How much of Scotland can I experience in a week?

I'd been living in London for just under a year when my parents came to visit in January 2020. 

Pitching a tent far from civilisation, where the only sounds come from the birds and the whistling of the wind through the trees, makes for a restorative break for anyone who enjoys spending time in nature. But wild camping is for the most part illegal in England and Wales without the landowner’s permission — save for in Dartmoor National Park, where access rights were recently restored. 

A Viking Cruises employee died after falling from a ship on Friday, BBC reported. The incident occurred at the Port of Cromarty Firth in Invergordon, Scotland. 

A woman said she flew 3,000 miles to attend a wedding in Scotland only to end up at the wrong reception where the bride and groom, who were complete strangers, invited her in for a drink anyway.

Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland’s fertile southwest corner, has historically attracted only a tiny proportion of the visitors who push north to Edinburgh and the Highlands — but those who do stick around are rewarded by an area rich in history, culture and, crucially, food and drink. In 2002, Castle Douglas, a thriving market town at the heart of the county, branded itself ‘Scotland’s Food Town’. It’s a well-deserved title, given it’s home to more than 50 independent food businesses — pretty impressive for a place of just 4,000 people.

My Instagram feed is full of couples getting engaged at swoon-worthy spots across the globe, from Rome's Trevi Fountain to candlelit beaches in Mexico. 

The weather-beaten curves of a battered stone wall guide me out of Langholm, an idyllic old textile town tucked between the hills of the Esk valley, eight miles north of the English border.

In the same drawer where I keep my travel adapters and portable charger, I have a foreign currency graveyard of sorts. A $5 bill from New Zealand. A £10 note from Scotland. Dozens of Canadian loonies and toonies.

There are so many majestic landscapes to view and things to do in Scotland that it can be hard to narrow down where to visit. So why not choose your hotels as a starting point? Scotland is known for its inclement weather, so choosing a hotel with spa facilities can be an excellent backup for something to do if the weather is terrible. It can also be a great way to soothe weary muscles and feet after all the hiking and sightseeing.

They call us the Honest Men, which makes me laugh every time the team gets caught cheating. Ayr United takes its moniker from a 1791 Robert Burns line: ‘Auld Ayr, wham ne’er a toun surpasses, for honest men, and bonnie lasses.’ I often wonder if those things were true then; I know they aren’t now.

It’s no secret that it’s been a year of ups and downs—but one silver lining is the affordable travel possibilities it’s opened up for American travelers. Thanks to expanding air routes, a strong U.S. dollar, and tour companies catering to younger, more frugal tourists, the world is now more accessible than ever.

Enter the AFAR Media “Glasgow Getaway” sweepstakes by March 14, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a trip for two to Glasgow, Scotland, including air, four nights’ hotel, airport transfers, tours, one dinner.