March breaks in Scotland

Experience lambing season on working farms 

March is a key month for lambing across the Borders, with farms busy welcoming newborn lambs that will soon be bounding across the fields. Some working farms offer guided visits or hands-on experiences, giving visitors the chance to learn about Scotland’s farming traditions and animal husbandry. Learn how their wool shapes the Borders’ world-renowned textile industry at the Borders Textile Towerhouse, and enjoy experiences such as farm visits at Jacksons of Jedburgh and the Highland Cow Experience.  

Plan your farm experience today

Enjoy countryside walks and scenic trails 

March is a lovely time to explore the Borders on foot as landscapes shift from winter to spring. Gentle riverside walks, rolling hill paths, and historic routes offer fresh air, wide views, and a slower pace. Long-distance trails such as the Borders Abbeys Way link some of the region’s most impressive abbey ruins, including Melrose, Jedburgh, Dryburgh and Kelso, all set amid early spring flowers and awakening wildlife. 

Embark on the Borders Abbeys Way 

Follow Scotland’s Castle Trail 

Aberdeenshire lies at the heart of Scotland’s Castle Trail, with dozens of sites ranging from grand royal residences to atmospheric ruins. Castles such as Dunnottar and Crathes are among those that are open in spring, offering a chance to explore at a quieter pace before peak summer crowds arrive. 

Delve into Scotland’s Castle Trail

Coastal drama and seabrids 

Aberdeenshire’s coastline offers striking scenery year-round, but spring light makes it easier to explore clifftop walks and coastal paths. Routes such as the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail combine sea views with dramatic geology, while quieter beaches and headlands provide space to pause and soak up the scenic splendour. Spring also sees seabirds returning to nest along Aberdeenshire’s shores. Places like Rattray Head and other coastal reserves offer opportunities to spot gannets, kittiwakes and other seabirds against a backdrop of wide skies and North Sea views. 

Follow the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail

Explore Norse heritage 

Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement brings this story vividly to life, revealing layers of settlement from Norse longhouses to medieval farmsteads set dramatically against the sea. For deeper context, the Shetland Museum and Archives in Lerwick provides an excellent introduction to Shetland’s Norse past, with artefacts, exhibitions, and storytelling that trace how Viking settlers shaped the islands’ language, culture, and way of life – much of which still endures today. 

Discover Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement 

Enjoy seal spotting and wildlife encounters 

March is an excellent time for seal spotting around both Shetland and the Outer Hebrides. Grey and common seals gather on skerries and reefs, and boat trips offer close-up views from the water. Naturally curious, seals often approach vessels, making this one of the most reliable and rewarding wildlife encounters you can have in early spring. Gannets and kittiwakes, and other migrating seabirds also return to the islands at this time of year.

See seals and other marine life in the Outer Hebrides 

See marine life in Shetland