poster:how to do,from:
how to do
Friendly people, majestic, towering munros and mountains await, accompanied by lush, plunging glens, lochs, mystery and a history of fearsome, yet egalitarian and noble people, not to mention the Loch Ness Monster framed against the iconic backdrop of Urquhart Castle.
Spectacular wilderness and moorland isolation vie with the trendy haut-couture of Glasgow and Edinburgh for your attention. That's the dream of it, 
but what's it really like?
The good news is that the hype is true if that's what you're looking for (though we can't guarantee you'll spot Nessie). What we'd like to do in this article, is to show you how a short break in Scotland can be all of the above, but can be so much more as well.
Part of Scotland's popularity is due to the fact that it offers something for everyone from amateur historians and culture vultures to pumped up thrill seekers alike. Depending on the length of your short break, it's perfectly possible to combine elements of each, though often people will plan their trip based around seeking a certain goal.
If getting off the beaten track to unwind in beautiful, unspoiled scenery is what you crave, then South West Scotland is a great destination which is often overlooked as people make a beeline for Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Highlands.
The scenery here ranges from the gentle, rolling hills, forests and lochs of Galloway to the picturesque, sandy beaches of the Solway Coast. The people are friendly and the pace of life relaxed.
If Mountain Biking is your thing, you'll be spoiled for choice with the highly regarded 7 Stanes tracks like Mabie, Ae, Dalbeattie, Glentress and Kirroughtree all to be found in the area.
Venture to Dumfries, officially possessed of the highest quality of life in Britain, 
and you'll find a rich Robert Burns heritage, Dumfries being where he spent the last years of his life. A short walk from his mausoleum off St Michael St, you'll find Robert Burns House. This house gives a fascinating insight into the bard's life. His name can still be found scratched into one of the window panes upstairs.
If put into a romantic mood by it all, you'll find the world famous Gretna Green Blacksmith's Shop, the scene of many an whirlwind wedding a half hour's drive away. Who needs Las Vegas?
Other gems include Threave Castle and Gardens at Castle Douglas, Glenluce Abbey at Newton Stewart and the Tolbooth Art Centre in Kirkcudbright. While there you can see F1 ace David Coulthard's old school, Kirkcudbright Academy, next door, as he is from Twynholme, just a few miles away.
If it's a city break you feel like, then don't make the mistake of thinking your options are limited to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness are also great destinations for a short break in Scotland. Many larger towns like Perth and Stirling can be great bases for exploring the surrounding environs, while holding plenty of draw themselves.
Each city offers its own distinct character and visitor experience. For city-slicking, smart shopping and trendy culture set against a backdrop of big city architecture and a real European feel, Glasgow's the place to be.
Whether dining in The Merchants City, shopping in the Buchanan Gallery or Prince's Square, wandering along Buchanan and Sauchiehall Streets, browsing the Burrell Collection and Charles Rennie Mackintosh house, or enjoying Scottish nightlife second to none, you'll be caught up in the buzz and energy of this vibrant city. An easy day trip away are sights like Ben Lomond and Loch Lomond.
50 miles east is Edinburgh. Edinburgh's really a must do for any travellers from outside the country and offers what many feel is the quintessenntially Scottish experience - whether taking in iconic sights like Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Mile, the Scott Monument and Princes Street, or doing a spot of shopping in Harvey Nics or Jenners, Edinburgh is everything you've been led to expect and more.
It seems that every corner you turn is stuffed full of history and stories passed down through the years. Try the Edinburgh Dungeon for a different take on things.
Choose Stirling as the base for your short break in Scotland and you'll have easy exploration of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park at your 
command, as well as the ability to cherry pick your favourite attractions from Edinburgh and Glasgow. All this whilst staying in an ancient, character-filled town with a remarkable history.
For the ghost hunters amongst you, Stirling Castle is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in Britain, as well as being a thoroughly engrossing piece of heritage to boot.
This is William Wallace country, and you'll find the Wallace Monument outside the city limits. It's well worth the climb if you have the stamina! Don't forget to check out the Blair Drummond Safari Park either. Here you can pass through roaming prides of lions, amongst other less deadly species.
Dundee is often overlooked as a destination for a short break in Scotland, but it'd be a mistake to do so. Captain Scott's ship Discovery is to be found here and you can explore the ship itself whilst learning about the scientific experiments he was set about on his voyages.
If your sea legs fail you, you could take a trip to the gothic treat that is the McManus Galleries or try visiting the Verdant Works where you can discover the importance the Jute industry played in Dundee's industrial past.
Another overlooked destination is Aberdeen. A short break in Scotland based here in the Granite City could see you taking in the splendours of Balmoral and Royal Deeside, the majesty of the cairngorms, following the Whisky Trail through the hills into speyside to discover where many world famous single malts are made, learning about the fishing and high-tech oil industries or taking in various cultural events ranging from the Aberdeen International 
Youth Festival to local music and performance artists.
This is castle country too, with a huge number to see, ranging from the comfortable splendour of Crathes Castle where many open-air summer concerts are held, through to romantic places like Fyvie Castle, rumoured to be the inspiration for the famous Disney Castle and Kildrummy Castle with its idyllic, almost other-worldy gardens.
For sheer spooky imposition, try Slain's Castle, reputedly Bram Stoker's inspiration for Count Dracula's lair in the blood-curdling tales. If you get round all these during your short trip, fear not - there are countless others to see nearby!
If history from a more recent era's what you're looking for then you should make a point of taking the picturesque run out to Alford to visit the Grampian Transport Museum or the Alford Valley Railway.
Travelling further north through Moray district and places like Forres with its Dallas Dhu Distillery you'll find Inverness - another fine destination if you've decided on a city break as your short break in Scotland. Inverness is the capital of the highlands and offers another quintessentially scottish experience, this one majoring on the 
majestic beautiful scenery, grand mountains and bloody history.
Fort George and Culloden are both nearby, with Culloden Moor still retaining a tangible atmosphere all these years after the horrendous battle that took place there.
Nessie lives just along the road from Inverness in Loch Ness. She's apparently best seen from Drumnadrochit, just by Urquhart Castle. She's an easy day trip away.
Continue north and the glorious sights of the Black Isle are yours for the taking.
If your short break in Scotland's more action oriented, then Aviemore has to be on your list, nestling as it does on the edge of the Cairngorms. Aviemore is the epicentre of the Scottish Winter Sports movement with skiing, boarding, climbing and walking all within easy reach from there, though it can't be stressed enough that you have to be properly prepared and advised before setting out into the hills, especially in winter.
Skiing can be undertaken elsewhere too at Glenshee and the Lecht, both closer to Aberdeen, or indeed at a number of dry ski slopes in places as diverse as Edinburgh and Alford.
Other action sports are well catered for too, with the many great Mountain Bike routes springing up across the country - the 7 Stanes in Dumfries and Galloway, Pitfichie in Aberdeenshire, many routes across the Cairngorms and so on. Aberdeen's Royal Deeside and also Perthshire are well served by outdoor pursuits centres offering everything from shooting and fishing to quad bikes, white water rafting and hot air balloons.
If it's hillwalking you're after then you're spoiled for choice when deciding where to base your short break in Scotland. There are the Cairngorms, there's the West Coast, the western Isles, the Galloway Hills, the Cheviots in the borders amongst others. Each offers its own brand of hillwalking ranging from the rugged in the Cairngorms, to the spectacular in the Islands and the Trossachs, to more gentle walking in the Galloway hills, the borders and the Campsies.
Many people's idea of a short break anywhere, let alone a short break in Scotland, has to include golf. Luckily, Scotland is the home of golf and there are many fine courses for you to enjoy. The name Gleneagles is one that's synonymous with the best in golf, as is St. Andrews Old Course and Country Club. However, should your they fall outside your remit then fear not, for the sport is hugely popular the country over.
If you prefer an engine to be involved in your pastime, then you still won't miss out. Touring is a popular activity and Scotland boasts some of the best, most enjoyable and uncluttered roads in Britain, taking you through breath-takingly spectacular scenery.
A popular route for a road-based short break in Scotland is to make your way up the West Coast past Glasgow and Loch Lomond towards Fort William, then to make your way over to Inverness before heading south through Moray, Aberdeenshire, Deeside and Perthshire.
The range of scenery is tremendous and you get a real feeling for the breadth of what Scotland has on offer.
If you want to relax and get away from it all on your short break in Scotland, then there are innumerable little hideaways and havens tucked away throughout the land. The West Coast and the Western Isles are very popular destinations for this. You're in for a treat with spectacular scenery, a gentle pace of life and charming, gentle people.
