The Scottish are making a major bid to lure Irish men to their shores – with the promise of gold standard sport, drinking and adventure holidays. They know us too well.
By Robert Carry
VisitScotland, Scotland’s national tourist board, recently undertook a study of Irish men to find out more about how they view their male friendships. They found that 92 per cent of Irish males have gone away on a lad’s only trip and that 53 per cent are already in the planning stages of their next one. So the board put together a portfolio of manly activities in a bid to lure us to their shores.
Adventure
One of Scotland’s greatest strengths is the proximity of city centre life to the great outdoors. You can comfortably choose a city location for your accommodation while still being within an hour’s drive of the mountain bike runs in the Borders, the white water rapids on the River Tay in Perthshire, hang-gliding locations in the Highlands, coastal walking tours along the Fife coastal path and of course Scotland’s 283 mountain climbing locations.
Whisky
Much like ourselves, Scotland is rightfully famous for its capacity to put together a good whiskey. For fans of the heavy stuff, Malt Whisky Trails through Speyside, Scotland’s legendary malt whiskey region, are becoming increasingly popular.
The trail, which runs through some beautiful countryside, takes in the likes of the Glen Grant distillery, the Speyside Cooperage, Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, as well as a historical distillery featuring demonstrations on traditional crafts such as the making of the casks.
Golf
Scotland holds the honour of being the home of golf and boasts over 550 courses. The ancient sport has flourished on Scottish soil for centuries and remains one of its greatest attractions. The 139th Open Championship recently saw golfers from around the world take on the challenge of arguably the most famous golf course in the world, The Old Course.
An alternative destination for Irish golf enthusiasts is the golfer’s paradise that is Gleneagles, which features three championship courses. There’s also a huge range of hidden gems around the country, which, with their seaside or woodland locations, will test even the most experienced golfers.
Eating out
Scottish food is developing a name for itself and is becoming known for its focus on fresh, seasonal produce. A big strike in its favour is the fact that high quality dishes are not confined to the top-tier restaurants – award-winning menus can be found in gastro pubs all over the country. The Anglers Inn in Perthshire, The Inn at Lathone and the Anstruther Fish Bar & Restaurant have all been getting cracking reviews of late and are a must-visit if you find yourself in their catchment area.
Flights
Flights can be booked by visiting Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Aer Arann, all of which offer regular flight deals to various Scottish cities.
