Scotland revels in its authenticity. As Europe moves closer towards a monotone culture and travel experience, this rugged northern nation showcases something entirely original. Landscapes roll uninhabited and untrammeled, deserted beaches hide beneath cliffs, tiny villages evoke impressions of yesteryear, and there's no limit to the adventure. Scotland is nothing like England. It's also hard to compare with the rest of Europe. Here's a country that genuinely delights in welcoming visitors, and one that offers irrefutable opportunities for exploration.
Rugged and dramatic, Scotland's land is almost unparalleled, rolling green across the country and cascading onto hidden beaches. It's rural and unchanged for centuries, winding roads passing dry stone walls and villages seemingly screaming of antiquity. Cities provide a new angle, Edinburgh and Glasgow vastly different but equally compelling. Throughout it all there's never any denying where you are. While the referendum for independence saw Scotland stay as part of the Great Britain, the country remains as unique as ever.
For many visitors, Scotland is seen as an addition to visiting London and England. Then they arrive and wonder why Scotland wasn't the prime consideration on the itinerary. Its reputation sometimes precedes itself. If English weather is considered bad, then Scotland's is terrible. If England's food is fried, then Scotland's comes with an extra three inches of fat. This is the country that batters and deep fries Mars Bars after all. Yet there's charming impressions to be gleamed from preconceptions and stereotypes; like the man in a kilt playing bagpipes, sessions drinking the world's finest whisky, and wild camping in fields of heather.
Scotland always leaves indelible memories. It offers bags of charm and some of the world's most pristine landscapes. Then there's the castles and historic ruins. And it's appeal stretches across audiences, despite that outside the famous city of Edinburgh, it's a country that's generally reserved for the more intrepid of visitors. Anyone with a fondness for being outdoors tends to walk into a wonderland, the wilderness a mecca for hiking and off the beaten track journeys. Those keen on culture find genuine local encounters that are increasingly difficult to experience in Europe. And, anyone with a sense of adventure discovers a country that's handcrafted for every visitor.
So jump forward into a country that responds to the cute cliches; yes you will see kilts, hear some bagpipes, and sip whisky with a view of a mountain loch. But, you'll also experience a country that reserves its best for those that visit.
