Riding Solo

VisitScotland is highlighting a post-pandemic trend in solo travelling after a surge of interest over the last three years.

Taking a trip on your own is becoming more popular according to Google search trends identified by the national tourism organisation.

From 2021 to 2023 searches for solo trips to Scotland jumped from 13 per cent to 46 per cent, with travellers claiming our friendly people make Scotland stand out from other destinations. VisitScotland believes that as the COVID-19 outbreak stopped a lot of travel plans, people are now less willing to wait for others to explore and there may be a bigger ‘why not’ mindset post-pandemic.

The majority of solo travellers are female (84%) and over half recommend Europe as the best destination for their first solo trip. Hannah Rose – a solo travel influencer known as @postcardsbyhannah – has Italy, the French Rivera and the Maldives checked off her travel bucket list. But she thinks Scotland’s inclusive culture makes it the ideal place to travel alone.

She said: “The first time I visited Scotland solo I went to Glasgow. I chatted with the owner of a coffee shop who was so pleased I had picked his home city to visit, that he refused to let me pay my bill. He then called his partner and co-owner who invited me on a night out with her friends. She gave me her number and we still chat to this day.

“I don’t know any other place in the world where locals make me feel comfortable and want to chat to me when they realise I am travelling solo.

“Scotland isn’t just the perfect choice for solo women, but it is a very inclusive country that welcomes those from all walks of life. It is a safe country for the LGBTQ community whilst also being accessible to those less able.”

Hannah added that solo travel can also mean slow travel – where visitors take their time in a location instead of checking off hotspots.

She said: “Scotland is the ideal place to enjoy ‘slow travel.’ Whether you are visiting larger cities such as Edinburgh or exploring the wilderness of the Highlands, it shouldn’t be rushed.

“Travelling solo means I can set the pace. If I want to sit in a coffee shop and watch the world go by I can. If I want to climb a hill and spend an hour sitting at the top admiring the view, then I absolutely will.” Research* has shown that 74% of solo travellers go alone because they want to experience the world without waiting for someone.

That was the case for Elise Shapiro whose husband could not travel because of work and friends could not commit.

The IT training specialist from Seattle, Washington, said: “I have taken a year off to travel and found that Scotland is a great country for solo travel. People are kind and friendly and public transportation has been easy to figure out. I was taking the city bus in Edinburgh on my second day in Scotland. I’ve scheduled time on group tours as well as alone, so I can meet people and make new friends, but I can also have downtime by myself.”

Elise was drawn to visit Scotland as a fan of TV show Outlander but after visiting some of the filming locations, has explored the country further.

She said: “I visited Iona, Mull, Skye, Orkney, the Highlands, and Edinburgh. Before I leave Europe, I will also go to Glasgow and then Edinburgh again, later in the winter.

“Scotland is an easy country for solo travelers. From the botanical gardens, castles and cathedrals to the museums and great restaurants, there’s tons to do, no matter what you are interested in.”

Tour company Mary’s Meanders specialise in Outlander experiences and have seen a rise in solo travellers in recent years.

Guide Emma Chalmers said: “Since we started offering Outlander Tours, we have frequently hosted solo travellers. They have increased slightly since the pandemic but what is interesting is that they now say things like “I got tired of waiting for my friends/family members to commit and decided to just go for it”, “just because my husband doesn’t want to travel doesn’t mean I can’t”.

Emma and her team cater for the solo travel market to ensure customers feel safe when holidaying in Scotland.

She said: “We have a hand holding approach, we offer zoom calls in advance of the guest booking, we are happy to answer any type of question about little things that might be worrying them. It is all about building their confidence if needed.”

Although many visitors venture out alone, they often end up making important connections thanks to group tours offered by businesses.

Emma added: “We set up WhatsApp group chats so everyone can start to get to know each other. This works really well; in fact, we have even had guests meet up in the airport and fly over together.”

Leanne Mallon, VisitScotland Head of Performance Marketing, said: “Solo travel has grown more popular post-pandemic, and this may be down to people feeling the need to seize travel opportunities now as we don’t know what might be round the corner. There has also been the rise of social media platforms like TikTok where solo travellers share their experiences and show how easy it can be to travel alone.

“Solo travel comes with many benefits for the visitor and the destination. It allows you to explore what works or doesn’t work for you. You can encounter a wide range of people and be able to immerse yourself in Scottish culture in a way that suits you. It can be done on a budget, making it ideal for anyone wishing to watch their spending. And it can be easier to make more responsible choices such as staying longer in general or in a particular area or travelling around via more public transport, which can lessen the impact on the environment.

“This trend is one that many Scottish tourism businesses can jump on. They can look at shaping their products and services to suit lone travellers and capitalise on this growing market.”

Find out more on solo travel in Scotland https://www.visitscotland.com/inspiration/solo-travel

• Solo Traveller 2022 Reader Survey https://solotravelerworld.com/about/solo-travel-statistics-data/