The best ‘quietcation’ destinations in the country have been named.
The best destinations in Scotland for a ‘quietcation’ have been named, with travel experts revealing where in the country offers the most peaceful places to escape the noise and enjoy a slower-paced break. A total of three Scottish locations were singled out as part of the study.
New research from LNER ranked destinations across each part of the UK based on factors like population density, air quality, dark-sky conditions, and access to blue and green spaces. Also considered were the availability of quiet activities such as visiting tea rooms, bookshops, and walking trails, with each place assigned an overall score out of 100.
Coming in at number one for Scotland on LNER’s roundup is Aviemore, which is a town and resort situated within the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands. Aviemore ranks highest in Scotland with a score of 74.1 out of 100, recording the cleanest air and highest number of walking trails of all the Scottish destinations featured on the study.
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Aviemore was also found to offer 10.82 hectares of blue space, 16.7 hectares of green space, and four nearby nature reserves. Among the best things to do in the area according to LNER are walk along the nearby Loch an Eilein, visit the beach at Loch Morlich, and enjoy a bite to eat at The Barn at Rothiemurchus.
LNER wrote: “Set in the heart of Cairngorms National Park, Aviemore gives you Highland scenery without leaving cafés and cosy pubs behind. The high street has plenty of life, but ancient forests, mountain views and quiet lochs are just minutes away. The three-mile path around Loch an Eilein runs through the old Caledonian pines of Rothiemurchus Forest, passing a ruined castle on an island in the water.
“A few miles north, Loch Morlich has a wide sandy beach backed by the Cairngorm mountains. Walk the shore, hire a paddleboard or simply sit on the sand and take in the view. Afterwards, stop by The Barn Café at Rothiemurchus for homemade scones beside a wood-burning stove.”
The second-best quietcation destination in Scotland according to the travel experts is Callander, which is a small town in the council area of Stirling. Callander took second place with a score of 62.4 out of 100, offering more than 20 hectares of green space and 6.31 hectares of blue space.
According to LNER, visitors to Callander can also enjoy 63 nearby walking trails and two nature designations that offer stunning views. Standout destinations include the magnificent Bracklinn Falls waterfalls and the Callander Crags, with the latter offering mesmerising vistas out towards Loch Venachar and Ben Ledi.
The final locations featured on LNER’s list of the best places in Scotland for a quietcation are the historic twin communities of Dunkeld and Birnam in Perth and Kinross. The two settlements received a joint score of 54.8 out of 100, and were praised for their dark skies, 5.59 hectares of blue space, and 40 scenic walking trails.
Commercial Director at LNER David Flesher commented: “We all need a break every now and then, whether that’s a weekend away from the emails, the traffic and the everyday noise, or just a change of scenery for a few days.
“That’s really what this research is about: a guide to some of the UK’s most peaceful towns and cities, plenty of which are easily reached by train. It shows that real peace and quiet isn’t hard to find. Dark skies above the Yorkshire Dales, ancient pine forests in the Cairngorms, sleepy coastal towns and market squares, the UK has some wonderful landscapes waiting to be discovered.”
Best Scottish destinations for a quietcation
- Aviemore
- Callander
- Dunkeld and Birnam
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