Five Reasons To Visit Scotland in 2009 (Or Ever, Really)

January 26, 2009 at 11:30 AM | by brycelongton | Comments (3)

There are plenty of reasons to visit Scotland, London�s twee neighbor to the north�and by that we mean, plenty of reasons beyond the thousands of burly men in skirts with adorable Scottish accents. Just to prove it, we�ll give you five fabulous reasons to go to Scotland, and we won�t mention kilts at all.

Reason 1: 2009 is a banner year for the Scots, as it is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert �Rabbie� Burns, and the entire country is partying all year long to celebrate. Rabbie Burns, for those who don�t know, is the famous (Scottish) poet who gave us �Auld Lang Syne,� and for whom the town of Burns, New York, was named after. The year long �Rabbie� celebration is widely called �Homecoming� and anyone with Scottish descent is invited to fly �home,� trace their ancestry, drink some whisky, and dance around with their fellow countrymen. Whether you dance in pants or �skirts,� is up to you.

More reasons after the jump

Reason 2: The Scottish royalty are much more accessible than the ones in London. If you head on over to the Clan Cambpell�s Inveraray Castle (pictured here) you can shake hands with the reigning Campbells--Duke Torquhil and his lovely wife, Duchess Eleanor (nee� Cadbury of the Cadbury chocolate dynasty). You can even party at the castle with them during the food, wine and music festivals that are happening on the castle grounds this summer. The first of which happens May 16-17, and the second August 28-30.

Reason 3: Whisky. It is all around, and damn if it isn�t good. You can even take some home with you. A favorite spot is The Glengoyne Distillery. At the end of their incredibly detailed and informative tour, they offer a very cool blending session in which you sniff, stir, and eventually pour beakers of whisky into a take-home flask of your very own making. We may or may not have polished off our own bottle on the plane home. (It came in just under three ounces.)

Reason 4: The countryside. Scotland is green and gorgeous. See Braveheart for proof. If you really want to become one with the emerald grasses, babbling brooks, and the black-faced lambs that dot the countryside do yourself a solid and book a few nights at the charming (and luxurious) Ardeonaig Hotel. The owner/chef/chief bottle washer, Pete Gottgens, is worth the visit all by himself. Hailing from South Africa, Pete comes from a long line of hoteliers and is the very definition of hospitable. Between courses he told us tall (and true) tales of cooking for Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, and Tony Blair, all the while whisking out dish after dish of incredible eats�the best of which might have been the apple sorbet�each scoop made with fifty hand-crushed apples.

Reason 5: The music + nightlife scenes. Like we said, Glasgow was tapped as a �UNESCO city of music� in 2008, and with over a hundred live shows a week, there�s always something to listen to. Or if listening while grooving to some beats is more your thing, there�s several late-night thumpin� discos to get your booty shakes on. Check out two hot spots: Soundhaus or The Arches.

Getting there: We flew Delta out of the Newark Airport into Glasgow. The average cost of a round trip ticket from NYC to Glasgow is: $700.

Comments (3)

Return to » Five Reasons To Visit Scotland in 2009 (Or Ever, Really)

It wasn't until my fourth trip to Europe that I made it to Scotland; I wish I'd gotten there sooner. We went to Edinburgh and Glasglow and had a blast--and take the bus out of Edinburgh and see the Rosslyn Chapel.

The most handsome and haunting landscapes in the world. (And I'm an Englishman.)

This hotel is run by a bigoted owner and he is not interested in assimilating into the community. He is trying to exclude all visitors he does not want by asking about who is in each party and what sleeping arrangements need to be made, this place should be closed and if not boycotted, its a SA guy with a huge inferiority complex. It is no longer recommneded by any guides due to the vast complaints and the nature of them, it was referred to as a concentration camp on one. The place is designed for his friends who have recently been posting reviews at his request to combat the negative ones. Scotland does not deserve to have such a place, its people are friendly, welcoming and real. Nothing about the Ardeonaig fits that description.

Jaunted

Select a Destination:

Jaunted Field Trips / Homecoming Scotland / Whisky / UNESCO / → All Tags