DK Travel : Scotland

Scotland has an overwhelming abundance of natural beauty, hundreds of castles stand proud from its long and turbulent past, and an innate flair for enterprise and travel has endowed the nation with artistic treasures from around the world. The culture remains vibrant today, and there’s much to celebrate. Here’s a distillation of Scotland’s best.

Handa Island

Once populated by hardy people who elected a queen and ran their own parliament, Handa was evacuated when the potato crop failed in 1847. Now it is only seabirds that live here – and what a fantastic colony! Of particular note are the belligerent arctic and great skuas, kittiwakes, razor-bills and the largest assembly of guillemots (66,000) in Britain. A ferry from Tarbet will take you to this dramatic island.
Hanedan Turkish restaurant

Looks like a cafe from the outside. The menu is small but the quality of the food will make you go back again and again till you have sampled everything on it...then you go back again because it is so good it would be criminal not to.
Harvey Nichols

The Scottish outpost of the London designer department store.

Several floors of designer names in ladies & menswear, footwear, designer accessories and bags as well as beauty.

The top floor has a high quality food market and a bar & restaurant with fab views of the Edinburgh skyline.
Hebridean Jewellery

A lovely little place on the Hebridean Isle of South Uist, where you can have a latte and some homemade soup and browse the locally made jewellery
Hector Russell

Made-to-measure kilts and a gathering of the tartans. Also a branch on the High Street.
Herald House Hotel

An absolute steal – bright and comfortable modern hotel, hewn from a rustic stone building to the west of the city centre. In such a compact capital, none of the main sights is very far away, and either the Old Town or Princes St can be reached within a 15-minute walk. TVs in all the rooms, decent beds, uncluttered décor, en-suite showers.
Hermaness National Nature Reserve, Shetland

When you look from here to Muckle Flugga lighthouse, you’re gazing at the northernmost tip of Britain. Aside from the view, the cliff-edged reserve is a favourite breeding ground for bonxies (great skuas). Alongside these pirates (they steal food from other sea birds), there are gannets, razor-bills, red-throated divers and a large gathering of tammy nories (puffins).
Hermitage of Braid & Blackford Hill

The countryside in the city! A beautiful local nature reserve between Morningside and Liberton. There are many varied habitats - mixed woodlands, a stream, a duckpond, steep rocky slopes, wild flower meadows. Climb up to the grassy summit of the hill for an unbeatable view of the city. There are walks to suit all levels of fitness - there's even a carpark next to the observatory at the top of the hill if you want to see the view without the climb! A visitor centre in the middle of the Hermitage provides information on the wealth of wildlife in the reserve. The reserve is easy to get to by local buses.
High Street Hostel

Bustling 24-hour hostel, central to the action. No frills, but plenty of smiling faces, most off to spend money saved on accommodation in the local bars.
Highland Dancing

Vital ingredients of any Highland Games are the young, kilted dancers competing on stage. They leap and turn, endeavouring to execute the varied steps perfectly in time to pipe music. Among the most common are the Sword Dance, performed over crossed blades, and the Highland Fling. Look out, too, for demonstrations of the ancient tradition of step dancing, now being revived.

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Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under £50
- £50–100
- £100–150
- £150–200
- over £200