Scotland - Perfect holiday destination

Though its streets are steeped in history, Edinburgh is a thriving modern capital – the Festival City. Elegant and engaging, it’s one of Europe’s truly great cities. It’s the world’s first City of Literature, is home to the Scottish parliament, two World Heritage Sites and the world’s biggest annual cultural gathering. It has a booming commercial centre, a busy sea-port and of course Edinburgh Castle home to the Stone of Destiny and the Scottish Crown Jewels. There’s so much to see but the green spaces with and surrounding the city means that escaping the action is always easy. You can fill a day with designer shopping on Multrees Walk in the city centre, surfing in East Lothian, sailing around the seabird studded Bass Rock or simply gazing at the intricacies of the mysterious Roslin Chapel.

Glasgow is a city pulsing with style. Boasting a music scene that has achieved global recognition, holidaymakers can now download the world’s first iTour which takes tourists off the beaten track to the coolest music venues and favourite hang-out spots for bands like Franz Ferdinand and Snowpatrol. The city offers the most diverse shopping offering in the UK, with ultra-chic Merchant City full of stylish boutiques with groovy cafes and delis dotted in between. For art-lovers, the city is a huge draw from the eclectic Burrell Collection which houses over 9000 works of art (the displays are regularly rotated) to the works of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Visitors can now buy a one day Mackintosh Trail Ticket for £12 which takes in 10 of the properties and provides free travel by subway and bus.

The area of Argyll is one of the most amazing stretches of natural beauty in the country. It’s also pretty deceptive. Those empty, winding roads offer staggering views but it does take a while to get around and it simply wouldn’t do to rush. Why not take a seaplane? Every loch becomes a landing strip and you can travel from Loch Lomond, swing around Staffa, watch for whales off the Isle of Mull and spot the Corryveckan Whirlpool before being dropped off on a deserted beach with a gourmet picnic for two. Surely this is what holidays were made for?

Over to the West lies Clackmannanshire set in the very heart of Scotland with the dramatic Ochil Hills as a backdrop. Mix in a turbulent history and welcoming locals and you’ve got the essence of Scotland in miniature. Great for those that want to get outdoors, the rolling hills are perfect for cyclists and walkers while the tea rooms, shops and pubs of the Hillfoots villages offer real local charm. The Sterling Mills Designer Outlet Village is a good tip for those with some serious shopping needs.

With miles of coastline, rich farmland and mountainous peaks, the heartlands of Fife, Perthshire, Angus and Dundee are renowned for outstanding beauty, glorious golf and postcard perfect towns and villages. The villages of East Neuk in Fife with distinctive white-washed walls and red pantile roofs thrived when the herring shoals were plentiful. These days it’s artists who thrive with potters, spinners and painters selling treasures from tiny little stone shops. Fife is also the golfing capital of the world with over 40 courses including the world-famous Old Course in St Andrews. The Old Course is only one of seven in the town all of which are available for play, although the Old Course operates a ballot system such is the demand.

If you head further north into the glens of Angus, you’ll discover a wild and peaceful area full of rare wildlife from red squirrels, grouse and ptarmigan to peregrine falcons and eagles. Kirriemuir in Angus was the home of Peter Pan author JM Barrie.

If you can only visit Perthshire once on a year, make it Autumn. Big Tree Country as it’s know truly shines from September through to November as the leaves of trains sparkle in shades of red, russet and gold. Add the smell of peat smoke, crisp Highland air and the occasional sight and sound of the red deer rutting and Autumn really becomes alive. One of Scotland’s most famous sights is Queen’s View – high above the head of Loch Tummel just off the A9 looking out of wonderful mountain scenery as the loch sparkles below. Then take yourself off to the House of Bruar for cashmere and a coffee stop.