Go Scotland Tours Blog: Merry Christmas and a loony New Year
Welcome one and all to our brand new Blog. Here to keep you updated with the best that Scotland has to offer. Each month we will bring you the latest happenings from all over Scotland as well as the low down on all the best activities and attraction to visit.
Well, the nights might be ‘fair drawn in’ and the weather has changed to cold and wet but that doesn’t stop you from experiencing some once in a lifetime adventures in Scotland. December brings festive markets, stunning winter wonderland scenery and the biggest party of the year! Let's delve straight into the best things to do in Scotland in December.
1) Edinburgh Christmas Markets
Typically the market at the Princes Street Gardens features traditional European Christmas stalls and is often referred to as the “German Christmas Market”, and the George Street section features Scottish products and is often referred to as the “Scottish Christmas Market”.
You can find a bit of everything at the Christmas markets such as painted nutcrackers, scarfs, carved nativity scenes, leather wallets and purses, flavoured coffee beans, candles, personalized engraved gifts, Christmas ornaments, stuffed animals, and chocolates. Although many of the food stands feature German food such as German sausages, there are a number of options which include hamburgers, salmon filets, pulled pork, crepes, and churros. There are also stands selling hot drinks such as hot chocolate and coffee, and alcoholic options like hot cider, mulled wine (often advertised using German word Glühwein), and hot toddies. There is also usually one stall selling Glayva drinks, Glayva is a locally blended liqueur that has a spicy taste and is good on its own or paired with coffee or hot apple juice.
2) Winter Sports 
Scotland may be ‘dreich’ (old Scots word meaning cold and wet) in the winter but with our annual snowfall and spectacular hills and mountains ranges, Scotland is one of the best places to come for winter sports. Want to Ski on some of the best runs in Europe? Great! Want to cross country ski? No problem! Want to do curling? Skating? Or play ice hockey?
We have it all.
With 5 mountain snow sports centres around Scotland, you're spoiled for choice. The Cairngorms have a great ski centre swell as the great family friendly a ‘High 5’ snow-park and high speed tubing. Glencoe is Scotland's oldest Ski centre and has a reputation as being a great venue for the more experienced skier. Glenshee, which takes its name from the Gaelic 'Glen of the Fairies', certainly offers one of the most magical skiing experiences in Scotland.The largest resort in the UK, it covers an area of more than 2,000 acres extending across four mountains and three valleys and boasting 21 lifts and tows. Glenshee offers a choice of 36 runs comprising 40 kms of pisted snow. The longest single run, Glas Maol, extends to a fantastic 2 kms of skiing, while the extensive snow-making facilities means the centre is often open for longer. With skiing up to 1190 metres (3,900 feet) Nevis Range reaches high on to the mountain of Aonach Mor and offers skiing and boarding into the spring. The base of the snowsports area is accessed by the UK’s only Mountain Gondola taking visitors from the car park to 650 metres (2,150 feet). The beginner's area is literally a stone’s throw away from the Snowgoose Restaurant at the Top Station, with a variety of easy green and blue graded runs. An artificial slope also provides skiing opportunities when snow is lean. Further up the mountain is an extensive network of red and black runs. The Lecht has been operating since the mid 1970s and the resort has grown from one ski tow to a year-round Highland activity centre with 20 maintained ski runs and 14 lifts. This is one of Scotland’s top ski resorts and is accessible from one of the most scenically beautiful roads in Scotland.
3) Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Celebrations
New Year's Eve is celebrated the world over, but there's nowhere on the planet quite like Scotland's capital for partying the year away. No matter where you come from, it's said that everyone should make at least one trip to experience Edinburgh's Hogmanay.
Maybe it's the fact that Edinburgh's party lasts for three days instead of just one. Or perhaps it's because of the sheer range of entertainment and fun on offer in a city already world-famous for its year-round selection of festivals. It could be the unique atmosphere generated by the huge crowd of welcome guests and friendly Edinburghers packed into the historic city centre. And don't forget the gasp-inducing sight of the outrageously good fireworks filling the sky with light and noise high above the turrets of Edinburgh Castle.
But wait there's more... Edinburgh's Hogmanay isn't done with you just yet.
If you're feeling bold on the first day of January maybe you can shake off the rigours of the night before as one of the hardy souls taking part in the Loony Dook, a street parade of costumed thrill-seekers culminating in a freezing cold plunge into the icy waters of the River Forth in South Queensferry.
