Best short breaks in Scotland this winter

Slow travellers like to make the most of the short days during winter, and there are few places quite as wild as Scotland for a winter cabin fever tonic. Why Scotland? Apart from its extraordinary natural heritage, it boasts some of the most progressive 'right to roam' laws in Europe, and it also has a superb rail network. All in all, Scotland celebrates an open door policy, revealing a truly wild world where eagles soar, deer roam and snow-dusted mountains beckon. Here are our best Scotland holidays to plan for this winter. In fact you don’t really need to plan anything at all. Here at Byway we’ll do all the coordination and booking for you, while you sit back and dream.

Travel this winter is subject to changing travel restrictions of course, contact us or check here for up to date info.

Best places to see the Northern Lights in Scotland

The best place to see the Northern Lights in Scotland, where they are better known as the Merrie Dancers, is up in the Northern Highlands and Islands, with successful sightings most likely from December to February.

The Inner and Outer Hebrides are also a popular Merries’ hangout, accessible by taking a train to the port of Oban for a ferry to Mull, one of the best Hebridean starting points. The largest and northernmost of the Inner Hebridean island trips is Skye, which is easily accessed by train to Mallaig and then a ferry to Armadale on the island. As you should always go walking in winter with a guide, here’s a list of the best walking guides on Skye to help you seek out the Lights safely and with local knowledge on an Isle of Skye winter break.

Skiing at Glencoe

Keen downhill and cross-country skiers will be pleased to know you don’t have to travel to the Alps, Dolomites or Pyrennees to enjoy a bit of piste action this winter. The mountains at Glencoe are a fantastic spot for skiing, snowboarding, sledging or winter walking in Scotland. Take a train to and stay in Fort William and then the short bus journey to reach the slopes, all of which we will book for you. This includes the sleeper train from London if you’re coming from the south, whisking you from the capital to chair lifts in no time. You can rent skis (cross-country or downhill) snowboards and even salopettes when you get there. They throw in sledges for free. This resort, dating back to 1956, is perfect for beginners and intermediates and it has 19 mountain trails. Check out this Glencoe ski webcam, just one of many ski Scotland webcams, for up to date conditions.

Galloway Forest Park Dark Sky Reserve 

Galloway Forest Park on the west coast of Scotland is the UK’s first official Dark Sky Park, and stargazing central. Starlight slow travel is a whole other world and this Park, with its official Dark Sky Park designation takes its nocturnal natural heritage very seriously. Gaining Dark Sky Park status is thanks to the commitment of local communities who have committed to keeping their skies dark by controlling light pollution, an ever growing problem in many rural areas. There are three visitor centres for the Park, the main one is at Kirroughtree which you can access by bus to Palnture.

The hub of Galloway Forest Park Dark Sky Park is the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory. Located near Loch Doon on the Park’s northern edge, it hosts nighttime stargazing events. But to really delve into the dark, go on a trip into the forest with a Dark Sky Ranger. Although this may sound like something out of Star Wars, they are people who really know how to communicate their passion for the night sky. Elizabeth Tindall, for example, is a ranger specialising in family outings to see the Dark Sky Reserve, with rocket making, campfires and moonwatching thrown into the midnight mix. 

Fort William Mountain Festival 

The Fort William Mountain Festival takes place in February, and gives you a great reason to bask in all things wintery in Fort William. Considered to be the leading outdoor centre in the UK, the festival hosts a wide array of events between 17-21 February, including guided winter walks and workshops, adventure films at The Highland Cinema, Excellence in Mountain Culture Awards, exhibitions and plenty of winter warmth from its world-class speakers. With Fort William mountain biking trails, skiing, snowboarding and winter walking all on the cards, get ready for lights, camera and plenty of action.

Remote Working in Scotland

This trend for remote working really took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Loch Aline on the coast proving to be a perfect home from home for Lizzie Reynolds, one of the Byway team. As well as the peaks of Glencoe mentioned above, other rooms with views, and fireplaces to curl up by can be found at Loch Awe in the Argyll and Bute region, or the Isle of Skye. Corrour is also another wonderfully wild spot, only accessible by train and in the heart of Rannoch Moor.