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Tourist Mistakes in Scotland

4/30/2020

3 Comments

 
Wondering how to avoid common tourist mistakes in Scotland? Grab yourself a whisky and check out these easy tips!
St Andrews. Tourist Mistakes in Scotland.
Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase a linked item, I will make a commission, at no extra charge to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Concerned about making tourist mistakes
​in Scotland?

Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
View of downtown Edinburgh (stock)
Loch Ness. Tourist Mistakes in Scotland.
Loch Ness

​For good reason, Scotland, particularly Edinburgh, is near the top of the tourist's "must-see" list. Excellent Scotch, stunning landscapes, and a romantic history all make for an attractive enticement for visitors.
Alas, that also means that you need to be smart about planning your trip, to avoid common tourist mistakes in Scotland!
Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
Glamis Castle (home of the Queen Mum) Stock
If you need convincing, check out my 5 Reasons You'll Love Scotland

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
​Bringing the wrong clothes

St Andrews Castle, St Andrews. Tourist Mistakes in Scotland.
St Andrews Castle, Scotland
Scottish weather can be all over the place - but rarely what I'd consider "warm." Especially if you're visiting in the spring, or really any time, you need to be prepared for unexpected showers. But, when things go well, that Scottish sunshine can't be beat!
For the full guide, check out What to Wear in Scotland

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
​Not learning the history

Culloden Moor. Tourist Mistakes in Scotland.
Culloden Moor
Scottish history reads like a thrilling (and often depressing) tale of love, intrigue, ambition, and loss. But you won't be able to appreciate it, or what you'll be seeing and touring in Scotland, if you don't know it!
Songs, books, & movies about Scotland in Why You'll Love Scotland

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
​Not taking enough day trips

Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
It's wonderfully easy to Explore the UK by Train. No matter where you make your home base in Scotland (I'd recommend Edinburgh), be sure to get out and see the rest of this gorgeous country!
Some of my favorite day trips from Edinburgh:
A Day Trip to St Andrews from Edinburgh
A Day Trip to Stirling from Edinburgh
Craigmillar Castle & The Sheep Heid Inn
Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh. Tourist Mistakes in Scotland.
Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh. Tourist Mistakes in Scotland.
Craigmillar Castle

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
​Not trying the Scotch

Tourist mistakes in Scotland
Scotch whisky and a tartan coaster - what more could you want! (stock)
Need I say more? A lot of us who aren't necessarily straight liquor drinkers (I include myself in this) might shy away from whisky in our day-to-day bar order, but when you're in Scotland, you simply must give it a go! Learn as much as you can during your stay, and if you can, take a distillery tour.

​Visit Scotland has an excellent Whisky Distillery Tour Map.

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
​Not making it to The Highlands

Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
Loch Ness (stock)
The Scottish Highlands are gorgeous. Its "capital" at Inverness is home to the legendary Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle, which we greatly enjoyed during our visit. But, as much as many tourists want to visit, The Highlands can be hard to explore, especially without renting a car.  But that doesn't mean you should skip them!
Urquhart Castle. Tourist Mistakes in Scotland.
Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness
Check out my tips on Visiting Inverness, Loch Ness, & Culloden Moor!

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
​Not leaving Edinburgh's Royal Mile

Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
Dean's Village, Edinburgh (stock)
When exploring Edinburgh, some tourists, only in town for a short time, don't manage to venture off of The Royal Mile. While incredible, and home to Edinburgh Castle, incredibly preserved buildings, and seemingly a million pubs, it's also wildly touristy. So don't forget to venture off the Mile, and explore all that Edinburgh has to offer! We chose to make nearby (walkable) New Town our home base, with a stay at InterContinental Edinburgh.
Don't forget to explore Holyrood House - The Queen's residence in Edinburgh!

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
​Forgetting about shopping

Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
New Town, Edinburgh (stock)
Edinburgh offers several *superb* shopping streets, especially in New Town. It's not all tartan scarves (though, let's be real - those are super fun and we absolutely bought several!)

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
​Expecting bad food

British food does get a bad rep, but Scotland has lots of delicious food to offer! High-end restaurants abound in the larger cities. Check out 1780, a personal favorite of mine in Edinburgh! If you're in the mood for tea, The Colonnades at the Signet Library is a must-see!

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
​Not appreciating pubs

Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
Classic pint at a pub (stock)
There's nothing quite like "posting up" at a pub - any time of day, really! Be sure to dedicate a good portion of your trip to getting a sense of Scottish culture "down the pub!"

Tourist Mistake in Scotland:
Not reading up on Harry Potter

JK Rowling wrote her amazing Harry Potter novels right here in Edinburgh. From The Elephant House cafe, where some of the actual writing occurred, to strolling in Greyfriars Kirkyard, where you'll see some very familiar names, be sure to brush up on your Harry Potter knowledge before you go! 
The Elephant House, Edinburgh, Scotland. Tourist Mistakes in Scotland.
The Elephant House, Edinburgh.
Riddell's Grave, Edinburgh. Tourist Mistakes in Scotland.
Riddell's Grave, Edinburgh.
And if you love all things British, check out my Cozy British Mystery Novels, Available as Audiobooks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
Edinburgh Castle (stock)
I hope you have the most phenomenal trip to Scotland! Enjoy a whisky, tour some castles, & take in the romantic atmosphere of this stunning country!

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Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
Tourist Mistakes in Scotland
3 Comments
Patricia Crawford
10/2/2020 07:53:41 pm

Wonderful blog. I'm looking forward to looking about where my ancestors lived. I've seen pictures of the Crawford castle ruins, and I am looking up other names now on ancestry.com. Thanks again.

Reply
Lee Grant
12/1/2021 11:14:59 pm

Toured Scotland 12 days with CIE Tours after 4 days in Edinburgh on my own (loved Old Town). Glasgow, Isle of Bute, Glencoe, Kyle of Lochalsh, Isle of Skye, Inverewe. Ullapool, Orkney Islands, Inverness (Culloden and Loch Ness), Pitlochry, and Edinburgh. Tried haggis and black pudding, Irish coffee every day and bought a kilt. LOVED Scotland!

Reply
Pursuittravellet link
7/11/2022 12:46:55 pm

The blog is really interesting to read with information given in great detail. Some of the images are truly amazing.

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