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    21 Life-Changing Things Everyone Must Do In Scotland

    You need to add "swim with seals" to your bucket list right now.

    1. Cycle through the Outer Hebrides.

    Scottish tour company Wilderness Scotland offer a tour of the Hebrides that guides cyclists across nine islands, including Barra, North Uist, Harris, and Lewis. Or you could just head there with a bike and make it up as you go along.

    2. Walk the West Highland Way.

    3. Take a whale and dolphin watching trip in Torridon.

    Minke whales and dolphins are a familiar sight in the Minch: A strait that separates the north-west Highlands from the Inner Hebrides. The only resident pod of orcas in the UK pay the occasional visit too. Hebridean Cruises offer whale watching trips.

    4. Spend a night wild camping.

    5. Paddle the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail.

    The Scottish Sea Kayak Trail is the first of its kind in Europe and stretches from Gigha in the south to the Summer Isles in the far north. Wilderness Scotland run a trip that takes in the entire trail, with kayaks and all equipment included.

    6. Get your climb on.

    Scotland's mountains have some fantastic climbing routes, but it's best not to scale an icy crag on an actual mountain until you've had some training. This indoor ice climbing wall in Glasgow is a good place to start.

    7. Watch ospreys on Loch Garten.

    8. Hitch a ride on a dog sled.

    9. Bag a Munro

    10. Try your hand at land (or sand) yachting.

    11. Spend a day sliding and swimming through canyons.

    12. Sail around the Small Isles in a vintage yacht.

    Wilderness Scotland own a beautiful, 75 year old wooden yacht that they use for tours of the Small Isles: A small and incredibly scenic series of islands in the Inner Hebrides. They also visit the Isle of Skye and the remote Knoydart peninsula.

    13. Take a helicopter tour of Edinburgh.

    14. Hone your photography skills.

    15. Hit the slopes.

    You don't have to head to the Alps to go skiing or snowboarding: Glencoe, Glenshee, Aviemore, and the Cairngorms have good snow from Christmas/New Year to April. You can find out more here.

    16. Take part in the Common Ridings.

    The Common Ridings are a series of events that take place in the Scottish Borders every year that see hundreds of horse riders come together to gallop around each town. Local riding stables will lend you a horse if you don't have your own.

    17. Paddle an open canoe along Loch Ness.

    18. Play a round of golf in Gourock.

    19. Cruise the Crinan canal on a vintage steam boat.

    20. Get an eagle-eye view of the Isle of Skye.

    21. Swim with seals in the Sound of Mull.

    Forget swimming with dolphins: Swimming with seals is far more fun. Gift Experience Scotland run a "seal safari" through the Sound of Mull, with time set aside to swim with the seals in a sheltered bay if you'd like to get closer.

    Or – if you don't like boats, planes, photography, seals, dogs, horses, or sport – you could always just go for a quiet stroll instead.