Scotland is a brilliant place to be if you love the great outdoors and you want to explore some gorgeous landscapes which are rich with history and ripe for adventure.
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Of course it’s also encumbered by its climate, to a certain degree. That means if you want to enjoy outdoor pursuits at different points in the year, you need to pick carefully so that you aren’t too limited by the weather conditions.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a few ideas for what to do in Scotland that should be fairly safe whether it’s bright and sunny or, more likely, cold and overcast.
Camping
The great thing about camping in Scotland is that for the past 20 years, it has been entirely legal to access privately owned land for the purposes of recreation.
This basically means that if you want to set up your tent on some isolated area, you don’t need to get the permission of the landowner first.
Fields with crops currently growing in them are off-limits, for obvious reasons, as are gardens. But beyond that, you can basically settle down wherever you wish; just remember to stick to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and you’ll be fine.
Golf
Scotland is the home of this glorious sport, and because of this you’ll find some of the most respected and iconic courses in the world within its borders.
Golf isn’t strictly an all-weather activity, but it’s still one that you can participate in come rain or shine. The real issue is the wind, but even then it doesn’t have to be a hindrance if you’re just playing for fun, not competition.
You can organize your Scottish golfing holiday yourself, or leave it to a company like privatetoursscotland.com to do the legwork; the choice is yours!
Wild swimming
There are lots of places to go wild swimming elsewhere in the UK, but if you’ve got a trip to Scotland on the cards then you’ll be in for a treat.
Once again the law means that bodies of water are also open for recreational purposes, so taking a dip in the inky waters of a loch is possible because it’s a protected right for the average person to enjoy.
And of course the whole point of wild swimming is that you’re doing it partly as an exercise in mindfulness, and a means to get back to nature, as well as for the restorative and invigorating impact it has on your body. That means it definitely doesn’t matter too much what the weather is like.
Some people even go wild swimming in the depths of winter, so that’s something to consider. Of course if you’re a first-timer, it’s worth taking advice from more seasoned wild swimmers so that you know what you’re letting yourself in for.
Wildlife spotting
The final thing to mention when talking about outdoor activities in Scotland that are available year-round is that there are many incredible wild animals which you can travel to see in this marvelous country.
Whether you go in search of puffins on the Treshnish Isles, you look for dolphins in Spey Bay, you head to St Kilda to see birdlife like no other, or you seek out seals that congregate along the coast of Aberdeenshire, you’ll find all sorts of wildlife at different times. Just be sure to check which creatures are easiest to encounter during the period when your visit is scheduled.
Outdoor activities in Scotland
Now you know how much Scotland has to offer in its wilder regions, your next adventure can be one that you book without worrying too much about the weather.