I love self-catering especially if it is somewhere scenic with lots of great local produce close on hand. Balbinny in often ignored Angus definitely ticks both of these boxes and many more besides, as I discovered when I took my young family up there for a memorable weekend. Great First Impressions First impressions count with self-catering. Balbinny was a winner…
There are so many accommodation options these days that it can be bewildering when you are planning a trip around Scotland. Should you book a budget hotel or splash out on a slice of luxury? Is camping really for you or maybe you should go glamping? One type of accommodation for me that really stands the test of time, whether…
It’s that time of year when the mercury dips and the chill winter winds ravage into Scotland from the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. I know it can be very tempting to just hibernate until spring, staying at home with your central heating and favourite jumper. If you do, though, you are missing out on Scotland’s scenery looking utterly…
In a world where many accommodations are run by faceless global brands the holiday parks owned by Wood Leisure make a refreshing change. This family-run company stays very close to its friendly, personal roots. This family business dates back three decades to the purchase of Blairgowrie Holiday Park in 1981. Over the years four other holiday parks have been added…
I’ve long been a fan of the seriously underrated East Neuk of Fife. This scenic corner of the Scotland, which is awash with golden sandy beaches, golf courses and trim wee fishing villages, often gets overlooked by visitors making a beeline for the Highlands or Scots focusing on St Andrews. The East Neuk for me makes for a brilliant wee…
Perthshire has its fair share of charming towns, but they don’t come any more charming or better located than Aberfeldy. This gateway to the rich treasures of Highland Perthshire is set amidst river and mountains, with lashings of things to see and do, as my young family found out when we gunned our car north towards Aberfeldy. A Great Base Our base for…
Scotland’s largest city has come a long way since the 1980s when this then decaying post-industrial giant did not even have a tourist office. I’ve watched proudly as Glasgow has picked herself up and transformed herself into a genuine city break destination complete with all the restaurants and hotels you’d expect of a global city that is about to host…
It says a lot when even most of my Scottish friends asked ‘where?’ when I said I was heading off to The Cowal Peninsula. It said even more when they all started guessing, with a few sticking it in the Highlands and one even floating this Argyll oasis off to the Shetland Isles. Cowal may not be well known, but,…
When I’ve not been travelling around the globe as a writer I’ve been lucky enough to spend the best part of four decades living in or around Edinburgh. I say lucky as Edinburgh is one of the world’s truly great cities. This UNESCO World Heritage listed gem is a deeply historic oasis that boasts stunning architecture and swirls in rich cultural…
It may only be a short drive east of Edinburgh, but I think that the Scottish region of East Lothian is one of the most criminally unexplored corners of the country. You also have to love travelling around here as it is the sunniest region in Scotland! East Lothian may not attract the tourist crowds that flock to the nearby capital,…
