Travel news in Scotland: stay, eat, do, read

Discover what’s new in Scotland, from hotel and restaurant openings to new distilleries, cultural events and Scottish books.

This regularly updated guide brings together the latest news from across the country, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.

You’ll find the newest places to stay, eat, visit and explore right here including:

• The latest news from across Scotland
• New places to stay and eat
• New distilleries and whisky releases
• Exhibitions, festivals and cultural events
• New Scottish books and creative projects

> Please get in touch with any news you’d like included in the update!
> You can find all the forthcoming events and festivals in Scotland in my dedicated guide.

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Latest news from Scotland

Keep up to date with the very latest news from Scotland:

• The MICHELIN Guide spotlights Dowans Hotel – a small Speyside stay in Aberlour noted for its significant whisky focus. Read all about MICHELIN’s new hotel picks.
• Retro Reels at Riverside Museum, Glasgow opened on the 10 Jan 2026 – a free exhibition celebrating iconic 1980s films and props has opened, aimed at families and pop-culture fans.
• Val McDermid publishes Winter: The Story of a Season – new nonfiction from Val McDermid publishes today, travelling through Scottish winter traditions (including Burns Night and Up Helly Aa).
• Good Food Guide “Restaurant Month” (13 Jan-14 February across Scotland) – first ever Restaurant Month with offers at 13 restaurants in Scotland from Adfern to Timeberyard. Find out more.
• Sotto × The Palmerston “restaurant swap” charity night 9 Feb 2026 – For one night only, the two restaurants swap venues/teams with profits going to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
• A new hotel and spa destination on the Ayrshire coast has confirmed its opening date. The Waterside Hotel is unveiling Si! Spa, a new sea‑view spa facility as part of a £3 million renovation that on the 17th Febtuary 20206, with 17 additional sea‑view rooms.
• National Bank Holiday after Scotland’s first world cup game? Scotland will have a national bank holiday on the 15th June 2026 after the team’s opening World Cup match, announced by First Minister John Swinney.
• Two new Scottish restaurants added to the Michelin Guide in December 2025: Mara in Aberdeen and The Three Chimneys at Talisker, Isle of Skye have been recognised for their great cooking.
• Outlander celebration book launch: A new book titled Outlander and Scotland: Touchstones and Signposts was launched recently. Visit the Outlander sites on your next trip to Scotland.

New Restaurants & Food Openings

Scotland’s food scene is evolving fast with new gastro-restaurants, cafés and food experiences are opening all over the country. Here are the freshest food and drink launches to add to your “to-visit” list.

Elephant House café reopens in Edinburgh: The Elephant House, famously linked to the origins of Harry Potter, has reopened after four years following a major fire, now with tributes to Edinburgh’s literary scene and writers.

Lochside café with castle views: The team behind Argyll’s award-winning Pierhouse Hotel is opening a new café overlooking Castle Stalker and Loch Linnhe in early 2026.

Josie Pops Kitchen pop-up opens in Glasgow: Filipino street-food favourite Josie Pops has expanded into a pop-up container venue at Barras Market, bringing Southeast Asian flavours to Glasgow.

Ballintaggart X Newport Bakery Partnership – Perthshire’s Ballintaggart Farm have announced that they are taking over The Newport Bakery shops in Dundee, Broughty Ferry, and Newport, from Wednesday 26th November. The partnership will bring Ballintaggart’s produce to the shops, while continuing to serve the Newport Bakery favourites.

Brown’s of Leith – a new collaborative food / drink / arts space is opening on the 27th November in a refurbished former steelworks at the Shore, Leith. Opening are Haze, a new all day venue from the team behind Timberyard, Shuck Bar – a new seafood bar, a new outpost of popular pizza spot Civerino’s, and Woven – a blending studio that sources single malt and grain whiskies from across the world. Find out more.

Flavour Isle of Harris – an intimate fine-dining restaurant and chocolate shop in Tarbert, Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Showcasing hyper-local island produce through creative, seasonal cooking led by chef Chris Loye, Flavour, Isle of Harris offers an eight-course tasting menu where every table functions as a chef’s table. Find out more – and book.

Pinkfoot Trailer Cafe – loch‑side café opening – a new Airstream‑trailer café has opened on the banks of Loch Leven (edge of Kinross House estate). The café emphasises local produce, foragers’ involvement and is perfect for and walkers/cyclists. Find out more Pinkfoot.

New Distilleries & Whisky Releases

Isle of Barra Distillery Visitor Centre Set for October 2026 Opening: A £12 million visitor centre is being built at the new Isle of Barra Distillery with tours.

Glenkinchie Distillery has been named Scotland’s Leading Distillery Tour 2025 – the Lowland distillery has earned top honours for its visitor‑experience in the World Travel Awards 2025. Visit Glenkinchie Distillery.

New distillery! Castletown Mill in Caithness to open as Stannergill Distillery – Dunnet Bay Distillers (Rock Rose Gin) have completed the restoration of Castletown Mill into a distillery which will produce a new Highland single malt. Find out more about Stannergill Distillery and how you can visit as part of your trip around the NC500.

Luss Distillery now open at Loch Lomond – a multi-million pound distillery and visitor-experience centre has opened in a refurbished historic building, alongside a smokehouse and cafe. Luss Distillery will be offering tastings and gin & whisky tours. Find out more about the new distilleries to visit in 2026.

New Exhibitions & Cultural Events

> Discover all of the events in Scotland in November 2025 in my complete guide to whats on.

New Hotels & Accommodation in Scotland

Discover the brand-new hotel openings and refurbished retreats across Scotland for 2025/26.

From chic city stays in Edinburgh and Glasgow to secluded loch-side escapes in the Highlands, we bring you the latest places to rest, unwind and indulge.

Here are the latest openings Scotland hotels:

Center Parcs’s first-ever Scottish site near Hawick, Scottish Borders has won planning approval and will include a £450 million resort with 700 lodges, lochs, woodland, spa, and restaurants.

Hope Lodge Wilderness Hotel (2026 Opening) – a conservation‑driven wilderness lodge with cabins and luxury stays will open in 2026 near Tongue. as part of Scotland’s expanding high‑end eco travel scene. Find out more.

Na Bothain at Raasay Distillery – The distillery’s luxury accommodation (Borodale House) is joined by five new “Bothain” cabins on a hillside overlooking the Isle of Skye’s Cuillin range. Na Bothian makes Raasay the only distillery in Scotland where you can stay overnight in the same building as a working distillery! Bookings now live for Nov 2025. Book Na Bothain.

The Waterside Hotel, West Kilbride, Ayrshire – The Waterside Hotel has unveiled a new 17‑bedroom sea‑view extension as part of a £3 million investment. The gorgeous upgraded rooms feature New England‑style suites, super‑king beds, premium bathrooms and sea‑views to the Firth of Clyde and Isle of Arran; a luxury spa is also in development for early 2026. Book here.

Ardbeg House, Islay – on Islay, Ardbeg House opens this November on the site of the former Islay Hotel in Port Ellen. Each room in this design-led 12-room boutique property takes its cue from the island’s iconic distilleries, there is also a whisky lounge and restaurant. Book Ardbeg House.

Seaton House, St Andrews – Scotland’s newest luxury hotel, Seaton House, has officially opened its doors, bringing traditional Scottish charm and modern luxury to the heart of St Andrews. With 42-bedrooms and the hotel’s restaurant is operated by Scottish favourite Ondine. Book Seaton House, St Andrews.

The Law, North Berwick, East Lothian – after six years of closure and a meticulous £850,000 renovation, The Law reopens this autumn as a relaxed coastal inn in North Berwick. Visit The Law.

Wildland cottages – The company WildLand has unveiled three new cottages on the shores of Loch Ness on Aldourie Estate in the Scottish Highlands. Wildland is restoring 200,000 acres across 13 estates, including opeing up properties for stays. Find out more about Wildland Cottages.

The Resident, Edinburgh – The hotel group The Resident has opened its newest property, The Resident Edinburgh, in the heart of Edinburgh’s West End, offering 164 rooms with views across the city. Book The Resident, Edinburgh.

Coming soon:

TARKA Edinburgh, Scotland – opening in summer 2026, Tarka will be a 7 storey capsule hotel with 242 private ‘pods’s and a rooftop Japanese-inspired bar, just beside St Andrews Square,