Capture Scotland’s raw beauty and sweeping landscapes this year and check out some of the latest nature experiences and products for travel trade. Whether your clients want to get active outdoors or slow down and take in the local wildlife, there’s something for every itinerary in 2025.
Alvie & Dalraddy Estate
Location: Cairngorms
Contact: Alvie & Dalraddy Estate
Get a flavour of traditional Scotland on this agritourism and sporting estate, nestled in the iconic Highlands of Scotland. Try your hand at a range of outdoor activities, perfect for groups.
What makes it special?
It offers a real flavour of outdoor life amid the spectacular scenery of the Highlands. Within one site, your clients can try their hand at zip wire, clay pigeon shooting, archery, horse riding, quad biking, field sports, bushcraft skills, walking, fishing, red squirrel watching and more. New ideas for the year include photography courses and retreats (squirrel and red deer photography available between January and March) and farm tours with a chance to meet the sheepdogs.
All the useful details:
- Self-catering accommodation within Alvie House and cottages
- One-stop-shop for Highland Country Estate experiences
- Situated near Kingussie in the Cairngorm National Park
- Experience rural life with a farm or estate tour
Basking Shark Scotland
Location: Argyll
Contact: Basking Shark Scotland
Basking Shark Scotland run incredible swim and snorkel tours around the Hebrides. Visitors can get up close to some of our most amazing wildlife with expert guides, from majestic basking sharks to friendly seals.
What makes it special?
Looking for a snorkel tour with a difference? This is it. A new experience from Basking Shark Scotland is the 3-5 hour Night Snorkelling tours in the waters near Oban. The snorkelling experience of a lifetime with a floodlight and blackwater dive! You clients can see marine life like they’ve never seen before, discovering nocturnal marine life and the amazing spectacle of bioluminescence. The unpolluted dark skies of Argyll & The Isles complete the magical atmosphere beneath a blanket of stars.
All the useful details:
- Taking place from September to April
- 3-5 hour tours
- Ages 8+ welcome
- Expert marine biologist guide
Cairngorm Mountain
Location: Cairngorms
Contact: Cairngorm Mountain
Open all year round, add a stop to your itinerary to get up into the mountains and escape the everyday, as well as giving your clients the chance to try some outdoor activities and enjoy what each season has to offer.
What makes it special?
The Cairngorm Mountain has plenty of things to enjoy, whether you’re skiing in the winter or wildlife spotting in the summer. Scotland’s only mountain railway is due to reopen in winter 2024 for a truly unique experience, or why not stop for a spot to eat in the UK’s highest restaurant?
All the useful details:
- Snowsport season passes available
- Railway due to re-open late December 2024
- Outdoor activities available for groups including mountain biking, tubing slides and guided walks
Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Experiences
Location: Dumfries & Galloway
Contact: Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere
Connect with the south of Scotland’s natural wonders with expert guides around the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere.
What makes it special?
The site is a UNESCO Biosphere, designated as a world-class experience for people and nature. These expert tours enable visitors to learn more about the culture, nature and heritage of the area and discover the amazing landscapes and wildlife in this part of the world.
All the useful details:
- For groups of up to 12
- Locations across south west Scotland
- Experiences including wildlife watching, woodland tea drinking and storytelling in Galloway Dark Sky Park
- New range of activities in the UNESCO Biosphere
Go Wild Scotland
Location: Scottish Borders
Contact: Go Wild Scotland
Let your clients soak up the peaceful surroundings of Scotland’s woods and forests with Go Wild Scotland. They offer guided woodland and river walks so you can learn more about the wildlife, flora and fauna of the Scottish Borders.
What makes it special?
Go Wild Scotland is a not-for-profit social enterprise, so all their profits go back to the community with the aim of bringing people together with nature. Ranger-led programmes offer expert introductions to a range of areas, including the Birds of Prey experience, Woodland rangers, River Rovers, nature photography, red squirrel walks and more.
All the useful details:
- All day exclusive packages on offer
- Activities include paddle boarding, play pigeon shooting, treetop zipwire and fly hawks and owls
- Taking place across southern Scotland
- Public and private group activities starting at £5
- New to working with travel trade
Lost Shore Surf Resort
Location: Edinburgh & The Lothians
Contact: Lost Shore Surf Resort
Newly opened in November 2024, Lost Shore Surf Resort is located just outside of Edinburgh. The £60 million resort makes it a world-class adventure tourism experience for beginners to experts.
What makes it special?
This is Scotland’s first inland surf destination, with a wave pool that’s one of the largest and most advanced in Europe – it’s three times the size of Wembley Stadium and generates 1,000 customisable waves per hour! The site also features luxury accommodation, a 250-metre beachfront, cafe, restaurant, sauna, wellness treatments and a surf school and shop.
All the useful details:
- Free onsite parking
- Open all year round
- Located very close to Edinburgh airport
- Lessons available for all skill levels
Lowlander Tours
Location: Scottish Borders
Contact: Lowlander Tours
Connect with the south of Scotland’s natural wonders with expert guides of the Scottish Borders.
What makes it special?
The new Thoroughbred Tour is exclusive to Lowlander Tours, showcasing the world of horse racing in the Borders. It includes a trip to the training yard of Sandy Thomson, a successful racehorse trainer and a behind-the-scenes visit to Kelso Racecourse.
All the useful details:
- For groups of up to 12
- Taking place across the Scottish Borders
- Door-to-door service including entry fees
- Refreshment and lunches included
Scottish Odyssey
Location: Across Scotland
Contact: Scottish Odyssey
Make your own memories with the ultimate personalised adventure on a Scottish Odyssey private tour in 2025.
What makes it special?
The private tours are catered specifically to interest and adventure levels, where they then create a completely bespoke itinerary. Whether it’s an unforgettable hiking trip in Scottish mountains or a tranquil kayaking experience on a vast Scottish loch, the possibilities are endless. Expert guides make sure that, whatever the itinerary, it’ll be an unforgettable Scottish trip for your clients.
All the useful details:
- Range from one day to multi-day tours
- Partnerships across Scotland with various activity providers
- Tours of up to 8 people
- New tour company for 2024
Wild Cairns
Location: East Lothian
Contact: Wild Cairns
Plan an adrenaline-fuelled adventure for your clients against the dramatic backdrop of the East Lothian coastline. Wild Cairns is a new outdoor activity centre, running 5-star experiences in their centre near North Berwick.
What makes it special?
There’s so much you can do at Wild Cairns! From an epic assault course to axe throwing to a zombie-themed Airsoft Gun Range, let off some steam and challenge yourself in the rugged Scottish surroundings. With skilled instructors, Wild Cairns cater to all ages and experience levels.
All the useful details:
- Group friendly activities
- Assault course suitable for ages 8+
- Under an hour from Edinburgh
- Group packages and experiences
Wild Skies Shetland Experience
Location: Shetland
Contact: Wild Skies Shetland
Bookable adventures to the UK’s most northerly island, exploring the history, culture and wild beauty of Shetland.
What makes it special?
Run by islanders on Unst, the new Sky Trail experience is a 3-hour tour, allowing an in-depth insight into the Shetland way of life, unique history and culture. The tour showcases the immense expanse of Shetland’s skies throughout the year, whether that’s a spectacular sunset or stargazing in an unpolluted environment. Spots on the tour include the Viking Longship and Longhouse, Saxa Vord, Muckle Flugga lighthouse, Hermaness and Unst Heritage Centre.
All the useful details:
- Personal guide from Unst
- £90pp travel trade price for 3 hour tour
- Half day version available – £115 with light lunch provided
- 8-10 group size
- Tea/coffee and cake provided
We regularly update the listings of trade-ready businesses on our Travel Trade website, so do check back for the latest entries.