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Hello. I'm Gilbert Summers and I'm a native Scot. I've spent most of my working life writing about my country for some high-profile publishers such as Fodor’s and the Automobile Association as well as VisitScotland, our national tourism agency. But on this site, well, I'm just writing to please myself! (And you, I hope.) For a small nation, there are so many options: city, countryside, Highland, Lowland, visitor hot-spots and hidden gems. So this is where you’ll find lots of great tour suggestions, my own insider knowledge, along with great travel tips, opinions and good information on heritage, culture and environment (plus a great Scottish scone recipe!). This Month's Feature Pages
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| About Gilbert Summers and Contact About Gilbert Summers. Some background. Why he is writing an SBI site. |
| Seven Day Tour Scotland A seven day tour Scotland with some upmarket accommodation suggestions. Don’t let this bit put you off. The rest makes a good checklist of things to see in Scotland. |
| Romantic Break Thinking about a romantic break in Scotland? Here are a few suggestions of how to fill your day. No, seriously, there is plenty to see – even the bones of St Valentine are here. |
| Hogmanay Hogmanay in Scotland used to be the embodiment of that insecure feeling that the best party is happening somewhere else, if only you could find it.. But now we do Hogmanay better than ever. |
| Must Sees in Edinburgh A first-time visitor with a couple of days for Edinburgh? Here are some must sees in Edinburgh. What else you do depends on your budget and how much history you can take. |
| Winter Tour A winter tour in Scotland is not only weather dependent, the short daylight hours mean ideally you should be beside a crackling log fire by late afternoon. |
| Scotland tours from Edinburgh - easy and rewarding day trips Really worthwhile day trips and Scotland tours from Edinburgh to East Lothian, the Trossachs and Midlothian |
| Scotland Tours from Edinburgh - St Andrews Scotland tours from Edinburgh have to include St Andrews for golf, shopping, heritage - especially the dramatic tale of the siege of St Andrews Castle. |
| Scotland tours from Edinburgh - Stirling and Trossachs Scotland tours from Edinburgh - Stirling and the Trossachs. A fascinating day out, visiting Stirling Castle and discovering the Trossachs of the Romantics and Sir Walter Scott |
| Scotland Tours from Edinburgh - East Lothian Scotland tours from Edinburgh - East Lothian. It's easy to reach the sunny shores of East Lothian from Edinburgh. There are castles, beaches, and even an airfield museum with a real Concorde. |
| Places to visit in Scotland Some suggestions for 'must see' places to visit in Scotland. You'll need more than a week to do all of them! |
| Beautiful Scenery Pictures Beautiful scenery pictures are easy to take in Scotland. And there some locations where the panorama is truly 360 degrees |
| Scenery of Scotland The scenery of Scotland isn't all 'bens and glens'. There are some beautiful, austere or otherwise different views. And not a bagpiper in sight. |
| Flowers of Scotland From Scots bluebells to bog myrtle, heather to the iconic thistle, the thriving flowers of Scotland appreciate rainfall more than the visitors do. |
| Wild Scotland Wild Scotland means encounters with roaring red deer, fierce wild cats and shy pine martens, doesn’t it? Well, sometimes. Just don’t expect them to be posing round waiting to be photographed. |
| Scottish Wildlife Scottish wildlife could be part of your Scottish holiday experience; it depends on how you feel about squirrels. Or cute dolphins. And you could probably manage a seal or two, perhaps? |
| Birds in Scotland Birds in Scotland are usually pretty high-profile. There are lots of good birdy places and nature reserves with knowledgeable rangers. They’re the ones who use ‘bins’ and ‘scopes’. |
| Scottish Food for Burns Suppers Been talked into serving Scottish food at a Burns Supper or a St Andrew’s Night event? Here are a few suggestions for authentic traditional menus. |
| Traditional Scottish Food Traditional Scottish food wasn’t all about oatmeal – if you were wealthy. Here’s an over-the-top menu from two centuries ago. Sheep’s head, anyone? |
| Recipes from Scotland Recipes from Scotland usually include Cullen skink, skirlie shortbread, scones - a kind of refined-carb festival. Oh, and hairy tatties as well. As made by my granny. Yes, really. |
| Scottish Cooking Scottish cooking has been influenced by its old European trading links, as well as by its poor, no, I mean, equable climate. And we really do still eat oatmeal and haggis. Sometimes. |
| Make Porridge Make porridge and you have so many options with so few ingredients, small wonder you make toast instead. Persevere though, for that well-filled and slightly self-righteous wholesome glow....... |
| Scotland food Scotland food is about some traditional aspects of Scotland’s cuisine, including the inevitable haggis, oatmeal and also kale. Well, I’m sorry, but I like kale,or kail.. |
| Scottish High Tea Scottish high tea - the carbohydrate Olympics. First the big plate of meat pie, fish, chicken, with chips or tatties, then the knock-out blow - an irresistible selection of home-baked fancy pieces. |
| Malt Whiskies Malt whiskies are made only in Scotland. Single malts are the thoroughbreds of the whisky world. But let’s not be too serious. They’re made to enjoy. |
| How to Drink Whisky How to drink whisky? Any way you like within reason, though single malts need respect. I like whisky with sparkling water and call it ‘Drampagne’. |
| What are Neeps? What are neeps is a question mostly asked by newbie guests at a Burns Supper. Usually they’re chappit (the neeps, I mean, not the guests). This page explains more than enough….. |
| Weather in Scotland Weather in Scotland is very varied yet without extremes. The waterproof coat or mackintosh was invented by a Scot, naturally. |
| Scottish Highlands Weather Don’t worry about Scottish Highlands weather. Just enjoy the drama of it all. In summer, pack suntan cream and waterproofs. Or hope for a settled spell. |
| Ski Scotland If you’d like to ski Scotland, then there are a few points to bear in mind about the nature of the experience. Just don't ask about global warming. |
| Cities in Scotland Which cities in Scotland are ‘must sees’ and which can you miss out of you have limited time? And what is the definition of a city? |
| Glasgow Must Sees Glasgow must sees have always given me some uncertainty, as this conversation suggests. It isn’t easy speaking text links either but we’ve ended up with a check list of sorts. |
| Aberdeen the Silver City Aberdeen the Silver City with the Golden Sands is the title of this guidebook from 1950, when post-war visitors were happy with just a trip to the beach. |
| Castles of Scotland The castles of Scotland range from scanty ruins to sumptuous stately homes and they tell the story of Scotland’s warlike past. And I’m sorry that sounds like I’m writing a brochure. |
| More Castles of Scotland The Castles of Scotland certainly manage the picturesque and the romantic. Here’s a selection that demands a fully charged battery in your digital camera. |
| Nessie - the Loch Ness Monster phenomenon Nessie was born in 1933, on a quiet week for the Inverness Courier. Since then the fame of the Loch Ness Monster has gone round the world. It's only a legend though. |
| Haunted Scotland The image of haunted Scotland is definitely a part of the Scottish brand. I blame all those old castles, misty glens and shifty old Highland servants. |
| Haunted Locations You want haunted locations? Scotland does ghosts and bogles rather well. It’s a paranormal-investigator theme-park really. Even I once saw something spooky |
| Scotland tours via Inverness and the Great Glen This is one of the most popular Scotland tours from Edinburgh, sometimes called 'the milk run' in the trade. But is the Great Glen really that scenic? |
| Crianlarich and the West Highland railway Crianlarich is an important Highland railway junction and is on one of Europe great railway journeys. Book with Whestrail to get the best from this quintessential Scottish travel experience. |
| Crieff Crieff is a traditional resort town that has attracted visitors for generations. My old guidebook says ‘it’s been much resorted to...because of the salubrity of its climate.’ What? |
| Balquhidder and Kirkton Glen Balquhidder and Kirkton Glen offer a fine afternoon's hike and possibly a glimpse of the local ghost - a Highlander and his dog! |
| Scenery around Crianlarich The scenery around Crianlarich is typical of the Southern Highlands, with lots of big hills all around. Crianlarich itself is a good touring centre. |
| The Cateran Trail Scotland's only circular long-distance footpath, the Cateran Trail offers great walking in Perthshire in the footsteps of the cattle raiders of old |
| The Old Forge at Inverie Sitting outside the Old Forge at Inverie, Knoydart, one summer day, the bay suddenly seemed to fill with dolphins. An unforgettable moment. |
| Climb Stac Pollaidh You'd like to climb Stac Pollaidh? It’s a very odd hill. Get there before it erodes completely. You'll need a head for heights. And extra chocolate. Well, any excuse. |
| Scotland Islands - Orkney Among Scotland islands, Orkney offers a really worthwhile experience of an island community comfortable with its past and present. And aren’t the accents just so melodic? |
| Scrabster to Stromness The Scrabster to Stromness in Orkney ferry is probably the most exciting sea voyage in Scotland and a great introduction to these northern islands |
| Isle of Eriskay The Isle of Eriskay is a brilliant Hebridean excursion. Amazing colours when the sun shines. And the Eriskay Love Lilt really was collected here. ‘Sad am I without thee…’ Romantic or what? |
| Where is Galloway Where is Galloway is an easy question to answer. It’s that bit on the bottom left of Scotland that a lot of visitors miss. They ought to study their maps a bit more. |
| Galloway Touring Galloway touring is like how car touring used to be. Just tootling about on back roads; a Scottish serendipity. Pass the thermos flask, dear, I feel a roadside picnic coming on. |
| Romantic Hotels Romantic hotels in Scotland are easy to find. We’ve brainstormed a short off-the- top-of-our-heads list. But a romantic destination like Scotland really has a lot of options. |
| Country Cottage in Scotland Be assured; if you’re looking for that romantic country cottage in Scotland for a self-catering break, then such places really exist. Just remember to check if they have a dishwasher. |
| Where is Scotland? Ask the question Where is Scotland ? – really, where is the essence of Scotland - and I would take you on a tour north and east. I’d probably take you down to the shore. |
| Scotland Facts Some Scotland facts about where it is and how big it is and also the Scottish language. Will you be understood? |
| Scotland culture Is there really a Scotland culture? Or is it all just the same from the English Channel to the far north? Yes, the Scots are different, but it’s going to take more than a page to explain it all. |
| Scotland Tourism Scotland tourism started after things became peaceful and it was mostly in the Trossachs that the Cult of the Picturesque took root. A block-buster poem helped. |
| What is Tartan? What is tartan is a complex question. It was once the rough homespun cloth of the people who lived in the Scottish Highlands. Now it’s iconic and Scotland is lucky to have such brilliant packaging. |
| Trace Family Tree For those who need to know where they came from, in order to trace family tree, Scotland is really well resourced. |
| Steam Trains Steam trains in action in Scotland are easy to find. There are several locations where you can get a fix of that unmistakable scent of steam, hot oil and coal dust. (OK, it’s a boy’s thing…..) |
| Scottish Steam Real Scottish steam – though rather awful pictures! Still, uhmm, hard core steam train enthusiasts will find it interesting. The rest of you should look away now. |
| Midges in Scotland Will midges in Scotland affect your experience of Scotland? Well, possibly, but it's not really a big deal. Nobody ever died from a midge bite. It's a minor nuisance at most.. |
| How deep is Loch Lomond? How deep is Loch Lomond? A question visitors often ask. Not that it really matters, if you were to fall in. It’s the third-deepest loch in Scotland. And it hasn’t got a monster. |
| Moray Firth Dolphins (Blog post.) The Moray Firth dolphins are Scotland's most famous dolphin colony. They're also the world's largest bottle-nosed dolphins, thanks to their insulating layer of blubber. They need it here! |
| Facts about Scotland Some of these facts about Scotland are well known, others are a little obscure. And one is made up - just to keep you on your toes! |
| Robert Burns Amongst poets, Robert Burns holds a unique place in the affection of the Scots. The wonder is that, given the struggle of farming in 18th-century Scotland, he had the energy to write anything at all. |
| Burns Poetry Burns poetry is encountered by most Scots folk during a Burns Supper. This page gives the format for this celebration. Just be careful when you stab the haggis. |
| Robert Burns Museum The Robert Burns Museum in Alloway, Ayr, makes it on to any list of Scotland must sees because of the insight it gives into the poet’s life. Not only worthwhile, it serves really good haggis as well. |
| Kings of Scotland The Kings of Scotland didn’t die in their beds as a rule in the early days. It wasn’t a job with secure prospects, as Macbeth pretty soon realised. And the Stewarts didn’t get on with the neighbours. |
| Vikings! The Vikings long ago ruled these northlands from their Orkney powerbase. That’s why the most northerly part of Scotland is called Sutherland. |
| Mary Queen of Scots - setting the scene Mary Queen of Scots still fascinates visitors. Here is some background on the power struggle between Scotland, England and and France into which she was born. |
| Mary Queen of Scots back in scotland Mary Queen of Scots returns from France widowed, eighteen, beautiful and a whole heap of trouble |
| Rob Roy Rob Roy - the last of his kind in a changing world - the clansman who lived beyond Lowland law, surviving through daring, skill, resourcefulness - and a bit of thieving and racketeering too. |
| Bonnie Prince Charlie Bonnie Prince Charlie, the ‘Young Pretender’, was basically fitted out by France to create trouble up north. Brought up to believe in the justice of his cause, Charles was happy to oblige. |
| Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson followed his calling, in spite of family misgivings. Though abroad for much of his adult life, Stevenson's love for his native Scotland shines through in all his writing. |
| History of Scotland There are plenty of accounts of the history of Scotland. I’ve only got a page. Let’s do it by snapshots - Stone Age to Highland Clearances. Plus Bonnie Prince Charlie - who should have stayed away |
| Scotland history The Picts, Scots, Britons, Vikings, Angles sorted themselves out and the Scottish Border was fixed and Scotland history could really start. King David I created burghs - he needed the money |
| The Scotland Flag and its legend The Scotland flag or saltire is steeped in legend and is said to have inspired a Pictish leader to victory in battle. |
| Battle of Bannockburn The 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn isn't all that far away. But why didn't King Robert choose a more scenic battle site? |
| Culloden Battlefield Culloden Battlefield saw the last battle on Scottish soil. The visitor centre today avoids sentimentality and offers plenty of interpretation and interest. A must see for a wet afternoon or a dry one. |
| Highland Clearances Were the Highland Clearances ethnic cleansing or was it all done for the good of the locals? Yes, it’s controversial. To be honest, I’ve never really liked Dunrobin Castle anyway |
| Barrie's Birthplace Barrie's Birthplace is just one of many properties in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. One day, a volunteer there had a strange ghostly encounter. Wooo-oooo |
| Parking in Edinburgh Parking in Edinburgh with its punitive parking regime can really take the pleasure out of a visit to Scotland's capital, where the motorist is a cash-cow. |
| Scottish cattle-droving Scottish cattle-droving was once important in our economy, especially in the days of the 'tryst' at Crieff. Nowadays, we just use credit cards, instead of cattle. |
| Scottish Music Scottish music in its traditional form includes both a Gaelic and a Lowland Scots heritage, and a diversity of folk song still current in Scotland today (if you know where to go to hear it) |
| Scotland in The Fall Scotland in the Fall, or Scotland in autumn as we call it, is worth considering for a visit. But when will the colors or colours will be at their peak? Ah, well, that’s another matter….. |
| Dogskin Boy Dogskin Boy is a Scottish novel - but is also what happens when a Scotish guidebook writer turns to writing fiction. A great companion to a Scottish visit |
| My Scotland blog My Scotland blog offers unbiased reports on places I visit and comment on issues and news in the tourism industry in Scotland. |
| Ladhar Bheinn Ladhar Bheinn is the most westerly Munro on the Scottish mainland. It’s a very big walk in and the midges and clegs (horse flies) are terrifying in summer. You’ll love it. |
| Scotlandinaweek information search results Scotlandinaweek information search results delivers facts, tour suggestions, heritage of Scotland |
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