Did you know, that heather is seen as a symbol of good luck in Scotland?
In the sixteenth century, Clan Ranald, a Scottish clan, believed that they won a battle because they wore heather in their bonnets, which provided them with luck and protection.
In Scotland it is common to include a sprig of heather in a bride’s bouquet for good luck and for men to wear it on their lapel.
Scottish heather is also known as ling and can be found on heathlands, moors, bogs and woodland. Heather season runs from July to October when you can spot whole landscapes change colour from the delicate flowers. The best month to see heather in Scotland is in August.
Pentland Hills Regional Park, Edinburgh
The Pentland Hills Regional Park is located just outside of Edinburgh and is one of the best places to see heather in Scotland!
With 10,000 hectares of countryside and 100km of paths, the Regional Park is a great place to go walking, hiking, cycling, horse riding, fishing and orienteering.
The colours change with every season and change from pink to copper as Autumn sets in.
Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms National Park is the largest national park in Scotland and one of the top 20 places to visit in the world according to National Geographic Traveller Magazine.
The moorlands here are a great place to see heather and the open habitat is maintained by grazing and regular burning.
The burning allows for a mix of habitat which provides long heather and shrubs for birds to shelter in.
There’s so much to do in the Cairngorms National Park including watersports, snowsports, wildlife watching, hiking and cycling. You can also take in the sights of ancient ruins, castles and whisky distilleries!
Lammermuir Hills, Scottish Borders
The Lammermuirs are a range of hills in Southern Scotland and form a natural border between East Lothian and the Borders.
The name Lammermuir comes from the old English ‘lambra mor’ meaning ‘moorlands of the lambs.’
Suggested activities when visiting the Scottish Borders include the Heritage Museum and hiking sections of The Southern Upland Way.
The Southern Upland way is a route spanning 214 miles across Scotland from the East coast to the South West coast. The Lammermuirs are a stunning area of high moorlands and unspoiled landscapes making it a great place to see Scottish heather, wildlife and views across the Lothians.
Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire
Located near Balmoral Castle, this area is famous for it’s purple heather hills.
The area is perfect for exploration, with a landscape of mountains, crags, rivers, moors and forests that you’ll never tire of wandering through.
There’s several charming Scottish towns near the area including Banchory, Aboyne, Ballater and Braemar.
A castle visits is also highly recommended when visiting the area and the four largest and most interesting ones are Balmoral Castle, Braemar Castle, Crathes Castle and Drum Castle which are all open to the public. You might even bump in to a royal during your visit here!
Isle of Skye
During the summer months the Isle of Skye can be extremely busy with tourism.
Visiting out of season is highly recommended and the landscape between August to November is beautiful and ever changing.
August and early September are the best months to see heather in full bloom here and the Isles coastal cliffs and moorlands are a vibrant purple.
The Fairy Pools, The Quiraing and Trotternish Ridge are especially picturesque spots for seeing Scottish heather.
Perthshire
Known as ‘Big Tree Country,’ Perthshire has a mix of moorlands and woodlands. Different locations in Perthshire offer a unique perspective on Scotland’s heather covered landscapes.
The areas around Dunkeld and the hills of Pitlochry are great for seeing heather and also give views of ancient woodlands and river valleys.
Schiehallion which is located near Pitlochry is one of Scotland’s easiest Munros to climb and its unique pointy symmetrical shape is often mistaken for a volcano.
The slopes are covered in heather during late summer/early autumn. At the top you can expect magnificent views over the Perthshire Highlands.