Spring Break is fast approaching so here are some ideas of trips you can take to make the most of it! If you decide to stay overnight anywhere, I always use Airbnb to find cheap places to stay when I travel around Scotland. The great thing about Airbnb is that you can find places to stay for small and large groups of people.
Edinburgh
A good idea for a day trip during Spring Break is our capital city, Edinburgh. In my opinion, it’s the most picturesque city in Scotland. There are plenty of things to see and do, like visiting the castle or Edinburgh Dungeons. The National Museum of Scotland is also great and very much worth a visit. There are plenty of cool bars and places to eat, and around the University of Edinburgh there are places to eat and drink that have student discounts.
Views of the city from Edinburgh Castle are incredible! A couple of other really nice places for views of the city are Carlton Hill and Arthur’s Seat. As I’m from Edinburgh, one of my favourite things to do in the summer when I’m at home is to pack a picnic and walk up Arthur’s Seat on a nice day with my friends.
Glasgow
The second largest city in Scotland, Glasgow, is contemporary and full of culture. It is often described as the culture capital of Scotland! This city is bursting with cool cafes, beautiful parks and museums. Kelvingrove Park, situated in the west of the city, is a particularly great park to visit.
Isle of Skye
Located in the Northwest of the country, the Isle of Skye is definitely one of the most stunning places in Scotland. The beauty of this island is almost unbelievable to me. The Storr and the fairy pools are both places you should make sure to visit.
You can drive on to the island over the bridge from the mainland and there are buses as well. Another way to get to Skye is to catch a train to Mallaig and then get the ferry over. During Spring Break Skye will be starting to get busy with tourists so you should try to book your accommodation in advance. There are a few nice bothies to stay in around the island too.
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is northwest of The Cairngorms and is roughly a two and a half hour drive from Aberdeen. As one of the main tourist attractions in Scotland, you should take a trip up there during your time in Scotland and try to spot Nessie!
Oban
Oban is a picturesque town in the west of Scotland. It is the gateway to the Hebridean islands and has its own distillery! The town has a castle and a museum as well as great restaurants to sample local seafood. McCaig’s Tower is on a hilltop which offers amazing views of the bay and the town. It’s a steep climb up the hill but definitely worth it.
There are bus routes and train services to Oban.
Isle of Arran
The Isle of Arran is my favourite place in Scotland. This island, off the west coast, is bursting with natural beauty and Scottish tradition. It has historic castles, sandy beaches, stunning nature, and the locals are super friendly.
The great thing about Arran is that since its a popular place for Scottish people and tourists to go there are plenty of places to stay which aren’t too expensive. There are also plenty of camping sites around the island. The ferries over to the island are very regular, especially during Spring Break. A popular choice for people visiting Arran is to take their bikes on the ferry and get around the island that way.
St Andrews
St Andrews is the place everyone who comes to Scotland should visit! My picture shows how scenic the beach is and the town is exactly the same. It is known for its historic golf courses and university.
The train station closest to St Andrews is Leuchars which you can travel to from the train station in Aberdeen. There are also bus services from Aberdeen bus station.
The North Coast 500
The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile route around the north coast of Scotland which starts and ends at Inverness Castle. The route takes you round some amazing castles, ruins and beaches. If you like road trips then I would highly recommend spending some of your Spring Break doing this. It can take between 5 and 10 days depending on how long you want to make it or how much time you have.
Have a great Spring Break!
