Inverness – The Highland Capital
A trip to the North of Scotland simply wouldn’t be complete without a stop off in Inverness. Known as the Capital of the Highland, Inverness serves as a gateway to the Scottish Highlands and is located at the Northern end of the world famous Loch Ness.
While in and around Inverness there are several outstanding places you should visit. As mentioned above, Loch Ness is very close to the small city and you have to visit to appreciate the sheer size of the body of water. There are many picnic spots and stop off points surrounding the many miles of Loch-side road.
Also very close to Inverness is the site of, and visitor centre for, the Culloden Battlefield. The famous Battle of Culloden took place in 1746 and changed Scottish history forever. You can also visit the Caledonian Canal, which was constructed to allow passage straight thru the centre of Scotland via interconnected Lochs.
Whether you choose to stay in the city itself or closer to areas such as Loch Ness, you will have no problem finding accommodation. The popularity of the region ensures that there are plenty of Inverness hotels available at any given time.
Oban, Scotland
The West coast of Scotland can be a truly magical setting for a quiet holiday away from the bustle of everyday life, and Oban is one of the jewels in it’s crown.
Known locally for a tranquil setting and outstanding, locally sourced and prepared seafood, Oban has much to offer it’s many visitors. Not only is there much to see and do in the town itself, but Oban is often used as the perfect base from which to explore the wider reaches of West Scotland and the Highlands.
Highlights in Oban include the 1880’s folly ‘McCaig’s tower’ which can be seen from almost anywhere in the town, Oban distillery & visitor centre, The War and Peace museum and Art gallery. The sea life centre is very popular, and you can even take a trip out to sea and view sea life in the wild.
You are destined to be charmed with the hospitality of the local people, and pampered in one of the many bed and breakfasts, guest houses, or hotels in Oban.
There are several small villages surrounding Oban which are worth a visit too, such as Helensburgh, Taynuilt and Inverary.
Cheap hotels in Dundee
Dundee is located North of Edinburgh, in the county of Angus. In Victorian times it was famous for producing the textile ‘Jute’.
Perhaps the best known attraction in Dundee is the famous ship ‘Discovery’(incidentally Dundee is known as ‘The city of Discovery’), which took Captain Scott to the South Pole in 1901. The ship is permanently berthed in Dundee and you can take an on-board guided tour and learn all about the fascinating story of the ship and it’s expeditions.
Dundee is also known in Scotland as a great destination for shoppers, but also boasts museums, theatres, an observatory, beautiful gardens and a wildlife park. It’s a great place to stop on your way further North towards Aberdeen and the Grampian region. For the thrifty among you, Dundee is noted as one of the most affordable places to stay in Scotland.
Whether you are indeed using Dundee as a stopping off point for a single night, or remaining there for a longer period, take a look at our budget selection of cheap hotels in Dundee for somewhere affordable to stay.
The Scottish Borders
If you are looking for a peaceful break in Scotland this summer, you should consider the hills, valleys and sleepy villages of The Scottish Borders as a destination.
The town of Kelso lies at the heart of the Scottish Borders and was built around the abbey where King James II was killed in 1460. Floors Castle is nearby, and indeed the entire area is littered with historic monuments to visit. Kelso also provides a great base from which to further explore the Borders and it’s other settlements such as Jedburgh and Melrose.
Accommodation is plentiful and welcoming, you will find the people in the area very friendly and they will go out of their way to make your stay one to remember. You can be sure to find somewhere to stay which suits your taste (and your pocket) in our selection of hotels in The Scottish Borders.
Visit Glasgow
Scotland’s largest city is easy to reach from anywhere in the UK, is packed with hidden treasures and provides a great base from which to explore the West coast of Scotland and even venture into The Highlands.
Well known in Scotland as a great place to shop, Glasgow also offers much, much more..
The Glasgow Science Centre is an observatory, planetarium and museum rolled into one and great for an educational family visit, but also eye-opening for the adults. The world renowned Gallery of Modern Art is and located conveniently right in Glasgow city centre and is only one of several art galleries in Glasgow.
There are also many museums in Glasgow fulfilling almost every interest.. some of the most popular include The School Museum, Museum of Transport, The People’s Palace, The Scottish Football Museum and The Tall Ships Museum.
You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation, as well as hotels close to the airport we have almost 100 hotels in Glasgow available at the moment.
Scotland Back In Action After Ash Cloud Clears
Scottish airports sprang back into life today as UK airspace restrictions were relaxed. Over the past 6 days Edinburgh hotels have been full up with passengers unable to travel while hotels in Glasgow reported having to turn away many disgruntled travellers. Obviously the hotels closest to Scotland’s major airports saw most footfall but most inner city establishments were grateful for extra business also.
On the flip-side, if disruption to our air travel returns for prolonged periods it could seriously affect Scotland’s tourism this summer. Many of our visitors come from overseas but perhaps in their potential absence, more UK residents will decide to holiday in Bonnie Scotland in 2010..
Hotels on Skye
At last it seems summer is approaching, and for those who have always wanted to but never made it, this should be the summer of Skye. The Isle of Skye has always been a popular destination but visitor numbers have been growing year on year and 2010 looks like being the best yet.
The beautiful Island off the North West tip of Scotland is very popular among couples as a romantic weekend retreat but it is equally suited to a family break from the norm. Once you have crossed the famous Skye Bridge - mountain biking, hill walking, nature trails and simply taking in the scenery and slower pace of life are what to expect on your trip to Skye.
The Island is full of charming holiday cottages, self catering accommodation and welcoming guest houses, but you can also spoil yourself with a 4 star hotel stay if you so choose.
Our Skye Hotels section provides visitor ratings for guest houses and hotels on Skye and allows you to compare room prices for specific holiday dates. Don’t forget that all accommodation on Skye is also protected by our best price guarantee.
We sincerely hope you enjoy your trip to The Isle of Skye.
Edinburgh Hotels
Edinburgh is coming alive as spring approaches, I swear there have been periods in recent days which could have passed for mid summer, and along with the sun come visitors from near and afar.
Edinburgh hotels and guest houses will be preparing for busier times already, and a walk along The Royal Mile this week will already show an increase in sightseers. It once was the case that Edinburgh's tourist season ran for several of the best summer months but now it is an all-year-round affair with only a slight dip over the worst of the Scottish winter (although even then there is a separate influx for Edinburgh's hogmanay celebrations).
Tourists and visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding Edinburgh hotels to suit all budgets, and tastes. Of course you can choose to stay in magnificent accommodation such as The Scotsman Hotel on North Bridge, but there are also many more affordable options in the form of hostels and guest houses across Edinburgh.
Visitors from overseas usually have the need to book in advance, but for those of you planning a trip from somewhere closer it can sometimes be left until the last minute, so be sure to book in advance where possible. As summer approaches the influx of visitors doubles the population of Edinburgh at it's peak, so many as there are, available Edinburgh hotels become harder to find. This is especially true towards the end of summer, during Edinburgh Festival time.
Hotels In Scotland Site Update
As some of you who visit and use our site regularly may have noticed, we have begun implimenting our new user-facing design. But what does this mean for our users searching for hotels in Scotland?
Our regular search facility is still there and beside it you will notice some featured hotels in Scotland, three to be exact. Every month we will feature three more hotels of our own choosing. they may be popular with our visitors, offer outstanding service to tourists and residents or simply a great place to stay during your visit to Scotland.
Underneath our featured Scottish hotels you will see three new sections, these are tourist attactions in Scotland, luxury hotels in Scotland and top choices: our most popular hotels in Scotland with our site users.
Thanks for your continued custom and keep an eye on our little blog for lots more hotel offers, site updates and great places to stay in Scotland.
Short Breaks In Scotland
Its great to have a holiday in Scotland, but it doesn’t always have to be a full-blown two-week extravaganza. Scotland is a great place for a weekend, a few days or even a two-night treat. With over 650 Scottish hotels on our database, all ready to book online, we are sure to have that special place to give you the ideal short break in Scotland. Click the link below to view six places we have suggested for great short breaks in Scotland:
The city of Glasgow in Scotland is a wonderful destination for a short break in Scotland, with lots of museums, theatres, fine dining establishments and much much more. We have hotels right in Glasgow city centre so if you are taking public transport to Glasgow, such as flying from London, you won’t even need a car once you arrive in the city. Glasgow has so much to offer and is the perfect destination for an exciting weekend.
The scottish capital city of Edinburgh is a truly beautiful city and a fantastic place to visit for any length of time. Full of incredible history, amazing performing arts of all sorts, beautiful buildings, museums and so much more, Edinburgh is known around the world for its attractions. If you live in the UK and would like a short break in Scotland, the city of Edinburgh can offer you so much to see and do you’ll want to stay even longer. Perhaps you are going to visit the incredible Edinburgh castle, or take a walk up Arthurs Seat to admire the views, maybe visit the national museum of Scotland or attend some of the hundreds of performances at the Edinburgh International Festival. Whatever you decide to do, Edinburgh is a fantastic place for a short break in Scotland!
Another of our suggestions in our short beaks in Scotland section is the highland capital of Inverness. Its not as far away as one may think, with great air connections to over 20 cities in the UK, including London, Leeds, Bristol, Hull, Birmingham, Exeter and many more. Once you arrive in Inverness you’ll be spoilt for choice in one of the most historic small cities in the world. Right on your doorstep is the world famous Loch Ness where you can enjoy some monster-spotting, a lake cruise or visit the incredible Urquhart Castle. Just to the south of inverness is Culloden Battlefield - the site of the last battle fought on British soil in 1746 when the highland army of Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated by the government troops of the Duke of Cumberland. Inverness also has the magnificent Eden Court Theatre, a fantastic museum, lots of great places to eat and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Make a date with history and try a short break in Inverness Scotland.
Wherever you decide to have your holiday we have so many fine hotels for you to choose from that you will have no trouble planning your short break in Scotland!
Click to visit the main Scotland Hotels site.