Saturday, August 24, 2024 VisitScotland highlights Forth Valley’s botanical gardens and forest paths as key to enriching the visitor economy through autumn. Nature connections are a top vacation driver, with 38% of respondents in the latest Scotland Visitor Survey citing it as a primary reason for holidaying. The survey, initiated by the national tourism agency, also found that 81% of visitors are drawn to Scotland for its vistas, while 30% enjoy the outdoor activities available.
The area’s landscaped gardens, featuring themed exhibits and conservation education, provide an idyllic setting for appreciating plant life and serenity. This makes the Forth Valley an appealing destination for those planning visits. Additionally, over half of the tourists reported that their Scottish sojourns significantly boosted their overall well-being (59%).
The allure of nature continues to be a significant draw for UK tourists visiting Scotland in the cooler months, with most planned activities centered around the outdoors, as per VisitScotland. Stirling Castle ranks among Scotland’s top ten paid attractions in 2023, drawing 517,299 visitors, as stated in The Scottish Visitor Attraction Monitor by the Moffat Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University. The castle’s Queen Anne Gardens boast historic botanical features including centuries-old twin beech trees.
In Falkirk, The Pineapple stands out for its historical cultivation of exotic produce within its extensive glasshouses, now a sanctua.