While I was thinking of tourist guides and what I could do for the various places I have travelled to, I thought ‘well why not do one for a place I know best? Somewhere where I have lived all my life….Scotland.
Scotland is known for its tartan and haggis and the Loch Ness Monster but despite contrary belief, us Scots don’t wander around in kilts and eat haggis all day. To be honest I can’t stand the smell of haggis let alone the taste! Kilts are normally only worn at weddings and in our wet and wild winters, guys tend to find them a wee bit draughty!
Scotland is a country of beautiful landscapes, old cities, centuries old history, and friendly Scots. Well I guess I would say we are friendly since I am Scottish, but we are friendly and tourists are always welcomed any time of year.
Some of the big tourist attractions in Scotland take place in Edinburgh. During August Edinburgh hosts its festival which features all kinds of entertainment from all over the world including performance arts and music. These take place all over the city centre and many make most of the parks at Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh Castle and its image are renowned all over the world and makes an impressive sight, especially at sunset with the low sunlight hitting the rocks.
Edinburgh, to me is a magical place at Christmas time, fairy lights line Princes Street lighting up the German markets, which are there throughout December. The Christmas spirit culminates on Hogmanay with celebrations attracting visitors from all over to bring in the bells of the New Year. Hogmanay in Edinburgh is unlike any celebration in Scotland with its street parties and spectacular fireworks. If you plan on attending the Edinburgh festival or Hogmanay, then it is best to book in advance and plan your accommodation as both festivals attract many people. During the winter, hockey is played at Murrayfield Ice Rink. The Edinburgh Capitals play in a British National League and have a Canadian or two playing for them. Any hockey is worth the trip from the West Coast, for me especially as it only takes an hour from Glasgow to Edinburgh and buses run untill around midnight at the weekends.
Edinburgh city centre is about half an hour bus ride from Edinburgh International Airport and there are plenty hotels and bed and breakfasts to suit all budgets both in the city centre and in its surrounding areas. Edinburgh also has a main train station, which has rail links to London and other areas of the UK including Glasgow and the West Coast, where I live.
Glasgow is accessible by any way of travel. There is an International airport with regular flights to and from Toronto (made use of that a few times!), two main train stations with rail connections to all over the UK including Edinburgh and London, and a main bus station with many bus routes all over Scotland and to London. It is also possible to fly within the UK, Glasgow to London can be as little as $35 return. The airport is about 20 minutes away from the city centre. Like Edinburgh there are many hotels and other accommodation to suit all budgets, both in the city centre and at the airport.
Glasgow is known mainly as an industrial city, but it has a great shopping area, perfect for my shopaholicism! It has two main streets running parallel to each other with another one joining them which is full of designer shops and a very posh (and expensive but gorgeous) jewellery arcade. Perfect if you’re looking for a ring for a certain finger….
A lovely restaurant to go to is about 10 minutes away from Glasgow on the train in Paisley called the Corfu Palace. This is a lovely Greek restaurant with some Italian and steaks also on the menu. The staff are always welcoming and friendly, prices are very reasonable and the food is always lovely even though I’m yet to finish a main course. It has a good atmosphere, which means I’m never away from there with my boyfriend! Paisley also has an Irish pub which is good to visit on a Sunday evening as the live entertainment there is one of the best. A regular guy plays every Sunday and will play everything from Irish music to Metallica to the Beatles to traditional music all mixed with a sense of humour that you perhaps need to be Scottish to understand!
Other places to visit include St Andrews in Fife, home of the golf course. There is a lovely Bed and Breakfast there called the Duck’s Crossing owned by a lady called Monica Ramsay. I stayed there a couple of years ago and it was like a home away from home, including the great breakfast she makes to suit each guest. Nearby St Andrews is the town of Kirkcaldy, which also has a hockey team called the Fife Flyers. There is a good place to stay in the town centre called Auld Post Hotel which has a bar attached. Thunder Road does the best cocktails I have had anywhere, no one beats their Cosmopolitans or a chocoholic’s dream called Terry’s Orange… these of course have been sampled on more than one occasion, all in the name of research you understand.
Our soccer team may not be the best, but our people are, and as much as I love visiting Canada, I’m proud to call Scotland my own, so please visit us anytime you like. We promise we won’t flash you with our kilts…..
Lisa McFadyen is a 25-year-old journalist from Paisley, Scotland and a self confessed hockey nut. She writes regular articles from Scotland. Her website is www.lisamcfadyen.tk