My blog post about ‘The funniest negative TripAdvisor reviews of Arthur’s Seat’ has recently seen a spike in traffic. Like all content writers, I felt it would be silly not to capitalise on this little boom and, so, went off to cast my net across some of the other tourist attraction TripAdvisor slams. I checked out all the obvious spots in Scotland and (I’m going to be honest) a lot of the rants were pretty dull. However, what did catch my eye was the bulk grumbling directed at Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Now, from a locals perspective, this was to be expected, at first glance, the street is littered with novelty…
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How to get to Den Finella Waterfall: The Lost Waterfall of Scotland
Den Finella Waterfall – An absolute chore to get down to, but one of my favourite hidden Scotland waterfalls. Reaching this photo spot requires a backwards abseil down the muddy route, way-marked by ropes left by previous visitors. Before we get started, it’s worth highlighting, the Den Finella descent is not for young children or people with mobility difficulties. Den of Finella Waterfall directions The thundering falls are located under a small bridge between St Cyrus and Johnshaven. Blink and you might miss it; the bridge sits flat with the road and you may not even realise you’re driving over the river. You’ll find the bridge on a corner of…
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Newburgh Beach: The best place to see seals in Scotland
Where in Scotland can you see seals? Newburgh, a tiny little town on the east coast of Scotland, just 15 minutes north of Aberdeen, is holding on to a BIG secret. One so big that it almost threw my favouritism for Scotland’s west coast. An enormous colony of 400+ seals, just chilling along the sands of Newburgh Beach. Whilst St Abb’s Head on the east coast, alongside the isles of Mull and Iona on the west, are well-know for their blubbery visitors, I’ve never seen them show up in the numbers that we witness at Newburgh. Seals in Aberdeenshire: Newburgh Seal Beach Although a quick Google search throws up a…
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Why is nobody talking about the Highlands man in a bathtub? – Unusual Scotland
I don’t mean to alarm you, but there’s a man chilling in a bathtub just off the Argyll coast. Not a real man of course, but a life-sized art installation that could be compared to the likes of Edinburgh’s Antony Gormley figures. But seriously, this is one of the most unusual (and most fun?) things you can stumble across on Scotland’s West coast. Where is the man in a bathtub? As you walk along the beach at Loch Melfort Hotel, just a half hour’s drive South of Oban, you’d be forgiven for missing the unusual figure staring back at you from his outdoor soak. As a matter of fact, I’d…
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How to visit Ananda Animal Sanctuary in Scotland
If you love animals .. you have to go here!
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Tahuna Bothies: modern log cabin accommodation in Aberdeenshire
The area around Aberdeen is well-known for it’s comfortable cabins and glamping pods so. Whilst planning our one night road trip from Edinburgh to Aberdeenshire, we spent a lot of time sifting through Instagram, looking something special that hadn’t been done to death. We loved the idea of a cabin, however (with the trip being so short). we were ready to steer away from our usual budget approach and drop some coin for a shower we didn’t have to hop across a field for. And, that’s when I came across Tahuna Bothies; expensive looking lodges that allowed me to stay true to my thrifty wee ways. Despite their slick look…
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Scotland road trip itinerary: Edinburgh to Aberdeen
This 2 day itinerary explores the sights between Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire, including hidden gems and pretty cabin accommodation.
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Crawford Priory: How to get to Scotland’s abandoned mansion
If you're searching for abandoned buildings in Scotland, then Crawford Priory is an absolute find! Directions to the old mansion are relatively easy ...
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Ariska: Handmade, eco-friendly, vegan Scottish candles
Last November, I wrote a post about how I was using travel restrictions to explore the nooks and crannies of Edinburgh and sample more of Scotland’s home-grown products. Since then, I’ve tried lots of new Scottish brands and, I want to tell you a little bit about vegan candles and vegan Scottish candle and home fragrance brand, Ariska (head to the bottom for an online discount!). What’s a vegan candle? Did you know that a lot of candles aren’t vegan? I know … sigh! “But why?”, you ask? It’s not uncommon for brands (especially larger ones that are churning them out in bulk) to use stearic acid or seeswax in…
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How to get Smoo Cave Scotland: Visitor guide and FAQs
Smoo Cave is one of the most popular stops on Scotland’s NC500 route. The enormous sea-cave is thought to have got its name from the Norse word ‘smjugg’ or ‘smuga’, meaning a hole or hiding-place. This staggering natural wonder is pretty unique, not only is it one of the largest natural sea caves in the UK, but it also has a rear chamber created by an underground freshwater stream. We made this the first stop of the day after an overnight stay in Bettyhill (a scenic one-hour coastal drive East of Smoo Cave). Give yourself at least an hour if you want to just explore the main chamber of the…
