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28 things to do in Kirkcudbright: the artists’ town of Scotland

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Here’s my guide to some of the best things to do in Kirkcudbright, a quaint seaside town in the Dumfries & Galloway area of South-West Scotland and somewhere very close to my heart. I’ve tried to cover not only things to do, but also where to eat and drink (including Kirkcudbright’s best restaurants, cafés and pubs), where to stay and the best days out you can do when using Kirkcudbright as a base.

This guide has been hard for me to write because Kirkcudbright was my favourite childhood holiday destination and now I’m in my 30s, I still know it really well, and that really increases the pressure to do it justice on here. I hope I’ve covered enough to help you plan a trip if you’re thinking of visiting Kirkcudbright. And you definitely should! Most people just zoom past Kirkcudbright on the motorway up to the Scottish highlands, but they’re missing out on an absolute hidden gem. This wonderful wee town has got the most beautiful pastel-coloured houses, fresh seafood, a plethora of local art, and an actual castle. What more could you want?!

If this all sounds up your street, read on for more detail on all the lovely things to do in Kirkcudbright that I personally recommend…

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20 things to do in North Berwick, Scotland: the perfect seaside town

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I’ve put together this guide to 20 great things to do in North Berwick, Scotland, in order to share my personal recommendations for exploring this pretty seaside town in East Lothian. It’s somewhere I absolutely adore and I’m always banging on about how much there is to see there. North Berwick has breathtaking beaches and general coastal scenery, as well as loads of good places to eat, drink and shop. It’s also home to the famous Scottish Seabird Centre, where you can discover more about the local puffins and the world’s largest colony of northern gannets.

As North Berwick is only a short 30-minute train ride from the capital, plenty of tourists visit as a day trip from Edinburgh. But I love North Berwick so much that I’d recommend staying longer than just a day trip. You can easily find more than enough to do for a short break. And the longer you have, the more hidden gems you’ll find.

Here are my favourite things to do in North Berwick for a short break, featuring everything from walking to witches…

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7 brilliant day trips from Edinburgh by train (and bus)

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A day in Dean Village and Stockbridge, Edinburgh | PACK THE SUITCASES

Here are some of the best and easiest day trips from Edinburgh using public transport only – no hiring cars and sitting in traffic involved! Edinburgh is one of my all-time cities and there is SO much to do there from eating/drinking, to history and culture, to exploring specific parts of town like Dean Village/Stockbridge or the beautiful hidden gems like Circus Lane. But it’s also a perfect city base for getting out and about on day trips to see even more of Scotland.

For this post, I’ve teamed up with some travel blogging friends to bring you a quick selection of day trips from Edinburgh that we’ve all tried and tested. This list isn’t in any order or anything, and it’s by no means exhaustive. But it’s a good place to start if you’re looking into what you can easily get to via public transport from Edinburgh. I’ve tried to include a decent variety of city, coast, mountains, towns and sights.

Get the kettle on (it would be rude not to also have a shortbread to get into the Scottish mood) and get planning…

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34 things to do in Pitlochry, Scotland: a highland escape

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Things to do in Pitlochry, Scotland | PACK THE SUITCASES

Here are 34 of the best things to do in Pitlochry, Scotland, a pretty stone-built Victorian town known as ‘the gateway to the highlands’. This guide should give you a good flavour of Pitlochry and the surrounding area, and of course plenty of ideas for things to see/eat/drink.

Pitlochry is located in Perthshire, on the River Tummel. It’s in a unique setting, surrounded by big rivers, lush glens and imposing mountains, including Ben Vrackie and Schehallion with its cone-shaped summit. Breathtaking scenery aside, the town is idyllic in its own right. Pretty Victorian-style covered shopping areas are lined with colourful hanging baskets of flowers. Stylish independent cafés sit side-by-side with quaint old pubs, all serving good local food and a surprising amount of excellent vegan options. And Pitlochry has some cute independent shops where you can buy unnecessary nice things as souvenirs for friends back home (or for yourself; let’s be realistic). There’s also the hydroelectric dam and two whisky distilleries.

If this all sounds up your street, read on for more detail on some of my recommendations for lovely things to do in Pitlochry, Scotland. Pour yourself a whisky (if you don’t hate the stuff as I do!) and get planning…

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Circus Lane, Edinburgh: a quick guide for visiting this pretty spot

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Circus Lane, Edinburgh: the best photo spot | PACK THE SUITCASES

Circus Lane, Edinburgh is my new favourite spot in the city for a quiet walk and some lovely photographs.

This is one thing I really love about Edinburgh and one of the many reasons I keep going back over the years: no matter how many times I’ve been, there’s always another little hidden gem to discover. Brilliant stuff.

So I thought I’d whack out this short post about Circus Lane, Edinburgh with a bit of useful information if you’re planning a visit to it while you’re in Edinburgh…

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A guide to Castle Douglas, Scotland’s food town

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Things to do in Castle Douglas, Scotland | PACK THE SUITCASES

Here’s my short guide to things to do in Castle Douglas in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. I’ve filled it with my own personal recommendations on all the delights this historic little market town has to offer: stuff I’ve tried and tested myself. Castle Douglas is the perfect afternoon out if you’re staying in the area and you fancy a bit of shopping, a nice walk around a beautiful loch or gardens, and a LOT of eating and drinking. A lot.

As an official ‘food town’ of Scotland, Castle Douglas is a proper foodie hotspot. It throws regular food fairs, has some delicious cafés, and is full of independent shops to buy artisan local produce. And it’s not just about food. Drinks are also covered as the local brewery makes some of the best beer in Scotland. If you’re staying in a self-catering cottage, Castle Douglas is a good place to go to get some delicious provisions in. You’ll be eating like royalty. It’s also not too far from other lovely towns like Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet, and Rockcliffe and Kippford.

If this all sounds up your street, get the kettle on and have a read of my favourite things to do in Castle Douglas…

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