Barts Best of Scotland
Scotland is the land of nature, of the most beautiful routes by car (or train; we saw it all in Harry Potter) and of course whiskey. Scotland is beautiful, and of course you want to see as much of it as possible; There is the most daylight between May and September, so it is high time to visit.
Where should you be? What are the best/most beautiful places and where will you spend the night? Here's ours Best of Scotland list. So, all you have to do is enjoy yourself during your stay.
Have you always wanted to do the most beautiful routes by train? View all train journeys in Europe here
Glasgow is raw, and sometimes you have to look through it a bit, but with more than 90 parks and gardens, they also call it The Dear Green Place. Not just gray and grey. The city has two styles: Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture, so a tour of the city is never boring. Not the best time for some, but even the universities are concerned formal and casual looks NOT ALLOWED boring. The fact is that we have already received our diploma, but you would want to study for this university again.
In one of the oldest and most stylish neighborhoods in the city The SocialHub can be found in Glasgow. As soon as you walk out the door, there is plenty to do in the Merchant City neighborhood. From cute boutique shops, colorful street paintings to nice places for a drink. We are fans of The Social Hub, especially at such a location. With more than seventeen locations around the world, they are indispensable when you book a stay somewhere. The locations are in perfect condition with a restaurant, bar, fitness room, roof terrace with bar and of course the (student) rooms. They also have common areas for games, studying or working, where the concept 'learn, stay, work & play' comes fully to the fore.
If you're in Glasgow, stop by Five March. A contemporary restaurant that is definitely worth it and still very affordable. Draft is shared dining and the menu is a bit Mediterranean, a bit Middle Eastern and a bit Scottish influenced; fusion the right way! Think of candied garlic hummus, mussels with black bean sauce and end the evening with sticky toffee pudding with ginger ice cream. Everything in combination with interesting cocktails, organic wines and plenty of soft drinks.
It is not a small restaurant and that often plays a role in the atmosphere. But at Five March, they have this in perfect order. Partly due to the design: clean with light pink on the walls. For people traveling to Glasgow in the summer, Five March also has a small terrace at the front.
Located in both Glasgow and Edinburgh Dakota Hotel. A refined, but very cool hotel, with a timeless style. It's just certain that when you stay there, it will be nice anyway. Very handsome and spacious rooms (and interior), but also a Champagne Cream, Cigar Terrace and a very extensive drinks menu with classic cocktails. When you sleep in Glasgow, the concierge will pick you up from the airport (if available). Good deal, right?
Photos by @dakotahoteluk
The city where you go back to the Middle Ages: the Scottish capital Edinburgh. It cannot be compared to any other city, so it is not surprising that thousands of visitors travel there every day. It is magical because of the small alleys, the old architecture and many cozy pubs. Not entirely unimportant.
Always wanted to make your own magic potion? That's beautiful! You can do that in Edinburgh and be inspired by Harry Potter. Bee The Cauldron you can book 'The School of Magic', where you will brew your own magic potion. The location fits the theme perfectly: in an old cave, hidden behind a cathedral. It's a cocktail course, but nothing is what it seems, with the puzzles and challenges that test you. The best part? At the end you can take your magic potion with you, so you can continue the adventure at home. It may sound a bit childish, but it definitely doesn't!
Photos by @thecauldronedinburgh
It has the looks, the atmosphere and also a rich history: Timberyard is fantastic. An old warehouse dating from the nineteenth century, completely converted into a restaurant, in the heart of the center. The nod to the past is obvious: lots of wood, and in a rough/handsome way. Cozy, oh so cozy with a fantastic menu. All ingredients are from local suppliers, seasonal and from Scotland's own larder. They can cook, but what makes the whole evening (even if you like a drink): the non-alcoholic drinks. Think of sea buckthorn, lemon verbena or Douglas fir (a tree from the pine family). The results are clear, juicy and occasionally a bit sour. A must try!
Anything to celebrate during your trip? Bee Timberyard they have an intimate space for up to ten people.
Yes yes yes, you want to visit this place. One of the very best places for cocktails in the whole of the UK. And they continue to make this happen time and time again. The cocktails are sacred and all have their own story. Panda & Sons even released a storybook, where each chapter is a different type of cocktail. They have courage and make classics with a twist. Think of Martinis with olive oil or Bellinis with strawberries and hibiscus puree. The friendly service is happy to give you a helping hand where necessary and lovingly creates a cocktail based on your own palette of flavors.
Don't drop out if you think: I don't like cocktails. Nerd, they have plenty of tasty beers and wines. Truly a place for everyone, with the combination of the glamor of the cocktail bar and the goodness of the local pub. They love theater, so even entering is an adventure (hint: go to the bookcase).
Jolly Judge is hidden in one of the many streets of Edinburgh. It's a real pub; quite small and cozy. With a nice fireplace, where you can warm up in cold Scotland. We could also say: Scottish hospitality at its best. The menu mainly features local and international drinks. No fuss, just a nice pub. We never spend a weekend in Edinburgh without getting a pint at the Jolly Judge.
Back to the west coast of Scotland: to Isle of Mull. The Isle of Mull is the less touristy Isle of Skye. A lot fewer buses full of other travelers, but rather people who put a little effort and planning into a good trip. And you want to make that effort for Mull, because just driving around the island is a holiday in itself. If you take the boat from Oban (stop at the Oban Seafood Hut – fresher than fresh oysters and for next to nothing) you arrive in Craignure and then it is only an hour to Fidden Farm in Fionnphort, a campsite on the edge of the world. You park yourself and your camper on the edge of the grass dune, kick off your shoes and look out over the silver-white beach, rocks covered with bright yellow sea moss and an endless sea. Fidden Farm has a nice shower room, but that's about it - you just have to deal with nature and your camping companions. Fionnphort is very close by, has a small supermarket, a pub with a beer garden that overlooks the small harbor and every now and then a stray sheep comes running down the road, howling.
You can also take the ferry here Iona, a tiny island opposite Fionnphort. They have a monastery that bakes bread twice a week, enough rocks to spend days climbing, scrambling and spotting dolphins and you can look for Iona Marble, beautiful green stones that the locals use to make jewelry.
More crazy about animals and nature? Bee Sea Life Surveys you can spot all kinds of animals during a six-hour cruise. Think of basking sharks, sea eagles, puffins, minke whales, seals, dolphins and if you are really lucky, maybe even orcas. You have to make an effort, but when you see all those animals, you will probably quickly forget it.
Sea Life Surveys can be found in Tobermory, where you can do these great cruises. Please note: the trips sell out very quickly, so it is best to book in advance.
If you happen to be in Scotland from May 31 to June 2, at Loch Lomond, then you have no choice but to visit the festival. Fyne Ales to go. It is a three-day festival where beer, food and music take center stage. Fun for young (but without the beer) and old. So gather your friends, your camping gear, your children, your dogs (because they are also welcome, just make a reservation) and experience. There is a separate, cordoned off field for families. They organize pub quizzes, and there is a walk to a small hut on the river where - of course - they also serve beer. Truly a very fun festival!
Even if you are there earlier or later, a great tip is to visit Fyne Ales, as they have their own beautiful brewpub with good ales.
Near Crinan you will find Kilmartin, in the Argyll region, and there it is Kilmartin Castle. A unique castle that has existed since 1550. It stood empty for the first 200 years, so many beautiful features have remained intact: the large fireplaces, the stone ceilings and walls, medieval stairs and even the loopholes are still visible. You can also sleep there, but for a hefty price that exceeds 1000 euros per night. This is for ten people and pets are also welcome. It gives medieval vibes, but with modern elements (like a neon sign that, strangely enough, fits perfectly). Si and Stef bought Kilmartin Castle years ago and, with the help of friends and local craftsmen, have transformed the castle into one of the most unique places to sleep. You can also get married here, but with a really small club.
Near Kilmartin Castle is the town of Crinan, where you can again rent a boat as described above. So plenty to discover!
There is a lot of good whiskey in Scotland. So you only need three ingredients (water, barley and yeast) to make whisky easy easy you would think. Unfortunately peanut butter! It's not that easy. So, we like to leave it in the hands of the experts and fortunately there are more than enough of them. There are: Aberfeldy, Dalwhinnie, Oban, Glenfarclas, Ben Nevis. Would you like to know more about these whiskey distilleries? We have! Read here the nicest whiskey distilleries in the Scottish Highlands
Please note: all tours are popular, so book and arrive on time!
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