While Center Parcs already boasts seven villages across the UK and Ireland, the new park, situated near the town of Hawick, about an hour and 15 minutes by car from Edinburgh, or around just under two hours from Newcastle Upon Tyne, will be the first in Scotland.

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Hawick, once a booming textiles town, is one of the country’s furthest localities from the sea. It is hoped the holiday village will attract up to 350,000 visitors to the area every year and inject £75 million annually (€86 million) into the local economy.

The park also marks the first time the popular European nature-focused resort operator is planting a whole new forest in which to base one of its villages. The woodland development will comprise 700 purpose-built rental lodges and leisure facilities, including a manmade loch, “Subtropical Swimming Paradise,” an “Aqua Sana Forest Spa,” retail outlets and dining.

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The Scottish government is contributing €30 million (around €40 million) to the venture. Taking part in a ceremonial tree-planting alongside Center Parcs’ chief executive Colin McKinlay, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney hailed the development as “a significant boost—a transformational boost—in terms of visitor attraction in the south of Scotland” and noted the “jobs, tourism, supply chain opportunities, and significant economic benefits” the project would provide. At least 30% of the employment generated is anticipated to benefit 16-to-24-year-olds.

Despite concerns during the approval process over flood risks, light pollution, increased traffic, threats to wildlife habitats and biodiversity, and limits on right-to-roam access to the park site, the plans were greenlit by local councillors in December 2025.

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Still, “right to roam” aspects of the development have proved particularly controversial. Right to roam is a statutory tenet established by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, giving responsible access to most national land and inland water for walking, cycling, and other non-motorized activities. It applies to the country’s coastline, forests, hills, and paths, based on caveats in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Considering the Scottish borders’ brutal history of forced land enclosures or “Lowland Clearances,” in which thousands of cottage farmers were displaced, the idea of curtailing public land rights here is sensitive.

But the right to roam conflicts with Center Parcs’ unique selling point: an enclosed area with one point of access, helping to create what is claimed to be a quiet, safe, car-free vacation environment in nature. Importantly for the firm’s business model, making accommodation, activities, restaurants, and pools centrally accessible in a self-contained space essentially ringfences the consumer spend by reducing the need for holidaymakers to leave the site for external purposes.

If visitors please, those purposes could include taking part in the annual Reivers’ Festival in late March, where the area’s history of border raids is brought to life through historical reenactments, music, dance, and storytelling, which bring to life the gritty and vibrant history of the Border Reivers. Alternatively, the Common Riding in June brings marches and horse ride parades, while a two-week Summer Festival in August offers themed nights, trails, and kid-friendly activities. That’s not to mention the region’s rich history of mills and textile production, nor its love of rugby. But with the new Center Parcs resort not set to open until 2029, its impact on off‑site visitor numbers and spending remains to be seen.

L’article Center Parcs breaks ground on first Scottish site despite right-to-roam controversy est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The apartments, located at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, will be accessible to visitors for a limited period in 2026. The initiative is being organised by the Royal Collection Trust, which manages public access to royal residences. 

The opening forms part of a special exhibition running for 100 days, during which small guided groups will be taken through the late Queen’s private apartments. The rooms include her Dressing Room, Sitting Room, where the Queen would carry out her official duties, and a Royal Breakfast Room, where she dined privately with Prince Philip. 

Unlike the grand State Apartments typically shown to visitors, these spaces have been described as more personal and informal. According to the Royal Collection Trust, the rooms reveal “a rare glimpse into the personal ‘lived-in’ spaces used during private moments.” 

Emma Stead, the palace’s curator, said: “Queen Elizabeth II’s well-known love for Scotland will be given fresh context through this unique and special access to the private apartments, where visitors will enjoy a new perspective into both the formal and more informal use of Edinburgh’s royal palace.”

The interiors, dating back to the 17^th century, overlook the gardens and Holyrood Park and remain furnished with items from the Royal Collection, alongside personal belongings that reflect the couple’s life in Scotland. 

In the Royal Breakfast Room, where the Queen and Prince Philip dined privately, visitors will be able to view Flemish tapestries woven around 1650, displayed there since the 1920s at the request of King George V and Queen Mary. Across the apartments, the exhibition will also feature pieces from Prince Philip’s private art collection, including works by 20^th-century Scottish artists gathered over four decades, reflecting what the Royal Collection describes as his “deep appreciation of Scotland’s landscapes and wildlife.”

A selection of the late Queen’s clothing will also be featured, giving visitors a closer look at her attire for official occasions. Displayed in the Dressing Room, where Queen Elizabeth II would get ready for official engagements, is an ensemble worn to the opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July, 1999. Designed by Sandra Murray, the outfit includes a purple silk-wool coat worn over a green silk-crepe and lace dress, accompanied by a tartan shawl in purple and green from the Isle of Skye, along with a matching hat, created by milliner Philip Somerville. 

Tickets for the tours are now available through the Royal Collection Trust website. Guided tours are scheduled to run from 21 May to 10 September, with prices varying depending on booking time. Adult tickets cost £71 in advance or £75 on the day, while young people aged 18 to 24 can visit for £63 in advance or £66 on the day. Tickets for children aged 5 to 17 are priced at £60 in advance and £62 on the day, with the same pricing applied to disabled visitors.

The opening represents a continuation of a broader effort to make royal residences more accessible to the public. In recent years, parts of other royal properties, including Balmoral Castle, have also been opened for limited tours, reflecting growing public interest in the private lives of the monarchy.

L’article Queen Elizabeth II’s private rooms at Palace of Holyroodhouse open to the public for the first time est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The development will entail the construction of a new 11,938m², 4-bay heavy maintenance hangar and workshops, taking Prestwick to 10 bays overall and making it Ryanair’s largest heavy maintenance hangar. Supporting around 1,200 engineering and mechanic jobs in Ayrshire, including 450 highly-skilled engineer and mechanic roles, alongside 60 apprenticeships, the facility is expected to provide “significant long-term employment and training opportunities for local talent,” Ryanair said in a PR statement.

Ryanair CEO, Eddie Wilson, thanked various partners, including “DFM Forbes and the Scottish Govt, the UK Govt, South Ayrshire Council, Scottish Enterprise, and Prestwick Airport for their support and partnership on this expansion.” He praised their “focused approach” and said their backing was “crucial in enabling us to grow Prestwick into a major heavy maintenance and training hub that will deliver skilled careers and economic benefits for many years to come.”

Brilliant news for Ayrshire – 450 new skilled jobs in Prestwick as Ryanair expands its maintenance hub.

This week alone we've announced over 2,300 new jobs coming to Scotland.

Much of that is down to the immense work of Kate Forbes, and I can't thank her enough. pic.twitter.com/RxExov7QIv

— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) March 20, 2026

The Scottish are putting £15 million (€36 million) into the project. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said it would “support the creation of 450 skilled jobs at Prestwick, which will have a major economic impact in Ayrshire and beyond.”

The UK government is providing £4.9 million (€5.7 million) towards enabling infrastructure for Ryanair’s heavy maintenance hangar, funding that is part of an overall £32 million (€37 million) injection for the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster to position Ayrshire as a leading UK aerospace hub. UK Government Minister for Scotland, Kirsty McNeill called its contribution to support the expansion alongside Scottish Enterprise, “a fantastic example of significant public sector funding” that would aid in “unlocking substantial private sector investment, boosting employment and driving economic renewal in Scotland.”

Alongside Ryanair’s recent £5-million investment into Prestwick Training Academy, opened in October 2024, the hangar would mean “the next generation of Scottish engineers has a world-class career path right on their doorstep. The sky’s the limit for Ayrshire as a global leader in the aerospace sector,” McNeill added.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport provided the long-term land lease for the new Ryanair hangar. Its CEO, Ian Forgie, said the hub had enjoyed a “strong partnership with Ryanair for more than 30 years and this agreement secures that relationship for the long term and provides a strong platform for passenger growth in the future.”

The Ryanair expansion of aircraft hangar space comes at a time when maintenance and storage facilities for planes have become a hot topic. With planes grounded due to hundreds of cancelled flights, Qatar Airways and other major airlines are reported to be moving parts of their fleet out of the Middle East to a remote European facility in what appears to be anticipation of ongoing airspace disruption.

L’article Ryanair expansion to support hundreds of jobs at Scottish airport est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The revamped Paisley Museum has emerged from a £68.7 million (approximately €79 million) renovations led by Renfrewshire Council with a striking new look. The project was held back by a dearth of materials linked to the global pandemic, as well as rising construction costs and inflation.

A striking, dramatic red glass façade now greets visitors on the High Street, encouraging them to “naturally drift in”. The light-filled extensions bridge the gap between the historic complex and contemporary architecture, while the bold red frontage is intended to evoke the town’s radical spirit and capacity for reinvention.

Two buildings have also been extensively renovated: the main, A-listed building and the Coats Observatory, which is recognised as Scotland’s oldest public observatory. Both structures have been restored while preserving their historic character. 

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Inside, the museum now offers double the exhibition space across every floor in state-of-the-art galleries. An outdoor garden and new public spaces have been landscaped, and a café and museum shop have been added. The museum will also boast a dedicated learning space, an archive centre, a weaving studio and digital interactive experiences throughout its exhibitions.

A new wing is also planned to connect the Coats Observatory to the main building. This will include a telescope, giving visitors the opportunity to stargaze.

OneRen, a Renfrewshire cultural charity, will operate the museum and hopes to welcome 125,000 visitors a year.

While acknowledging the considerable challenges faced during the refurbishment, Renfrewshire Council’s spokesperson, Lisa-Marie Hughes, shows unfailing optimism:

“As with many projects involving historic buildings and with this being the first major refurbishment in its 150-year history, there have been challenges”, she said. “But I’m excited for us to now look forward to the fit-out process as we create the environment that will allow us to tell the stories of Paisley’s history and its people.”

The museum’s website describes the building as the product of a “bold and radical community” that defied social division and came together around a shared interest in the natural world, science, art, and history.

Inaugurated in 1871, the museum was built by and for the people of Paisley, driven by what it calls the “curious spirit” of the community. The region was booming in the early nineteenth century thanks to its weaving industry, which brought prosperity and, with it, a growing appetite for education. The museum’s precursor, the Paisley Philosophical Institution, which was founded in 1808, promoted education for all through public lectures, and it also began collecting artefacts, scientific apparatus, objects, and books. In 1867, Sir Peter Coats agreed to finance a dedicated building to house the new museum.

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Hughes framed the project as both cultural and economic investment, adding: “We will have a visitor attraction that local people and communities will be proud of and one that will attract thousands of visitors to the town each year, who will boost the local economy”.

Designed by the international architecture firm AL_A and constructed by HUB Build, the project was made possible through a partnership between Renfrewshire Council, the Scottish Government and major heritage funders, including the National Lottery.

OneRen’s project director, Kirsty Devine, aims to establish the museum as one of Europe’s leading cultural destinations. This may well happen, as the museum has already won a major international award: the AR Future Project Award. It beat the Prado Museum in Madrid to win the award.

L’article Landmark Scottish museum set to reopen in 2026 after major renovations est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Shetland is an archipelago of over 100 islands, 170 km from mainland Scotland and closer to Norway than to the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Only 16 of the islands are inhabited, the largest being The Mainland. There are nine inter-island ferry services that carry 750,000 passengers per year between The Mainland and smaller islands like Whalsay, Foula, Fair Isle, Skerries, and Papa Stour. Services are specified by Transport Partnership for Shetland and operated in conjunction with the Shetland Islands Council.

But some islanders are increasingly sick of sea crossings that are not dependable in poor weather and that make journeys slower even on fair days. Local authorities also recognise that the ferries are, in the words of New Civil Engineer, “operating beyond their working life” and “a significant contributor to local carbon emissions.”

As a result, the Shetland Islands Council has recently brought in consultants Cowi and Stantec to help assess the case for an infrastructure project that the chair of the council’s Environment and Transport Committee, Moraig Lyall, has said “could be the most significant project the Council has undertaken in its 50-year history.”

In the same statement on the Shetland government website, Lyall announced that three firms had been appointed to develop a Fixed Link Model (FLM), using the Yell Sound between The Mainland and Yell islands, as a “test case.”

The companies involved are Norway-headquartered LNS, which has successfully delivered projects in Faroe, Greenland, Hong Kong, Iceland, and Norway; BEMO Tunnelling, of the Metrostav Group, described as “one of Europe’s leading tunnelling and civil engineering contractors”; and one of Europe’s largest construction groups, STRABAG.

For beleaguered islanders, it sounds promising. Alec Priest, a worker at Sullom Voe oil terminal on Shetland, told The Guardian the 55 km commute from his home at Baltasound on Unst to Sullom Voe is a three-and-a-half-hour round trip, including four ferries. He called it “a colossal waste of time,” and added: “During the winter, if you have any gales, there’s a good chance the ferries will stop. It does make you cautious.” Tunnels could shave more than an hour each way from his trip.

@orkneyexcursions The ferry from Stromness to Scrabster takes 90 minutes. The boat is called The Hamnavoe, it is part of the Northlink fleet. #orkney #orkneyislands #visitorkney #visitorkneyislands #orkneyholidays #visitscotland #orkneytouristguide #orkneyexcursions #ferry #hamnavoe#northlinkferries @VisitScotland @NorthLink Ferries ♬ оригинальный звук – K.S.Project

Proponents like Priest argue that speeding up journeys would be a major economic and social boost to the islands, helping carers reach vulnerable populations, making work more efficient and increasing GDP per person, attracting residents and lowering the average age, and bringing perishable food and products to market more quickly. They also point to other places such Faroe Islands, Norway, and Denmark, where the case for tunnels was accepted and acted upon years ago. Andy Sloan, executive vice president of Cowi, said: “We know that tunnels are entirely feasible from an engineering perspective.”

Locals have said they are prepared to pay tolls to contribute to the estimated cost of tunnels, which Priest puts at between £115 million and £135 million (€132.8 million and €155.9 million). For comparison, replacing the aging fleet of ferries would require almost as much—around £100 million (€115 million), as well as an ongoing £7 million (around €8 million) a year in subsidies.

Still, questions remain about whether the ferries need replacing anyway, to distribute traffic and prop up the perceived romance of the islands for tourists. Visitor spending was in excess of €57 million in both 2023 and 2024.

Ultimately, the case for tunnels is not yet cut and dried. Councillors are due to review the outline in 2026, and committee chair Lyall has cautioned: “though the Yell Sound crossing has been chosen for this modelling work, it does not mean it would be ‘first on the list’ for construction.”

L’article Will ferries between Scottish islands be replaced by tunnels? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Earlier in 2025, the Scottish Highland Council had announced it was envisioning a tourist levy. That decision was based on the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, granting councils the power to raise funds for tourist services and facilities by applying a charge on overnight stays based on a percentage of accommodation costs.

The levy was set to amount to 5% per room per night, allowing them to raise an estimated £10 million for the region. However, following that announcement, both accommodation providers and the Chambers of Commerce in Cairngorm, Caithness, Inverness, and Lochaber had expressed their concerns. The local stakeholders were afraid that the added cost might discourage some tourists from visiting the region.

More flexibility ahead

During the second week of December 2025, the Scottish government officially recommended that the Highland Council put its plans on hold. A new bill is scheduled to go into effect early 2026, giving local authorities greater flexibility around visitor levies.

Instead of operating by percentage, they could opt for a fixed amount instead, and different fixed amounts could be adopted for different geographical locations, times of year, and types of accommodation. Local authorities could also choose to apply the levy on a per-person-per-night basis, instead of per room per night. Moreover, the legislation is set to provide clear information about how the levy should be applied to sales via third parties and about which information accommodation providers would have to share with councils.

“The visitor levy empowers councils by giving them a new way to raise money for investment in tourist services and facilities. Our aim has been to give councils the flexibility to design a levy that works for their areas, while ensuring businesses can easily understand what it means for them. The Act passed last year was an example of partnership working between the Scottish Government, local government, and tourism businesses. Through regular discussions with our partners, it became clear that further flexibility would be welcomed. That is why we have decided to legislate next year, to ensure local visitor levies work effectively for everyone”, said Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee in a statement.

Following the recommendation made by the Scottish government, the Highland Council decided on 11 December 2025 to pause its initial tourist levy initiative while waiting for the new bill. Councillors unanimously backed the recommendation during a meeting. While the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers found the decision to be sensible, tenants’ union Living Rent was less enthused, according to the BBC.

An update on the issue is expected early 2026, as soon as the bill goes into effect.

L’article Scottish Highlands put planned tourist tax on hold est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Neolithic Standing Stones at Calanais – or Callanish – have stood for five millennia and been witness to 2,000 years of ritual. Near Stornaway, on Lewis, they attract over 150,000 visitors a year and are one of the most visited places in the Outer Hebrides. Their popularity in the public imagination has been growing recently thanks to their starring role in films such as Disney-Pixar’s Brave and TV series like Outlander. Visit Scotland has described Outlander’s impact as “astonishing,” adding: “Not since Braveheart has a screen production had such a profound effect on our industry.”

Hitherto, the Stones have been free to access all year round, but the Scottish government has now given the green light to a Historic Environment Scotland plan to introduce an admission charge, which the charity managing the Stones says “will help to protect and conserve the monument for future generations.”

@graeme.explores.scotland The Calanais Standing Stones are an extraordinary cross-shaped setting of stones vuilt 5,000 years ago. They predate England’s famous Stonehenge monument, and were an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years. We don’t know why the standing stones at Calanais were buolt, but our best guess is that it was a kind of astronomical observatory. Patrick Ashmore, who excavated at Calanais in the early 1980s writes: ‘The most attractive explanation… is that every 18.6 years, the moon skims especially low over the southern hills. It seems to dance along them, like a great god visiting the earth. Knowledge and prediction of this heavenly event gave earthly authority to those who watched the skies.’ #calanaisstandingstones #outlander #isleoflewis #explorescotland ♬ dance of the druids by bear mccreary – Rebecca

The cost of the entry fee is yet to be decided, but it is intended to raise money to enhance the visitor experience of the Stones, including a new visitor centre, while supporting long-term sustainability – and boosting employment in the remote Scottish region.

Under the scheme, those visiting for religious or spiritual purposes continue to enjoy free access to the site, as will local residents who have been consulted over the amount of the proposed charge. Head of the north region, Katey Boal, said: “We know how special Calanais is to the people of Lewis and to visitors from across the world,” describing the fee-paying approach as one that “balances the need to protect one of Europe’s most significant prehistoric monuments while ensuring local residents can continue to enjoy free access to their local heritage.”

Highlighting the involvement of local stakeholders, to whom “Calanais has always belonged,” Kenny McLennan, director of Urras nan Tursachan, which operates the visitor centre, said the “new charging model is about ensuring that the benefits of Calanais flow first and foremost to the conservation of the stones and support community.” He said the funds would help “protect the stones while supporting the well-being and prosperity of our islands for generations to come.”

The Calanais Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis are no longer going to be free to visit.

The introduction of an entry fee to the 5000 year old stones has just been approved, although details are still pretty vague. pic.twitter.com/MvW1B8kWWf

— Scotland's Stories – Graeme (@StoryScotland) November 25, 2025

Meanwhile, Ian Fordham, Urras nan Tursachan chair said: “This next chapter – working in collaboration with HES – builds on the £10m investment we have secured for the redevelopment of the visitor centre and will support the conservation of the standing stones, create economic value for the trust and the community and help manage the increasing number of visitors to the site.”

One of the issues at the site has been erosion driven both by shifting weather patterns and by mass footfall. But, according to a report on the HES consultation, some locals are concerned about erosion of a different kind. Some responses challenged the sense of commercialisation that the proposed tourist fee could engender, and a potential negative impact on the atmosphere of the ancient monument.

L’article Visitors to pay a tourist fee to see Scotland’s neolithic Outlander stones est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Highland Council is citing figures that show six percent of homes across the Highlands are licensed as STLs, including through platforms such as Airbnb. In some areas, such as Skye and Lochalsh, the proportion of “potential dwellings” that have become short-term holiday lets is as high as 17%. That figure sits at 11% when looking at housing built since 2020. At the same time, just over 7,000 short-term rentals have been given permits across the Highlands, with only four applications refused, council data reveals.

One report put in front of councillors said, “The evidence at this time indicates that the establishment of a Short Term Let Control Area may be justified in Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh.” Councillor Biz Campbell, co-chair of the committee, agreed, describing “Ross and Cromarty West and Skye and Lochalsh Housing Market Areas” as “less affordable” with “higher rates of STLs and second homes than Highland as a whole.”

The Scottish Highlands already has two official control areas, one in Edinburgh and one in Badenoch and Strathspey, where rules came into effect in March 2024 requiring owners wanting to turn their property into a holiday let to apply for planning permission. Since autumn 2025, the 20 other wards in the Highlands have had the right to impose the same restrictions.

So far, Lochaber, where popular destinations such as Ben Nevis, Glencoe, and Fort William are located, has already voted to undertake a public consultation on introducing a control zone. Meanwhile, councillors in Black Isle, Caithness, and East Ross have rejected the idea for now.

“The ASSC does not believe there is a sufficient evidence base to progress with a short-term let control area for Lochaber. Targeting small businesses as a means of addressing longstanding housing issues – especially when there are a larger number of empty homes across the… https://t.co/Zx4dWcGvkX

— ASSC News (@ASSCnews) November 11, 2025

Critics of the measures, such as Fiona Campbell, chief executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, fear the impact of license restrictions on local economic activity and have pointed to the number of unoccupied properties in the Highlands as a more urgent problem than the hospitality sector stakeholders.

"From start to finish, it’s been an absolute shambles – an exercise in how not to consult.

"Other councils in Scotland have taken the pragmatic and measured decision to postpone their work in order to consider changes at a national level which would allow for a simpler flat-fee… https://t.co/yaPGriseDu

— ASSC News (@ASSCnews) November 19, 2025

“Targeting small businesses as a means of addressing longstanding housing issues – especially when there are a larger number of empty homes across the Highlands – shows a muddled sense of priorities,” Campbell said, highlighting that “the local economy relies on tourism and self-catering is an integral component of the visitor accommodation mix.”

L’article Holiday rental licenses could be limited under new Scottish Highlands powers est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Erected by Queen Victoria in 1862, following the death of her dear husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the monument bears the inscription: “To the beloved memory of Albert, the great and good Prince Consort, erected by his broken-hearted widow Victoria, 21^st August 1862.”

Its granite cairn was shaped like an Egyptian pyramid to symbolise endurance and permanence – an architectural reflection of the Queen’s lasting devotion to her husband, styled in keeping with the Egyptomania that had swept Europe since Napoleon’s Description de l’Égypte (1808–1829).

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Queen Victoria fell in love with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha when he visited Britain in 1836. Following their meeting, she wrote to her uncle King Leopold I, to “thank him for the great happiness he had given her. [Albert] possesses every quality that could be desired to render me perfectly happy”. The young couple married in February 1840 and remained inseparable until Albert’s death from typhoid in 1861.

Standing some eleven metres high, the Balmoral cairn has become severely eroded” due to the increasing number of walkers on the path leading to the monument, according to the Balmoral Estate.

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The 50,000-acre estate in Aberdeenshire has been owned by the royal family since Albert purchased it in 1852 and contains sixteen cairns scattered across Deeside, as well as another on the neighbouring Birkhall estate. Traditionally, cairns are man-made mounds of stone built to mark a summit, boundary, or memorial. At Balmoral, they commemorate members of the royal family and key events in their lives.

Albert’s is the largest on the estate – and the only one in the form of a pyramid. The first cairn was erected in 1858 to celebrate the marriage of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Princess Victoria, to Prince Frederick of Prussia. Others followed, including one for Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent, and more recently, one in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.

@myscottishjournal Did you know Scotland has its own Pyramid hidden in the trees near Balmoral? The walk from Crathie car park to Prince Albert’s Cairn (also known as the Balmoral Pyramid) is a scenic circular route of around 3.6 miles, and takes roughly 2 to 2 and a half hours to walk there and back. The trail includes a steady ascent of about 172 meters, with some steep sections, but the route offers picturesque views over the Balmoral Estate and the Cairngorms., and the final reveal when you reach Albert’s Cairn is well worth it! #scotland #scottish #scottishhighlands #scotlandexplore #lovescotland #scotlandtravel #visitscotland #balmoral ♬ Fallen Through Time – Eynhallow

Balmoral remained a royal favourite long after Victoria’s reign – in fact, it was where Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022.

The Estate announced in a statement, “a major repair and restoration project on the ground immediately surrounding the cairn”.

“This work will restore the landscape around the cairn and stabilise the structure of the Pyramid for future generations to enjoy”.

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The estate apologised for the inconvenience caused by the site’s closure and urged visitors to respect the area and follow staff guidance while the restoration work is ongoing.

While Queen Victoria clearly mastered the art of eternal love, it seems the secret of eternal construction – the Great Pyramids have stood for more than four millennia – has never quite passed on to the builders of Victorian Scotland.

L’article Prince Albert’s Pyramid in Scotland crumbles underfoot est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Glasgow City Council has confirmed that somewhere early 2026, a group of 1,000 city residents will trial a free public transport scheme for six weeks (instead of the initial nine weeks). The project was first mentioned in 2021, the first funds to support the trial were allocated in 2024 (totalling £225,000 according to Secret Glasgow), and the official go-ahead was given on 30 October 2025. Glasgow will thus become the first Scottish city to trial free public transport for all.

More money in your pocket, more opportunities, and fewer emissions.

I’m proud we introduced free bus travel for under-22s – and as of today, over 250 million free journeys were made across Scotland.

Together with scrapping peak rail fares, we’re making your commutes cheaper. pic.twitter.com/8dohisrOEk

— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) October 10, 2025

Free transport for all

All 1,000 residents involved in the trial are between 22 and 59 years old, as those who are younger or older already have access to free bus travel using a National Entitlement Card (NEC). As of 2025, Glasgow bus fares vary between £3.60 and £5.90 per day, while a subway ticket costs £4.30 for the entire day. The participants will be given Strathclyde Partnership for Transport cards for unlimited travel.

According to SNP councillor Angus Millar, the pilot wants to assess how free public transport might affect travel choices, access to services, and participants’ overall wellbeing. One of the hopes of the project is that it might lower fossil fuel emissions, as free public transport might refrain citizens from private car use whenever possible.

“As a city with one of the lowest levels of car ownership across the whole of Scotland, this will have a transformative impact for people living in poverty and experiencing social isolation and I hope that it will pave the way for expanding free public transport in Glasgow longer-term”, said Christy Mearns, Scottish Greens councillor and transport spokesperson.

Once the trial has been completed, the data gathered during the experiment will be used to inform the wider discussion on the future of Glasgow’s public transport. According to earlier estimates, the scheme would cost £10.6 million each week for those eligible.

Just a day after the news of the Scottish trial starting early 2026, the British government dismissed a proposal to trial free bus passes to those under 22 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as it was judged to be “unaffordable”. 

L’article Glasgow trials free public transport est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.