Scotland is a terrific vacation destination. It is incredibly popular with mountain climbers, hill-walkers, ramblers, hikers and other people who enjoy this type of vacation. Virtually all tourists enjoy the varied and captivating countryside which has a copious list of places to visit including some rather famous,  and astonishing, areas of outstanding beauty. One such site which is, most probably the most famous is Loch Ness and the famous Loch Ness Monster. In the article below I introduce this most enthralling Loch Ness as an exciting vacation destination.

Intensely deep and moody, Loch Ness is a gigantic area of water situated in the spectacular Scottish Highlands pretty close to the city of Inverness (see below). Surrounded by the most lovely countryside, which has enigmatic areas of ancient woodland, mountains blanketed in heather, the loch is most famous for being the home of the Loch Ness Monster who is known throughout the world as Nessie.

The loch Ness monster is first documented in history in the story of the life of Saint Columba. The document states that the revered saint charmed a sea monster back into waters of the loch after it had been attacking one of his men.

At the start of the nineteen thirties a new road was created which ran alongside the loch. After only a few years in nineteen thirty four stories relating to monster sightings started to appear in the press.

Inverness, commonly referred to as being the capital city of the Highlands, was ceremoniously granted city status in the year 2001 and at the moment is the only city to be found in the Scottish Highlands. Uniquely (in the United Kingdom) the city has no legal boundaries which causes problems for those estimating population. The estimations are distorted further by the fact that the population of the city is increasing dramatically, Inverness has the highest growth rate in the United Kingdom. One thing we can state with some certainty is that the population of the city is very content , in a 2008 survey by the Telegraph.co.uk, about the quality of life in 189 cities in Great Britain, the city came 5th. From this we can state that Inverness is a lovely place in which to stay and this is more than likely one of the factors which make Inverness incredibly popular with tourists. Crucially there is plenty of Inverness guesthouse and hotel accommodation with the majority being available to book online.

One of the most important things to remember is that the airport for Inverness is, roughly, seven miles away at Dalcross. It is relatively easy to hail a cab or catch a bus to the busy but small airport which is not very expensive. If you will benefit from using a map of the area then you should get one of the free ones at the tourist office, in the center of town. While you are in the city you should make a point to visit Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Inverness Castle, the Mercat Cross and ’stone of tubs’ especially the Castle Garrison Encounter, an interactive experience which is great fun.

If you are thinking about taking a vacation in Scotland based in Inverness and Loch Ness then you will find Inverness bed and breakfast online by using the search “Inverness hotel accommodation” or “Inverness bed and breakfast” into your favorite search engine (the quotation marks/inverted commas can help enormously).

Perth is also commonly called the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Built on the banks of the River Tay, Perth was, for hundreds of years, the capital of Scotland and in the medieval period the busy little town was locally known as St. John’s Town or St. Johnstone. Perth’s name, or, in the Gaelic language, Peairt, is derived from a Pictish word for a wood. Nowadays  this picturesque little town is an awesome place for a vacation in Scotland with a huge amount of bed and breakfast in Perth to choose from ranging from the highly affordable hotel to the alarmingly costly top of the range luxury hotels with spas and the likes with stacks of character.

Whether stay for one week or two you will quickly see that there are a great many exciting things to see and do in  the immediate vicinity of Perth and the surrounding countryside. attractions include; restaurants, shopping, sport and leisure pursuits and historical attractions and various other types of entertainment. Once upon a time the town was a prosperous port chiefly involved in the export of leather, bleached products, linen and whisky. These days the tourist industry provides much needed wealth and employment for the young who happily take up jobs in the many hotels and guest houses in Perth and other related enterprises.

One thing about Perth that is incredibly challenging for any other place to beat is the surrounding countryside which is far greater than just exquisite, words fail. Situated here and there are numerous visitor attractions including castles, country homes, fortified houses and historical buildings.

Only a little west of Perth is the medieval structure of Huntingtower Castle. Constructed in stunningly beautiful Huntingtower has undergone numerous redevelopments and alterations over the centuries. The castle started out as a pair of clearly separate towers but situated closely together.

Round about three miles away, from Perth, you will find the 16th century Elcho Castle, which features the most stunning views across the River Tay. The castle can be dated back to the year 1570 when it’s building was commissioned by the Wemyss family who remained in possession until 1929. Elcho Castle is now a possession of Historic Scotland.

One of the most popular attractions, within easy reach of Perth, is one of the finest historical country homes to be found in Scotland, Scone Palace. Here visitors can thoroughly explore the past history of the palace, the place where the kings of Scotland were once crowned including, Robert The Bruce who took to the throne in 1306.

Other than the visitor attractions discussed earlier Perth has numerous more, making it an awesome town for a vacation for the family. Tourist attractions and places, worth visiting, to be found in Perthshire include the following; Perth Ice Rink, Perthshire Visitor Centre, Kinnoull Hill, the Museum of the Black Watch at Balhousie Castle and Perth Art Gallery & Museum.

If you are planning to have a city break in delightful the Scottish city of Perth please visit my site where you will find a fine selection of Perth hotel.

These days more tourists are looking for new holiday destinations which offer something completely different or, at the very least something other than the popular holiday of sun and sand. During these difficult times, often called the credit crunch, the majority of us are, unfortunately finding that they have dramatically less money for expenditure on a holiday and are, annoyingly, forced to shaving corners to save money. A way of doing it is to search out a cheaper destination. In the following article I introduce the reader to Birmingham, a city in the UK. With the dollar and euro so strong against the English pound Birmingham hotels are cheaper than last year.

The city of Birmingham is situated in the county of England known as the West Midlands  and the residents of the city are called “Brummies”. Birmingham’s dialect sounds like many other northern English accents and it can be very difficult to fully comprehend what is being said a struggle which is exaggerated if you have not heard it before. Happily the vast majority of Brummies are helpful, kind and polite and do their utmost to explain clearly so if you need to don’t be afraid to engage in conversation about directions and help or guidance in choosing  Birmingham bed & breakfast accommodation.

Birmingham possesses  a healthy number of visitor attractions which include some incredibly informative museums and galleries, for example the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and the new Thinktank  which is in the Eastside. The city of Birmingham also has an impressive number of square miles of parkland and woodland, Sutton Park  is the largest with 970 hectares it is also the largest urban nature reserve in the United Kingdom and even Europe.

The city of Birmingham features a varied and vibrant nightlife with many restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and bars. You will discover most in one of the city’s squares, Victoria Square, Chamberlain Square, Centenary Square, Rotunda Square, St Martin’s Square, the historic Old Square at Corporation Street and the Gas Street Basin. Gas Street Basin is the hub of Birmingham’s intricate canal network. The city has about thirty two miles of canal waterways with a total of eight canals which were created during the 18th century and remained in industrial use nearly until the end of the 20th century. Today the area has been renovated and regenerated and is now a good quality tourist attraction.

Alternatively why not think about hiring Birmingham apartments. If you If you are currently planning a vacation in Birmingham you should know that Birmingham Airport is roughly eight miles away from the the city center just off the A45 and near the M42 (junction 6). You will easily find a useful number of hotels and b & b’s nearby the airport.

Perth, the ‘Fair City’ in Scotland an ex royal burgh is situated at the head of the Tay estuary. Between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries the city vied with Dunfermline for the right of being the capital of the country. In the following article I discuss three places to visit in Perth, Scotland; Elcho Castle, Huntingtower Castle and Scone Palace:

Scone Palace

Today, home of the Earls of Mansfield is Scone Palace, and a popular attraction to visitors from around the globe. The palace of Scone is an integral part of the history of Scotland, as the kings of Scotland were once crowned there. In 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone Palace, as was Charles II when he took occupancy of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious atmosphere to the palace, which is rightly so.In the past the area was an important gathering place of the Picts and there was also an early Christian church situated there.

Elcho Castle

situated roughly 3 miles from the city of Perth, with awe inspiring views across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. Elcho Castle is one of the best examples of 16th century workmanship in Scotland today. The Wemyss family authorized the erection of the castle in the 1570’s. The land had been in the family since 1468, when it was assigned to them by King James III. In 1633, the leader of the family was given the titles of Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho. Elcho Castle and it’s lands stayed the property of the Wemyss family until 1929. It was then, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, granted the castle to Scotland. The castle has recently been renovated and is now in the care of Historic Scotland.

Huntingtower Castle

Found just west of Perth is the medieval Huntingtower Castle. Even though the castle is medieval in origin, it has been significantly redeveloped throughout the majoprity of it’s history. The Ruthven family were occupiers of the castle and lands from the twelth to seventeenth century. During this time the castle consisted of two separate towers, erected three meters apart. When the Murray family took occupancy, later on in the 1600’s, they decided to amalgamate the two towers, making the house look more like a conventional country mansion. The bridging work between the two towers is still clearly noticeable today, on both the exterior and the interior.

If you are considering a holiday in Perth you will find a large selection of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will find a massive selection at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

Now that Inverness is a city, Fort William is now the largest town in the Highlands. Fort William is an incredibly popular tourist destination with countless people arriving to climb Ben Nevis. In the article that follows I introduce to you 3 different tourist attractions worth a visit if you are taking a weekend break in Fort William.

The Incredibly Interesting West Highland Museum

Founded in 1922 was the West Highland Museum in Fort William. A group of people from Lochaber wanted to create a museum, about life in the Highlands, for the people of the Highlands. The current building was purchased in 1926 from the British Linen Bank, and is located in Cameron Square, just off the Hight Street. Small but fascinating is how a lot of people describe the museum. The collections in the museum present a fascinating insight into life in the West Highlands throughout the years. People from all backgrounds are represented, through the superb collections of artefact’s, photograph’s and picture’s

The Grand Old Inverlochy Castle

There are two Inverlochy Castle’s in Fort William, the Old Inverlochy Castle and the more recent Victorian, chateau-style Inverlochy Castle, constructed in nearby Torlundy (which is now a luxurious hotel). The Old castle was said to have been built between 1270-1280, by John “the Black” Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lochaber, and chief of the Clan Comyn. Although the castle is ruined, the layout hasn’t changed much since it was erected. Lord Abinger carried out alterations and enhancements to the house, in preparation of a visit by Queen Victoria. Old Inverlochy Castle is still an important part of English and Scottish history, due to the role it played during the Civil Wars of the 1640’s.

The Charming Jacobite Steam Train

A trip on the Jacobite Steam Train, is an exciting way to experience the breathtaking scenery of the Highlands. The Fort William to the Mallaig journey takes you on a breathtaking tour through the glens. One of the most exciting parts of the ride is going across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which the majority of folk|people will recognize thanks to the fact that it has appeared in the Harry Potter films. The 84 mile trip takes you past Loch Nevis, Loch Morar and Ben Nevis, with a stop in Glenfinnan before reaching Mallaig. There is about an hour and half in which to explore Mallaig, before the return journey, back to Fort William. This journey has repeatedly been described as, one of the Great Railway Journeys of the globe.

There is plenty of accommodation in Fort William available to book online but you will find a comprehensive list of hotels in Fort William at http://www.fortwilliamhotelscotland.com/

Amsterdam earned its name when a dam was built on the River Amstel during the 13th century. Popular belief is that The Hague is the capital city of The Netherlands when in fact it is Amsterdam.

The City has gained a justifiable reputation as the perfect city break location, although with such a lot to see and do, a weekend might not be long enough to do the city justice. With such a huge range of rates, there are cheap Amsterdam hotels to suit any taste or pocket. An enjoyable way to enjoy the sights and sounds of Amsterdam is to take a boat trip along the canals. There are four main canals and 1,281 bridges and many cruise operators who provide a variety of themed trips along what is the city’s intricate water system. A large number of water excursions are available all year round. As a suggestion, set by a day to explore a selection from the many museums in Amsterdam and climb aboard the museum boat where you will be transported in style to all of the leading museums. One point of interest is that of the Rembrandts Museum at the Jodenbreestraat. Here you will be able to admire the full collection of 250 etchings and a number of sketches and drawings by the wonderful Dutch master Rembrandt. Apart from the house that Rembrandt once lived in, your boat will take you over to the Anne Frank House. The house is currently a museum, but was once the home of the Frank family. Afraid of capture by the invading German army, the entire family spent years in hiding. The daughter, Anne, wrote her engrossing diary during the 2 years of hiding. The house (her home) has been preserved by the Anne Frank Foundation and was onverted to a museum 45 years ago.

The renowned Rijksmuseum contains the country’s finest collection of history and art including paintings, Asian art, dolls houses and the history of Netherlands exhibition. The main exhibit at the Rijksmuseum is based around the celebrated works from the country’s wonderful Golden Age with artists such as Rembrandt, Steen and Vermeer.

If you are looking for a never to be forgotten art experience, situated midway between the Stedelijk Museum and the Rijksmuseum is that of the Van Gogh museum. A very full demonstration of Vincent Van Gogh’s life is exhibited within the confines of this famed building and you will see in excess of 200 of his masterpieces. As well as his paintings are his hundreds of drawings as well as overwhelming amounts of hand-written notes by the once greatly misunderstood artist. A must for Impressionist fans, fans of modern art and fans of Holland!

The Amsterdam red light district is famous the World over. It is located in the region of the Oude Kerk region where a number of the city’s best known buildings can be located. The Red Light district runs between Warmoesstraat and Nieumakt square. Stag Nights are a regular event in the De Wallen area, particularly attracted here by the reputation for window prostitution and sex shops. The district is particularly interesting since it is where people are allowed to be themselves. It is a vibrant energetic place where you can find a wide variety of people, a perfect cup of coffee, excellent shops and a wide choice of excellent places to eat.

Touring in the area of Amsterdam can be very enjoyable. The roads are modern and well organised and the city is an ideal centre for touring around the adjoining regions and countries. Costs for Amsterdam car hire are very economical and you can make substantial savings by booking car hire online.

Dam Square is the Dutch eqivalent of Piccadilly Circus being a tourist meeting place generally and a great place to appreciate street entertainment and people watching whilst sipping a well earned cappuccino! Amsterdam has such a wealth of attractions for the tourist that visiting just a handful of them could cost a family a small fortune. The City offers its treasured tourists the Amsterdam Card saving you a lot of Euros!. Introduced by the Amsterdam Tourist Board, the card entitles you to free admission to all the famous museums as well as a free canal cruise and discounts to lots of restaurants and shops. Furthermore, the Amsterdam Card gives you free travel throughout the city. You can obtain an Amsterdam Card for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The 24 hour version costs EUR 31 (GBP 25), 48 hours EUR 41 (GBP 33) or 72 hours EUR 51 (GBP 41) and can be obtained from Tourist Information  (VVV).

In the middle of the sometimes all too crowded centre of the city can be found a haven of parkland nicknamed ‘the town’s pride and joy’. Amsterdam’s particularly beautiful botanical gardens, Hortus have been on this spot for over 400 years and are maintained with pride by its dedicated keepers. A tranquil retreat for the times when city life gets a bit too overwhelming!

If you find yourself in Amsterdam in August, you will enjoy the bright ‘Gay Parade’. The Gay Parade takes place each year and consists of a stream of brightly painted and wildly decorated boats. Its a wonderful photographic opportunity not to be missed and is best savoured by watching from one of the bridges that span the Prinsengracht Canal.