scotland tours

Scotland has a rich heritage that can be traced back prior to the Iron Age and this culture is very much alive and flourishing wherever you go in the country. The country is split into several quite distinct regions. In the South you have the Border regions with their rolling rural landscapes, where sheep often outnumber people. Rugby is the main passion here and Border towns such as Hawick and Kelso have produced some of Scotland's most successful professional rugby stars. Moving slightly north you enter the Central Belt - where over 75% of the population actually live. The 2 major cities of Glasgow and, of course, the capital city Edinburgh, are major tourist attractions in their own right.

Edinburgh has numerous world famous tourist attractions including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and, a more recent addition, The Scottish Parliament. Its dozens of museums, art galleries and, of course, the annual Fringe Festival - the largest arts festival in the world are major draws for visitors from all over.. Glasgow is a less well known tourist destination but has become very chic and increasingly popular in recent years largely thanks to widespread regeneration of the Clydeside area. You must see the newly regenerated riverside area and the famous Armadillo structure at the Exhibition Center if you visit the city.

Golf fanatics are, of course, well catered for with some of the world's finest golf courses located around the country. Scotland certainly has more than its fair share of world class golf courses with the Old Course at St Andrews, just north of Edinburgh and the home of golf, undoubtedly the most famous of all.

Moving further north, the cities of Dundee and Aberdeen offer a new experience. Dundee is steeped in history with the now defunct jute industry still providing a number of fascinating tourist attractions along with Captain Scotts famous vessel the Discovery moored as a permanent display in the River Tay. Aberdeen, by contrast is known as the Oil Capital of Europe and home to a very much thriving North Sea Oil industry. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Scotland, mainly thanks to the legacy of the early oil years and the large influx of foreign workers that this brought, and boasts a huge range of cultures, restaurants and a thriving nightlife.

The last major city in Scotland is the Capital of the Highlands, Inverness which has only recently been granted City status. Sitting at the head of the famous Loch Ness - watch out for Nessie - the worlds most famous monster - it really is the gateway to the Highlands.. Inverness has seen explosive growth in recent years but still retains a very unique 'small town' atmosphere and is a favorite stopping off point of many tourist parties en-route to the Highlands.