There are many reasons to make Scotland the place to be in 2023. The list below is a selection of some of the major openings, news updates and events to look forward to in the year ahead.
Top Stories
Celtic Connections 30th Anniversary, January 2023
Celtic Connections, the home of world-class music, one-off collaborations, and genre-defying spectacles, is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary in January 2023. The 30th Anniversary is a pinnacle moment for the festival as it recognises the advancements and achievements of the last thirty years and everything the organisers have overcome to bring people together in a defining cultural celebration. The internationally renowned festival marks this milestone with an ambitious and eclectic programme of music showcased between Thursday 19th January – Sunday 5th February 2023. The full programme can be viewed here: www.celticconnections.com
Tall Ships Races, July 2023
Shetland will once again host the Tall Ships Races from Wednesday 26th July to Saturday 29th July in Lerwick. The Tall Ships Races is an annual race series that has been arranged by Sail Training International since 1956 and in summer 2023 the town of Lerwick will welcome the fleet for four days of celebrations, sharing culture and international friendships. For more information and to keep up to date, please visit www.tallshipslerwick.com
2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, August 2023
The biggest cycling event in the world comes to Scotland in 2023. The world’s greatest riders will come together in Glasgow and across Scotland to compete at the highest level, make history and show the world the power of the bike. Across 11 days of events, competitors will compete for over 200 rainbow jerseys and World Champions will be crowned in events covering everything from BMX to Mountain Biking, Indoor Cycling to Road Cycling, Para-Cycling and much, much more. For more information, please visit www.cyclingworldchamps.com
Coast to Coast Cycle Route, Stranraer to Eyemouth, Summer 2023
An exciting new 250 mile on-road cycle route covering the length of the South of Scotland has received the green light to progress to delivery stage. The Coast-to-Coast route will run from Stranraer to Eyemouth, making it one of the longest in the UK and a new challenge for experienced cyclists. Riders who want to test themselves can tackle the Coast-to-Coast Challenge route over four days but are highly recommended to slow down, immerse themselves and enjoy more of what the South of Scotland has to offer by completing the Explorer route over eight days or more. The project is aiming to be delivered in time for the 2023 UCI World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland. Three of the 13 Championships are taking place in the South of Scotland in August next year, allowing visitors to the South to try the new route during or after the Championships.
The Scottish National Gallery, Summer 2023
The transformative project to deliver an inspiring new space for Scotland’s renowned collection of Scottish art is set be completed in 2023. From summer 2023, visitors can look forward to experiencing a brand-new suite of world-class galleries at the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh. The Scottish National Gallery Project will create a beautiful space for Scotland’s art right in the historic heart of Edinburgh, with striking displays drawn from the National Galleries of Scotland’s broad-ranging collection alongside special loans from other leading arts institutions. Large windows will offer spectacular light-filled views across Princes Street Gardens, inviting visitors to come in and discover the work of pioneering Scottish artists such as Phoebe Anna Traquair, William McTaggart, Anne Redpath, Sir Henry Raeburn and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. For more information, please visit www.nationalgalleries.org
Edinburgh, Scotland. Kate Bielinksi/Unslpash Photo
Hotel News
The highly anticipated W Edinburgh is set to open its doors in winter 2023. Situated in the heart of the St James Quarter, W Edinburgh will welcome guests and diners into a decadent and sophisticated space with its stylish guestrooms, stunning suites and rooftop bar with 360⁰ views of the city.
The Bracken Hide Hotel, a new luxury, wilderness hotel will open its doors in March 2023 on the Isle of Skye. Located just outside of the island’s largest town, Portree, the hotel will consist of luxury ensuite cabins, a Nordic Sauna, a wild swimming pool and much more.
Red Carnation Hotel Collection will open its first Scottish hotel in Summer 2023, 100 Princes Street in Edinburgh. With uninterrupted views of Edinburgh Castle, the original building and its iconic features will be respectfully renovated, transforming it into an exclusive retreat on Edinburgh’s most famous street.
Opened in October 2022, Clayton Hotel is a brand-new four-star hotel located on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow. Bringing together the lovingly restored 19th-century Custom House building with a modern hotel, the property offers a new space where historic charm meets a modern setting.
AC Hotel Inverness will be one of the city’s newest additions. Located on the banks of the River Ness the property will offer modern accommodation in the heart of the Highland capital and is the perfect spot for sight-seeing in one of Scotland’s most picturesque cities.
Completed in October 2022, Cameron House launched its new multi-million-pound extension, adding 68 new luxurious bedrooms and suites to the resorts already impressive facilities, as well as an impressive ballroom and loch-facing terrace. The expansion completes the four-year restoration project at the property on Loch Lomond.
Opening at the end of 2022, Virgin Hotels Glasgow comes to Scotland’s largest city following a summer debut for the brand in Edinburgh. Situated on the banks of the River Clyde it’s the perfect base for exploring the city.
The spa at the Kimpton Blythswood Square, Glasgow is undergoing an extensive reimagination and is due to reopen in spring 2023 with a unique snowfall feature and blissful wellness area. It will be the perfect place to unwind after a day exploring the vibrant city of Glasgow.
Murrayshall Country Estate in Perthshire unveiled its latest renovation project, as part of a multi-million-pound investment. Transforming 14 of their Junior and Deluxe Suites, the refurbishment is part of an ongoing programme of investment, culminating in a £30million overall spend which will include a luxury spa, glamping pods and outdoor pursuits, due to open within the next 18 months.
The extensive transformation at Schloss Roxburghe in the Scottish Borders continues. In addition to the main house’s luxury accommodation, now a separate extension offers 58 contemporary bedrooms and suites, new restaurant, extensive spa facilities set in 600sqm with a heated outdoor swimming pool, as well as luxury Scottish Cottages in the beautiful grounds.
You’ll find great new distilleries all over Scotland. Dylan de Jonge/Unsplash photo
Distilleries
Cairn Distillery, October 2022
Late October 2022 saw the opening of The Cairn Distillery, the first new distillery to be built in the Cairngorms National Park for more than a century. Nestled on the banks of the river Spey on the northern frontier of the Cairngorms National Park, every detail of The Cairn Distillery has been considered to create a remarkable structure that is reflective of its environment.
Moffat Distillery, 2023
Dark Sky Spirits will open Moffat’s first distillery soon. In keeping with the desire for sustainability and local resources, the distillery will have the only wood-fired still in Scotland with wood collected from local, sustainable sources. The pilot set-up is a 350-litre wash still and a 200-litre spirit still which will make Moffat Distillery the smallest whisky producer in Scotland with a visitor centre.
Port of Leith Distillery, 2023
A distillery like no other, Port of Leith Distillery is set to become Scotland’s first vertical distillery when it opens its doors in 2023. Set in the historic Port of Leith, the distillery will draw on the incredibly rich whisky heritage of Edinburgh and the history of Leith which was once an epicentre of the industry. The distillery forms part of the resurgence of distilling in the area and will offer guided tours, tastings and a rooftop bar with panoramic views across Edinburgh, Leith and Fife.
Eden Mill Distillery, 2023
Founded in 2012, Eden Mill was the first distillery in the region for over 150 years and today has a premium gin portfolio crafted from the finest botanicals, many foraged from in and around St Andrews. Over ten years later, Eden Mill have an ambition to create the finest gins and Scotch whiskies with minimal environmental impact combining traditional distilling techniques with ground-breaking innovation. Eden Mill is building a stunning distillery at the mouth of the River Eden, overlooking the iconic, historic town of St Andrews.
Walkers on the West Highland Way between Bridge of Orchy and Glencoe. Visit Scotland Photo.
Other Activities
Stay on track
Perhaps a different track appeals more and with the Flying Scotsman celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2023, there’s never been a better reason to hop on board a train and sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s easy to explore Scotland’s eight cities as each are connected by a variety of rail routes meaning a day trip or longer stay to explore each of their cultural highlights, historical sites and foodie delights is only a train ride, or two, away. Scotland is home to some of the world’s most iconic railway journeys and the routes are surrounded by postcard-perfect views that are guaranteed to surprise and mesmerise as the train rolls by. From Glasgow, travellers can hop on the West Highland Line to the westerly port town of Mallaig traversing remote wilderness and the world-renowned Glenfinnan Viaduct. While from Edinburgh, passengers can climb aboard the longest new domestic railway to be built in over 100 years deep into the picturesque Scottish Borders and the land of Sir Walter Scott. Departures from Inverness include the coast-to-coast Kyle Line, taking in spectacular Highland scenery and finishing with magnificent views of Skye, and the Far North Line which traces the North Sea coast up to Wick, from which it’s only a short hop by bus over to John O’Groats, the most northerly inhabited point on the mainland.
These boots were made for walking
From an afternoon amble on a leafy forest path to bagging a munro, from a city stroll to a coastal walk, exploring the great outdoors on foot in Scotland is a fantastic way to spend a holiday. The Seven Wonders of Scotland’s Walking World provide a unique glimpse into Scotland’s natural heritage and offer spectacular walks with views and are located across the country. Adventurous hikers can take on the West Highland Way, a 96-mile challenge between Milngavie and Fort William, or they can cross coast-to-coast on the John Muir Way or follow in the footsteps of pilgrims from centuries ago on the Fife Pilgrim Way. These walks can be enjoyed section by section or as an adventure across several days.
As scene on screen
Launched in November 2022, Set in Scotland is a 52-page guide featuring more than 150 films which have been shot entirely or partially in Scotland – such as Braveheart (1995), Skyfall (2012), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and The Batman (2022) – and details more than 100 film locations. Set-jetting is a great way to follow in the footsteps of the legends of TV and film and with two iconic films celebrating big anniversaries in 2023, The Wicker Man (1973) and Local Hero (1983), there’s never been a better time to explore. This handy guide has all the location information needed to plot out a blockbuster trip to Scotland for 2023. The guide and more information can be found here: TV & Filming Locations in Scotland | VisitScotland.
For more inspiring days out and exclusive offers and discounts visit www.visitscotland.com/holidays-breaks/day-trips/offers/ . From Edinburgh Castle, Iona Abbey and St Andrews Cathedral to Skara Brae, Urquhart Castle and The Falkirk Wheel, there are dozens of exciting attractions and sites across Scotland to visit in 2023.
