Best things to do in Scotland in January 2025
January is a quieter month as the days are short and everyone has to get their heads down after the festivities of Hogmanay. It can be cold – the average temperature is around 5 degrees – but it can feel even colder when the wind blows. The mountains are likely to have snow so its a good time for skiers. But if snowsports aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other things to do in Scotland in January. For a start, its the month we celebrate the life and works of our national poet, Robert Burns. And there are a surprising number of concerts, festivals and exhibitions to enjoy in Scotland in January.
Exhibitions
Scotland in January 2025
Dundee V&A Museum Tour
2nd-5th January 2025
A 1 hour free tour of the incredible V&A building in Dundee. The tour includes a detailed look at the most popular objects in the Scottish Design Galleries. Meet downstairs at the welcome desk at 10:50am. The tour concludes at midday.
Scotland’s Rock Art
Until January 8th 2025
Your last chance to see this exhibition at Aberdour Castle examining the remarkable rock art discovered throughout Scotland. Titled Carving Out Connections: Scotland’s Rock Art, this exhibition draws on Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) archives to explore the enduring links between these ancient carvings and their historical and geographical contexts.
Rock art stands as one of Scotland’s most intriguing and enigmatic cultural legacies. This term refers to the patterns, symbols, and images created by engraving or painting on natural rock surfaces. Such artwork has been produced by people across the globe for millennia and can be found in various settings in Scotland —from deep caves and sheltered rock faces to prominent outcrops and scattered boulders in the open countryside.
Nell Baxter and Dundee’s Celtic Revival
Lamb Gallery, University of Dundee
Selected Dates throughout January 2025
This exhibition looks at the work of Nell Baxter, later known as Helen Kippen, an artist and designer originally from Dundee. Baxter was a prominent figure in the Celtic Revival of the late 19th century, the art movement which aimed to revive connections to Scotland’s ancient heritage through art, music, and literature. The exhibition features previously unseen designs by Baxter, alongside works by her Dundee peers, such as John Duncan, Stewart Carmichael, and George Dutch Davidson.
Celebrations and Festivals
Dumfries Carnival
3pm Saturday 17th-19th January
Enjoy a free Carnival weekend in Dumfries, packed with fun activities for the whole family. Highlights include the Dumfries Carnival Parade, taking place at 5pm on Saturday, along with three days of activities such as workshops, outdoor light and projection displays, a food market, funfair rides, live performances on outdoor stages, and a bar.
Celtic Connections
Glasgow, various venues 16th January to 2nd February
Now in its 32nd year, the Celtic Connections festival has established its reputation as Europe’s finest folk, roots and world music festival. Twenty five venues across Glasgow will host a diverse line up of over 300 traditional and contemporary performances from musicians from all corners of the world. Check the festival website for the full Celtic Connections programme.
Up Helly Aa, Lerwick, Shetland
Tuesday 28th January 2025
The Up Helly Aa festival takes place at the end of January in Shetland. The day involves a series of marches and visitations, culminating in a torch-lit procession and the burning of a galley. The day’s events begin at 08:15 with the torchlit procession at 19:30.
The day is made up of marches, ceremonies, songs and processions by squads of up to a thousand ‘guizers’ in Viking dress, armour and weapons. Guizer Jarl is the leader of the elite Jarl Squad who play a prominent role in the proceedings. It is considered a great honour to be chosen to be a member of the Jarl Squad and to be elected Guizer Jarl, an even greater one. To take part as a guizer you must have been a Shetland resident for at least 5 years. Until 2023 women were not allowed to participate but the times are a changing and last year was the first year that women participated as guizers.
Since Up Helly Aa began celebrating Shetland’s viking heritage in the 1880s, it has been only cancelled or postponed for exceptional events – basically war, the death of monarchs and most recently the Covid pandemic.
Burns Nights 2024
Suppers & Other Events
Arguably the most significant date in the national calendar, Burns Night takes place on January 25th each year. If you are visiting Scotland in January don’t miss out on the chance to take part in the celebrations of the life of Scotland’s most treasured poet. There will be events of all varieties taking place all over Scotland. Take your pick from traditional Burns Night Suppers to grander balls or concerts, ceidhlihs and festivals.
We’ve put together a selection of events celebrating the life and works of Robert Burns in January 2024. If you want to find out a bit more about Burns Night and why it’s such a big deal in Scotland read our longer article about Robert Burns.
Burns Suppers
Burns Suppers will be held throughout Scotland on, or close to, the 25th of January. The traditional meal of haggis, neeps and tatties is usually accompanied by poetry, song and of course a few drams. Read on for our selection.
Meldrum House Burns Supper
January 25th & 26th, Aberdeenshire
Celebrate Burns Night in style at 13th Century Meldrum House Country Hotel set in 240 acres. This glamorous event normally sells out so you will need to book. Expect a classic Scottish menu, whisky cocktails and a dram from the local Glen Garioch Distillery. This year’s event features a pre-dinner display of Scottish dancing from a top dance team and a live ceilidh band.
Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh
January 24th
Celebrate aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia at this exclusive annual ticketed event. The evening begins with a warm welcome from Britannia’s piper, setting the tone for an unforgettable Scottish experience. You will be served a sumptuous five-course meal in the State Dining Room by Britannia’s butlers, showcasing the finest Scottish ingredients. Traditional Scottish music will accompany the dinner, culminating in the iconic ‘Address to a Haggis.’ Guests will then enjoy Scotland’s national drink in the elegant State Drawing Room, while our skilled Scottish Storyteller shares captivating tales of Burns’ legacy.
The evening also features a red carpet welcome, a drinks and canapé reception, and a highlights tour of The Royal Yacht Britannia, ensuring a truly memorable experience.
Other Events Celebrating the Life & Work of Robert Burns
January 2024
The Real Mary King’s Close
Edinburgh, 23rd-25th January
Experience a one-of-a-kind Burns Night celebration at Mary King’s Close, where poetry, history, traditional Scottish cuisine, and fine Scotch whisky come together in its well-preserved streets and hidden spaces, beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Along with tales of the past there will be recitals of Robert Burns’ poetry in this atmospheric setting. Toast Scotland’s beloved bard with a dram of whisky at the end of the tour. An optional extra available is a four-course Taste of Scotland menu at Amber Restaurant, the restaurant at The Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile.
Big Burns Ceilidh at the National Museum of Scotland
Edinburgh, 26th January
The Burns Ceilidh returns to the National Gallery of Scotland in 2025. The Grand Gallery hosts dancing to traditional tunes from the Jacobites Ceilidh Band. Attendees will also get access to some of the galleries.
Food and drink will be available and the dress code is tartan (of course!)
Sing Burns’ Songs
Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow
January 18th 10:30am
Join multi-instrumentalist and singer Celine Donoghue in a light-hearted exploration of a selection of the traditional Scottish songs written and collected by Robert Burns.
Celebrating Burns at Edinburgh Castle
Saturday January 25th
Find out about the life of the great poet and hear his work performed at this event taking place at Edinburgh Castle. This light-hearted event runs four times during the day and booking is essential.
Burns an’ a’ That, Stirling Castle
January 25th
This event celebrating his work takes place at Stirling Castle, the location that inspired Burns’ famous Stirling Lines he wrote in 1787. In just ten lines the work laments the decline of Stirling’s power since the heyday of the Stewart monarchy.
Celtic Connections Burns Night Concert
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow, 26th January
A night of music, song and spoken word performances to celebrate Burns Night.
Annasach Ceilidh Band at The Counting House, Edinburgh
24th January
Join the Annasach Ceilidh Band to celebrate Burns’ birthday at a historic venue in Edinburgh Old Town once frequented by the great man himself.
Whisky & Burns at Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh
25th January
Tour the distillery, find out about Burns’ connection to the whisky industry and enjoy musical performances, poetry and song in this historic venue. Accompanied by whisky tastings and a pop up bar with whisky based cocktails.
Outdoor Things to do in Scotland in January
Snow Sports
If you are a winter sports enthusiast then January is the month to get a spot of skiing or snowboarding in. There are five mountain centres for snow sports in Scotland. Three mountain centres are in the Cairngorms – the Lecht Ski Resort (great for families), Glenshee Ski Centre, the largest in the UK and Cairngorm Mountain Resort. Glencoe Mountain Centre has 20 ski runs including the longest and steepest one in Scotland. The Nevis Range Mountain Resort is on the west coast of Scotland.
Spectacular scenery is guaranteed but the snow conditions can vary so make sure you check the current snow report before heading off tio the mountains. Visit Scotland has up to date information about snow conditions and further information about the different mountain resorts.
Wild Camping in the Loch Lomond National Park in Winter
Blow out the cobwebs after the festive period and take advantage of the ability to park up and camp right on the shores of Loch Lomond. During the summer season, you need a permit and competition for the best spots is fierce. Out of season you don’t need a permit to camp. Simply park up and camp right by the waterside in one of the designated areas. There’s a handy map to show you designated camping spots near Loch Lomond and also whether they are suitable for campervans. Park rangers still oversee the national park during the winter and you may get a visit from them to check you are camping responsibly. Other than that there is a good chance of finding complete peace and solitude. If you’d prefer to camp somewhere with facilities, there are a few campsites open out of season. All the details of campsites nearby that are open in the winter are in our article on Loch Lomond Campsites Open All Year.
Last chance to see the Northern Lights
January is a good month to try for that glimpse of the Northern Lights before the nights start to get shorter. A general rule of thumb is to head north and find spots without light pollution from nearby towns. The Shetland Isles, the Orkney Islands, the Northern Highlands, Skye and the Hebrides are all good places where there are usually multiple sightings of the Northern Lights. You will find more suggestions in our full article about the best places to see the Northern Lights in Scotland.
January 5th at 1pm. Join a leisurely guided walk around Hunter’s Bog and St. Margaret’s Loch to uncover the dramatic history of Arthur’s Seat, shaped by the forces of fire and ice. Discover the stories of those who have lived and worked in the area over the past 7,000 years, and gain insights into the unique wildlife that makes this Park truly extraordinary.
Big Sky Campers Campervans for Hire
Scotland
Our campervans are all fully insulated and have heaters so you can stay toasty even in January. Our fully inclusive campervan rental price includes absolutely everything that you will need for campervanning in Scotland. The only additional items we charge for is the hire of a portable toilet and additional drivers. Everything is included in the price, including extra sets of bedding if requested.
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