From Around Scotland with Graeme Johncock, a Hidden Scotland guide

Scotland’s Quiet Season Begins

November, when the season ends and the roads are quiet.

Words by Graeme Johncock

Printed in Around Scotland with Graeme Johncock, a Hidden Scotland guidebook.

As November begins, Scotland’s tourist season ends with the majority of attractions, cafés, castles and accommodation closing their doors. Usually this is when I would start to take a little bit of time off from showing people around the country and rest before getting back out there to do some exploring for myself. However, I had one last tour to pack in before then!

That trip took me to two places that underlined an important point I love making, what I consider the essence of real Scottish adventures. You don’t always need to visit the big-name attractions or spend lots of money to enjoy your time here. Scotland is blessed with fascinating places and spectacular views that are just out in the open, waiting for you to find them.

The first place that reminded me of this was Kilmartin Glen, somewhere that I’ve visited plenty of times, but it never gets old. Well, actually it stays old – very, very old! The glen is absolutely packed with standing stones, burial cairns and strange, swirling rock art that stretches back thousands of years!