Activities and adventures to fill your summer calendar
Scotland in summer is a wonderful place. We all know that it's blessed with enviable scenery, wildlife, and culture. But not everyone knows just how much there is to do here during weekend breaks and summer holidays.
Did you know that you can go surfing in Edinburgh, hot air ballooning in Aberdeen, and tank driving in Angus? It's hard to describe just how many exciting activities there are in every corners of the country – but we've given it our best go.
Here are just a few ideas to get you going...
ABERDEENSHIRE
When you picture the natural beauty and riveting history of Scotland, you probably don't think immediately of Aberdeenshire – and if so, you're missing out.
Aberdeenshire is with stunning: rolling hills, dramatic coastline, tranquil lochs, sweeping glens. There are rural villages, ancient castles, and quite a number of world-class distilleries. Best of all, it's home to the Cairngorms – the largest national park in Britain.
There is a font of country pursuits like fishing, archery, horseback riding, and clay pigeon shooting to be found. And if you're not one for waders and shotguns, consider a leisurely hike, round of golf, or a decidedly unleisurely hike spent bagging one of the local Munros.
Surfing is popular on the coast with beaches to suit beginners and experts alike. For landlubbers, kite buggying and land-boarding are also available. There are cycling routes for families and MTB trails for adrenaline-hunters. You can leap off a mountain in a gliding lesson or soar over the country in a hot air balloon. At the coast, dolphin spotting at Chanonry Point and paddle boarding around castles and caves are just two of many options.
If you weren't considering Aberdeenshire for your summer sojourns this year, we hope this sprinkling of options has kindled your interest.
Local hotel: Douneside House
THE BORDERS AND DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
Did you know that the Scottish Borders are home to some of Europe's most elite mountain bike trails? Well now you do!
The 7stanes network is a collection of world-class trail centres stretching across the Borders and south-west. The epicentre is the Tweed Valley, where you'll find both Glentress (famous for high-speed, flowing descents) and Innerleithen's brutally steep downhill tracks – as well as flatter, more hospitable trails.
For a more sedate saddle session, consider a history biking tour to the four abbeys of Kelso, Melrose, Jedburgh, and Dryburgh. It's 55 miles long, but worth every turn of the pedal.
Take to the lochs for windsurfing, water skiing and canoeing – Scotland's first official 'canoe trail' runs from Stobo to Tweedbank. Plunge below the surface to more than 80 wreck sites at the St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve. Or meet yourself halfway, with a glass-bottom boat trip through shallow, crystal clear waters, or a more traditional excursion to Ailsa Craig to see the famous bird and seal colonies there.
Of course, there's also plenty to explore on your own two feet. The gardens near Knockinaam Lodge are mesmerising. Logan Botanic Garden grows tropical wonders, Threave Garden is captivatingly manicured, and the Crichton estate's 34 landscaped hectares come with spectacular views over the Nith estuary. The 'secret garden' atmospheres of Woodfall and Glenwhan are more intimate and all the more lovely for it.
Over in Galloway, the sprawling Forest Park is anything but intimate. Plan your trip for a clear night for the chance to see more than 7,000 stars simply by casting your gaze to the sky.
And finally, if what you really crave is to pound the ground in your most trusty hiking boots, the Ayrshire Coastal path stretches 100 miles along gentle coastal paths, nature trails, and country roads. And because you are still in Scotland, we guarantee that superb golf courses remain, always, within driving distance.
Local hotels:
EDINBURGH & LOTHIANS
In Edinburgh, the castle and city gardens tend to get all the credit. Spectacular as they are, they don't even scratch the surface when it comes to brilliant summer activities.
First up, just outside the centre you'll find the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA) at Ratho – the only climbing centre in the UK with Olympic-standard facilities for all three climbing disciplines. Literally across the road is Lost Shore, Europe's largest indoor surfing destination. With perfect conditions for every single wave, this has become one of the country's premier surfing spots – and in Scotland, that's no mean feat.
Thanks to a plethora of bike paths, you can cycle everywhere in the city. Consider a guided tour, a trip across the Forth Road Bridge, or a leisurely escape into East Lothian. Here you'll find unspoiled beaches (ideal for picnicking, walking, or kite flying) as well as marginally more adventurous activities like paintball, tandem micro-light tours and hot air ballooning. The Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick will give you an inspiring view of Bass Rock, home to the world’s largest gannet colony.
Oh, and no matter where you go in the Lothians, you'll never be far from a country park offering everything from quiet ice cream breaks to guided nature tours, gorge walking, canoeing, archery, and orienteering.
GLASGOW
Glasgow has absolutely everything. We could leave it there, but here's a little extra detail...
Active kids and teens will be thrilled to find skate parks dotted across the city, as well as dry ski slopes and indoor, snow-covered pistes. For adventurous families there is go-karting, an aerial assault course, numerous climbing venues and Pinkston Watersports – Scotland's only artificial whitewater course and urban paddlesports centre – within easy reach of the centre.
For cyclists, the city is also home to a vast network of off-road trails and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, where you can let fly on the track after an introductory session. A trip to the Falkirk Wheel – a miraculous feat of engineering that locals have given up trying to comprehend – is thoroughly recommended. Just a short drive away is Loch Lomond, one of the country's most popular summer spots. Wild swimming, hiking, fuelling up with burgers and pints – it's simply a must-visit.
Finally, there are several top-class outdoor recreation centres near Glasgow, promising floating fun for the full family with canoes, bumper boats, pedalos, sailing, water skiing, and much more.
Local hotel: Crossbasket Castle
PERTHSHIRE
Here's just a sampling of what summer in Perthshire has to offer: fishing, duckie paddling, zorbing and white water rafting, pony trekking, shooting, quad biking, archery, cycling, hill walking, Nordic trekking, and off-road Land Rover experiences. If you venture into Fife, you might try your hand at abseiling, canoeing, coasteering, rock climbing, sea kayaking, or tank driving.
That's a lot of activities. But we haven't got to our favourites yet. In Killiecrankie there's the only permanent bungee jump location in Scotland: a 40-metre plummet towards the river below. There are safari tours of the country's thriving wild beaver population on the River Tay and, finally, you can feed Red Kites from the palm of your hand in the Trossachs – a quite indescribable experience.
TO THE WEST
The west coast of Scotland is host to virtually every water-based activity that you can imagine. We need to specifically call out the waters around Oban for kayaking (there are coves, hidden caves, and numerous isles to explore) and Kintyre’s western fringe, which has become a hotspot for all the surfing: kite, wind, and regular.
For a rare experience, travel out to the Isle of Rum. Its International Dark Sky Sanctuary is one of only two in the UK (and around 20 in the entire world). The Trossachs National Park isn't far away, and across every part of the west coast you'll find abundant wildlife, cathartic views, more wild swimming spots than you could have thought possible.
You can't help but love the west.
THE HIGHLANDS
And of course, there's the Highlands: stunning mountain passes, spectacular glens, winding rivers, and awe-inspiring views that are just the tip of the iceberg. With a vast network of routes both on and off the road, it's a dream destination for cyclists and mountain bikers. For an extreme downhill MTB course during summer, take the gondola at the Nevis Range ski centre and prepare for a memorable descent.
As you might expect, water-based activities abound. There’s sea kayaking along the Moray Firth coastline, exhilarating white water rafting on the River Garry, as well as canyoning, river tubing, body-boarding and surfing.
After a £47 million investment, the Inverness Castle Experience promises to bring Highland culture to life through immersive storytelling, panoramic views and exhibitions. And many travellers will devote part of summer to the world-famous North Coast 500, which is one of the standout ways to experience the Highlands.
And if you're just looking for a fun, adrenaline-free day out with the family, the Highland Wildlife Park is the one for you.
Updated in 2026.
First published 27 June 2019. Information correct at time of going to press.
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