Year of Coasts & Waters Travel Guide

Year of Coasts & Waters 2020

Splash into Scotland in 2020 as we celebrate our remarkable coasts and waters. Water is the life-blood of our green and pleasant country, it's what makes the landscape so special and loved.

Explore some of our magnificent coastline by kayak or yacht, enjoy some delicious seafood and a wee dram from our seas and streams, uncover the secrets of a coastal fortress, or relax with a spot of fishing in our lochs and rivers. Plan your trip now and come and join our 2020 Year of Coasts & Waters celebrations.

Coasts & Waters Events

Alongside our wealth of wonderful attractions, scenery and wildlife, Scotland hosts an exciting array of events that put our coasts and waters in the spotlight.

In 2020, annual gems such as the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy and Crail Food Festival will be joined by The Fife Regatta, an expanded Clydebuilt Festival, and Edinburgh International Film Festival will present Scotland's Shores, featuring classic film screenings and a special outdoor coastal experience.

The RSPB will celebrate Aberdeen's status as one of the few cities in Europe where dolphins can regularly be seen from the shore at DolphinFest 2020. Scotland's Boat Show and Kip Marina will make a splash with a brand new special event 'River of Light' and The National Theatre of Scotland will deliver, Ferry Tales, an exciting new production, celebrating Scotland's surrounding waters and the journeys over them made by thousands of residents and tourists.

Find more events on the listings below.

Have an eventful Year of Coasts & Waters

15 Dec

Family

70%+ Contemporary Art And The Ocean

Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy

15 Dec

Visual Arts

David Mach: Odyssey

Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, Dunfermline

15 Dec

Year of Coasts and Waters 2020

Icons II: John Bellany

Perth Museum and Art Gallery, Perth

15 Dec

Workshop

A Pirate's Life for Me

Rozelle House, Ayr

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Our Inspiring Coasts & Waters

Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 video thumbnail — Dive into Scotland's Coasts & Waters1:53

Water is the life-blood that keeps our valleys green and our rivers flowing. Most of our much-loved natural attractions and landscape have been sculpted by the force of waves and water and are a real sight to see up close. So what are you waiting for? Taste the salty spray in the wind, feel the crisp sea air on your face, watch the shimmering reflections of a still Scottish loch, or wander peacefully along a tumbling river. Join us in 2020 as we celebrate our Year of Coasts & Waters.

Standfoto aus dem Online-Film - Scallop — Isle of Skye Scallop Diver – Ben’s Story1:31

Let Ben Oakes tell you why nothing compares to going out into the wild to dive, fish and explore in Scotland. He works alongside his dad to place small scallops in the shallows, which are harvested by hand once fully grown. As far as he’s aware, they are the only people in the world who use this method of fishing. For Ben, this is home and he can’t imagine doing anything else.

Sail Scotland video thumbnail — It's time to Sail Scotland2:31

If you've ever dreamed of navigating your way around misty isles or gliding gracefully along deep, still waters, then a boating holiday in Scotland is most definitely for you. There are over 100 inhabited islands, over 18,000 km of coastline and many lochs to explore to keep you coming back year after year. Drop anchor at friendly moorings up and down the country and experience our warm welcome ashore for yourself.

Watersports video thumbnail — Splash into Scotland's watersports1:01

With over 18,000 km of coastline, around 31,000 lochs and hundreds of miles of rivers and canals, water is not something we're short of here. So what better way to immerse yourself in Scotland, than by trying a few amazing watersports? From whitewater rafting and canyoning to wakeboarding, canoeing and some of Europe's best surfing breaks - doing something on, in or below the water really should be part of your trip plans.

Share your coasts & waters experiences

Where will your journey take you?

Lochan Urr in Glen Etive with the Buachaille Etive Beag and Buachaille Etive Mor in the background

Lochan Urr, Glen Etive

Glen Etive is one of Scotland's most beautiful valleys. Take the singletrack road that branches off the A82 in Glen Coe and follows the Etive, a river popular with kayakers and canoeists. About halfway through the valley is Lochan Urr where the views of the Glen Coe mountains are breathtaking. You might recognize Loch Etive from the film Skyfall.

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Lochan Urr, Glen Etive

Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire

Just a stone's throw from the pretty harbour of Stonehaven, Dunnottar Castle, one of Scotland's most striking castles, towers impressively above the North Sea. This coastal fortress is home to many historical mysteries, has welcomed kings and nobles and once defied an eight-month siege by Cromwell.

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A delicious plate of Scottish seafood from the Ee-Usk seafood restaurant, Oban

Stunning Scottish Seafood

Did you know that more than two-thirds of the world's langoustines are landed here in Scotland? The clear, clean seas, lochs and rivers throughout and around Scotland are home to delicious fish and seafood, and there are plenty of tempting traditional and modern fish dishes to enjoy.

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Ben A'an, The Trossachs

Standing just 454 metres tall, Ben A'an is not a high mountain, which makes it all the more accessible, but what it might lack in stature, it more than makes up for in views! It's a great first hillwalk for younger legs and the views over Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park are spectacular.

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Yachts moored in the shadow of historic Dunstaffnage Castle, near Oban

Sailing in Scotland

See Scotland from a different perspective - from the deck of a yacht. Exploring some of our vast coastline and myriad islands by boat is an incredible experience that will stay with you for years, whether you charter a skippered vessel or captain your own. Discover Dunstaffnage Castle with a stop off at Dunstaffnage Marina, near Oban for instance.

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Dunstaffnage Castle near Oban

The Kelpies, Falkirk

A trip to Scotland during our Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 would not be complete without spending some time around our fabulous canals. Journey from the west coast to the east coast along the mighty Caledonian Canal, or head for Falkirk and admire the impressive Kelpies at The Helix or the remarkable Falkirk Wheel.

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The Kelpies at dusk, The Helix, Falkirk

Year of Coasts & Waters 2020

Coasts & Waters Events