Scotland Things to Do

They’ve got the wide open spaces, the highlands, the lowlands, the hills, mountains and views, so of course Scotland is becoming one of the world’s greatest places for mountain biking. And being smarter than they are often given credit for, and canny with their money which they are often given credit for, the Scottish have realized the outdoor assets they have and are developing fabulous world-class trails for riding.

Scotland is the home of golf. No matter where the original roots of the game may have sprung from, be it the Romans, the Chinese, the French or even the English, there’s no doubt that the game as we know it has its foot firmly planted in Scottish soil.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to be invited by friends to spend Christmas in Scotland. Being from Australia and used to Christmas time being all about sunshine and beach cricket, I was happy to be going so far north for my first wintry Christmas; naturally I was hoping for snow. We left London amidst forecasts of snow, arrived in Edinburgh under those heavy yellow-grey skies that promise snowstorms, got on the train with literally seconds to spare and headed north to Pitlochry, a small town in the Scottish Highlands.

A trip to Scotland can be an adventure for your taste buds as much as a feast for your eyes. Due to its rugged country and land and its often harsh history, certain eating habits developed which can lead to both smiles and shouts of dismay.