Thinking about taking a slow holiday in Scotland?
As tourists and travellers, we never have enough time. That lack of time inevitably leads to a temptation to tick off the “top ten things to do” wherever we go, and a rush to the best sites. I get it. For many of us, our holiday might be the only chance we get to “see Scotland”.
But what if we did it differently and slowed down instead? What if you chose a single base, dropped the car keys, and spent your week getting to know one corner of Scotland properly? You see more, not less.
Here are my favourite places to go for a slow holiday in Scotland. Six regions where the point is to stop, slow down and explore.
My favourite places for a slow holiday
1. Highland Perthshire and the Tay Forest Park
Best for: big trees, autumn colour, river walks How long: 3 to 5 days Where to base yourself: Dunkeld
Most famous for its big trees and spectacular autumn colours, the Tay Forest Park in Highland Perthshire is home to beautiful lochs, fabulous forests and the village of Dunkeld, the jewel in the crown of this prettiest of regions.
Once one of Scotland’s most genteel villages, Dunkeld is now thriving with the arrival of a young, artisan set. Independent shops, hotels, pubs and live music bars sit alongside 200,000 hectares of woodlands to explore, full of glens, lochs and Munros.
Slow down and explore the Hermitage, hike up to Pine Cone Point, visit the Linn of Tummel, walk the Tay riverbank for spectacular colours at Killiekrankie and Faskally Wood, and drive to the end of Scotland’s longest glen, Glen Lyon.
Read more: how to visit Dunkeld and the complete guide to visiting Perthshire.
Where to stay
The Taybank is a cool boutique sitting on the river Tay with a fabulous restaurant, beer garden and live music in its popular bar. 1 The Cross is a two-bedroom self-catering cottage in Dunkeld’s main square.
Further afield, Riverside Cottage in Crieff is perfect for exploring dog-friendly Perthshire. Looking for a B&B? Try Glencroft, a thatched cottage.
2. The Banks of Loch Fyne, Argyll
Best for: lochside walks, gardens, gentle pace How long: 4 to 7 days Where to base yourself: Inveraray
En route to Oban, the Kintyre Peninsula and Cowal sits the beautiful Loch Fyne. Make your base the busy hub of Inveraray, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll.
My favourite things to do in Inveraray include climbing up Dun na Cuaiche for an incredible view of the town, and exploring the grounds of the spectacular Inveraray Castle.
Further afield, try the beers at Fyne Ales, visit Auchindrain (a farming township preserved from the Highland Clearances), and head out to the Cowal Peninsula including Benmore Botanic Gardens and Puck’s Glen, one of Scotland’s best wee walks.
Read more: things to do in Inveraray and how to explore the Cowal Peninsula.
Where to stay
The Loch Fyne Hotel is a dog-friendly spa hotel on the lochside with a pool, restaurant and bar. The Inveraray Inn opened in 1755 and is a traditional Scottish inn in the heart of town. Brambles of Inveraray has traditional rooms alongside a popular bistro and bakery.
Further afield, Portavadie offers up a hotel and apartment complex set around a 260-berth yachting marina. Choose from luxury townhouses complete with saunas, lodge-style hotel rooms, family cottages or two couples’ retreats. With two restaurants, a cafe and a £10m spa and leisure complex, the views from Portavadie are extraordinary.
3. Royal Deeside and the River Dee, Aberdeenshire
Best for: castles, royal connections, Munro bagging How long: 4 to 7 days Where to base yourself: Ballater or Aboyne
Forming part of the truly spectacular Cairngorms National Park is the River Dee and the lovely Victorian towns of Braemar, Ballater, Aboyne and Banchory. With royal connections, highland games, fairytale castles and Munros to bag, the River Dee is a perfect place for a slow holiday.
Visit Balmoral Castle and Estate, the home of the King in Scotland. Explore the estate to find the Balmoral Cairns, historical memorials to the Royal Family including a huge stone pyramid for Prince Albert.
Try a dram at Royal Lochnagar Distillery on the Balmoral Estate. Tours are available where you can sample Royal Lochnagar’s 12 year old whisky. Visit Royal Lochnagar.
Further afield, Aberdeenshire is castle country and Craigievar Castle is said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle, with its bright pink exterior. One not to miss. Visit Craigievar Castle.
Read more: things to do in Royal Deeside.
Where to stay
The Queen’s Hut, Aboyne is a gorgeous self-catering hut on the edge of its own loch. The Fife Arms is a glamorous art hotel in Braemar with a spectacular interior. Ballater Hostel is a friendly base, and the Howe of Torbeg glamping pods near Ballater are excellent. For a pub stay try The Boat Inn, Aboyne, a pub and restaurant with rooms.
4. The Rhinns of Galloway and the Machars Peninsula, Dumfries and Galloway
Best for: book towns, empty beaches, mild climate How long: 5 to 7 days Where to base yourself: Whithorn or Portpatrick
Describing Dumfries and Galloway as one of “Scotland’s hidden gems” might be a clumsy cliche, but the area has long been left off the list of places to visit in Scotland. The Mull of Galloway and the Machars Peninsula are two of the best bits.
The Machars Peninsula stretches from Newton Stewart to the pretty Isle of Whithorn and has a long history, complete with standing stones and rings, and the place where Christianity arrived in Scotland. Today the peninsula is also known for Wigtown, Scotland’s national book town.
The Rhinns of Galloway is Scotland’s most south-westerly point, a 25-mile peninsula stretching from Corsewall Lighthouse in the north to the Mull of Galloway. Thanks to the North Atlantic Drift, the Rhinns has its own special microclimate. The Gulf Stream gives the area the mildest climate in Scotland, even in winter, allowing tropical plants to grow with ease at Logan Botanic Garden.
Read more: how to visit Dumfries and Galloway.
Where to stay
Corsewall Lighthouse is a real live working lighthouse, complete with quirky decor and a warm welcome. Priory Walk is a five star holiday home in Whithorn. Castlemoor Holiday Cottage sits out on the Rhinns. Killantrae Burn has amazing sea views, and Cairndoon Byre is a lovely B&B.
5. Ardnamurchan and the West Highland Peninsulas
Best for: wild remoteness, dolphin and whale watching, end-of-the-world feeling How long: 5 to 7 days Where to base yourself: Kilchoan or Salen
The West Highland Peninsulas (Ardnamurchan, Morvern, Ardgour, Moidart and Sunart) are a little bit special. The “headland of the great seas” is the most westerly part of the British mainland, beautifully unspoilt, wild, remote, and home to just 2,000 people.
Just driving across Ardnamurchan’s volcanic caldera gives an incredible view of the Small Isles of Eigg and Rum, and on a clear day across to the Cuillin on Skye. Take a walk to Sanna Bay from Portuairk. Ardnamurchan has a strong contender for the very best beaches in Scotland, and the walk around the headland is one of my favourite coastal walks in Scotland.
Drive to Ardnamurchan Point and Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, the most westerly point of mainland Britain, to spot dolphins and whales off the coast. Visit the two whisky distilleries on the peninsula, Ardnamurchan Distillery and Nc’Nean.
Read more: how to visit Ardnamurchan.
Where to stay
I love The Glenuig Inn on Moidart, which has great food and comfortable rooms. The Kilchoan Hotel is owned by the Ardnamurchan Estate and is great for a good lunch and handy for the ferry to Mull.
Looking for a self-catering cottage? Rudh Dubh is a crofting cottage perched above Sanna Bay. If you prefer to camp, there are campsites at Kilchoan (Ardnamurchan Campsite), Sunart (Resipole Farm Holiday Park) and Sunart Camping.
6. The East Neuk of Fife
Best for: seafood, coastal walks, harbour villages How long: 3 to 7 days Where to base yourself: Anstruther or Crail
The East Neuk, or eastern corner of the Kingdom of Fife, is one of Scotland’s loveliest stretches of coast. Stretching from the villages of Elie and Earlsferry to Crail and Kingsbarns, the East Neuk was once the heart of east coast Scotland’s fishing trade. Linked by the 117 mile Fife Coastal Path, the tiny harbours are still home to boats landing lobster and crab, and the area’s fishing history gives it its charm.
Crail has something of a foodie reputation, with the Crail Food Festival taking place every June. Outside the festival, a seafood shack called The Lobster Hut on the harbour side serves up crab rolls and plates of lobster. Bring the wine, the salads, grab a bench, feast.
The East Neuk’s capital, Anstruther (pronounced Anster) is a bustling harbour town. Its population of 3,600 is swelled in summer by hungry day-trippers heading for the Anstruther Fish Bar. Sitting on a bench with a fresh portion of crispy fish and hot chips is one of life’s little pleasures, and Anstruther is one of the best places in Scotland to do it.
Read more: how to visit the East Neuk of Fife.
Where to stay
Dreel Cottage, Anstruther is a lovely two-bedroom self-catering cottage with a garden and parking.
Go glamping at Catchpenny Safari Lodges, which sleep up to six in three bedrooms (a double, a twin and a cute cabin bed) and are decorated in a “safari meets luxury Scotland” style. Elderburn Lodges are luxury self-catering cottages with hot tubs near St Andrews. Or stay at The Fairmont St Andrews, a luxury hotel a few minutes from the Old Course.
FAQs
What is a slow holiday in Scotland?
A slow holiday in Scotland means staying in one base for a week or longer rather than trying to see everything in a fortnight. You stop, settle, and explore one region properly, eating in the local pubs, walking the same paths, getting to know one corner of the country instead of racing through it.
Where is the best place for a slow holiday in Scotland?
Highland Perthshire, Argyll’s Loch Fyne, Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, the West Highland Peninsulas around Ardnamurchan, and the East Neuk of Fife are all excellent for slow holidays in Scotland. Each one has enough to fill a week of gentle exploration without needing to drive long distances.
How long should a slow holiday in Scotland be?
A slow holiday in Scotland works best at five to seven days, long enough to settle into a base, walk the local paths, find a favourite pub, and feel less like a tourist. Two weeks split between two bases works really well if you have the time.
What's the best time of year for a slow holiday in Scotland?
May, June and September are the best months for a slow holiday in Scotland. Long days, fewer midges than mid-summer, and the weather is at its most reliable. October is excellent for autumn colour, particularly in Highland Perthshire and the Cairngorms.
Do you need a car for a slow holiday in Scotland?
A car is the easiest way to explore most slow holiday destinations in Scotland, particularly Ardnamurchan, Dumfries and Galloway, and Royal Deeside, which all have limited public transport. Highland Perthshire and the East Neuk of Fife are the most car-free friendly options, with trains to Pitlochry and Leuchars and good local bus services.
More places to go for slow holidays in Scotland
- Where to go for a weekend break in Scotland
- Scotland’s hidden gems
- Off the beaten track destinations in Scotland
- Sustainable and eco-friendly places to stay in Scotland
Love, from Scotland x
