Hidden Scotland 02 Spring/Summer 21

Hidden Scotland magazine is a source of inspiration and information on travelling to and around Scotland. A publication on a mission to discover, create, and collaborate, in order to inspire travellers and Scotland’s inhabitants to get out and explore one of the most beautiful countries our planet has to offer.

With that in mind, it hopes to encourage conscious travel in a bid to get to the heartbeat of the awe-inspiring locations within Scotland. By encouraging meaningful experiences, travellers will begin to immerse themselves within their surroundings to establish longer lasting connections and gain a better understanding of the area they are in and its people. A desire to show that sustainable travel gives something back to the communities and provides the traveller with an authentic experience. Now more than ever people want to return home from a trip feeling enlightened and transformed.

The publication have worked with an extremely talented group of creative people who have contributed to this issue in order to be able to tell stories, offer guidance, share tips, and give insight in travelling around Scotland.

Issue 02: Spring/Summer 2021 

Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal and revisitation – and when puffins and other nesting seabirds return to Scotland for their annual residency, it’s a sure sign that the seasons are shifting. For those brief, bright few months, their busy island colonies are a reassurance that the world keeps turning.

Aptly, the themes of nature and connection run through this issue. Allow your feral side some freedom and boost your wellbeing with a focus on wild foraging from expert Leanne Townsend, and a wild swimming feature from acclaimed Taking the Plunge author Anna Deacon, evoking the mixture of calm and euphoria that follows a dip. Adding to the mix is a piece by Emily Rose Mawson on that most elusive of Scottish animals: the wildcat.

Shining a light on the country’s different faces, from showcasing the elemental beauty of Scotland’s furthest-flung coastlines and exploring the dynamic urban spirit that holds as Glasgow one of the UK’s most exciting cities. Island life, too, plays a prominent part. On Shetland, locals Misa Hay and Garry Jamieson introduce us to the archipelago’s deep-rooted knitting traditions, tracing the timeless evolution of island wool from sheep to sweater. Back on the mainland, meanwhile, follow a creative heritage of a different kind, with a journey of discovery through Speyside’s world-famous malt whisky distilleries.

And that’s not all. Within the pages of this issue you’ll also find age-old folklore, a stirring account of a trip to Fair Isle, a shortbread recipe from the kitchen of Great British Bake Off finalist Flora Shedden, and a tour of Argyll’s storied castles with ‘The Castle Hunter’, David C. Weinczok. Should you be planning a getaway of your own, meanwhile, we’ve hand-picked 12 of Scotland’s most remote accommodation retreats. We think you’ll be glad to know about them.

We hope you enjoy the journey.