8 places in Canada that will transport you to Scotland, from Edinburgh to the highlands
Start planning some summer trips to these spots.
A person in a small town in Ontario. Right: A person in a small town in Newfoundland.
If you want to escape Canada this summer, you can be transported to the highlands and streets of Scotland, no plane ticket required.
There are many charming small towns in Canada with Scottish heritage and similar landscapes to the country that will make you feel like you've gone abroad.
From towns with historic architecture that will take you to the streets of Edinburgh, to parks that will transport you to Scotland's highlands, there are many corners of Canada that have a Scottish feel.
Ready to get going? Here are eight places in Canada that will transport you to Scotland this summer.
Fergus
Location: Ontario
Why You Need To Go: Located under two hours from Toronto, Fergus is a small town with a "rich Scottish heritage" that will transport you to Europe.
The town is known for its boutique shopping, historic architecture and the annual Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games, which attracts world-class competitors and entertainers.
The games are said to be the world’s largest gathering of clans outside Scotland and Cape Breton, according to Destination Ontario.
Elora
Location: Ontario
Why You Need To Go: Elora is a popular tourist town located minutes away from the Scottish village of Fergus. Elora also has Scottish roots — it was founded by Captain William Gilkison of Ayrshire, Scotland, according to the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Here, you'll find historic limestone buildings, and stunning natural surroundings, like the Elora Gorge and Elora quarry swimming hole.
The town regularly also hosts fun festivals and events, and has a charming downtown area with boutique shopping and tasty restaurants.
Perth
Location: Ontario
Why You Need To Go: Perth is a charming small town located about an hour from Ottawa.
The town was named after Perth, Scotland, and settled by Scottish, Irish and European settlers.
The town has a notably historic setting, with stone bridges, and heritage buildings crafted by 19th-century masons lining the streets and the passageways that once served as horse lanes.
The town is known for its arts and theatre culture, but also has lots of other activities to offer, with outdoor and recreational adventures including paddling, cycling and sports.
The five-acre Stewart Park is located in the heart of Perth and is a popular place to enjoy the outdoors. The park has "photogenic bridges" and "gorgeous gardens" where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll.
Downtown, you'll find boutique shopping, and an array of restaurants and patios. Don't miss Perth Chocolate Works for tasty treat.
Gros Morne
Location: Newfoundland
Why You Need To Go: Newfoundland is often compared to Scotland due to its Scottish roots and similar landscapes.
For a particularly Scottish-looking place, you can head to Gros Morne National Park, a "place unlike any other on Earth."
The national park was created over 485 million years, shaped by colliding continents and grinding glaciers, and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park features glacier-card fjords similar to that of Scotland (where they're called lochs) like the iconic Western Brook Pond Fjord.
The natural wonder also has tons to offer in terms of outdoor activities, including hiking along the Earth’s mantle at the Tablelands — an outcrop of the Earth’s mantle that was pushed skyward half a billion years ago and is a rare sight.
Kincardine
Location: Ontario
Why You Need To Go: Kincardine is a small town in Ontario located on the shores of Lake Huron that serves as the gateway to the Sunshine Coast, the Bruce Peninsula, and cottage country, and is known as "Ontario's Scottish destination."
The town is well known for its Scottish-themed festival, which aims to preserve, enhance, and celebrate Kincardine’s Scottish roots.
The festival takes in July place over three days and features lively music, exciting competitions, cultural workshops, Highland athletes and dancers, the historic Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, and Scottish food.
Its location on the shores of Lake Huron means that the town is also home to some beautiful beaches, including Station Beach a white sandy beach with sand dunes and beach volleyball courts.
Come for the Scottish heritage and stay here for the incredible sunsets, the historic (and possibly haunted) lighthouse, and beautiful nature.
Louisbourg
Location: Nova Scotia
Why You Need To Go: Nova Scotia, in Latin literally meaning "New Scotland," is known as Canada's most Scottish province, and was settled by Gaelic-speaking immigrants from both Scotland and Ireland who made the province their home.
To get a sense of Scottish influence on the province, you can visit the Fortress of Louisbourg, the largest historical reconstruction in North America.
Located on Cape Breton's east coast, here, you can immerse yourself in history as you explore a beautiful coastal landscape, take in the looming fortifications and elegant houses of the reconstruction, and wander original 18th-century ruins.
In present-day Louisbourg, you can enjoy fresh Atlantic seafood, seaside hikes, secluded beaces, and scuba diving among shipwrecks.
Waterton
Location: Alberta
Why You Need To Go: Waterton, a picturesque town in Alberta sitting on a lake enclosed by mountains, serves as a hub to the nearby Waterton Lakes National Park.
The town is home to deep-blue lakes that make way to staggering mountains and waterfalls that descend through multi-coloured canyons.
In Waterton Lakes National Park, the prairies of Alberta meet the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, wth clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, rainbow-coloured streams, colourful rocks and mountain vistas that will make you think you've left Canada for the Scottish lowlands.
The park offers over 200 kilometres of trails to explore, with short walks, day hikes and even a multi-day trek available.
It's also a great place for spotting wildlife, with bighorn sheep, black bears and elk commonly seen in the area.
Bonavista
Location: Newfoundland
Why You Need To Go: Bonavista is a town in Newfoundland anad Labrador located on the Bonavista Peninsula.
The town's name, literally translated from Italian, means "Oh happy sight," a fitting name for the beautiful town.
The town offers a mix of old worldliness and modern ingenuity, with working harbours steps away from coffee shops and businesses operating out of restored historical buildings.
Here, you can visit the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site, one of the few lighthouses in the world where you can still climb up the stone tower and see the same seal oil-fueled light apparatus used in the 1800s.
Be sure to also take a trip to Dungeon Provincial Park, where you can see ocean waves crashing in and catch sight of seabirds like the Atlantic Puffin, and book a sea tour to see whales and icebergs up close.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.