- Ryan Pigeau
- Apr 5, 2019
- 2 min read
When I think of Scotland, I think of Braveheart, I think of kilts and bagpipes, I think of haggis and postcards of sheep, and I think of golf.
Although courses like St. Andrews and others are basically closed to the public, I still believe you’re doing yourself a disservice as a golfer if you forget your clubs at home for this vacation, the Scots invented golf and have proudly played it for hundreds of years. What I think is the most fascinating about all of it is how well The Old Links at Musselburgh have been preserved. There is evidence that golf was played here as early as 1672 and it is widely considered the very birthplace of the game. Again, I might have to know someone who knows someone, who also knows someone else to get into a game on one of the more legendary courses, but there's practically a golf course everywhere you turn and I wouldn't want to pass up the opportunity to say I've played 18 holes at a course in the home of golf.
When visiting Scotland, the Edinburgh Castle is a must-do. The castle is the epitome of your idea of a castle and archaeologists have determined this place has been occupied since the Iron Age. The castle is open to the public and they offer deals all the time so I would have no excuse to pass on purchasing tickets to tour this relic. Arthur’s seat, which is said to have gotten its name from King Arthur, is a popular hill that tourists climb for some unbelievable panoramic views of Edinburgh and the cobblestone streets down below. This mountain may have gotten its name as it’s also often said to be one of the possible locations that the legendary Camelot was founded.
Hogmanay isn’t just a Scottish word meaning “the last day of the year,” it’s a lifestyle. If the Scots celebrate one holiday better than anyone else, it might be New Years. Who else celebrates New Years by getting up on January 1st and picking up right where you left off? That’s just a Hogmanay tradition. The part I find most amusing about Hogmanay is that the origins of the excessive New Year celebrations, which include gift-giving and drinking, are pretty unknown, it’s just something that seems to have happened organically.
Although golf is almost an absolute must in my opinion, it might be just as fun to travel to Scotland just in time for New Years to experience this holiday in a way I never have before.