6 things to do in Scotland

A different approach to sporting events, Scotland's Highland Games happen in various parts of the country. The biggest and perhaps most spectacular is the Cowal Highland Gathering, which attracts the world’s 'top heavy' athletes (men and women), with Germans, Belgians and Icelanders often battling for the prestigious silverware.
 
Events include throwing the 16lb Scottish hammer, tossing the caber and shot-putting the historic 34lb Cowal Stone. Plus there's Highland dancing, pipe bands, wrestling, drum majors, ceilidh music, children’s entertainment, a fun run and local food. The Games take place in July.

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6 of the best British Isles
6 of the best UK picnic spots
UK Holidays, Patstow, Cornwall

Wickerman, one of the UK’s best-loved independent music festivals takes place at East Kirkcarswell, near Dundrennan in southwest Scotland every summer. In addition to the 10 stages featuring a wide range of artists and musical tastes, there's a cinema, fun fair, circus entertainment, craft stalls, Segway hire, mountain biking and array of arts and craft activities. High-quality yurts, tipis and cloud houses plus spacious campsites complete the experience. Every year the festival stages an unforgettable finale when the towering 40ft Wickerman is spectacularly set alight.

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6 of the best British Isles
6 of the best UK picnic spots
UK Holidays, Patstow, Cornwall

Take a 'Farm and Creamery' 90-minute tour at one of the country's most famous ice cream makers. At the Cream O'Galloway you can learn how it's made, from pure, natural and simple ingredients including the farm's own pasteurised organic milk produced by cows who enjoy '100% contentment'. If you miss the tour you will find the ice cream, including popular flavours such as Sticky Toffee and Caramel Shortbread, in shops, hotels, tearooms, visitor attractions and tourist centres throughout the country.

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6 of the best British Isles
6 of the best UK picnic spots
UK Holidays, Patstow, Cornwall

On a 6-night self-drive foodie tour you’ll visit an oyster farm on the edge of a sea loch and learn how to ‘shuck’, enjoy a seafood cookery demonstration and take a boat trip with a creel fisherman as he hauls in langoustines and brown crabs and enjoy some of the catch. Accommodation is in 3 small waterfront hotels. From £715pp b&b, a seafood lunch and activities with seescotlanddifferently.co.uk.

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6 of the best British Isles
6 of the best UK picnic spots
UK Holidays, Patstow, Cornwall

Take the shortest flight in the world, less than two minutes (and less than one with a tailwind), from Westray to Papa Westray, two of Orkney's smaller islands which are separated by a distance of only 1.7 miles. Operated by Loganair, tickets can be purchased from £17 each way.

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6 of the best British Isles
6 of the best UK picnic spots
UK Holidays, Patstow, Cornwall

Armed with cameras and binoculars, Highland Safaris will take you by Land Rover, accompanied by a kilted ranger, to the high tops through a land sculptured by the elements and steeped in history and culture. With luck you'll see deer, grouse, the elusive mountain hare and the soaring Golden Eagle as you travel through forests, mountains and moors on private hill tracks. Included are tea, coffee, Kenmore Shortbread and a dram of Dewars Whisky in one of the Mountain Bothies. Cost for a 2½hr tour: £40 adult (£30 teens, £20 child).
 
For more information: Visit Scotland

You may also be interested in:

6 of the best British Isles
6 of the best UK picnic spots
UK Holidays, Patstow, Cornwall