My wife and I are looking to have a vacation in Scotland and we’re trying to figure out what we should plan. We are American but don’t care for tourists traveling. I love to feel a more realistic local experience. My favorite memories of our Ireland trip are small town pubs and rural scenic places. The museums like the one in Trinity College was good too. I enjoyed walking the backstreets of Dublin and finding the Stags Head pub.
Thank you for any advice.
If you’re looking to find the real Scotland I’d head to the tallest residential buildings in Glasgow and call the first person you see a ****.
It’s a unique and authentic experience most tourists never have
Portree in Skye was an unforgettable place. We stayed in one of the hotels that overlooked the lake (I think) and it was just amazing! It was small, quaint, friendly people. I would definitely go back there again!
My mum and dad’s house. Don’t just turn up though, without booking in advance.
If you want to get out in the country try the West coast - Skye is amazing and the landscape in the North West is like nothing else (the landscape around Wester Ross was used as, Peridea, the witches’ planet in Ahsoka and it does look like a weird alien world). If you aim for Ullapool you can’t go far wrong, unless you end up actually in Ullapool.
If you go to Glasgow I’d recommend visiting the burrell collection.
Also nearby is shaws bar. I can’t recommend this enough. It’s as authenticly scottish and friendly a place as you can ever hope to spend an evening. Definitely off the tourist trail.