Things to do in spring

A view across Inverewe Garden and Loch Ewe

Looking for things to do near you in spring? We have everything you need! Spot the first signs of the season as you go wildlife watching, explore nature trails, admire bursts of spring colour, and more!

Flower spotting

It’s impossible not to be enchanted by the beauty of the flowers of Scotland. Here’s a few of the best places for spring blossoms.

1. For many, daffodils are synonymous with spring. Swathes of these bright yellow beauties can be seen at Brodie Castle and House of the Binns. The Brodie estate is home to the National Daffodil Collection, with around 400 varieties.

2. Another unmistakable sign that spring has sprung is the variety of shapes and colours brought by spectacular displays of rhododendrons. Delight in the number of these sweetly scented blooms at the stunning Crarae Garden, which also holds a number of National Plant Collections.

3. If you’re a keen hiker, a trip to Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve will reward you with a sight of the first alpine plant to flower, heralding spring in the uplands: the purple saxifrage. Amazingly, it’s sometimes already in flower as the last snow melts from the plant!

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Two children run through a field of white daffodils.

Wildlife watching

In the springtime, Scotland is the perfect place to watch wildlife, and we’ve highlighted some of the best places in Scotland to get closer to our incredible animals.

4. Head down to Inverewe, the garden oasis perched on a rocky peninsula at the edge of Loch Ewe, and learn about all the wildlife in the area as well as hopefully spot seals, otters and a variety of seabirds and waders. Elsewhere on the estate, look out for owls, buzzards, eagles and pine martens.

5. Formed by a series of volcanic eruptions, the craggy landscape of St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve on the Berwickshire coast provides spectacular vantage points from which to watch thousands of nesting seabirds, including guillemots, kittiwakes and razorbills.

6. The Pass of Killiecrankie is a magnificent wooded gorge with the River Garry flowing along its base. The iconic little red squirrels are frequently seen in the area.

7. Mar Lodge Estate covers some of the most remote and scenic wild land in Scotland. Late autumn sees the red deer stags begin their rut, when they vie for territory and the right to mate with hinds. Although you may not see the stags fighting, the primeval roar of their challenges echoes across the glens.

Walking in Scotland

A red deer stag stands in a forest, with its head turned to the side.

Picture-perfect spots

Want to impress your followers on Instagram? Spring is one of the best times to visit Scotland and capture its charm through your camera lens.

8. Stroll around the picturesque grounds of Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire. The stunning loch provides the perfect photo opportunity. The burst of colour from the daffodils is replaced later in spring by carpets of bluebells.

9. Follow in Tam o’ Shanter’s footsteps across the 15th-century cobblestone Brig o’ Doon over the River Doon near Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway. The narrow, arched footbridge is an iconic landmark and picture-perfect spot in spring.

10. Visit the magnificent Crathes Castle estate – one of the most photogenic places in Aberdeenshire. Keep your eyes open for pine martens, otters, red kites, badgers, roe deer and red squirrels – they’re all frequently spotted in the grounds.

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Looking across to the village of Alloway and Burns Monument from the Brig o Doon. It is a lovely sunny day and the trees are a bright green.