Christmas is fast approaching, and part of the fun of the season is shopping for gifts for friends and family. Scotland is the perfect place to pick up some of the country’s most beautiful handcrafted gifts and local produce. 

It is particularly noted for the superior quality of its cashmere knitwear and fine pashminas. The region is ideal for breeding the hardy species of goat that provide the softest cashmere fibres. These fine insulating fibres are designed to keep the goats warm during the harshest winters and shed in the springtime. 

The pure clean waters of Scotland are ideally suited for processing delicate cashmere fibres, because they contain no harsh chemicals or mineral deposits that can damage and roughen them. Therefore Scotland enjoys a very well earned reputation for producing some of the highest quality cashmere in the world. 

St Andrews, Fife

The historic town of St Andrews in Fife recently featured in The Times list of the ‘Seven prettiest towns in the UK for Christmas shopping.’ The article particularly mentioned the variety of cashmere boutiques in the town, as well as whisky shops, bookshops, and vintage stores. It is the perfect place if you enjoy an old fashioned and traditional atmosphere.

St Andrews is in a beautiful location on the east coast of Fife. It’s known for its historic architecture and university, and as the home of golf. Nearby, there are miles of beautiful beaches and picturesque coastal towns and villages. 

Oban

Oban is a fishing town on the west coast of Scotland, and it is known for its annual ten-day winter festival. The whole community comes together to celebrate the festive season as well as the history and culture of the town. There are great shopping opportunities for artisan crafts and goods, and also some fabulous local eateries.

There’s also a programme of family-friendly activities and events, including street parades, performing arts, ceilidhs, pipers, a reindeer parade, fireworks and more. To top it all off, there’s a haggis hurling competition and a whisky festival!

Glasgow

The Burrell Collection Festive Winter Market will be at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on 2nd & 3rd December. Meanwhile, a traditional Christmas market will be hosted in George Square in the centre of Glasgow, with high-quality local and international traders. It’s the perfect time to soak up the festive spirit of the city and bag some presents. 

Edinburgh

It would be impossible to write an article about Christmas shopping in Scotland without mentioning the capital city. The Christmas market is open for business in the heart of the city on Princess Street, with views over the magnificent Edinburgh Castle. 

There are hand-picked stalls selling a range of traditional Scottish fare and freshly made food and drink.  For the kids, there is a fun fair with a Christmas tree maze and Santa Claus Land.