5 epic Scotland activities for your next trip

From the simply incredible Heart of Neolithic Orkney to tales of invading Vikings and World War 2 battles, a trip to Orkney is a dip into 5000 years of history.

An archipelago of 70 islands, 20 of which are inhabited, Orkney has been inhabited for over 8000 years – and the Orkney Islands have only been inhabited by the Scots for just 1.8% of that time! Orkney is one of the best places in Scotland to discover our history.

Here is where to visit:

• The Heart of Neolithic Orkney – on a long promontory or ‘ness’ between two lochs, surrounded by a huge bowl of low hills, sits the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, an incredibly well preserved stone-age community and a UNESCO World Heritage site. 
• The Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness – step amongst Orkney’s standing stones and you will truly feel like a dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants. How did the builders of the Ring of Brodgar measure a true circle 2500 years before Archimedes?  
• Visit Skara Brae – this 5000-year-old stone-age village was discovered after a storm in 1850. Made up of nine identical houses built with nothing but stone and animal tools, complete with box beds and stone dressers and even luxuries such as indoor fires for heating – who were the residents of the 5000-year-old Skara Brae?
• The Italian Chapel & POW camp – on the tiny island of Lamb Holm, just off the coast of Orkney Mainland is the Italian Chapel. Built by Italian POWs, the church is a thought-provoking remnant of the Second World War.

How to plan your trip to Orkney

• Read more: how to have an adventure in the Outer Hebrides
• Get there: Orkney is just 10 miles of the north coast of Scotland and is easily reached either by catching a ferry from the North Coast 500 at Scrabster or John O’Groats or flying with Logan Air from Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow or Edinburgh. A weekend break in Orkney is just as easy as visiting the Isle of Skye, Islay or Mull.

3. Get out of the car and get adventurous on The North Coast 500

You can’t recommend epic activities in Scotland without including our most famous road trip. This incredible road trip takes you 500 miles around the north coast of Scotland through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

However, the NC500 isn’t just a driving route as there are lots of amazing outdoor activities to be experienced along the way. Why not:

• Go surfing on Thurso Beach – with big Atlantic swells, the beach is one of the best places to go surfing in Scotland. There are lots of surf operators on the north coast if you fancy braving the chilly waters! Try North Coast Watersports at Dunnet Beach.
• Zip across Ceannabeinne – do you dare to slide across one of Scotland’s most beautiful beaches on the famous Golden Eagle Zip Line?
• See the puffins on Handa Island – take a RIB across to Handa Island, one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands and a nationally important wildlife reserve. Handa Island is home to Puffins, rare Bonxies, stunning views of the Assynt mountains. You can also take boat trips from Kylesku and Gairloch to spot a sea loch boat trip to spot dolpins, whales, seals and eagles.
• Climb Stac Pollaidh and Suilven – two of Scotland’s most epic hills with incredible views over the Assynt mountains. Stac Pollaidh is great for families and Suilven is an epic day out.
• Head to Oldshoremore, Achmelvich and Clachtoll Beaches – three of my favourite west coast beaches with white sands and clear waters for swimming. At Achmelvich, try paddleboarding in the sheltered cove.

Planning your NC500 trip

• Read my complete guide to the North Coast 500
• You might like my guide to adventure activities on the NC500

4. Hill walk above Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park 

Covering 720 stunning square miles, with two forest parks, 22 large lochs, 40 hills over 2000ft, and one of the UK’s largest nature reserves (phew!) Loch Lomond is probably Scotland’s most famous National Park.

The bonnie banks of Loch Lomond are spectacular from the lochside – but to see its true beauty you need to get up high. With 41 mountains over 2000 ft to climb, the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is a hill walkers paradise. Here are the best:

• The Glen Striddle Horseshoe – Loch Lomond contains over 30 islands and the best view of them is from above the village of Luss. Firstly climb Beinn Dubb (The Black Mountain) before hiking the Glen Striddle Horseshoe with views over the loch all along the way.
• Hike Conic Hill for Coos and Views – one of Loch Lomond’s iconic viewpoints, Conic Hill sits on the Highland Boundary Fault markin the boundary between the lowlands and the mountainous highlands of Scotland.
• Bag the Beacon – Ben Lomond – challenging Ben Nevis for Scotland’s most popular Munro, Ben Lomond (‘Beacon Mountain’) is tackled by around 30,000 people each year. However, you don’t need to climb far up the ‘tourist path’ before views of the north end of the loch are revealed, but it is worth climbing to the summit for an incredible view of the whole loch.