11 Reasons To Visit Scotland Immediately

Find out why you need to put the wild and spectacular country that is Scotland on your bucket list. Here are 11 reasons to visit Scotland immediately.

1. The North Coast 500

Scotland driving adventure travel europe movie sets landscape — Scotland’s Castles have had cameo’s in some very popular Hollywood movies.

This gigantic loop of Scotland’s remote north is often called the best road trip in the world, and with damn good reason. Driving amongst snow-topped mountains, misty lochs, crumbling crofts and ancient castles, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime journey.

2. Glasgow

Move over Edinburgh, Glasgow has arrived. Once known as ‘The Second City of The British Empire’ thanks to its major industrial contributions (everything from shipbuilding to sewing machines and thread), Glasgow is now a vibrant city with rich cultural offerings.

In fact, some of the world’s best bands hail from this musical city (Primal Scream, Simple Minds, Texas, Mogwai, Franz Ferdinand, Belle and Sebastian, Chvrches, Travis…) and venues like the Barrowlands and King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut still play host to some of the most exciting up-and-comers around. Plus, as you’d expect from a creative city, the vintage shops, like The Glasgow Vintage Co in the West End, are off-the-charts-amazing.

3. The Hebrides

The Scottish Hebrides boast some of the most beautiful scenery the UK has to offer. They are also super remote, so you feel like you’re miles away from anyone. Which you actually really are. What a way to zen…

4. The hiking

Seriously, the hiking in Scotland is some of the best you’ll ever get to experience. From the highest peaks of Sgurr Choinnich Mor to the craggy terrain of Bidean nam Bian (those are Gaelic words by the way, Scotland’s indigenous language), it’s like being in Lord of the Rings, but this isn’t New Zealand. It just looks a bit like it.

5. The people

Glasgow’s actual slogan is ‘People Make Glasgow’ because the people are so goddamn delightful.

They love a chat. It doesn’t matter if it’s pouring with rain and you’re without an umbrella, a true Scot will want a chat regardless. And once you let on that you’re from overseas, just try to get out of a pub without at least one person reciting a Robert Burns poem to you. Go on, we dare you.

6. The cashmere

Did you know that Scotland is one of the world centres of cashmere? It’s been producing soft garments from goaty tummy hair since the early 1800s and sees no signs of slowing down (it’s three times more insulating than sheep’s wool, you know).

The best part is that there is so much of it that you find cashmere bargains in Scottish vintage and charity stores all the time – we’re talking jumpers for AUD $25, guys.

7. The history

You reckon Game of Thrones is all hyperbole? Surely things weren’t ever that mental, right? The history of Scotland is drenched in blood, lies and betrayal – any visit to a Scottish castle will teach you that. At the National Wallace Monument in Stirling, hear how William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) was executed for treason by being hanged and then while still alive, emasculated, disembowelled (he got to watch his bowels being burned, which is really just absolutely bonkers) then finally beheaded.

His body was then cut up (because why not?) and his severed head and limbs were displayed on various public monuments across the UK to put the fear into any other folk looking to rebel against the English. Welcome to Scottish history, friends.

8. The movie sets

Fancy visiting the real Diagon Alley? That’ll be Victoria Street in Edinburgh, then.

Or the bridge to Hogwarts? The Glenfinnan Viaduct (you can even take the Hogwarts Express across it. We kid you not.

What about the castle from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which also doubles as Castle Leoch in Outlander and Winterfell in Game of Thrones? That’ll be Doune Castle. Sean Connery’s fancy house in Entrapment? Eilean Donan Castle…

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9. The food

Scotland produces some of the world’s best seafood, including lobster-like langoustines; creamy, cooling oysters of the Gods and of course, incredible salmon. Scottish berries are also often considered the best on earth – strawberries, raspberries and brambles (‘blackberries’ to non-Scots) are particularly sweet and juicy.

Pair them with some thick, yellow Scottish cream and you’re laughing (no thickener needed in this stuff; the cream here is fat-rich and ready to rumble). Don’t fancy self-catering? Check out Inver in Argyle for locally foraged food from a former Noma chef, or Alchemilla in Glasgow for fresh, Scottish produce with a Middle Eastern bent (confit pheasant and radicchio salad, anyone?).

10. The museums

Scotland already has some incredible museums (Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum, and Edinburgh’s Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art being three of the best) but as of mid-2018, it becomes host to the V&A Dundee – the only Victoria and Albert Museum outside of London.

11. The beaches

You didn’t expect this one, did you? Well, it’s true. Scotland has regularly ranked highly in competitions looking for the world’s best beaches (Traigh na Teampail on Harris and Sandwood Bay in Sutherland in particular). Think clean, clear turquoise waters and pure white sand. And nobody else around.

Sure, they’re not the warmest waters in the world, but that’s what makes them so peaceful. And you wouldn’t be a true Scot if you didn’t take a wee dook (dip!) under that cool, crystalline sea. Be brave(heart) – dive in.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

11 reasons to visit Scotland immediately