Edinburgh (TAN): What do you picture when you think of Scotland? Castles, lochs (lakes in Scottish Gaelic), scotch, or even bagpipes, I suppose. Okay, maybe Irn-Bru too.
But who would have thought that the country where millions of people come looking for nature and history every year, could also be promoted as a wellness destination.
[ALSO READ: Air India Express aircraft ended up in open drain after pilot ignored warnings of younger co-pilot]
Scotland’s national tourism organisation VisitScotland has launched its first online itinerary focusing on the wellness of mind, body and spirit after a study it commissioned found almost a third of people in Great Britain consider Scotland an ‘ideal destination for a wellness holiday’.
The research was conducted by an international internet-based market research and data analytics company YouGov.
The guide suggests a three-day wellness break, which is further divided into mind, body and spirit, with each day dedicated towards the wellness of each of these areas.
On day one, visitors could head to a retreat on the Isle of Arran for yoga, Tai Chi and meditation, or visit the Kagyu Samye Ling Buddhist Temple in Dumfries and Galloway for a stint of Tibetan meditation. VisitScotland suggested the ancient Calanais standing stones, the Ring of Border, and historic abbeys including the famed Melrose Abbey to attract spiritual vibrations.
Scottish museums, that are found in abundance all over the country, are the go-to places for curious minds. From Kirkcudbright Galleries in Dumfries and Galloway to National Museum of Scotland in capital city Edinburgh, there are all kinds waiting to be engaged with.
Who does not like spending a day at the spa, and what can be better than unwinding amid soaring hills and gurgling lakes of Scotland. The Isle of Eriska Spa in Argyll and Fairmont St. Andrews, Ardoe House Hotel and Spa are suggested by the guide, among others.
Day two focuses on the body. Wellness seekers could hit outdoors and explore some of Scotland’s ‘most peaceful spots’ – kayak on one of the lochs, hike up a mountain or stroll by the beach. ‘Forest bathing’ that involves immersing oneself in the ‘peaceful sights, sounds and sensations of the woods to relax and re-centre’ the body in one of the forest parks could also feature high on the relaxation list.
Would you like to take an alpaca for a hike? That is possible in Kelso near the Scottish borders. In fact, Scotland is renowned for its scenic walking routes. Some of them are said to be have strong spiritual energy, including the Way of St. Andrews, the Fife Pilgrim Way, the Borders Abbey Way, among others. It could find a place in the itinerary on the final day that is reserved for the rejuvenation of the spirit.
[ALSO READ: Antarctica tour operators take action to prevent whale strikes]
According to the VisitScotland guide, the enchanted forest in Pitlochry in Perthshire offers a magical escape through a display of lights and music, and aids relaxation. Champing, or sleeping in a church could be another interesting activity to try out while in this country of ancient abbeys and kirks (churches).
Scotland is thronged by 11.8 million visitors from across the United Kingdom, especially from London, a quarter of whom have been to at least one wellness holiday. When asked, they said they usually took breaks to ‘switch off from everyday life’.
With the ever-increasing challenges and complexities of city life, wellness tourism, valued globally at USD 639 billion in 2017, has ‘grown more than twice as fast as tourism overall’ with more people going back to nature for absorbing experiences to enhance personal wellbeing.
