It’s the season of giving!

We’re sure you’re on the hunt for the perfect gift for everyone this year, and if you’re anything like us, you love the gifts you give to be unique; support small and independent businesses; and be locally sourced. Well, we’re here to make your Christmas shopping a wee bit easier this year by letting you in on some of our favourite Scottish businesses. Of course, it goes without saying that chocolate is everyone’s favourite gift, and with our range of bars and boxes featuring Scottish ingredients like gin and whisky, honeyberries, Dundee marmalade and haggis spice, we think we have just the thing for whoever you’re treating. If you’d like to branch out a bit though, here are our favourite local heroes. 

• Discover and Draw

Discover and Draw is owned by Lilli, a young artist based in Fort William who loves nothing more than to head out and about on her adventures and draw whatever beautiful scenes she finds. If you’re shopping for someone who either loves hiking or outdoor sports, or can just appreciate the gorgeousness of Scottish landscapes, then Lilli has something for them! Her artistic style is as unique as it is pretty. We love her work so much, we asked her to design both our advent calendar and our gift wrapping paper!

• Highland Soap Company

The Highland Soap Company’s products add a touch of luxury to the everyday. Their soaps and moisturisers will leave your skin feeling super soft and smelling divine. They have a range of Scottish inspired scents like Scottish Raspberry and Whisky and Honey, and even Sweet Orange and Cinnamon for Christmas, so there’s something for everyone. If you really wanted to ‘wow’ your lucky recipient, you could throw one of our Scottish Raspberry and White Chocolate Bars, Scottish Whisky Selections or Seasonal Selection into the gift bag to provide a real treat for the senses! 

• Tartan Blanket Company

A scarf is a Christmas present classic for a reason, and the Tartan Blanket Company is here to elevate the essential. Anything from here is bound to be a winner.

• Cairn Candle Company

We were going to recommend our favourite to you, but we can’t choose (maaaybe Orange Spice, if we were really pushed)! Each candle smells better than the last! The Cairn Candle Company hand pour their candles in the Cairngorms with sustainable soy wax and plastic free, recyclable packaging, and they plant a tree for every candle sold.

• Róis Sea Glass

Róis Seaglass ‘make treasures out of broken pieces’ by scouring Scottish beaches for wee bits of sea glass before taking them home to Glasgow and turning them into jewellery. As they say, every item has its own journey and story, and is totally unique. A lovely touch they add is letting you know where the sea glass in each piece was found, whether it be Skye or Kintyre. 

• Distillery Tours

Here we have an answer to the age-old question: what do you buy someone who has everything? A distillery tour! Scotland is home to some of the greatest whiskies in the world, and the people and places behind making our national spirit are incredibly interesting. We recommend Raasay Distillery for their breathtaking views, state-of-the-art distillery and whisky and chocolate tasting (😉); Tomatin for their provenance, passion and innovation; and Torabhaig for their storytelling, spirit and yet another delicious whisky and chocolate tasting! Buy a gift voucher or book online.

• Hidden Scotland Magazine

Fill someone in on Scotland’s festivals, history, folklore, experts and current events (not too much, then?) with a Hidden Scotland magazine. These are hardbacks, so as much as a book as they are a magazine and remind you just how much there is to love about our country. Sitting down with a cuppa (or a dram) and a Hidden Scotland magazine is such a lovely way to spend an afternoon. The week between Christmas and New Year will provide plenty of opportunities too!