Pollock House and Country Park, Glasgow © VisitScotland Kenny Lam
With spring just around the corner, warmer weather and longer, brighter days are well on the way in Scotland. Spring brings about newborn farm animals in the lush countryside, vibrant flowers and plants coming into bloom, buzzing arts and cultural events for visitors to enjoy, and much more.
The below provides some inspiration for why Scotland is the place to be in spring.
How to enjoy Quiet Outdoors
Quiet Outdoors is a new fashion trend highlighting that people can enjoy the great outdoors while still looking like the epitome of sophistication and luxury. It’s a trend made for Scotland with its abundance of wild landscapes and outdoorsy relaxation. The selection below outlines a few examples of how a visitor can enjoy Scotland’s quiet outdoors in style.
ÖÖD by Arbikie – NEW
Arbikie Distillery is a true field to bottle experience. Perched on the east coast of Angus, where land meets the sea, it is a place with all the ingredients required to produce authentic spirits of the highest quality. The innovative distillery distils from scratch using homegrown crops such as potatoes, rye, peas, and more.
Arbikie has now launched four ÖÖD Mirror Houses, each offering a unique blend of rustic charm, modern luxury, and incredible uninterrupted views of the wild Scottish coastline. Three of the houses come complete with private saunas; one of the houses features a hot tub, for that extra touch of luxury. Whether seeking a tranquil retreat, a whisky connoisseur’s dream, or an adventure-filled escape, Arbikie Distillery and ÖÖD Hötels offer it all.
Wild Saunas
Scotland is filled with opportunities to enjoy the benefits of water with an abundance of wild saunas. The Treehouses at Lanrick in Stirlingshire unveiled a stunning new woodland sauna and cold-water plunge pool in 2023, enhancing the wellness element of guests’ stays with luxury sustainable eco-friendly treehouses. In Perthshire, visitors can stay at the Taymouth Marina and indulge in the facilities at the loch side spa, featuring a slide that goes directly into the loch!
For those looking for the perfect seaside sauna, try Haar Sauna in the stunning Shetland islands. The comfortable wood-fired sauna offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Scotland’s most northerly island, in the wild and wonderful setting of St Ninian’s Beach. Or visitors can go to Fife in the east of Scotland and relax in the Elie Seaside Sauna, a restful escape angled towards the setting sun.
John O’Groats Trail
The John O’Groats Trail is a 147-mile coastal walking route from Inverness to John o’ Groats, traversing shorelines, cliff tops, back lanes and footpaths of the Scottish Highlands. The walk is meant to be used both by long-distance walkers going as far as to or from Land’s End, and local walkers looking for a coastal stroll.
Farm Retreats
Spring brings new life to the farms in Scotland as lambing season takes place throughout April and May each year. Experience life on a working farm tour where visitors can discover the ins and outs of lambing season, as well as day-to-day farm duties, and stay in unique and unusual accommodation: 18 Quirky Places to Stay on a Farm in Scotland | VisitScotland.
Lambing on Loch Lomond, Lennox of Lomond
Established in 1750, Lennox of Lomond has seen eleven generations of the Lennox family running the farm on the western shores of Loch Lomond. The farm offers its visitors exciting tours, such as quad bike trailer tours, sheep dog tours, and day in the life of a farmer tours, and provides cosy lodge accommodation on site.
In spring, the farm welcomes over 1,000 new lambs to the farm, and visitors can meet these new additions at Lambing Sessions in April. Visitors can choose between a weekday evening, a weekend, a half-day, or a full day lambing experience and spend the day relaxing with furry friends in the lambing shed. Tickets will be available to purchase shortly here: Lambing on Loch Lomond | Lennox of Lomond.
Whispering Cow Walks, The Pierhouse Hotel, Port Appin
The stunning Pierhouse Hotel in Port Appin has partnered with Highland Fold Ice Cream to offer visitors guided Whispering Cow Walks during the summer. These walks will allow visitors to see the cows relaxing on their own turf, to learn about the breed, and to try their ice cream made from Highland Cow milk. Walks will run to the end of November.
Key Events and Openings in Spring
Perth Museum, Opening 30th March
The new Perth Museum will open its doors on 30th March, Easter weekend, after a £26.5 million redevelopment project. The world-class cultural and heritage attraction will highlight the fascinating objects and stories that put Perth and Kinross at the centre of Scotland’s story. The new museum will showcase various objects of interest, including the 3,000-year-old Carpow Logboat and the Stone of Destiny (one of Scotland’s most significant historical objects, an ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy that was used to crown Scottish Kings, returning to Perthshire for the first time in over 700 years).
The first exhibition on display at the brand-new museum will be ‘Unicorn’, the first major UK exhibition to explore the cultural history of Scotland’s national animal from antiquity to present day.
Scottish Crannog Centre, Perthshire, Opening 31st March
The Scottish Crannog Centre is currently building a new museum located at the site of Dalerb on the North side of Loch Tay in Perthshire which is also set to open Easter weekend . A crannog is a house built over water, usually with a bridge or causeway joining them to the shore, and visitors can step inside one to discover unique insight into life in the Iron Age. The aim of The Scottish Crannog Centre at Dalerb is to be the most sustainable museum in Scotland. The new visitor centre will showcase internationally significant archaeological collections, an Iron Age-inspired village of craft and technology demonstrations, and the first of three expert-led, but community-built, crannogs.
Edinburgh Science Festival, 30th March – 14th April
The Edinburgh Science Festival was the world’s first such festival when it launched in 1989. Today it remains the UK’s largest Science Festival and for two weeks each year, it offers a range of amazing experiences for all ages, with a programme of exhibitions, events, workshops, performances, screenings and discussions between some of the world’s foremost scientific minds.
The Flavours of Spring
When nature springs back to life in Scotland the country’s larder offers the most tempting treats for the tastebuds. Visitors can sample fresh, locally sourced produce in restaurants across Scotland, enjoy farm to fork experiences or even forage for their own ingredients while exploring serene woodlands and stunning coastal walks. Wild garlic pesto, anyone?!
Read on to find out about further exciting news and events from the world of food and drink to look forward to this spring:
Glenturret Lalique, Perthshire – NOW boasting 2 Michelin Stars
The first fine dining distillery restaurant, with chef Mark Donald at its helm, reached new starry heights when the 2024 edition of the The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland was unveiled. The judges praised how the “intimate restaurant mixes the luxury with the familiar, in both its décor and its dishes” and that “the likes of tattie scones are served alongside Highland Wagyu and caviar.” *
*Source: guide.michelin.com
Montrose, Edinburgh – Open Now
The team behind Timberyard, one of Scotland’s leading, independent, fine dining restaurants, has opened the doors to a new venue on Montrose Terrace in the Abbeyhill neighbourhood of Edinburgh. Set over two floors, Montrose now offers a cosy ground-floor wine bar and intimate first-floor dining room.
The Three Chimneys at Talisker, Isle of Skye, Highlands – Until April 2024
A unique collaboration between Talisker, Skye’s oldest distillery, and the famous local restaurant The Three Chimneys awaits visitors to the Isle of Skye this spring. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in the beauty of the island through locally sourced food and drink at Talisker’s newly designed waterfront space. Head Chef Scott Davies has crafted ‘The Journey’, a bespoke tasting menu inspired by Uisge Beatha (Water of Life), highlighting both the distinctive maritime character of Talisker whisky and the diverse, seasonally influenced fare of Skye. This carefully designed menu must be pre-booked, but a seasonal lighter fare option is available to walk-in guests only.
Scottish Tea House, Lanarkshire – Open Now
Nestled in the heart of Lanarkshire, Scottish Tea House is a haven for tea enthusiasts seeking the finest quality loose leaf teas and a taste of Scotland’s tea-making traditions. At the heart of their offerings is “The Angels’ Share,” a handcrafted tea meticulously cultivated from Camellia Sinensis tea bushes. Visitors can simply pop in for a cuppa or book in for a full tea tasting experience.
Spotlight on Gaelic
Gaelic is the founding language of Scotland and is still vibrant in its culture today thanks to its rich heritage of music and folklore. Visitors to Scotland can enjoy the sound of this beautiful language, learn about its cultural importance and even try and learn a few key phrases themselves while exploring the country. The following selection highlights locations and experiences that are a great place to start:
Sgeul / Story : Folktales from the Scottish Highlands – Exhibition at the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh. Runs until 20th April.
Sgeul | Story is an exhibition in Gaelic and English about stories and storytelling traditions. Visitors can find out what stories and storytelling mean to Gaelic speakers of all ages today.
Experience Lewis, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
Visitors can get a taste of the local lingo with Gáidhlig taster lessons offered by Experience Lewis. Participants in these informal conversational lessons learn 25 key conversational phrases in the traditional laid back island manner: over a hot drink and a biscuit. For a deep dive in the local culture, lessons in sheep sheering and peat cutting are also available. Visitors can even choose to learn how to make their very own tote bag from Harris Tweed.
An Taigh Ceilidh – Cultural Centre & Community Café in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
Everyone who orders in Gaelic at An Taigh Ceilidh gets a 10% discount on all hot drinks. Little or no Gaelic? No problem! Staff are more than happy to support visitors who would like to order in Gaelic.
Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre, Isle of Lismore, Argyll & The Isles
The Isle of Lismore, a beautiful green island off the West Coast, makes for a perfect day trip destination from Oban. The island is rich in historical sites, all telling the story of the people who have lived here for thousands of years. Its Gaelic heritage can be explored in an innovative, eco-friendly building.
