Scotland Staycations are the perfect way to spend summer 2021! If you are looking for a perfect summer holiday this year then you will love all the ideas we have for you! ‘Staycation Scotland’ has become one of the most searched up topics as more and more people are discovering the beauty and adventure of Scotland. BUT don’t worry we have some great ideas for you savvy travellers looking for hidden gems in Scotland.  Many are heading to the same places across Scotland, but after countless trips around Scotland ourselves we are able to not only give you a list of inspirational ideas, but also give you an idea of the best way to beat the crowds on every one of the epic Scotland staycations we’re about to tell you about. If you are one of those love people who are eco conscious you will love checking out our 12 tips on how to make your staycations more Eco Friendly.

What not to miss when planning Scotland Staycations

Scotland is such a fun, culture rich, wild and tasty country to travel.  We are so lucky to live so nearby that you can just take regular staycations in Scotland.  Wherever you go, make sure you try to include a good hike, possibly with a tarn (little lake) and a Munro (Hilly mountain) involved.  A good Scotish hearty meal included like Haggis (ofcourse!), cullen skink, something fishy, whiskey porridge, clootie dumplings and other tasty delights that give you lots of energy for adventures.  Lochs, castles, deep forests and stunning coastlines are all essential to the planning of the perfect Scotland staycation, but to be honest, we feel like you just can’t go wrong in Scotland.  Everywhere we will share with you is beautiful, adventurous and full of friendly Scots that make you want to visit again and again.

Where can I go for a weekend in Scotland?

If you are only looking for a weekend getaway in Scotland this list of inspirational Scotland Staycations is going to be perfect for you! With each idea we suggest how to also make it into a perfect Scotland weekend getaway.  You could ofcourse use this list of staycations in Scotland like a Scotland tapas, pick out all the best tasty bits and make up your own itinerary of Scotland short breaks  and getaways.

Sustainable Tourism in Scotland

Thank you for reading this bit! I can tell you’re one of the good ones!  Some areas of Scotland are in danger of overtourism and sad to say some of the most popular areas have been hit hard by drunken behaviour, litter and people been so disrespectful of the local communities, it’s enough to put some areas off ever having visitors back! Please be part of the solution, not the problem.  If you are not already familiar with the Scottish Outdoor Access code, please take time to check it out.

It helps inspire and gives you practical  tips for looking after the Scotish countryside and surrounding areas during your Scotland staycation.  As you would imagine, it’s about looking after the environment, most Eco friendly travel just comes down to being a conscientious minded traveller who has taken a bit of time to educate themselves.  Lots of little changes from everyone really will help save and preserve our precious planet

12 Scotland Staycations Ideas for Summer

1. Coastal Campervan Adventure 

Hands up, who dreams of owning their own VW campervan?? Well until that moment, you will be excited to know that Scotland is one of the best places to rent an iconic VW campervan.  There are so many places to hire a classic VW campervan and my favourite thing about the campervan rentals in Scotland is that they are so full of character! Cutes names and bright colours all go towards making you campervan adventure feel that bit more special.  If there are more than 4 of you or you would just like a bit more comfort and perhaps a loo, then bunk campers are a great option.

Get that campervan booked, make a new summer playlist, design your menu and set off along the incredible Scotland coast roads.  Summer staycations in Scotland don’t get much better than this! If you don’t know which road trip to pick, we have put together a list of the top 10 Perfect Scotland Road trips for summer here.

Many companies will let you hire for a weekend, but as you guessed it, it is a lot more pricey, but if you are short on time and really want to do it as the perfect Scotish weekend getaway, it is totally possible.

2. Hot tub and stargazing Scotland getaways

It doesn’t get much better than relaxing all cosy in a Hot tub, breathing in fresh cool air and gazing up at the clear night sky.  This king of trip really does make for the most perfect romantic getaway in Scotland. This kind of staycation is perfect for a weekend getaway!  So much of Scotland is so wonderfully remote that there are many great places to relax in a hot tub as you gaze at the stars.  Some of the absolute best glamping spots with hot tubs for this are up in the highlands.  Glamping in the highlands whilst chilling in a hot tub makes the world feel right again.  If the highlands are a little bit too far for your Scotland staycation, don’t worry, we have also picked out some great luxury lodges in Loch Lomond National Park, many of which also have hot tubs, just check out the next epic Scotland staycation below!  

3. Hiking and Luxury Lodge Scotland Staycations

Oh that moment when you relax into a hot tub after you have hiked until you can hike no more!  Loch Lomond National Park is one of the best places for this kind of Scotland staycation.  There are many beautiful walks and an abundance of well run local luxury lodges and glamping spots with hot tubs! It’s like they know what makes the perfect summer holiday! There are great catered and self catered options through the Loch Lomond National park and surrounding areas.  We have put together a list of the best Loch Lomond hikes and luxury lodges with hot tubs right here.

4. Scotland City Break Gastro Adventure

Food glorious food, there is more to Scotland than you can imagine! Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have sterling reputations for a wide variety of both local and international foods.  Both cities have developed a great street food culture too.  As these beautiful and dynamic cities become more creative and cosmopolitan the food just keeps getting better; which you guessed it makes for a great Scotland Staycations! Whether you just have a weekend getaway of spend a full week eating your way round these cities, you wont get bored of tasty foodie options.

5. Luxury Lodges in Scotland with Hot Tubs 

Luxury lodges in Scotland with hot tubs have totally become a thing!  Why fly to Canada when you take a wild and remote luxury lodge staycation in Scotland! After what I’m guessing has been a pretty tough year, you need this kind of relaxing getaway to feel human again! For those of you needing to unwind for a week or just a weekend it really is the perfect Scotland Staycation. The costal areas around St Andrews has some of the most dreamy Luxury lodges with hot tubs and the location is beautiful!

6. Glamping in The Highlands

Glamping pods, glamping yurts, glamping tents, all things pretty, eco friendly and connecting you with nature! Glamping is such a great option if you love camping but don’t like to pitch a tent, aaaand of course  love a bit of character and luxury! We found so many picture perfect glamping spots in the Scottish Highlands. So many hidden gems; we even found the cute little colourful shepherds huts with hot tubs and had to include them too!  All of these would make for a great weekend Scotland Staycation.

7. North Coast 500 Road Trip

The North Coast 500 has fast become Scotland’s most famous road trip for very good reason! The good news is, it is so far up into Scotland it’s still not overrun.  It does pick up during the summer holidays, so, if you have options to go in June or September, that is better, but even if not, it is still a stunning, fun, beautiful and wild adventurous road trip! There is so much to know about it though, so we have put together a North Coast 500 itinerary for 4, 7 and days, with all the best stops, where to stay and maps! We love a good map! This one can’t really be done well in a weekend, so if you are short on time, scroll back up and check out our top 10 Scotland Road trips.

8. Scotland National Park Adventures

Scotland has two stunning National Parks to explore.  Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and Cairngorms National Park.  The First is just North of Glasgow and the second is just south of Inverness.  Both have stunning hikes and are well set up for hiking, biking, kayaking, water sports, wildlife walks and endless adventure activities that connect you with nature. For most, Loch Lomond is the most accessible, especially if you’re just planning a weekend getaway.

The Cairngorms National Park is especially well known as an epic spot for water sports. More and more people are investing in kit to make dream staycations closer to home. One of the most fun water sports to take off this year in the UK is paddle boarding. It’s something everyone with an adventurous spirit and love of nature can have a go at. If this is you, seriously consider investing in your very own paddle board. There is a bit more to know about them than you may first realise, so take time to research all the best paddle board options here before you buy one.

9. Forest Bathing and Quirky Glamping Scotland Staycations

Have you heard of forest bathing?  You can now get guide tours where people help you reconnect with nature as they guide you through the forest.  Essentially though, we all just need a bit more time in nature! Glamping is a great way to do this! The best glamping spots are set in amongst nature and are built in a way that help you feel surrounded with nature.  Glamping and quirky accommodation in Scotland is totally a thing now, but finding the best ones is the trick! We have put together all the best glamping spots in the UK and there are some stunning and unique options in Scotland!  If you are looking for a weekend Scotland Staycation to help you unwind from the business of life, this one is perfect!

10. Scotland Holiday Parks 

Scotland Holiday parks are really taking off again! We have to admit, in the past we’ve not been big into holidays parks, but they really have come a long way! They are epic for families, often having the best swimming pools parks and fun activities, but they are also well set up for couples to have cosy romantic getaways! If you are thinking outside the box for a Scotland staycation and wouldn’t have considered a holiday park in the past, take another look, they’re surprisingly epic.  Search up Craig Tara Holiday Park if you’re looking for family fun or Great Glen Water Park if you want something more nature focused. If you are only looking for a short weekend getaway, many holiday parks offer weekend packages for that perfect mini Scotland staycation.

11. Wild camp and Scottish Castle Hunt

Wild camping is such a beautiful thing todo in Scotland. If you are from England and love to wild camp then you will totally understand why Scotland is so exciting. There are so many restrictions on wild camping in England, but once you get to Scotland, as long as you do it responsibly, you can pretty much wild camp anywhere! SO, why not make a map of all the castles you want to see and wing some wild camping along the way!  Truly the perfect Scotland staycation for the wild at heart! Depending on where you go, you could totally rock this one as a mini weekend Scotland getaway.

12. New Hobby Scotland Staycation Challenge 

If you are used to travelling internationally a lot, staycations can seem like a slightly unfulfilling option.  One of the best ways to make a staycation really feel like it counts is to learn something new during it! A Scotland staycation is perfect for this as there are so many well set up companies to teach you knew things during your stay.  You could learn anything from paddle boarding to river scrambling to kiteboarding to kayaking to rock climbing to bush craft, cooking, farming and embroidery.  There are many awesome companies offering a great range of course across Scotland, you just have to decide what you would like to learn! If you want to make this a weekend getaway, many places offer intense short courses in what ever you are hoping to learn, we found this especially true of outdoor pursuits.