Five Reasons to Visit Scotland in Winter

We get it - the chilly temperatures and shorter days of winter feel miserable. Even to us in Scotland, the winter certainly brings about a change in mood and a different lifestyle than in the summer time.

Despite the summer being over, there are still plenty of reasons to come and visit Scotland in the "darker" months, and this is the perfect time to come and explore the cozier side of our beautiful country. From cottage retreats to the frozen landscape - here are five reasons to still visit Scotland in the winter time!

Reason One: Explore the city of Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city rich in culture and history. It attracts visitors in the winter months with its comfortable hotels, warm cafes and exciting food and drink venues. If you are looking for a short weekend getaway, Edinburgh is perfect, with it's easy and affordable flight connections to most of Europe and some of North America, it's the perfect chance to get lost in a different world.

The city has plenty of warm pubs, tasty restaurants and fun venues for live music and entertainment. Throughout December, the Christmas markets in Princes Street make for a perfect evening as visitors have the chance to sample lots of festive food and beverage, enjoy thrilling rides above the city, try ice skating, as well as explore the hand made wares from talented artists!

Following Christmas, Hogmanay (new years eve) is celebrated by Scots across the country so why not join in the celebrations whilst watching the fireworks display from Edinburgh Castle and listening to some live music in Princes Street Gardens.

Reason Two: Sample the whisky

If the bar scene of Edinburgh isn't enough, why don't you take your visit a step further and embark on a distillery tour of Scotland? Although the number of tourists drop in the highlands over winter, most distilleries remain open and offer tours and tastings over the winter months. Footfall in the distilleries over these months is much appreciated, and with over 150 distilleries across the country, there is a lot of choice depending on your taste!

An added bonus of enjoying a whisky tour over this period is that the highlands are simply much less crowded, allowing visitors to enjoy the landscapes en route even more. So there could be no better time to discover Scotland's whisky scene than in winter: by fighting off the chill with a hearty dram, and taking in the incredible scenery along the way.

We offer personalised whisky & gin tours throughout winter. Please feel to get in touch with us if you are interested!

Reason Three: Retreat into a warm cottage

We understand that not everybody is on a hectic mission to see and do as much as possible when they travel, and some people might just want to wrap up in a cosy blanket and enjoy a tea by the fire. Well, there's plenty of opportunity for that here too. We're sure that most would agree that there’s something irresistibly comforting about retreating into a warm Scottish cottage during the winter months. As the wind howls across the moors and the snow settles softly on the hills, a cosy cottage becomes the perfect sanctuary — a place to slow down and unwind.

Picture yourself wrapped in a thick blanket beside a roaring log fire, with a steaming mug in your hand and the glow of candlelight flickering against the stone wall. Outside, the world is cold and serene; but inside, it’s a warm refuge. Whether deep in the Highlands or nestled away in a charming village, Scotland’s cottages offer a great alternative for those looking to escape an otherwise busy life.

Reason Four: Winter activities

If relaxing in a cosy cottage isn't your thing, you can be rest assured that there are a lot of exciting outdoor activities across Scotland to enjoy throughout winter! In fact, we might go as far as saying that it's an adventure-lover’s dream - offering a playground of thrilling activities set against some of the most stunning landscapes in the world.

Skiing is a sport which Scotland isn't exactly known for, but we do in fact have a number of well-established ski-centres across the highlands and as close to half an hour outside of Edinburgh! Furthermore, if you're looking to try something new, Scotland also has a Nordic Skiing community around Aviemore, where participants can enjoy the beautiful wintery forest of Rothiemurchus and the surrounding area as they glide through it's network of snowy trails.

The Cairngorms are also known for something else truly unique within the UK - a herd of reindeer, which visitors can go hiking with in the hills. And if hiking in the hills is something you enjoy, then the fun doesn't stop at the end of summer. Scotland has some incredible winter mountaineering opportunities, and there are plenty of guides and organisations who offer experiences doing this.

Reason Five: Breath-taking Winter Landscapes

If the Scottish landscape isn't usually magical enough, in winter it transforms into a scene straight out of a fairy-tale — a wild land blanketed by snow, glistening frozen lochs, and mystical frosty castles. The breath-taking winter landscapes alone are reason enough to visit: the frozen plains of Rannoch Moor shortly followed by the impressive white mountains of Glencoe are worth travelling across the world for. Or the white forests of the Cairngorms which lead straight out to frozen lochs with castles "afloat".

Scotland in winter should be on every landscape photographers bucket list!