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December 2018

Skye | Photo by oldskool photography

One of the world‘s most renowned travel guides, Lonely Planet, named the Scottish Highlands and Islands as one of the top regions in the world for travellers in 2019.

Tom Hall, the publication’s editorial director, said: “The wild landscapes of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands offer the ultimate escape and visiting the region‘s remote areas is now easier than ever thanks to impressive developments in accommodation.

“This is a stunning area with so much to offer travellers, from its glorious natural landscape and rich history to enviable local food and drink.”

Cairngorm National Park | Photo by Daniël Hartog

Winterwatch returns to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two in 2019, broadcasting live from the wildest landscape of the UK – the Cairngorms National Park – which is to be the new, year-round home for The Watches.

Presenters Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Gillian Burke will host the wildlife extravaganza, kicking off the year in the depths of winter.

The Winterwatch studio will be based at The Dell of Abernethy, a lodge built in 1780 which sits on the edge of the Abernethy Caledonian pine forest and is perfectly placed to link viewers to the whole of the Cairngorms.

The North Coast 500 is the Route 66 of the UK: 516 stunning miles of coast in the North of Scotland to drive, cycle, or even walk.

But, unlike the relatively well-trodden West Highland Way (now 38 years old), the NC500 is just a young-un. It was created in 2014 to support tourism in isolated parts of Scotland.

The circular Highland route offers “jaw-droppingly beautiful” scenery and begins in the Highland capital of Inverness. So you can probably still be one of the first of your friends to bag it.

In Spring 2019, a new national centre for children’s literature will open its doors after a multi-million pound overhaul.

Moat Brae in Dumfries & Galloway was acknowledged by J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, as his inspiration for Neverland.

As a patron of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust, Joanna Lumley recently helped celebrate the upcoming re-opening at an evening of theatre, dance and music. ”It is so exciting to actually stand here in JM Barrie’s ‘enchanted land’ and see our dreams for a Neverland Discovery Garden begin to come true”.

Photo by Jonathan Ricci

The prestigious summit, part of the TED network, has selected Edinburgh as the host city for their 2019 July event.

Bringing together up to 1,300 members of the international TED community, the city is sure to be bursting with ideas warming the city up nicely for the Edinburgh Festivals of August.

Scotland’s events sector is growing year on year with hotel chain Travelodge announcing plans to expand to meet this growing need.