referred to as the festival capital of Europe the year’s schedule is jam packed with events and festivals during each month of the year. The busiest month is August, with 8 festivals. Obviously this is a very difficult time to find an Edinburgh Hotel with a vacancy, so book at your earliest opportunity.

The Edinburgh festival year starts (or ends) with Hogmanay, the world’s largest New Year party. As well known is the excellent Edinburgh Fringe Festival and other festivals include; the Art Festival, Edinburgh Mela, Jazz Festival, Festival of Politics and more.

Accommodation In Edinburgh

As mentioned earlier August is the worst month to find rooms when most Edinburgh Hotels are fully booked. Sadly the same could be said about the time around Christmas and New Year which is commonly booked a full year ahead, so it really is vitally important to book early!

The city features a fine choice of hotels, guest houses and accommodation ranging from less expensive guest house to the rather extravagant top of the range luxury hotels with gyms, spas and the likes with a profusion of facilities and  services. So whatever your budget you will surely find the perfect accommodation for you online.

Many folk enjoy taking unusual vacations and increasing numbers of visitors are finding the usual seaside vacations increasingly boring. The challenge to find is ever and travel guides are incessantly searching for new and exciting places in which to take a vacation or that offer something unique. Below I examine the town of Stornoway in the Scottish islands of the Western Isles and explain the factors which make this such a great vacation destination.

Lewis

The Isle of Lewis, with Harris, is the largest land mass in the Outer Hebrides.  The islands is a fair distance off the west coast of Scotland further out from the island of Skye, needing a flight or ferry journey to reach it. As a result of the extreme remoteness it was only towards the end of the 20th century that ordinary people have been able to access to the islands for a vacation, prior to this it was only the rich who could afford to pay for the journey. The only other way to get to the  Western Isles was to arrive on business.

The Town Of Stornoway

A great many years ago the town of stornoway was an extremely busy fishing port. The main quarry of the multitude of fishing boats was herring and during the herring season Stornoway’s population grew from about five or six thousand to well over thirty thousand. A huge  quantity of Stornoway Hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts were established to satisfy the needs for lodging the incredible influx of temporary inhabitants created. Currently the town’s population stays at a little over six thousand (excluding tourists).

Unfortunately the herring industry fell into a dramatic decline at the end of the First World War with the collapse of the markets in Germany and Russia. A tiny fishing fleet can still be found in Stornoway however few buildings remain from those times and Stornoway lost a great deal of character during the 1970’s when it was extensively redeveloped.

Recently the local council has sympathetically enhanced Stornoway town centre building a few works of modern sculpture focusing on the association with the herring industry as well as also adding areas of flower beds and even fountains. New architecture are also more beautiful, such as the An Lanntair Arts centre.

Although there are much less Stornoway hotels existing today, just the Royal Hotel dates back to the heyday of the Herring industry, there are still a great many Stornoway bed and breakfasts, as well as guest houses, hostels and inns. You will even discover a camping and caravan park on the outskirts of town.

If you are considering a vacation in the Outer Hebrides/Western Isles of Scotland please take a look at our comprehensive listings of hotels in Stornoway.

Perth in Scotland a former royal burgh can be found at the head of the Tay estuary. Between the C12th and C15th the city fought with Dunfermline for the title to be the capital of the country. In the article below I write about three places to visit in Perth, Scotland; Elcho Castle, Scone Palace and Huntingtower Castle:

Scone Palace

Today, home of the Earls of Mansfield is Scone Palace, and a immensely popular attraction to visitors from across the globe. The palace of Scone is an integral part of the history of Scotland, as the kings of Scotland were once crowned there. Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone Palace, in 1306, as was Charles II when he took ownership of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious atmosphere to the palace, which is justifiably so.In the past the site acted as an important gathering place of the Picts and there was also a church on the site said to be early christian.

Elcho Castle

Lying about 3 miles from the city of Perth, with breathtaking views across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. The castle is one of the prime examples of 16th century workmanship in Scotland today. The Wemyss family authorized the building of the castle in the 1570’s. The land had been in the family since 1468, when it was granted to them by King James III. In 1633, the leader of the family was given the titles of Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho. Elcho Castle and it’s lands remained in possession of the Wemyss family until 1929. It was then, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, gifted the castle to Scotland. The castle has recently been restored and is now in the hands of Historic Scotland.

Huntingtower Castle

Located just to the west of Perth is the medieval pile of Huntingtower Castle. Even though the castle is medieval in origin, it has been significantly redeveloped throughout the majoprity of it’s history. The Ruthven family were the owners of the lands and castle from the 1100’s to the 1600’s. During this time the castle consisted of two separate towers, built 3 meters apart. When the Murray family took occupancy, later on in the seventeenth century, they decided to amalgamate the two towers, making the house appear more like a conventional country abode. The bridging work between the two towers is still rather noticeable today, both inside and out.

If you are thinking about a city vacation in Perth you will discover a large amount of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will discover a huge selection at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

Because the Scottish town of Inverness is now a city, Fort William is the largest town in the Highlands of Scotland. The town is a massively popular vacation destination with many folk arriving to go hill walking on Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain. In the article below I take a look at three different places worth a visit if you are visiting Fort William.

The Immensely Interesting West Highland Museum

Founded in 1922 was the West Highland Museum in Fort William. A group of people from Lochaber wanted to create a museum, about life in the Highlands, for the people of the Highlands. The present building was purchased in 1926 from the British Linen Bank, and can be found in Cameron Square, just off the Hight Street. Small but fascinating is how many people describe the museum. The exhibits of the museum present a delightful look into life in the West Highlands over the years. People from all walks of life are represented, through the magnificent collections of picture’s, photograph’s and artefact’s

The Superb Old Inverlochy Castle

In fort William there are two Inverlochy Castle’s, the Old Inverlochy Castle and the new Victorian, chateau-style Inverlochy Castle, erected in the village of Torlundy (which is now a luxury hotel). The Old castle was rumoured to have been constructed between 1270-1280, by John “the Black” Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lochaber, and chief of the Clan Comyn. Although the castle is in ruins, the layout hasn’t changed much since it was erected. Lord Abinger made enhancements and alterations to the house, in preparation of a visit by Queen Victoria. Old Inverlochy Castle is still an important part of English and Scottish history, because of the part it played during the Civil Wars of the 1640’s.

The Awe Inspiring Jacobite Steam Train

A trip on the Jacobite Steam Train, is an exciting way to explore the breathtaking scenery of the Highlands. The Fort William to the Mallaig journey takes one on a magical trip through the glens. One of the most riveting parts of the ride is traveling across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which most travelers will recognize due to the fact that it has appeared in the films of the exploits of Harry Potter and his pals. The 84 mile trip takes you past Ben Nevis, Loch Nevis and Loch Morar, with a break in Glenfinnan before arriving in Mallaig. There is about an hour and half in which to explore Mallaig, before the return journey, back to Fort William. This journey has frequently been described as, one of the Great Railway Journeys of the planet.

There is plenty of accommodation in Fort William available to book online but you will find a comprehensive list of hotels in Fort William at http://www.fortwilliamhotelscotland.com/

Renting a car in Scotland and touring the untamed and marvelous surroundings is the highlight of most vacations in Scotland. Cheap Scotland car rental is painless and available in all major cities.

Here is a suggestion for a three day castle exploration.

Day 1

Stating from Glasgow or Edinburgh, merge with the A93 at Perth and keep to it through Glenshee, to Braemar, the eastern opening to the Cairngorm Mountains. Drop in on Braemar Highland Heritage Centre and 17th century Braemar Castle, which is now administered by the local community. Continue on the A93 to Balmoral Castle, Queen Victoria’s ‘dear paradise where everywhere you look seems to breathe free will and stillness.

Further east, the old royal station at Ballater consists of a royal carriage and royal waiting room built for Queen Victoria. You can expose further ancient history at the Kinord Stone, a 9th century Celtic symbol stone in Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve prior to leaving the A93 for the A97 up to Strathdon, where a little alternative route will bring you to the ruined 16th century Glenbuchat Castle, now protected by Historic Scotland, who also preserve brilliant Corgarff Castle, a 16th century tower house set in natural surroundings in Upper Strathdon on the A939 to Tomintoul.

Stop at the bottom of the Lecht pass to visit the Lecht Mine – active during the 18th and 19th centuries.Carry on to the intended 18th century township of Tomintoul with its square, museum, Telford church and manse.

Day 2

Set off the day from Tomintoul and go north on the A939 and take the right hand turning after Bridge of Avon. Just by the road is Fodderletter Lum – placed there by early road menders to provide cover at night. Stay on Strathavon and turn left onto the B9136 to excellent 15th century Drumin Castle, sometime home of the Wolf of Badenoch. Continue to Bridgend of Glenlivet and turn right onto the B9008 to the ancient Livet pack horse bridge after quarter of a mile.

Continue to Auchnarrow and take a left turning signposted Chapeltown and Scalan. Park at the end of the road and walk a mile on level ground to find the superb Forbidden College of Scalan where Roman Catholic priests were trained in secret during the 18th century. End the day at Grantown and enjoy an evening of local hospitality.

Day 3

From Grantown, head south and maybe visit magnificent Castle Roy by Nethybridge on your way to the ruined 18th century Ruthven Barracks near Kingussie, which were built following the first Jacobite uprising. From here it’s on to Clan MacPherson Museum at Newtonmore, where you will also find part of the multi award winning wonderful Highland Folk Museum where a 1700s township has been recreated.

As a final point head south past Dun da Lamh Pictish Hillfort at Laggan Bridge before taking the A9 south to Blair Atholl and glorious Blair Castle, home of the Atholl Highlanders – the only remaining private army in the UK.

Inverness, in the Scottish Highlands,  is set in some of the most incredible countryside in Scotland. In and around Inverness are a number of important historic sites, frequently these places lay witness to a large amount of human suffering and violence. Thankfully Inverness has a amazing number of visitor attractions (and the number is continually increasing). In the following paragraphs I introduce readers to 3 places to visit in Inverness Inverness Castle, Inverness Museum and Beauly Priory:

Beauly Priory

It was in the 13th century that Valliscaulian Monks founded a community at Beauly Priory. Unfortunately no-one has the ability to say the accurate date of foundation but it is widely accepted that is would have been sometime around 1230. At that time Sir John Bisset, whose lands were almagamated with the Fraser’s of Lovat, was the landowner and patron of Beauly. The French monks and Sir John are accredited with the naming of Beauly, coming from, ‘beau lieu’, the French for ‘beautiful place’. Sadly, the priory was abandoned after the Scottish Reformation of 1582 and stone from the walls were thieved for use the construction of other structures. In the year 1913 the ruins of Beauly Priory were handed over to the state for the nation and they are now looked after by Historic Scotland.

Inverness Castle

Throughout the centuries there have been many structures on the site of Inverness Castle, as far back as 1057 there was something there. The first Inverness Castle was almost destroyed by an attack by King Robert I of Scotland. Today’s castle was built and designed , in 1836, by William Burn. The picturesque structure, of red sandstone, is perched on a cliff gazing down onto the the cathedral on the opposite side and the River Ness. King James I of Scotland held parliament in Inverness Castle in 1427, and called all the Northern Chieftains to attend. Horrifically three of these chieftains were later condemed to death for asserting an independent sovereignty.

Inverness Museum

Situated in the Center of Inverness is the recently renovated Inverness Museum and Art Gallery which is well worth a visit especially if it is wet and windy weather. Inside the museum you can enjoy Scottish History and learn about how the Highlands are linked with the rest of the world. It is also possible to find out about the folk of the Highlands, their traditions and culture. There are several different exhibitions featuring, wildlife, archaeology, fine arts, crafts, costumes and textiles.

If you are planning a vacation in Great Britain this year and you plan to spend a short time in Scotland, think about spending a few days staying in Inverness. Finding Inverness hotel accommodation online is relatively easy as many establishments have their own web site.  Hotels in Inverness, small hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts are always superb and Inverness is very well know for unrivalled hospitality, so you can be sure of have a wonderful time.

Dundee has been the site of a settlement for as far back as the time of the Picts. The city of Dundee, the fourth largest city to be found in the nation of Scotland, has a long association with commerce and trade. The 3 main industries, in the city of Dundee, were “jam, jute and journalism”.  Though dundee can be described as city which is post-industrial it has something of a mixed economy and it still has a large percentage of its population employed in the manufacturing industry (by comparison with the rest of the country), roughly 13.5 percent. In recent years the tourist industry has started to become a rather important part of the local economy and there are a large number of hotels offering bed and breakfast accommodation in Dundee and in the text below I discuss the reader to 3 Dundee visitor attractions; Verdant Works, Discover Point Visitor Centre and Sensation Science Centre:

Discover Point Visitor Centre

Discovery Point is a immensely interesting and award-winning Dundee visitor attraction which explains the tale of one of the most heroic  exploration voyages ever, the story of the world famous Antarctic explorer, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, and his first ship,  RRS Discovery. On March 21st, 1901, the Discovery was launched from the Panmure Shipyard, Dundee. Captain Scott and his crew set off for Antarctica on August the sixth nineteen hundred and one, reaching there in January nineteen hundred and two. The RRS Discovery is the major element of the visitor centre having been fully renovated from the top to the bottom. Steep stairs and narrow passageways can cause difficulty in getting about for those with mobility issues, luckily, visitors will find there is an audio visual presentation on the dockside.

The Sensation Science Centre

If you are searching for a tourist attraction that the whole family can enjoy, then Dundee’s Sensation Science Centre is the ideal solution. Sensation Dundee is the only science centre in Britain which is focused upon the body’s five senses. You can discover the miracles of sciences  through the use of the human body’s senses with the aid of in excess of eighty interactive exhibits. You will also find live shows of scientific experiments and demonstrations, demonstrating how common ingredients found around the home can be used to amazing effect. People interested in surgery are even able to have a go at trying keyhole surgery. Sensation brings science to life in lots of incredibly fascinating ways.

Verdant Works

Verdant Works  was, once, a working jute mill. At it’s peak, during the eighteen sixties and seventies, the industry in Dundee had a workforce of roughly fifty thousand people in over sixty factories dispersed across Dundee. These days,  Verdant Works brings this industry to life, utilising a range of displays which include, interactive computers, original machinery and film shows. This remarkable museum was once home to 3 extremely large steam engines which ran seventy looms and nearly 3 thousand spindles.  There was also five hundred workers working there, spinning and preparing jute then weaving it in another factory over the road. Restoration of the jute mill began in nineteen ninety two and it first opened its doors to the public on the sixteenth of September nineteen ninety six.

If you are planning to have a weekend break in Dundee you will discover plenty of online hotels and guest houses providing bed and breakfast accommodation in Dundee. You will discover a broad range of Dundee hotels and guest houses at http://dundee.hotelreservationhelper.com/

The ‘Fair City’ of Perth in Scotland is also frequently called to as the  ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Sited on the River Tay’s banks, the town of Perth was, for centuries, the capital of Scotland and back in the medieval period the busy little town was locally known as Saint Johnstoun (St. John’s Town). The name of Perth, or, in Gaelic, Peairt, derives from a word of the Picts which means a copse or wood. These days  this beautiful little market town is a great place for a vacation with a great many Perth bed and breakfasts to choose from.

Whether you will find that there are a great many things to interest you in Perth and the surrounding area. Visitor attractions include; sport and leisure pursuits, shopping, historical attractions and restaurants and many other entertainments. Not that long ago the town was a very busy port profiting from the export of bleached products, linen, leather and whisky. Nowadays the tourist industry creates income and much appreciated employment for the area’s youth who happily take up employment in the many Perth hotels and guest houses and similar enterprises.

One of the most popular visitor attractions, near to Perth, is Scone Palace, one of the finest historical country homes in the Scottish nation. Here visitors can discover the fascinating past of the palace, where Scottish kings were once crowned including, Robert The Bruce who took to the throne in 1306.

About 3 miles away, from Perth, one can find the 16C Elcho Castle, which has the most stunning vistas over the River Tay. The castle dates back to around 1570 when it’s construction was commissioned by the Wemyss family who were it’s owners until the year nineteen twenty nine. The Castle is now in the possession of Historic Scotland.

Only a short distance west of Perth is the fine medieval structure of Huntingtower Castle. Located in stunning Huntingtower Castle has undergone numerous redevelopments and alterations over the centuries. Huntingtower began life as a pair of clearly separate towers but constructed rather closely together.

As well as the visitor attractions mentioned earlier the town of Perth has many more, meaning that it is an awesome place for a vacation for the family. Attractions and places, to see, to be found in Perth and the surrounding area include the following; Kinnoull Hill, Perthshire Visitor Centre, Perth Ice Rink, Strathearn and the Glenturret Distillery.

If you are planning to have a holiday in Perth you will discover a large selection of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will find a massive listing at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

The Outer Hebrides/Western Isles are an archipelago situated off the West coast of Scotland.  The islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides have been inhabited since the Mesolithic times and throughout history the culture and language has been strongly influenced by various peoples and today the culture of the Hebrideans is a mix of Celtic, Norse, Scottish and English influences. In general most folk speak in the Gaelic language and though some speak English, it is often their 2nd language. In the past tours of the Outer Hebrides/Western Isles were only for those with plenty of money and those folk who had plenty of time. In modern times it is remarkably to reach the Western Isles/Outer Hebrides, you can travel by car and ferry or take a flight to a choice of destinations on the islands. Regrettably you can not get all of the way by rail though it is possible to travel coast and then travel by bus for the rest of the journey. Sometimes the only problem that can occur is sorting out where to stay especially if  you are in need of Harris group accommodation which is often booked solid for the next twelve months.

One of the main reasons people visit the Outer Hebrides/Western Isles is that the the culture and landscape of the Isles are stunningly unique.  Along the west coast of the Isle of Harris you will discover some of the finest beaches of golden sand in all of Scotland, and many people believe the whole of Britain. Here and there you will find a standing stone on Harris however it is on the Isle of Lewis that you will find the most incredible circle of standing stones at Calanais not too far away from Stornoway the main town in the Outer Hebrides. The standing stones at Calanais is said to be second only to England’s Stonehenge.

Deciding which island to stay on, Lewis or Harris is often a difficult decision and more and more people are choosing to spend a few days on each. Lewis bed & breakfast is frequently available than Isle of Harris accommodation, so you should try to book as early as possible.

Stornoway bed and breakfast is is very easy to find but again to be certain book early. Nearly all accommodation in the Outer Hebrides/Western Isles is of a high standard and the hospitality is legendary and the local people friendly and helpful.

Besides the Isle of Lewis and the Isle of Harris there are several other inhabited islands that are very easy to visit. The most commonly visited are the Uists, Eriskay and Barra and there is a ferry which runs from Harris to North Uist at the South Harris village of Leverburgh.

Inverness, frequently referred to as the capital city of the Highlands, was granted city status in the year 2001 and is currently the only city to be found in the Highlands of Scotland. Uniquely (in the United Kingdom) Inverness has no legal boundaries which can cause problems with population assessments. The estimations are made less accurate because of the fact that the population of Inverness is sharply increasing, the city has the highest growth rate of any UK city. One thing we can say for certain is that the population of the city is fairly happy, in a 2008 survey by the Telegraph, about the quality of life in 189 cities in the United Kingdom, Inverness came 5th. So we can safely say that Inverness is a pretty alright place in which to stay for some time and this is most probably one of the factors which make Inverness incredibly popular with tourists. Importantly there is a great deal of bed & breakfasts in Inverness with most of it being bookable online.

Inverness is also referred to as the gateway to the Highlands of Scotland for the clear fact that it is the hub of the Highland public transport system and a considerable amount of tourist attractions are easy to get to. Probably the best way to get to them is via a tour or day trip. A few tour companies visiting places such as, Loch Ness, Urquart Castle or Culloden or for the adventurous tourist you can to visit Orkney or John O’Groats in a day. It is also possible to find a small number of city tours, such as those run by Tony Harmsworth or City Sightseeing.

Some visitors choose to stay in 2 locations in the Highlands say Fort William and, later, Inverness. The town of Fort William is immensely popular with sports folk especially ramblers, hill walkers and mountaineers who take their chances climbing up Ben Nevis which towers above the town’s center. In a similar way to Inverness bed & breakfast in Fort William and rather like other bed and breakfast accommodation in Scotland it is commonly not too expensive, very good value for money and extremely clean, tidy and comfortable with unbeatable hospitality.

One important fact you should remember is that the airport for Inverness is, approximately, 7 miles to the east at Dalcross. It is easy to hail a cab or catch a bus to the small and busy airport which is quite reasonable. If you will be needing maps of the area then you will find them free at the tourist office, on Castle Wynd in the town center. While you are staying in the city you should remember to visit the ’stone of tubs’ and Mercat Cross, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and Inverness Castle especially the Castle Garrison Encounter, an interactive experience which is immensely enjoyable.