Scotland is beautiful in the winter, there’s no doubt about that. But there’s something particularly special about this country when the air starts to get warmer, and the flowers start to bloom. Standing in the Highlands, for instance, with a light breeze swaying the grass and a crisp, blue sky glistening above the mountains – there’s really nothing quite like it.
This is probably why our Scottish motorhomes become such hot tickets during this time of year. While cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow remain popular year-long, this is the time when people want to explore the country further, renting our motorhomes to delve deeper into Scotland and take advantage of its natural wonders.
If you’re going to be one of these people, then there are a few things you can get up to. Of course, what you do is entirely up to you, but we’ve listed out five of the best springtime activities and why we think they’re a must in Spring 2024.
Hiking Through the Heat
Just toward the end of spring in 2023, Scotland recorded its hottest days of the year, with particular hot spots including Dumfries and Galloway, as well as Aviemore.
Dumfries and Galloway is one of our favourite parts of this country, known for its undulating coastline and amazing green landscapes. What better way to enjoy springtime, then, than to park up your motorhome in one of the hottest areas of Scotland and go for a hike?
Tasting the Spring
Doing so, of course, might give you quite a thirst. Thankfully, there are quite a few whisky distilleries in Dumfries and Galloway – as well as nearly every other region in Scotland, for that matter. Scotland itself is famous for its whisky, and the month of May is actually known as National Whisky Month.
We’re not sure if there’s any science in this, but Scottish whisky always tastes better during this time of year. Perhaps it’s the spring water, or maybe it’s our imagination, but a whisky-tasting experience is a great way to taste the season and finally understand what all the fuss is about. Just make sure you park somewhere close and do the whisky tasting the day before you set off travelling again!
Wildlife Watching
As mentioned previously, spring is the season of nature, and this means there’s plenty of opportunity to spot some wildlife. Around the coastline, for instance, the seabirds return home to breed, giving you the chance to see everything from puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes, guillemots, and shags gathering on the coastal cliffs and enjoying the spring sunshine.
Inland, you can also go looking for some more Scottish creatures, including the red squirrel, red deer, Scottish wildcats, pine martens, and, of course, the infamous Highland cow.
Beach Barbecues (A Few Months Early!)
We might be jumping the gun a bit here, but there’s nothing better than parking up along the coast and spending a day at the beach. We’ve written before about what we think is the best beach in Scotland, but the truth is, Roseisle Beach has just as good a claim. This beach is an underrated hotspot during the warmer months, with locals and visitors alike travelling to the beach to enjoy the sun and even spark up their barbecues.
It should be noted, of course, that Roseisle has barbecue facilities – you can’t just rock up to any beach and start cooking! But if you’re using one of our vehicles, you don’t really need to. Simply place the deckchairs outside, open the door, and do your cooking in your own motorhome. Far less hassle!
Dancing into the Summer
One of the best things about spring in Scotland is the reignition of festivals! This is the chance to not only explore the country but let loose a bit and enjoy some of the best acts Scotland has to offer. And it’s not just music you can look forward to. The best Scottish events include food festivals, performance festivals, book festivals, and motor festivals. To give you an idea of what you can look forward to, here are a few of our favourites:
- Scottish Vegan Festival, Edinburgh – April 2024
- Skye Live, Isle of Skye – May 2024
- Orkney Nature Festival, Orkney – May 2024
- Perth Festival of the Arts, Perth – May 2024
- Boswell Book Festival, Ayrshire – May 2024
- Drumlanrig Offroad Motorsport Festival, Drumlanrig Castle – May 2024
- Hidden Door Festival, Edinburgh – May-June 2024
Drop into any one of these, have a dance, try some food, read a book, whatever, and believe us, you’ll be bringing in the summer in the best way possible!
