Along with ensuring the preservation of Tibetan arts and crafts, this training centre teaches Buddhist meditation and philosophy in tune with the Karma Kagyu aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. From the best selling Wild Guide Series, Wild Guide Scotland is a compendium of hidden places, outdoor adventures, local/artisanal food and inspiring places … Hidden Scotland reveals off-the-beaten-track places and interesting details for anyone who's keen to explore Scotland's best-kept secrets. Conical mounds, small trees and … Be sure to read my ultimate guide, Scotland Off The Beaten Path: 11 Secret Places in Scotland, 25 tips for sustainable tourism in Scotland, get $33USD credit for your first booking here, Why I decided to go back on antidepressants, What It’s Like Travelling To Europe During the Pandemic, Exploring the grounds at the House of The Binns. Home » Scotland » Hidden Gems » 11 Secret Places in Scotland Off The Beaten Path. Aberdeenshire is one of the richest areas for st… Just when you think you’ve seen it all, explore our guide to some epic places even us Scots don’t always know about. The track is mainly used by walkers on the Cape Wrath Trail, so you can park somewhere safe at the bottom of the track and walk up. The section from Cluanie to Morvich on the Cape Wrath Trail is one of Scotland’s most spectacular trails. If SpongeBob were Scottish, he would no doubt reside in the Dunmore Pineapple! Some say divers have referred to this contentious area as ‘potentially the most dangerous dive in the UK’. Achnagairn Estate Set on 30 acres, 7 miles away from Inverness city centre, the estate provides a perfect escape for the NC500 visitor. West Lothian isn’t known as a tourist hotspot, however it offers plenty of non-touristy things to do in Scotland, including many interesting historical attractions. Has my blog helped you with your travel plans? Read More NC500 Cycle Tour with Wilderness Scotland Read More … Maintain social distancing and always carry a face mask. Enjoy discovering Scotland by taking one of hidden Scotland tour. Thanks so much! You can also spot common and grey seals in this area. The effort is worth it however. It is as close as you will find to a temperate rain forest on this side of the … Ullapool. Hidden Gems. The hypnotic graffiti art embellishing Kelburn is the masterpiece of four Brazilian graffiti artists at the request of Lord Glasgow, who arguably had the most genius solution ever after hearing the concrete facing needed replaced! Just fill in our short form and we will send you the perfect place to stay or simply send us an e-mail … Only attempt the path if you’re an experienced hiker, as it is rough and slippery, sometimes requiring a scramble. Food & Drink. © Copyright 2016-2020 Wayfaring Kiwi | Privacy Policy, 11 Secret Places in Scotland Off The Beaten Path, Planning a trip to Scotland? Today, the bunker serves a different role for curious minds wanting to know more and explore. Note: This post contains affiliate links. The Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve is Britain’s first National Nature Reserve, and a nature lover’s playground. The chorus of sculptures, temples and brilliant poetry uttered on concrete slabs (Finlay’s famous ‘garden poems’) amount to a harmonious artistic and soulful excursion. Visiting the Four Border Abbeys in the Scottish Borders makes for a wonderful day trip from Edinburgh or Glasgow. Occupying the northern third of Great Britain, Scotland draws visitors in with its rich culture, fascinating history, and the sparkling waters of its many lochs. It’s a truly special feeling being in an area of Scotland so few people see. On This Day. Built in 1150, Dryburgh Abbey is considered one of the most beautiful abbeys in Scotland and is also the site where Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott is buried. So I’m letting you in on a few of my favourite secret places in Scotland. + Read more: 50+ places on my Scotland bucket list. 17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death. As the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre to form in the West, Kagyu Samye Ling in Eskdalemuir is a place of constant calm and refreshing rejuvenation. Many think the majority of Scotland’s history lies in the highlands, but it is really in the Scottish Borders. We love discovering the inapparent and remarkable areas of Scotland… If you’re looking for places to visit in Scotland off the beaten path, you’re about to discover some of the best hidden gems that no one knows about. Coveted by those in the know, our Hidden Gems reveal Edinburgh's very best spots to eat, drink, visit and be merry all day. The beauty with Scotland is that it’s always full of surprises! It only takes 3 hours to walk the circumference of this tiny island, making it a perfect half-day activity if you’re in the area, or a full day trip from Inverness. The glen that Sir Edwin Landseer was referring to in his famous painting ‘The Monarch of the Glen’ is actually Glen Feshie! Even if you add just one of these non-touristy things to do in Scotland to your itinerary, you’ll experience a part of Scotland that very few others do. 1 December 1960: The death in Glasgow of Ethel … If driving from the east, the pass will take you to Applecross, a peninsula which is home to just a few hundred people. I sell Personalised Scotland Map Prints in my Etsy store, Shop my Amazon store for my Scotland favourites [click here if you’re from the USA; click here if you’re from the UK]. The ferry takes just 10 minutes, and after taking part in a short educational talk, you’re free to explore the island by yourself. There’s much more to Scotland than the everyday tourist brochures will tell you. Many important Scottish figures also chose the Scottish Borders as their final resting place. My favourite hidden gem in Scotland has to be Puck's Glen near Dunoon, a Celtic rain forest with a diverse and flourishing eco-system. Hidden Places, Great Adventures & the Good Life in Scotland. The Hidden Places of Scotland (The Hidden Places … A scene from the cult-classic Trainspotting was also filmed at Corrour station. >> Are you visiting Scotland? All that exists in the area is the Corrour Station House, the UK’s remotest restaurant which also offers accommodation, directly next to the train station; an award-winning eco-hostel located at the bottom of the loch, and the Corrour Shooting Lodge which offers luxury accommodation. Carved to perfection, the masonry work is as impressive as the pineapple itself. I’ve marked each of my Scotland off the beaten path destinations on a map to make finding them easier. It was fought over between the Scottish and the English during the Wars of Independence [1296-1356] and again in the sixteenth century. Not all of these places are easy to reach. Pineapple House | © Neil Williamson/Flickr. The bothy is equipped with one bedroom that sleeps up to 6, and a common area with a fireplace. I also once discovered a large herd of wild deer from this viewpoint! Some of these places are very non-obvious. For booking hotels, I recommend comparing prices on Booking.com and Expedia, Airbnb is another affordable alternative to accommodation in Scotland (psst- get $33USD credit for your first booking here), Hostelworld is the best place to book hostels, Need car hire? As a result it suffered a lot of damage. To get here there is a direct train that leaves Glasgow and takes three hours to reach Corrour station, the most remote train station in Scotland. Those who have not seen the book for a while will find that its look … ... "Steall Waterfall if set in an amazing plateau within Glen Nevis Scotland accessible by foot from a car park in Glen Nevis itself you leave the car park and walk through a ... "Plenty of passing places … Bonnie Prince Charlie visited the castle twice, and supposedly rested here after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden. The castle didn’t completely yield however, as you’ll see from the impressive ruin it is today. ... and perhaps Scotland. And yet, undoubtedly the most alluring and certainly colourful of them all is Kelburn Castle near Fairlie in North Ayrshire. Like Jedburgh Abbey, it suffered from English invasions, and not much of the abbey remains. See More Activities. This monastery and international centre of Buddhist training is a sanctuary of great intrigue, with the architecture as engaging as its philosophy. Yes, Scotland has a secret subterranean nuclear command bunker. One of Skye’s hidden gems, the Fairy Glen, is only a few miles outside of Uig but is often overlooked by tourists in place of the Fairy Pools in the south. A trip to Glencoul bothy … The Secrets of Scotland… From the Outer Hebrides to the Shetland Isles, from Orkney to Fife Scotland … Tucked away beyond the deepest depths of an unassuming farmhouse sits a tunnel leading to a bunker the size of two … Gilded temples, stupas, gardens and Buddhist statues adorn the peaceful premises, which is home to some 60 people. 20 incredible places to visit in Scotland before you die. To reach Handa Island you must go by ferry, or rather, a small speed-boat which the Scots like to call a ferry. The effort is well worth it. A trip to Glencoul bothy is suited to the adventurous. #3 National Museum of Scotland roof terrace. See my disclosure page for more info. The 113m Falls of Glomach is one of the tallest waterfalls in the United Kingdom. Many people drive right by Cluanie in favour of reaching Eilean Donan Castle or the Isle of Skye without realising this hidden gem. While there aren’t any standing stones here, the henge is nevertheless enthralling. Tucked away beyond the deepest depths of an unassuming farmhouse sits a tunnel leading to a bunker the size of two football pitches. This is a great book for finding hidden places throughout Scotland including the islands and within each section are walks, sites to visit, viewpoints to admire, places to eat, stay and/or camp. Goblin Ha', or Hobgoblin Hall, is a vaulted subterranean chamber hidden beneath the ruins of Yester Castle. Derelict and abandoned, Polphail Village resembled a post-apocalyptic town from a zombie movie. I recommend Auto Europe [for Scotland search ‘Great Britain’], Check the Scotrail website for train times and to buy tickets in advance. Scotland is home to a … Kimberley Grant, David Boyson Cooper & Richard Gaston. Glen Feshie has also been used as a filming location for various television and film including Mary Queen of Scots, The Queen, and Netflix series The Crown. Loch Ossian in Rannoch Moor is one of the wildest places in Scotland you can reach by public transport. The Royal Observatory suffers from the fact that it sits atop Blackford Hill and is located on the south side of Edinburgh (a little hidden from the main sites of the city). A magnificent ruin survives despite the abbey being set on fire three times! Nothing good comes easy! Drawing upon his love for science and maths, Jencks explores Fractals, Black Holes and modern cosmology through the cunning formulae in his garden. ... A strange yet stunning natural gorge said to be used for Druid rituals and secret meetings by Covenanters. The emphasis is very different to most travel guides and avoids the typical 'touristy' places … It’s an experience that makes you stop and just be in the moment. 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