Scotland may not be on every MICE planner’s radar, but it should be. The options are endless, the hospitality is first class, the landscape is breathtaking and of course, there are Kilts. I recently had the distinct pleasure of attending a FAM trip with Global DMC Partner’s Management team and a fabulous small group of MICE planners and DMC’s from across North America to the idyllic city of St. Andrews just slightly North of Edinburgh.
Steeped in rich history, legend and folklore, Scotland is without a doubt a diamond in the rough. With its pounding seas, jaw-dropping cliffs, and rolling hills of herding sheep, I found myself with a constant smile. I imaged life of yesteryear, with less stress, more community and a true sense of the “old country”.
After touching down in Edinburgh, we made our way towards St. Andrews, approximately an hour North on the Firth of Forth coast in the Kingdom of Fife. We welcomed the stop for dinner in the sea side town of Anstruther where we were hosted for a traditional fish and chips meal, it was a quintessential as you get, and downright delicious. As the sun set, we pulled into the stunning, and newly renovated Fairmont St. Andrews perched high atop the cliffs overlooking the steeples of St. Andrews and Firth of Tay. Greeted and treated to a lavish display of sweet treats, bubbles and a warm fireplace, we all were excited to dive into our Scotland adventure.
Although synonymous with bagpipes, ancient castles, legendary golf and of course, the famed courtship of Will and Kate, St. Andrews and Edinburgh have endless options for the adventurous and historic minded incentive travelers alike. On our first day in St. Andrews a group of us traveled to the enchanting Hill of Tarvit, a property owned and operated by The National Trust for Scotland. A most fascinating tour of the mansion, a stop in the “old kitchen” for a lesson on baking Scottish short bread and few swings of the hickory sticks were had, before we were seated for a proper afternoon tea! The interior of the property makes for a lovely event space, exuding a wonderful relaxed feel, with giant hanging tapestries, and a tremendous working fireplace. The outside grounds are capable of accommodating any size event in the beautiful gardens and fields surrounding the property. Strike up a round of six wicket croquet or jump back in time and play a round at the only remaining Hickory Golf course, Kingarrock. The National Trust for Scotland is comprised of numerous unique venues available for Corporate Entertaining from welcome receptions to Gala dinners and everything in-between.
Following a few hours of self-touring and visits to the esteemed Fairmont Spa, we gathered for a Birds of Prey Falconry demonstration. I’m not sure words can capture the exhilaration of an owl or hawk landing on your arm! The beauty and precision of these birds, will not soon be forgotten. Giddy with photos from our day, we all departed as a group for a divine dinner at The Peat Inn, owned and helmed by the award-winning chef, Geoffrey Smeddle. Ranked in the top 50 U.K. restaurants and achieving one Michelin star, the cozy yet modern hideaway is not to be missed. Anyone who fears the food in the UK is not top notch, hasn’t dug deep enough to discover the reaches of culinary craftsmanship. We all came away truly delighted and raving about the terrific flavors and beautiful presentation of our meals.
A good night rest had by all, our second full day was for the more adventurous at heart! Bundled up and to West Sands beach we went for an experience with Blown Away for some exhilarating land yachting! A great team building or incentive group outing, minutes from the hotel and in the heart of St. Andrews. And best part, you don’t have to get wet!!
No trip to St. Andrews is complete without spending some time strolling through town and visiting the Old Course! Golf enthusiast or not, there is something magical about the place and if your group IS golf crazy, there are ample course to choose from. St. Andrews truly appeals to a diverse group of travelers and for those concerned about international travel and Scotland felt safe and removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. Our meals were all spot on, and no language barrier made my often complicated ordering, much easier.
Or trip was capped off by a lovely dinner hosted at the Fairmont, but not before our host DMC group, EC Travel, dressed us in traditional Scottish tartans. And for the men, FULL kilts! This a fun addition for your group on the last night and something unique to the country. It also happens to make for a great photo opportunity! Our dinner was proceeded by a Gin tasting from the local Eden Mill Distillery. Gin, you may ask, why not Whisky?! Simply because this distillery is still fairly new and Whisky takes longer to distill in barrels, so while their first batches are mellowing…they make Gin and Beer! Tasting like this, are easy to arrange and a great addition to any group. Educational, entertaining and tasty!
Full and festive, but questionably rested we all went our separate ways home. I long to return with a group, and dive deeper into the unlimited activities, find more hidden gems and off the beaten track breath taking views. This is one country and city not to be missed – and did I mention, the kilts??
Have Hat, Will Travel... 
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