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If you're looking for inspiration and ideas for your business, browse through our case studies to learn how three different businesses across Scotland extended their season.
Article published 28/11/2024
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that our tourism and events offering is no longer confined to just a few months. Scotland is a 365-day-a-year destination. Every month, every season, every region, offers something different.
Making Scotland a must-visit, must-return destination every month of the year can create a real win-win situation for businesses, communities and visitors.
By inspiring visitors to travel in the autumn and winter:
- you can provide a welcome boost to your business during a quieter time of year
- help ensure communities can feel the benefits of tourism all year, rather than during the busier peak months
- visitors will be able to enjoy Scotland and its unmissable experiences in a completely different way
In this article:
Key off-season statistics
7.6 million
visitors to Scotland
£2.5 billion
spent by visitors
42% of UK residents
said their top driver for trips in Scotland in late 2023 was to get away from it all
Statistics from quarter one (January - March) and quarter four (October - December) of 2023.
Taymouth Marina
Taymouth Marina Lochside Spa Resort in Kenmore offers bespoke self-catering apartments alongside an array watersport and unique spa experiences. Head of Marketing Stacey Ives shares how the team creatively extends the tourist season, inviting visitors to embrace Scotland’s beauty year-round.
At Taymouth Marina, our mission is to create unforgettable experiences rooted in Scotland’s breathtaking natural beauty, which transforms dramatically with the seasons. We lean into these changes, curating offerings that feel fresh and uniquely suited to autumn and winter.
One of the resort’s signature attractions is the HotBox Wild Wellness Spa. This spa offers a unique approach to hydrotherapy that blends wellness with outdoor adventure. Guests can relax in the spa’s steamy sanctuary or take the plunge into Loch Tay’s refreshing waters. This combination that has grown increasingly popular in the cooler months as visitors seek out wellness-focused and out-of-the-ordinary experiences.
The Ferryman’s Inn, Taymouth Marina’s on-site restaurant, offers an equally inviting atmosphere. We’ve created a heated, covered terrace complete with cosy sheepskins and blankets, so guests can enjoy lochside dining while staying warm. Seasonal menus showcase the finest local ingredients, paired with curated beverage offerings to ensure returning guests always discover something new.
Events also play a key role in extending the season. The resort hosts live music nights and wine-tasting evenings on the terrace throughout the colder months. These gatherings foster a cosy, intimate ambiance while allowing guests to soak in the stunning loch views. This experience is both memorable and uniquely Scottish. It's an ambiance that's not possible to achieve during the busier summer months.
Autumn and winter in Scotland have their own magic. The quieter months bring peace, dramatic landscapes, and a sense of adventure. From wild swimming and walking to dining under the stars or relaxing in the HotBox Spa, our guests love embracing the elements.
Looking ahead, Taymouth Marina is exploring new ways to enhance guest experiences. This includes the potential introduction of a private dining space right by the loch, perfect for intimate celebrations or special occasions.
Paddleboarding in front of The Ferryman's Inn. Credit: Taymouth Marina
Mary’s Meanders
West Lothian-based tour guides, Mary’s Meanders offers award-winning tours across Scotland covering subjects such as Outlander, Mary, Queen of Scots, filming, and ancestry. Emma Filgas from the company tells us about the new winter tour they’ve created.
In February 2025, we’ve teamed up with Capercaille Escapes to offer a brand new “Coorie In Tour & Experience” to our guests.
We’ll be inviting our visitors to escape to cosy cottages in the scenic hills above Linlithgow, where they will have the time to slow down and experience Scotland’s heritage, food, and culture through a range of immersive workshops.
Over the course of the typical touring season, we come in contact with amazing artisans, hear snippets from great storytellers, and wish we had more time to spend with them before having to move on to our next stop.
We also hear from our guests about their interest in crafting, cooking, and their need to slow down, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life.
With that in mind, we decided to fully embrace the “coorie in” concept and offer a slowed down touring experience. It doesn’t matter if its cold and dark outside as we will be warm and cosy, working on our tartan mementos and eating homemade scones!
There will be opportunities for winter walks, time for journaling and of course, a visit to a pub with a log fire!
Scotland is beautiful all year round. So, as long as you are dressed properly for the weather there is no reason not to visit in the non-traditional holiday months.
Visitors will receive a warm welcome in the different attractions, restaurants and those Instagram shots will be a lot easier to get when it’s a little quieter.
A cosy room with a roaring fireplace as part of the "coorie in" concept. Credit: Mary Meanders
Monteviot Lights
Finally, Monteviot Lights is the first winter light festival to be held in the Scottish Borders. It started last year and will return on 6 - 22 December 2024. Jonathan Brown of NL Productions shares the inspiration for creating this new experience.
This enchanting trail which really transforms Monteviot House and Gardens into a festive wonderland was the brainchild of Lord Lothian. It was created for the area and the garden so that it could be lit up and shared with others.
There were no other light events in the area at the time so we felt there was appetite to create something that would help entertain both locals and visitors, as well as bring tourism to the area at what is traditionally a quieter time of year.
We believe it’s a really nice Christmas event for families and a chance to see the gardens in a completely different light… literally!
A new event is also a great opportunity to work with local businesses and we are looking to feature local food and drinks providers throughout the event.
It’s the only large-scale event in the Scottish Borders during the winter months and is the ideal way to showcase Monteviot, a hidden gem within this region.
A family enjoying illuminations. Credit: Monteviot Lights