How to spend a week in Wales

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Best of Scotland

Wales is a destination for adventure and discovery. With ancient towns, coastal drives, friendly locals and a staggering number of castles, Wales is sure to become an obsession.

Thinking of spending some time here this year? We’ve put together a short list of some of the best ways to spend a week in Wales.

Explore Welsh Castles

With over 600 castles, it’s not hard to understand why Wales is often referred to as the castle capital of the world. Castles are an important part of Wales’ heritage and many are still standing after thousands of years. You’d be silly to miss paying a visit to at least one of the many Welsh castles. Understandably, so many castles can make the decision of which to visit difficult. Some of Wales’ most visited castles include… Read More

A guide to travelling between England and Wales

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Best of Scotland

Excellent rail links, thousands of lengthy roads and airports in all major hubs makes travelling around the UK a breeze.

If you’re considering travelling between England and Wales this year, you might want to keep reading for some helpful tips and advice.

By car

Travelling between England and Wales by car is an ideal way to explore each region flexibly at your own pace. The fastest and easiest routes are via the M4, M5, M6 and M56, however there are lots of scenic routes and backroads you can take too if you’d rather see some impressive scenery. The distance between England and Wales is around 151 miles, which would equal to an average of 2 hours and 38 minutes driving time. Read More

A guide to travelling between Scotland and Ireland

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Best of Scotland

Despite being separated by a sea, travelling between Scotland and Ireland is actually really quick and easy. With ferries that travel between each country every day of the week, all year round, and fantastic air links, you can arrive in Scotland or Ireland within a matter of hours. We’ve created this short guide to travelling between Scotland and Ireland so you can experience these amazing countries hassle free!

By land and sea

Of course, you cannot drive over the Irish sea, but you can easily drive a car on to a ferry that will transport you to your destination. Scotland and Northern Ireland are linked by two ferry lines – P&O’s Cairnryan-Larne Ferry and Stena Line’s Cairnryan-Belfast Ferry. The ferries depart multiple times a day, every day of the week, all year round and take around 3 hours. Read More

Northern Ireland: Game of Thrones Guide

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Best of Scotland

With gripping storylines and a multitude of characters, Game of Thrones is undeniably one of the most popular television shows of the 21st century. Although parts of the show were filmed all over Europe in countries including Iceland, Spain and Croatia, most of the filming locations can actually be found in Northern Ireland. So, if you fancy re-enacting some of your favourite scenes or just want to see the locations in real life, our handy Game of Thrones guide will tell you where to find all the best spots. Read More

Festivals and events taking place in England this year

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Best of Scotland

You might want to save some of these dates!

England’s 2020 agenda is shaping up to be a busy one, with lots of exciting festivals and events taking place throughout the year.

Here’s a short list of some festivals and events taking place in England this year.

London Fashion Week 14-18 Feb

The first London Fashion Week of the year takes place in February, where top brands such as Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger, and Victoria Beckham showcase their latest collections through catwalk shows. Kicking off on Valentine’s Day, perhaps this makes an ideal outing for a Valentine’s weekend away? Read More

Northern England: Must see spots and attractions

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Best of Scotland

Make visiting Northern England one of your new year’s resolutions!

If it’s idyllic towns and villages, beautiful scenery, and historic attractions you’re looking for, Northern England is where it’s at. With towns and cities packed with culture and rich with history, Northern England offers unforgettable experiences for the whole family.

Find out our top picks for Northern England below.

The Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool

First opened in 1846, the Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool was the first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick and stone, with no structural wood, making it the first non-combustible warehouse system in the world. Today, Albert Dock is a popular tourist attraction, with its retail stores, restaurants and leisurely attractions – a must see if you’re taking a trip to one of the friendliest cities in the UK. We recommend dropping by the award-winning ‘The Beatles Story’, the world’s largest permanent exhibition that tells the story of The Beatles’ rise to stardom. Read More

Why choose a golf trip to Scotland?

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Best of Scotland

With many great golf courses across the world, it can be difficult deciding where to take your next golf trip. You may call us bias, but at Best of Scotland Holidays, we believe that Scotland is the best golfing destination in the world, and this is why…

It’s the home of golf!

Scotland is widely considered as the home of golf as the very first record of golf was in Scotland. The first mention of golf being played in Scotland was in 1476, when James II prohibited golf and football through an Act of Parliament. Most of the world’s oldest courses are also found in Scotland, like St. Andrews Links, thought to be the oldest in the world having been established in the 15^th century, and Musselburgh Old Links. Read More

Our top tips for touring Scotland on a budget

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Best of Scotland

Get ready to tour Scotland without breaking the bank thanks to our useful money saving tips!

Christmas is over and the new year is officially here. It’s safe to say our bank balances look a little low, or as we say here in Scotland: we’re skint! There’s no better time to share our money saving tips if you’re feeling the same way but want to experience the very best of Scotland while on a shoestring budget.

Travelling

Fortunately, there are many forms of transport in Scotland that allow you to travel to and from places fairly easy. We’ve got trains, trams, buses, subways, ferries and even small planes to transport you to the islands, and none of these need to be expensive when you have some knowledge of these handy money saving tips. Read More

Celebrating Burns Night

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Best of Scotland

We’ll tak a cup o’kidness yet, for auld lang syne!

January is the month when Scotland celebrates one of the most iconic Scottish poets in the world, Robert Burns. While celebrations take place throughout January, Burns Night officially falls on January 25^th.

Robert Burns, otherwise known as Rabbie Burns is famous all across the globe, but if you haven’t heard of the Scottish icon and why or how we celebrate him, here’s a brief summary.

Who was Robert Burns?

Born on January 25^th 1759 in a small cottage in Alloway, Ayrshire, Robert Burns rose to fame as a result of his traditional Scottish ballads, romantic songs and intriguing poems. Auld Lang Syne should definitely ring a bell, you know, the most popular New Year’s Eve song and Burns’ best-known work. Sadly, Burns lived a short life, passing away at the age of 37 on July 21^st 1796. But his legacy lives on. Read More

Featured Golf Club of the Month: Conwy, Wales

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Best of Scotland

Introducing one of Wales’ greatest links courses…

Located in Caernarvonshire in North Wales, is one of Wales’ most iconic golf clubs and courses, Conwy, also soon to be host of the 2020 Curtis Cup. The fantastic links course welcomes in golfers of all abilities, where they can play overlooking the River Conwy and Conwy Mountain, which is why we have chosen this as our featured golf club of the month!

The beginning

The birth of Conwy Golf Course and Club dates all the way back to the 1800s, making it the third oldest golf course and club in Wales. First came the course, and then came the club. Read More