As my surname suggests, my heritage lies in Scotland and I am very fond of the proud nation, with its beautiful countryside and distinguished cities like Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Here are my tips on dating in this very special part of the world for local and international romantics.

The choice of first date must be individual to the couple. For some, lunch and a walk along the beach is a nice, low-key option. Scotland has some breathtakingly beautiful beaches that can provide the setting for a wonderful date. My favourite is the wide stretch of sand along the coastal path through East Lothian, the sunniest part of the country. The pretty town of Dunbar has several good spots for lunch, including the Creel Restaurant, a great place to have a bite to eat.

In Edinburgh possibly the finest meal can be found in The Witchery on the Royal Mile near the Castle. A boutique luxury hotel, it has a 5 star restaurant this is a truly high end venue. It would certainly be an impressive option for introductions and with only a few tables it is very exclusive.

A somewhat leftfield option is to go to a ceilidh – a Scottish dance. Featuring traditional music and often people dressed in kilts, a night at one of these will be an adventure, and something to talk about on future dates.

Glasgow has many excellent options for dates. A very special restaurant is Brel in the West End which has a beautiful garden to eat al fresco. The city also hosts some wonderful cultural activities, particularly the Brel in the West End which has a beautiful garden to eat lunch al fresco. As a former European City of Culture and most recent host of the Commonwealth Games the city is blessed with some wonderful artistic events. It is the home of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet and the Concert Hall has concerts by orchestras from across the world. It is renowned for its artists and the Glasgow Art Fair (springtime) would be an exciting event to take someone passionate about creativity and culture to.

As well as the culture, food, and scenery Scotland is a place to feel at home.