13 Magical Things to Do in Scotland in Winter

From the snow-dusted Highlands and icy lochs to lively Viking festivals and log cabins with roaring fires, winter in Scotland is filled with celebration and dramatic beauty. 

The best things to do in Scotland in winter embrace the season to the fullest. Snow brings the start of mountain skiing and the darker skies are ideal for spotting the Northern Lights. 

Friendly reindeer roam high up in the Cairngorms and the likes of Skye, Glencoe and Loch Lomond are transformed into a winter wonderland. 

Winter is the off-season in Scotland meaning fewer crowds and cheaper accommodation. A lot of attractions are closed this time of year, so it’s a chance to slow down and go at your own pace. 

There’s still plenty to do whether it’s festive Christmas markets, refreshing lochside walks or cosying up in front of the fire with a wee dram. 

Read on to discover 13 of the best and most beautiful places to visit in Scotland in winter, plus some of my favourite things to do in each!

Map of Things to Do in Scotland in Winter

1. Visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd 

What better way to get in a winter wonderland mood than meeting reindeer? Deep in the Cairngorms National Park lives a friendly wild-roaming reindeer herd. They’ve made the rugged mountains their home since 1952 when the first generation was brought over from Sweden. 

Despite spending most of the year roaming the Cairngorms, they’re used to people and you can go and meet them in their habitat under the guidance of a herder. Unsurprisingly, December is a popular time to see them nosing about in the snow. 

Cairngorm Reindeer near Aviemore open a special Christmas paddock in December with festive decorations, Santa, hot chocolate and of course, the reindeer. Book at least 30 days in advance to secure your spot. 

Highlights 

• See Britain’s only free-roaming reindeer on a hill trip in Scotland
• Visit reindeer in the paddock 
• Do a festive reindeer paddock visit and see Santa in December

2. Enjoy the Scenery on Winter Walks 

Bundle up in your warm winter gear and pack a flask of tea because a refreshing walk is the best way to appreciate Scotland’s beauty on a clear winter day. 

I don’t recommend tackling mountains or big hills this time of year as the weather can change in an instant but you can still get out and immerse yourself in nature. You don’t need to go far either. 

Carlton Hill and Arthur’s Seat give you spectacular panoramic views of Edinburgh in winter. Pollok Park is Glasgow’s biggest park and has Highland cows, Pollok House and the Burrell Collection to retreat to when the weather turns. 

In the Scottish Highlands, the loop around Loch Morlich gives you gorgeous views of the surrounding Cairngorms and Glenmore Forest from the water’s edge. It’s a two-hour circular trail and easy Scotland winter hiking at its best.

You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale at Castle Fraser in Aberdeenshire. The fortified castle is closed during the winter but you can wander through the estate. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the grounds under a blanket of snow. 

The Hermitage in Dunkeld, home to some of the tallest trees in Britain, is a magical place to explore in winter. Icicles from the River Braan and Black Linn Falls decorate the surrounding trees and rocks. Look out for scampering otters!

Highlights 

• Get panoramic wintery views of Edinburgh from Carlton Hill and Arthur’s Seat
• See Highland cows in Pollok Park on a day trip from Central Glasgow
• Be surrounded by the Highlands at Loch Morlich
• Imagine yourself in a fairytale on the Castle Fraser Estate 
• Look out for icicles and otters among Douglas fir trees at the Hermitage 

3. Explore Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park

Loch Lomond isn’t just reserved for long summer days. They’re well worth a visit in winter. It’s quieter and the wintery scenery is magnificent. 

The Trossachs National Park has 22 big lochs, including Loch Lomond. Head to Balloch and stroll along the bonnie banks, looking out for the snow-dusted form of Ben Lomond across the water. 

Loch cruises don’t run in the depths of winter (they would be pretty chilly anyway!) but you can get your boat fix at Maid of the Loch. The vintage paddle steamer is closed but makes for a great photo from the outside. 

Luss is another gorgeous place to visit. The conservation village has signature stone cottages right by the water with the dramatic Beinn Dubh behind it. 

You can climb up some of the way to get panoramic views of Loch Lomond dotted with islands. Conic Hill in Balmaha is another popular walk for views, weather permitting. 

Highlights 

• Visit the picturesque conservation village of Luss 
• Walk along the waterfront in Balloch 
• Get panoramic views from Conic Hill and Beinn Dubh 
• Spot the snow-dusted Ben Lomond 

4. See Glencoe in a Whole New Light 

As one of the most beautiful places in Scotland, Glencoe is jaw-dropping all year round but it comes into its own in winter. The towering rugged mountains are covered with snow and the clouds hang low over the landscape. 

Winter is a quieter time to visit Glencoe, so there’s traffic on the road and you have more time to soak up the views undisturbed. Up at Glencoe Mountain Resort, the ski season is in full swing and you can go snowboarding, sledging or take it easy with a hot drink at the cafe. 

Depending on visibility and rainfall, winter is a stunning time to photograph Glencoe. The light is softer and moodier with atmospheric mist. Make sure you wrap up warm, be careful on the roads and be mindful of the dwindling daylight. 

Highlights 

• Visit the turf and creel house at the visitor centre 
• See Glencoe’s famous filming locations, including the Three Sisters 
• Admire the view of the house at the foot of Buachaille Etive Mor
• Do snowsports at Glencoe Mountain Resort 

5. Experience Christmas in Edinburgh 

The run-up to Christmas is a magical time to visit Edinburgh and it’s one of my favourite things to do in Scotland in winter. The dark Gothic architecture of Old Town and the classic buildings of New Town are festooned in twinkling lights and festive displays. 

Edinburgh Castle dresses for the occasion with a Christmas tree in the Great Hall and a colourful light display in the evening. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is also decorated with Christmas trees and wreaths. 

As Edinburgh is walkable, you can easily do a self-guided walking tour of the city’s Christmas lights, with stops at the Royal Mile, Victoria Street, Circus Lane and Dean Village. Warm up with scrumptious marshmallow-topped hot chocolate at Uplands Roast or the Milkman. 

As for festive activities, the traditional German Christmas market in East Princes Street Gardens sells food, drink and trinkets. I recommend going on a weekday as it gets very busy otherwise. 

There’s also an annual lights display at Edinburgh Botanic Garden. The award-winning trail takes you on an enchanting walk through a sea of colourful lights. Grab hot drinks and food from the street food vendors to keep yourself warm. 

Highlights 

• Visit the Christmas market at East Princes Street Gardens 
• Take a self-guided walking tour of the Christmas streetlights
• See the Castle of Light display at Edinburgh Castle 
• Do the Christmas at the Botanics trail at Edinburgh Botanic Garden 

6. Go Skiing in the Highlands 

You don’t need to head to the European continent to make the most of the ski season. There are five main ski resorts in Scotland with both beginner-friendly and challenging runs.

When snow conditions allow, skiing, snowboarding, backcountry touring, freestyling, snow tubing and sledging are all possible. Some seasons last well into spring and access to the resorts is much cheaper than elsewhere in Europe. 

Three ski resorts are based in the Cairngorms National Park. Cairngorm Mountain has 13 ski lifts and over 30km of piste runs, including some challenging ones. The ski season here runs from December to April. 

The Lecht is also based in the Cairngorms and it’s a great option for beginners and families. There’s a kids’ area with a magic carpet to help the little ones find their ski legs. A snow-making machine keeps snow topped up and there’s a school for snowboarders and skiers to brush up on their skills. 

Glenshee is the largest resort in the UK, spanning an area of more than 2,000 acres over four mountains. There are 36 runs, giving more scope for advanced skiers but beginners are also catered for at the ski school. 

Sledging, snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding are all possible at the Nevis Range near Fort William. There’s a beginner’s area with green and blue runs as well as red and black runs for those who like a challenge. 

How about skiing in an area of outstanding natural beauty? Glencoe Mountain Resort is based in Rannoch Moor. It’s Scotland’s oldest ski centre and has a chairlift open all year round. There are 20 runs and the views are simply spectacular. 

Highlights 

• Choose from Cairngorm Mountain, The Lecht and Glenshee in the Cairngorms 
• Visit Glencoe and Nevis Range ski resorts 
• Go skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing cross-country skiing and more

7. Stay for the Winter Festivals 

Scotland in winter brings with it a busy calendar of events and festivals. Some of the most iconic Scottish festivals take place during the winter months like Hogmanay. 

No one does New Year’s Eve quite like the Scots. Hogmanay is a three-day festival which starts on the 31st of December and the biggest celebration is in Edinburgh. It has torchlit processions, street parties, ceilidhs and live music across the city. 

The fishing village of Stonehaven celebrates Hogmanay with a fireball parade to ward off evil spirits and Biggar in South Lanarkshire has a mighty bonfire in the high street. 

The festivities are far from over after that. The 25th of January is Burns Night which celebrates the birth of Scotland’s most celebrated poet, Robert Burns. 

The annual festival is honoured with a Burns Supper, a classic Scottish dish of haggis, neeps and tatties. The haggis is toasted, whisky is poured and the night ends with a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne to warm the cockles. 

Up in the Shetland Isles, Lerwick becomes a Viking stronghold for 24 hours on the last Tuesday of January. The annual Up Helly Aa Viking Festival sees torchlit processions, Viking costumes and street parties. A Viking longship ‘galley’ is burned. 

Highlights 

• Hang out with Vikings in the Shetland Isles 
• Toast to a celebrated Scottish poet on Burns Night 
• Join a torchlit procession in Edinburgh on New Year’s Eve 
• Watch a fireball parade in Stonehaven 

8. Go Stargazing and See the Northern Lights 

Scotland sits at the same latitude as Nunivak Island in Alaska and Stavanger in Norway which is pretty far north. Although it’s not in the Arctic Circle, there’s still a chance you might see the Northern Lights in Scotland. 

The Northern Lights can be tricky to spot and there’s no guarantee they will be vivid enough to see with the naked eye if they do show up but if the conditions are right, they’re spectacular. 

They might form as a green and purple glow or dance across the sky in ribbons like ‘Mirror Dancers’ as they say in Orkney and Shetland. 

Between September and March is the best time to see the Northern Lights as the skies are much darker and nights are longer. It needs to be a clear night and you should be as far away from light pollution as possible. 

The Shetland Isles, Orkney, Inner and Outer Hebrides, northwest coast, Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and the Cairngorms are all good places to aim for but your best bet is downloading an app. 

I have Aurora Watch UK which gives me general alerts and Aurora which tells me specifically whether there’s a chance of seeing them where I am. 

Highlights 

• Download an Aurora Borealis app which will send you notifications 
• Visit Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park 
• Visit the Glenlivet Estate in the Cairngorms 
• Visit the Northern villages of Torridon and Applecross 

9. Hunker down in homely accommodation

Winter in Scotland is the perfect excuse to ‘coorie in,’ an old Scots word for snuggling up somewhere cosy and doing nothing at all. 

Think cabins with crackling fires in the hearth, squashy armchairs, books, board games, hot drinks and endless blankets. It’s a perfect time to disconnect and reset. 

There are cabins, inns, hotels and bothies all over Scotland which tick the box for a cosy winter getaway. Lusa Bothy on Skye is made for couples wanting to really escape from it all with its snow-capped mountain views and log-burning stove. Its fully-equipped kitchen means you never have to leave. 

Eagle Brae’s luxury cabins in the Scottish Highlands can accommodate bigger groups. These cedar log cabins look the part with authentic log-burning stoves, handcrafted furnishings and big kitchens. They also have WiFi.  

If you’re craving that remote escape slightly more on a budget, Loch Tay Highland Lodges and Glamping Park has cabins, lodges and fully furnished glamping pods with hot tubs. It’s a holiday park but it’s a lot quieter in winter. 

As for hotels, Schloss Roxburghe is a cosy castle hotel on the Scottish Borders serving the most sumptuous afternoon tea by the fire. I’ve stayed at the Royal Scots Club in Edinburgh which has a similar vibe right in the heart of New Town. 

Highlights 

• Enjoy a cosy secluded winter getaway at Lusa Bothy on Skye
• Stay in handcrafted cedar log cabins at Eagle Brae
• Choose from cabins, lodges and glamping in Loch Tay Highland Lodges
• Stay in luxury at Schloss Roxburghe and the Royal Scots Club

10. Sip a Malt in a Cosy Pub 

There’s nothing quite like sheltering from the cold with a wee dram by the fire. Scotch whisky warms you up from the inside out and where better to sip it than ensconced by the hearth in a cosy Scottish pub? 

As you stroll around Edinburgh, you’re sure to come across a pub’s warm welcoming glow that will tempt you inside. The Sheep Heid Inn is the oldest pub in the city and it has a roaring fire while the multi-award-winning Whiski Bar on the Royal Mile has 300 whiskies to choose from. 

The Stein Inn is the oldest inn on Skye and features log-burning stoves and good company. If you find yourself on the Isle of Mull, Macgochans is a warm place to grab some grub and the Mishnish has a fireplace and history as a sailors’ hangout. 

You can cosy up by the fire and rest your head at the George Hotel in Inveraray. Cottiers is a bar inside a church and 226 Gallowgate is the place to enjoy a dram and live music when you want to escape the chilly winter in Glasgow. 

Highlights 

• Drink at the Sheep Heid Inn and Whiski Bar in Edinburgh
• Visit Cottiers and 226 Gallowgate in Glasgow
• Sip a dram at the Stein Inn on Skye and Macgochans and the Mishnish on Mull 
• Rest your head at the George Hotel and visit the historic pub in Inveraray 

11. Do a Wintery Tour of the Isle of Skye 

Winter is the off-season on the Isle of Skye which means fewer crowds, cheaper places to stay and having all the best landmarks (mostly) to yourself. 

Skye doesn’t see much snow but it can get very cold and rainy with icy roads. If you would rather not risk driving yourself, I recommend doing a small group tour. Sit back and relax while your driver whisks you safely to the scenic landmarks. 

Soak up the moody scenery of the low-hanging clouds descending over the Trotternish Peninsula. 

The dark, jagged pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr looks more dramatic, the Quiraing is more ghostly and the Fairy Glen looks even more ethereal. 

Dunvegan Castle is closed in winter but you can still admire the outside. If you’re lucky, there may even be frost or snow, giving it a fairytale aesthetic. In February, they open the garden and cafe for a few days so the public can enjoy the blooming snowdrops. 

As the light dwindles over the landscape, return to Portree and finish your Skye itinerary with hot toddies in a pub before settling in at your cosy accommodation. 

I really rate Tour Skye for tours from Portree. They take you to all the best landmarks in a day and they’re available to book on GetYourGuide.

Highlights 

• Less crowded views of the Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, Fairy Pools and Fairy Glen 
• Affordable places to eat and stay 
• Admire some of the most beautiful of Scotland’s winter landscapes 
• Enjoy the quietest time to visit the Isle of Skye

12. Explore the West Coast of Scotland 

The rugged beauty of Scotland’s west coast can still be enjoyed in winter. While a reduced ferry service makes reaching the Inner and Outer Hebrides more challenging, it’s still possible. 

You just need to keep an eye on the weather and ferry timetables. The Isle of Skye is connected by road so you’re not reliant on ferries! If you would prefer to make it easier for yourself, you can still explore mainland Scotland. 

Fort William is a great place to visit in winter as you can go skiing on the Nevis Range. I don’t recommend attempting to climb Ben Nevis but you can still do a spectacular walk through Glen Nevis to Steall Falls. 

Glenfinnan is another utterly gorgeous place in winter as there’s a chance to see snow on the famous viaduct. The Jacobite doesn’t run in winter but it’s still worth a visit for the dramatic landscape alone. 

Winter doesn’t slow Oban down on the west coast. The town has a 10-day winter festival in November with a Haggis Festival and a dumpling competition. It’s also the place to tuck into fresh seafood and look out for winter wildlife including mountain hares, otters and porpoises. 

Further south in Dumfries and Galloway, Galloway Forest Pak is an international dark sky reserve and one of the best spots in the UK to go stargazing. 

Highlights 

• Eat some of Scotland’s best seafood in Oban 
• Explore the outdoor capital of Fort William & Ben Nevis 
• See the Glenfinnan Viaduct surrounded by snow-capped scenery
• Visit Galloway Forest Park and go stargazing 

13. Venture Up to Orkney and Shetland 

Don’t let winter deter you from having a true adventure on your Scotland winter trip. Grab your windproof rain gear (an essential on your Scotland packing list!) and venture to Scotland’s most northerly territories, Orkney and Shetland. 

Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa Viking festival is reason enough to visit Shetland in January. You can also see a Viking longhouse and longship replicas in Unst and visit the 5000-year-old Jarlshof turf houses. They’re a similar structure to the Neolithic Skara Brae on Orkney. 

Orkney also has the Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness which look ethereal in the grey, misty landscape. The Italian Chapel adds a pop of colour to the moody scene and over on Hoy, you have blustery seaside walks with beautiful sea stacks just offshore. 

And of course, if the night skies are clear, remember to look out for the ‘Dancing Mirrors.’ Wild Skies Shetland has free sky trails you can follow on Unst.  

Highlights 

• Get to Shetland in time for Up Helly Aa 
• Visit the atmospheric Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness on Orkney 
• Step back in time to 5000 years ago at the UNESCO-listed Skara Brae 
• Look out for the Northern Lights at night 

Final Thoughts on What to Do in Scotland in Winter 

Winter is a magical time to visit Scotland. Its wild, rugged landscapes become even more dramatic, the softer light is a photographer’s dream and the stark castles look as if pinched from a fairytale. 

If you’re lucky, snow dusts the Highlands and the ski season in the mountains is in full swing. Scotland’s towns and cities get cosier. 

Now is the time to make hunkering down part of your Scotland winter itinerary. It can be as simple as sipping a drink by the firelight or curling up with a good book in a log cabin. 

Of course, winter in Scotland is not without its challenges. As it’s the low season, many attractions are closed. It’s the wettest time of the year and weather can be unpredictable. Snow and ice can make roads dangerous and you also have fewer daylight hours to explore. 

Just remember to wrap up warm, do activities as early as you can in the day and opt for small group tours if you’re worried about the roads. Oh, and don’t forget to look up at the night sky!

And if you’re inspired to explore Scotland year-round, make sure to check out my guide on things to do in summer for your next adventure.

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