Scotland has a way of getting under your skin. The misty glens, the clan history, the whisky distilleries tucked into remote valleys — once you’ve been, you spend a lot of time thinking about when you’re going back. Or, if you haven’t been yet, you spend a lot of time dreaming.
The good news is that Scotland has a thriving community of writers and newsletter publishers who share that obsession. Here are six Scotland newsletters worth a place in your inbox, each one free to join.
1. Love Scotland — lovetovisitscotland.com
That’s us. Every weekday morning we send one story about Scotland: a castle with a past, a clan, an island crossing, a glen worth the detour, a dram worth tasting. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click. Join the Love Scotland newsletter
2. VisitScotland — visitscotland.com
The national tourism organisation’s own newsletter: trip ideas, events and places to go across the whole country, from the islands to the cities. Good for planning the first trip. Sign up on VisitScotland
3. The Scotsman History and Heritage — scotsman.com
The Edinburgh newspaper runs a weekly History and Heritage newsletter with features on Scottish history, nostalgia and archive picture galleries. Tick it on The Scotsman’s newsletter page; its Scran food and drink newsletter sits on the same page. Choose your Scotsman newsletters
4. Shetland.org — shetland.org
Shetland.org, the islands’ visitor and life site, sends monthly newsletters: travel inspiration, island events, news and recipes, plus one for anyone thinking of moving north. Sign up from the box on its home page. Visit Shetland.org
5. Orkney.com — orkney.com
For slower island trips, the Orkney.com newsletter sends updates from the islands, and the same site carries an events calendar and free visitor guides. The “Sign Up Now” button is on the home page. Visit Orkney.com
6. Cairngorms National Park — cairngorms.co.uk
For walkers and anyone who loves the hills: the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s email newsletter, with news from the park, volunteering days and more. Use “Sign up to our newsletter” at the foot of its home page. Visit the Cairngorms National Park site
Our Final Pick
If you only join one, we hope it’s ours: a Scotland story every weekday morning, from clan history to island ferries, free. Subscribe: lovetovisitscotland.com
Want to explore more? Love Scotland is part of a family of heritage travel newsletters. If your roots go beyond Scotland, you might also enjoy Love Ireland and Love Italy.