8 myths about travelling to Scotland... BUSTED!

1. It always rains

Ok, so we have a very diverse climate here in Scotland, but it doesn’t always rain! In fact, Edinburgh’s annual rainfall of 668 mm is on a par with Morocco, Sydney and Barcelona!

2. Everything is deep-fried

Ugh. Yes, you can find certain fast food restaurants that will deep fry pizzas, mars bars and a variety of other foods, but it’s not something that happens everywhere. In fact, Scotland has some of the finest restaurants and dining in the UK, including 14 Michelin Starred restaurants, 22 AA Rosette awarded restaurants, plus a host of restaurants by famous Chefs like Jamie Oliver, Michel Roux Jr, Marco Pierre White and Tony Singh.

3. Kilts are just for fun

Absolutely not! Our national dress is very important to us, and kilts – just like ceilidh dancing and addressing the haggis – are an important part of ceremonious occasions. That’s why we like to give groups the change to experience wearing a kilt, it’s a special privilege.

4. Edinburgh is better than Glasgow for incentives

Our capital city is one of the most beautiful in the world. And once upon a time Glasgow was considered the rougher, poor relation, but not any more! Glasgow is a thriving centre for arts, culture, music and design. It’s recently been named by National Geographic as one of the best cities in the world to visit. Plus, the Hello Scotland team is based in Glasgow!

5. We only drink Whisky and Irn Bru

It’s true that Scotland has a rich history in whisky production AND that unlike most countries in the world, our favourite fizzy drink isn’t Coke-a-cola, it’s Irn Bru. But that’s not all. Oh no. Scotland has over 70% of the UK’s gin distilleries, and a huge craft beer scene that includes award-winning and global beers like BrewDog.

6. You can see the whole country in just a few days

No way! We might be a small country and we have great roads and transport connections, but once you hit the winding roads of the Highlands you’ll quickly discover that there is just so much to see and experience that you’d need a good few weeks to explore. Luckily for you, our project team are experts in picking the best locations and program ideas to suit your group’s expectations, timeframe and budget.

7. Scottish people are renowned for being grumpy, aloof and dour

It’s not true! We a happy friendly bunch…and Cambridge University proved it. Last year they did a study and found that we are the most agreeable and cooperative people in the UK 🙂

8. Nessie…

Well, we’ll leave that one up to you to decide!