We are looking to travel to Scotland over the Christmas holiday (Dec 21 - Dec 31 or Jan 1). Looking for suggestions of not only sight seeing but also what clothes to take. Have been to Scotland only once before and that was in August 25 years ago.
My husband has talked about Edinburgh, Lock Ness, Highlands. He likes to go and see "everything'. When we went to Ireland, we were there for 9 days and drove clockwise around the country. Except for two nights at the beginning of the trip in Dublin, and two nights at one specific hotel (so we could do laundry) we drove from/to someplace every day. He has said we could use Edinburgh as "base" and take day trips to where ever we want to go. I just don't know what would be available/open during that time period.
Posted by
Glasgow, Scotland
1645 posts
25th and 26th December, plus 1st and 2nd January are public holidays. On 25th December and 1st January you would need to be prepared for everything being shut, more so on 25th itself. So you would need to prepare closely to be able to eat on those days, the restaurants which are open will be busy, and booked. In the run up to the two sets of holidays they might need booking early due to work and family evenings out.
It is middle of winter it can drop below freezing, it can be wet and windy, and the daylight will be minimal. Best places for visiting are going to be in the central belt as a lot of places elsewhere in the country will have closed for the season. There will be Christmas markets, and Christmas entertainments across the season, especially panto, and the days between the two sets of holidays can be a bit of an odd lull. Season entertainment will still be on TV though there can be an odd lurch on the commercial channels on 25th around 6PM when the ads switch from Christmas to the sales.
It really depends what you are into, if you could say more more appropriate advice could be sorted.
Posted by
Tacoma, WA, USA
519 posts
We were there last Christmas season for five nights. It was freezing with snow and ice on the ground but sunshine everyday. It was beautiful. We dressed in layers with warm waterproof coats and boots (we are from Seattle). Make sure your footwear is slip resistant (ice / I switched to loafers from my tennis shoe boots one day and slipped all over the place). The warm mittens i bought at the last minute were a life saver. We went all over the city including Stockbridge/Dean Village and Craigmiller Castle on the bus system. We planned a few day trips but ended up staying in the Edinburgh area. We loved it!
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
1835 posts
Will you have a car? If not check out trains and buses as services may not be running or be reduced over that period...
Posted by
Glasgow, Scotland
1645 posts
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, and the Second New Year holiday/Scottish National Hangover Nursing Day you are going to have to accept being in the same local.
Christmas Day will have the most closures followed by 1st January.
In terms of places to visit, Historic Scotland will be open in Dec and January depending on the place, as they are a Crown entity and employ their own staff with volunteers. But they will be firmly shut on 25th Dec, and 1st Jan. NTS will not be as they are volunteers. Opening hours though will be restricted.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5766 posts
There is a comprehensive bus service across Edinburgh on both Christmas Day and New Years Day, the only place in the UK to do so. Timetables will be on the Lothian Buses web Site in early December.
The Ice Rink in George Square, the Christmas market, the fun fair and the big wheel are all open daily except Christmas Day.
At 3pm on New Years Day, at the Usher Hall, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra have a traditional Viennese New Year day concert.
All the above is from the Edinburgh Christmas brochure which I have just picked up at an English motorway services!!
The bus services are from personal experience.