03 Apr 2025
Spring Breaks and Fun Days Out in Scotland
Spring is in the Ayr: the days are longer, the daffodils are blooming, many attractions are reopening for visitors and the sun is shining. It's time to arrange that break to Scotland.
With exciting events, new accommodation options, beautiful scenic journeys on two wheels, garden walks to feed the soul, and plenty to keep the whole family entertained, Scotland should be the destination for this year's spring break: from Ayrshire to the Scottish Borders, to Scotland's cities and to the Highlands and Islands. What's more, with a multitude of new things happening later in the year, there are enough reasons to plan a summer break too, with experiences and events to look forward to either for a long weekend away or a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.
Spotlight: New for spring 2025
New hotel: Seaton House, St Andrews
St Andrews has a new luxury hotel: Seaton House, once known as the Scores Hotel, and located just yards from the first tee and 18th green of the iconic Old Course at St Andrews opened its doors to guests and visitors in March 2025. With 42 luxury bedrooms, including six stunning suites and three junior suites, the sumptuous new hotel offers a range of dining options, curated by Chef Patron Roy Brett, across its bar and restaurants The Board Room and Ondine Oyster & Grill. Situated in the heart of the Home of Golf, Seaton House is just a five-minute walk from the town's many historic attractions, artisan shops, cosy cafes and fine dining experiences. (Open now).
New restaurant: Kirk O'The Lochs, Loch Lomond
This spring sees the opening of Kirk O' The Lochs, a stunning new restaurant and bar in Tarbet, Loch Lomond. Housed in a beautifully restored historic church, this unique venue will offer a modern take on traditional Scottish cuisine, alongside a carefully curated selection of Scottish ales and fine malt whiskies. (Open from end of March 2025).
New food & drink tour: Scottish Explorer Experience, Summerhall Distillery, Edinburgh
This new tour from Pickering's Gin is a Scottish food and drink tasting experience that showcases the country's finest cured meats, smoked fish, cheeses, and craft beverages. It offers a guided culinary journey where guests can indulge in expertly prepared local produce while discovering the art of pairing scotch whisky, gin, and beer with traditional Scottish flavours. Enjoy Scotch whiskies, gins, and local beers, carefully chosen to complement the food. Learn about Scotland's culinary traditions, flavour profiles, and pairings from experts. (Tours available select Fridays and Saturdays from the end of March 2025; £18+; tickets £57.75 per person).
New exhibition: Blair Castle, Pitlochry, Perthshire 'Life Below Stairs'
Blair Castle's latest interactive exhibition is 'Life Below Stairs,' which will staged in the Castle's special exhibition room from April 2025. A highly engaging and informative experience, it offers a glimpse into the roles, routines, and hidden lives of the 25 servants who, throughout the 19th Century, tirelessly maintained the Castle when the Duke of Atholl, and his family, were in residence (Price: Access to the exhibition is part of the entrance fee to Blair Castle: £19.75 adult, £13 child; concession £18).
New tour: Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour, the Real Mary King's Close, Edinburgh
Beneath Edinburgh's Royal Mile, a shadow lingers—a tale of resilience and survival. The year is 1645. The plague has taken hold of the city, and the streets of Mary King's Close are filled with whispers of death and desperation. Now, for the first time, step back in time and uncover the gruesome truths of the past in Contagion & Carnage: The Plague Tour. (One hour tour; Fridays and Saturdays in April; Over 18s only; £30 per ticket. Warning: not for the faint-hearted).
New tour: Invisible Cities, Aberdeen
Invisible Cities Walking Tours has launched in Aberdeen. The social enterprise brings its award-winning tours to the granite city alongside a number of other great initiatives that are part of Homewards UK. Invisible Cities trains people who have experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city. These tours don't just showcase Aberdeen's history, they highlight untold stories, hidden landmarks, and the resilience of the people who call this city home. This is the third Scottish city to have an Invisible Cities tour, with tours also available in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Tours will be running in Aberdeen, and will be available to book online, from April 2025.
For more ideas for fun days out this spring, check out: www.visitscotland.com/daysout
Garden variety: Five gardens to explore
Following a visit to the V&A Dundee's Garden Futures: Designing with Nature exhibition, which opens on 17 May 2025, outdoorsy types and phytophiles will be inspired to explore Scotland's other gardens and estates for a restorative walk this spring and into summer. Options include:
Kelburn is a natural attraction and hosts a wonderful coastal woodland. The castle is situated on the side of a beautiful glen and has a great outlook over the Clyde estuary and islands. The Grounds have much to offer and are famous for the many unusual trees, including the 1000-Year-Old Yews and the Weeping Larch which have been recognised by the Forestry Commission as two of the 100 most important 'heritage' trees in Scotland. The Plaisance (Walled Garden) is a formal garden walled on three sides which is likely to have been built in the late 18th century. (Gardens and grounds free to visit; Grounds, Glen, Gardens and Visitor Centre open daily 10am to 4pm daily. Dogs welcome if kept on leads; some paths in woodland glens not accessible for wheelchairs and prams).
Dawyck Botanic Gardens, Scottish Borders
Dawyck Botanic Garden is renowned for its seasonal displays of snowdrops, bluebells, rhododendrons, azaleas, blue poppies and autumn colour. Plants from the mountainous regions of Europe, China, Nepal, Japan and North America thrive here. Dawyck has one of Scotland's finest tree collections including some of Britain's oldest and tallest trees, dating back to 1680. Look out for Douglas fir, European Silver fir and Giant Sierra redwoods. (Price: Adult £9.00, Concession £7.80, Child (15 and under) Free; Open daily from 1 February - 30 November, 10am - 4pm (last entry 3.15pm; only assistance dogs allowed; Dawyck welcomes all visitors and offers the best possible access to everyone in order that they enjoy their visit whatever their specific requirements).
A true gem within the city, Pollok Country Park is known for its vast green space, offering plenty of room for picnics, cycling, or simply unwinding amidst the trees. The park is home to The Burrell Collection and even a herd of Highland Coos. The park's woodlands and riverside paths make for lovely walking routes, particularly in the spring when the bluebells bloom. Ideal for family outings or solo walks, Pollok Country Park is a peaceful retreat just minutes from the heart of Glasgow.
(Free to visit; Open daily 8am – Dusk; Dogs welcome on leads; Wheelchair accessible).
Brodie Castle & Estate, Moray Speyside
Acres of gentle Moray countryside surround the rose-coloured Brodie Castle, ancestral home of the Brodie clan for over 400 years, although their family seat has been here since the 12th century. Spring is a particularly pretty time when the grounds are carpeted with over 100 varieties of daffodil. (Entry to the gardens is free; there is a charge to visit the castle; Opening times: 1 Mar–30 Jun, Wed–Sun, 10.00–16.00; 1 Jul–31 Aug, daily, 10.00–16.00; 1 Sep–21 Dec, Wed–Sun, 10.00–16.00; there is level access to the ground floor of the castle, the shop, the Castle Café, the Playful Garden and Welcome Centre & the Pond Walk).
Ardmaddy Castle Gardens, Oban, Argyll & Bute
A garden for all seasons, Ardmaddy Castle gardens has a spectacular setting, shielded to the north by mature woodlands, carpeted with bluebells and daffodils and protected from the Atlantic winds by the elevated Castle. The Walled Garden is full of magnificent rhododendrons, some huge, an increasing collection of rare and unusual shrubs and plants. Beyond, a woodland walk, with its amazing hydrangea climbing to 60 feet, leads to the water gardens, which in early summer has candelabra primulas, irises, rodgersias and other damp loving plants and grasses. (Open all year 9am – Dusk; price: £4.00, children free; wheelchair and pram accessible; Dogs are welcome on leads).
For other Scottish gardens to visit, check out: https://discoverscottishgardens.org
Adventures on two wheels
There are many ways to explore but cycling in Scotland is one of the best as you take in the scenery all in a climate-friendly way. With approximately 1,620 miles of National Cycle Network routes in Scotland (including 695 miles of traffic-free routes), Scotland is home to railway paths, canal towpaths, forest roads, shared-use paths and cycle lanes which allow responsible and safe cycling.
Building on the success of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships held in Glasgow, residents and visitors are being urged to explore Scotland's biggest city using the National Cycle Network this spring. Many of Glasgow's leading attractions and landmarks can be easily reached by walking, wheeling and cycling.
Sustrans has joined forces with Visit Scotland, Visit Glasgow and Scottish Canals to promote seven meticulously crafted itineraries to explore House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park, River Leven or Glasgow's historic waterways, amongst others.
From mountain biking to a gentle cycle, there's something for everyone in Orkney. The weather can sometimes add a bit of a challenge but Orkney is relatively flat with a gently undulating landscape, particularly in locations like Sanday, Shapinsay, and Stronsay. For more challenging cycling conditions take a trip to Hoy or Rousay, Orkney's two hilliest locations. There are some steep climbs to be enjoyed – and endured – but the stunning scenery more than makes up for it.
This beautiful linear route takes in some of Ayrshire's most picturesque scenery, from the glittering coastline with views out to the Isle of Arran to the thriving marshland and woodland of two Scottish wildlife reserves.
The Lochs and Glens Way is a stunningly beautiful route through the heart of Scotland. It travels between Inverness and Glasgow through two fantastic National Parks. It's ideal for long-distance cycle tourers or bike packers looking for an adventure through Scotland's awe-inspiring landscapes.
Have a cycle to remember on the Hebridean Way, a 185-mile (297km) route crossing 10 islands in the archipelago. It's this scenic route that's one of the reasons behind the Outer Hebrides being praised as one of the 'Best of the World' destinations for travellers in 2025 by National Geographic.
The main event
Edinburgh Science, 5 – 20 April 2025, is the Edinburgh festival to see at Easter offering science fans of all ages a line-up of exciting events, talks and activities. Events include an Evening of Cosmic Exploration (adults only) at the Royal Society of Edinburgh; The Art of Rocks at Dynamic Earth; as well as a free events at the National Museum of Scotland and Royal Botanic Gardens (prices vary, see website for full details).
The Paisley Food & Drink Festival, running 25 & 26 April 2025 at Abbey Close and Bridge Street in Paisley, is a free to attend event that is now at its biggest-ever with an expanded site and over 50 delicious food and drink vendors from across Scotland.
Perth Festival of the Arts, which is taking place 22-31 May 2025, is bringing comedian Sir Lenny Henry to headline the festival of culture, music and art set to be held in various Perth venues across the city in May. The festival is a vibrant celebration of the visual and performing arts which each year offers an opportunity for the audiences of Scotland to connect with artists and entertainers from around the UK and beyond. As part of the festival, Sir Lenny Henry who will make a triumphant return to stand up and dive into the details of his life with Fred MacAulay before turning it over to the audience for a Q&A session.
Orkney Folk Festival, 22-25 May 2025, has announced its 2025 event line-up with acts from around the world set to perform across the islands between 22 and 25 May. Leading artists from Canada, the USA, Australia, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Sápmi, England and throughout Scotland will join home-grown Orcadian musicians as part of the 60 acts appearing at the festival in its 42nd year.
Look ahead to summer 2025
There's lots to look forward to this summer. Let the VisitScotland PR team know for more information, and we can keep you updated.
The Inverness Castle Experience (opening date, tbc) will be a new visitor attraction in the centre of Inverness, celebrating the 'spirit of the Highlands' through its stories of past, present and future. The existing castle buildings and esplanade gardens are being transformed from their original use as the home of Inverness' prison and courts into a celebration of what makes the Highlands of Scotland a special place to live, work and visit. Visitors will be able to take a journey through the gardens, the two towers and new restaurant, bars and shop to experience stories about the Highlands and its landscape, culture, heritage, and people. The visitor journey will be guided by a seanchaidh – storyteller – who will help to reveal stories which celebrate the spirit of the Highlands.
Tall Ships a once-in-a-lifetime experience for locals and visitors as it arrives in the city of Aberdeen between 19-22 July. A concert programme is also planned. Aberdeen has a rich history with the Tall Ships Races, hosting the incredible fleet in 1991 and 1997, and will be welcoming back The Tall Ships Races in July 2025. Hundreds of thousands of people will descend on the city for four days of celebrating, sharing culture, and international friendships at Europe's largest free family event.
2025 marks 75 years of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The milestone Show, The Heroes Who Made Us, will run 1 – 23 August 2025. One of Edinburgh's annual summer festivals, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo brings together audiences from across the globe celebrating the skills and talents of military bands and cultural performers from around the globe.
ENDS
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