8 of the Best Non-Touristy Things To Do in Scotland
Campervanning is all about the freedom to take less well travelled paths – finding non touristy things to do in Scotland. Of course you’ll probably want to see some of the major sights of Scotland. Whether it’s Glencoe or the Isle of Skye, you’ll not want to miss visiting these iconic places. But some of the most memorable experiences often happen off the tourist track. Whether its quirky, cultural, authentic or simply some fine, fine food, here’s eight of our favourite non-touristy things to do in Scotland.
Elie Chain Walk, Fife
Not for the fainthearted, the Elie Chain Walk in Fife is a challenge completed by few tourists. Describing it as a walk is probably stretching it a bit. The route, which can be completed in either direction, consists of a series of footholds and chains embedded into the volcanic rocks of the coastal cliffs between Shell Bay and Earlsferry & Elie. These will help you climb, scramble or crawl along its half a kilometre length high above the tides of Fife’s coastline. This useful guide by James Carron, local writer and outdoor pursuit specialist, gives lots of helpful tips about preparing for the challenge. This includes a step-by- step (or knee-by-knee) guide to completing the route.
Photos courtesy of James Carron Walks.Scot
Whilst you are on the Black Isle take a walk through ancient woodland to the Munlochy Clootie Well. Clootie wells are springs or wells believed to be sacred, usually found with a tree beside it. In early Celtic times you would dip a rag or ‘cloot’ in the water as part of a healing ritual. You’d then leave the cloot beside the well or tied onto the tree. Clootie wells were often places of pilgrimage. Originally this was as part of pagan culture where people said prayers to a godess or nature spirit. Then, Christians updated the tradition with a prayer to a saint. It was once believed that the well at Munlochy, had the power to cure sick children. Their parents would leave them to spend the night there, in hope of a cure.
Eat oysters fresh from Loch Creran, Oban
For a true taste of Scotland order fresh oysters from The Caledonian Oyster Co. near Oban, Argyll. Order by message or text and collect from an honesty box, possibly the freshest oysters you will ever eat. The Caledonian Oyster Co. is an award winning family business, run by Hugo & Judith Vajk. They have been farming oysters for more than twenty years in the clear waters of Loch Creran. If you can’t make it to Oban, they have a stand at Perth Farmers Market on the first Saturday of every month. You can buy some oysters to take home with you or they will shuck them for you and you can eat them there and then.
This unique, private sculpture garden is open to the public only one day each year, usually the Sunday of the May Bank Holiday. It is a celebration of nature quite unlike other gardens. Gardens, sculptures, lakes, terraces and sculptured landforms reflecting fractal geometry, bridges and architectural works stretch out over 30 acres. Visitors are invited to engage with the works using all their senses, including the 6th – their sense of humour. One work, a water cascade of steps, tells the story of the universe. Another takes you on a journey to the smallest building blocks of matter. This garden is wonderful in the true sense of the word.
See traditional Scottish looms at work in the Highlands
Take a tour of the Prickly Thistle, an ethical textile mill in Evanton, in the Highlands. You will hear the amazing story of how Clare and her team realised their vision to regenerate traditional Scottish textile weaving skills in the Highlands. In the 1830s seven out of ten people in Scotland worked in textiles. Clare managed to get hold of some of the last remaining traditional looms in Scotland. But she couldn’t find anyone with the skills to teach her how to use them – the traditional weaving skills needed were in danger of dying out. Luckily, she eventually found Martin. He had worked in the last mill in this region before it closed its doors 30 years ago.
Today, the team are weaving tartan fabrics made from 100% merino wool, spun and dyed in Scotland and woven into tartan fabrics in their own Highland mill. The working mill is only open to visitors for tours, but they have a store in nearby Inverness.
The mill is open to visitors for tours during the summer months but tours must be booked in advance. There are also occasional special events and workshops.
For products, visit Prickly Thistle at their flagship store in Inverness or one of their regular pop ups. All the details on the Prickly Thistle website
The Affric Kintail Way is a recent addition to Scotland’s collection of long distance trails. It is a fully signposted cross-country route suitable for reasonably experienced walkers and mountain bikers that stretches from Drumnadrochit on Loch Ness to Morvich at one end of Loch Duich. Along its 44 miles you will see stunning and changing landscape passing along ancient drove roads, by lochs and glens and through ancient woodlands.
This will take you through The Glen Affric National Nature Reserve is just as stunning as the famous Glencoe, but far more peaceful. You might want to park up at the start and arrange for transport with a local taxi firms to take you back to your vehicle. This will mean you can take your time along this 12 mile stretch, linger a while in Glen Affric and explore the paths around the Dog Falls that cascade through the landscape there.
Loch Maree’s 11 square miles of waters were once one of the most famous sea trout systems in Scotland. However, the sea trout stocks dramatically declined in the 90’s. Today the Loch Maree Hotel, provides permits to fish in Loch Maree. It boasts a rich fishing heritage and they have a wealth of knowledge about fly fishing. In the 1970’s and 1980’s the hotel employed nine ghillies through the fishing season itself.
The loch now supports a stock of wild brown trout, and some sea trout. You may also find salmon, however, these are more likely to be found in the waters feeding the loch than the loch itself. Salmon season in the loch begins in early Spring and, for salmon, in the river between June and September, with sea trout from the second week in June. Trout season is in full swing by mid July.
If fishing is not your thing, it is still worth making the trip to the loch for its beauty and wildlife. Loch Maree has five large wooded islands and many more smaller ones, some of which have their own lochans. It is the home of one of the largest breeding populations of black throated divers in Britain and also to otters, both supported by the eco-system of which the trout and salmon are a key part. You may also occasionally see golden eagles which live in the area.
Visit the Isle of Jura
It’s been called one of the wildest places in Scotland. Known to many through its production of Jura Single Malt Whisky, the Isle of Jura in the Inner Hebrides has a population of just under 200 people. It is one of the most sparsely populated islands in Scotland, but home to more than 6,000 red deer as well as a population of wild goats. You can see the deer grazing the lower ground of the island in the winter. They head up to the higher ground in the summertime. Visit between late September and October if you want to witness the ‘rut’. Stags of up to 17 stone will lock antlers over their hinds in the mating season, you will hear the sound of their roars echoing around the hills of Jura.
On a more peaceful note, Orwell famously retreated to the seclusion of Jura to write 1984, and if it’s crowds you want to avoid, this could well be the spot for you. There is a regular community run ferry to the island in the summer months, or you could take a boat trip over the Gulf of Corryvreckan to see the angry waters of the Correyvreckan maelstrom, the third largest whirlpool in the world.
Big Sky Campers Campervans for Hire
Scotland
We hope you are inspired by our choice of non touristy things to do in Scotland. If you are looking for a campervan to hire to explore Scotland please take a look at our VWs. All our campervans for hire come fully equipped with everything you will need for your road trip in Scotland. Everything is included in the price, including extra sets of bedding if requested.
Got a question? Give us a call.
+44 (0)7768 973804













