Make the most of Scottish Winter with Highland Experience Tours
With the holidays over, winter being in its full glory and the January blues, it may seem like there isn’t much to look forward to. Except, there is! We really should stop waiting for summer, warm weather or the weekend to start having fun and jumping head deep into new experiences. We should embrace every season. Otherwise, life becomes just a routine.
So, if you’ve taken the plunge (or are still dreaming) of a visit to Scotland and are looking for things to do in winter, here are our favourites:
- Drinking a hot toddy in the Highlands
The hot toddy is a popular winter drink in Scotland, although surprisingly the word “toddy” originates in India, relating to a drink produced by fermenting the sap from palm trees. There are a few conflicting stories about where the recipe we use today comes from, but no matter – it’s delicious and the perfect winter drink.
Classic Hot Toddy Recipe:
1 generous glug of whisky (would recommend a blended whisky)
Fresh lemon juice (half a lemon or so)
Few teaspoons of honey (up to you how sweet you like it)
Hot water
Garnish with a slice of lemon with cloves
I like to add a splash of peaty whisky (Laphroaig 10) to finish as I love the smokiness it adds.
Orange Spice Hot Toddy
1 generous glug of whisky (would recommend a blended whisky)
Fresh orange juice (half an orange or so)
Few teaspoons of honey (up to you how sweet you like it)
Hot water
We love to visit the Clachaig Inn situated in Glen Coe for a perfect hot toddy. With a roaring fire and a round of hot toddy’s, there’s no better way to warm up after exploring the Scottish Highlands.
Photo-graph taken at Clachaig Inn, Garnished with lemons and cloves.
- Winter woodland walks and snowy mountains
Once you’ve wrapped up warm there’s nothing better than getting out and about on foot (especially if there’s new snow underfoot). We love to include short walks on our tours, so you can get amongst Scotland’s nature. We especially love The Hermitage. With its towering trees and impressive Black Linn waterfall, there’s so much to get out an enjoy here.
- Wrap up warm with some stunning Scottish cashmere
Cashmere is an iconic natural fibre due to its softness and warmth. Quality cashmere is synonymous with Scotland, however, its origins derive from hundreds of years ago, and very far from Scotland. The name Cashmere comes from the South Asian region of Kashmir, found among the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain ranges. The luxury fabric is credited to being discovered by a Persian named Mir Sayyid Al Hamadani who observed the Hircus goat’s extremely soft under-fleece. The fibres used to create cashmere are extremely fine (less than a quarter of a fine human hair) and to make 1 cashmere sweater you would need approximately 3 goats worth of wool – making it clear why this fabric is so precious.
In the 1700s a Scottish textile manufacturer began importing the yarn to create luxury clothing. A big part of this process involves the use of water, and Scotland’s soft water is the perfect second ingredient to cashmere, ensuring the cashmere remains soft. As Scotland has over 300 years of experience making quality cashmere, we’ve got pretty good at it – so you’ll be sure of a high quality garment if you make sure it is 100% cashmere and Made in Scotland!
We think our tours offering the perfect mix of different activities, during all Scottish seasons. Especially as we often experience them all in one day! And because we know January’s budget is a bit tight, we’re offering 50% off all our day tours (scheduled and private) thanks to VisitScotland’s Days Out Incentive Funduntil February 18th, so where to start then?
If you are looking for some warmth this winter, you can try our Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond & Whisky tour. What better way to warm your soul than a good glass of whisky at one of the prettiest distilleries in Scotland – Glengoyne Distillery? If you fancy a walk-through history, Stirling is also part of the tour, where you can wander the historic streets or visit the magnificent castle. You’ll get some fantastic views of the Wallace Monument from Stirling Castle – this impressive monument looks incredible surrounded by snow!
Our flagship tour Loch Ness, Glen Coe & The Highlands is a perfect introduction to the Scottish Highlands. We cover a lot of ground in one day, so you’ll be able to take in some incredible and dramatic scenery – such as Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor. On this tour you also have the opportunity to join a cruise on Loch Ness, hosted by Loch Ness by Jacobite – it’s warmer at the loch’s surface so you might just spot Nessie!
We also offer an array of private tours – you can customise and plan your journey precisely the way you want to. You will get your own guide and vehicle, so you get to experience Scotland the way you want to. As part of this service, a member of our team will be at your side throughout the entire planning process to ensure you get the Scottish tour of your dreams. We can be as involved as you want us to!
Remember – cold weather doesn’t matter when you have your warm jacket, someone you love by your side and maybe even a whisky in your hand! Enjoy winter now!