Top Destinations in Scotland

Inverness

The Highland county of Inverness-shire stretches all the way from the north east coast to the peninsula of Ardnamurchan on the west coast of Scotland. The landscape is covered with relics of Iron Age forts and Bronze Age burial grounds such as the stone cairns at Clava, circled by standing stones. The main city in the county is Inverness which sits on the River Ness and only gained its city status in the year 2000, overlooking the river is the impressive Inverness Castle and on the opposite bank is the cathedral, there are plenty of things to do in the city such as ice skating at the local ice rink, a visit to the Inverness Museum or the Eden Court Theatre. Not far from Inverness is Loch Ness which is one of four lochs in the Great Glen that runs from Inverness to Fort William, Loch Ness is the largest of the four lochs and also the best visited and most famous with people coming from all around the world to try and catch a glimpse or even get a photo of The Loch Ness Monster. It is possible to hire motor-cruisers or to go on a guided cruise of the loch. Standing on the banks of the loch is Urquhart Castle which though mostly ruins now after a long and bloody history is still a great place to visit and explore the ruins and also get great views of the loch from the still standing 5 storey tower, and there is also a visitor centre there with shop, cafe and audio-visual displays amongst other things. There are two different exhibitions about the The Loch Ness Monster, there is the Original Loch Ness Monster Centre and the Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition, both are in the village of Drumnadrochit. Fort William has a good selecion of shops and supermarkets including some excellent outdoor activities shops and there is also cycle hire available. During the summer months you can take The Jacobite steam train from Fort William past Ben Nevis, over the amazing 21 arch Glenfinnan Viaduct all the way to the fishing port of Mallaig, this 84 mile round trip takes around 6 hours with a 90 minute stop at Mallaig and is a superb way of taking in some of the most breathtaking of Scotlands scenery. The Ben Nevis Distillery in Fort William has a visitors centre and you get a conducted tour of the production areas and there is a complimentary tasting at the end. At the Treasures of the Earth in Corpach, next to Fort William you can see a unique collection of minerals, fossils and precious gems displayed in cavernous recreations of the stones natural settings.

Morayshire

Morayshire is on the coast of the Moray Firth and has all that the visitor could ask for, from sandy white beaches, golf courses, whisky distilleries, castles and other historic places of interest, and both Loch Ness and the Cairn Gorm mountains are only a short drive away. There are a school of bottlenosed dolphins out in the Moray Firth which can usually be spotted from any high point along the coast. There are several forests over the area and probably the best visited one is Culben Forest, this has a wide variety of bird species to spot and there are several waymarked trails and paths some of which lead to the beach, all offering a variety of walks, including a Flowers of the Forest trail and an All Abilities trail. Some of the more famous castles in the area are; Cawdor Castle near Nairn which has links to Macbeth and beautiful gardens and a wood which you can explore, there is also a bookshop and restaurant. Brodie Castle is near Forres and its grounds are famous for having 400 different types of daffodil. Urquhart Castle ruins are on the shore of Loch Ness, and the bay beside the castle is said to be the home of Nessie. Among the many whisky distilleries in the area there are many which have a visitors centre, these include, the Glenfiddich Whisky Distillery in Dufftown which is a must for any whisky connoisseur, The Macallan, Glen Moray, Aberlour, Benromach Distillery, Cardhu Distillery, Dallas Dhu Historic Distillery, Glen Grant Distillery and Garden, The Glenlivet Distillery, Glen Moray Distillery and the Strathisla Distillery. Speyside Cooperage in Craigellachie has a visitor centre, cafe, gift shop and picnic area and as well as seeing how the whisky barrels are made you can have a go at building the demonstration cask there. Just a few miles east of Elgin in Mosstodloch you will find the Baxters Visitor Centre where you can experience the Baxters story through an audio-visual presentation and see the original shop as it was in the Victorian days, there are also other shops and restaurants on the site. A little further afield on the north east coast in Fraserburgh is the Museum of Scottish lighthouses set in Scotlands oldest lighthouse, a guided tour takes you to the top of the lighthouse from where you can enjoy great views of the coast, several miles south of there is the Peterhead Maritime Heritage Centre which takes a look back at sea based industries.

Ross-shire

Ross-shire is in the Highlands of Scotland has coastline on both the east and west coasts. The east coast is the more inhabited side with several towns on the coast while the west of the county is a lot quieter and perfect for enjoying more outdoor based pursuits and also enjoying some of the best scenery in Scotland. Just below the Dornoch Firth in the east of the county is the town of Tain which is the oldest Royal Burgh in Scotland and the towns main feature is the massive Tain Tollbooth, other places of interest include the Royal Academy of Tain, the Collegiate Church and Castle Brae which is now a local museum. Half a mile north of Tain is the Glenmorangie Distillry Centre which offers a guided tour of the whisky making process and a visit to the tasting room to sample the results. Not far east from Tain is Lochslin Castle which although mostly ruins two of its square towers are in good preservation. The Black Isle peninsula north of Inverness is a wonderful place to visit, there is the Black Isle Wildlife and Country Park and two RSPB reserves and on the northern most tip at Cromarty you can take a boat trip out to try and get a view of the dolphins which live in the area. If you make it to Cromarty there is also the award-winning experience at the Cromarty Courthouse Museum to visit and the Hugh Miller's Cottage Museum, which was the home of the godfather of geology, and which is now looked after by the National Trust. The Highland Museum of Childhood in Strathpeffer is set in the old Victorian Railway Station which has been restored and the items on display include a collection of 272 dolls from all over the world, dolls houses and much more. Places of interest in the west of the county include the Scottish Natural Heritage's Beinn Eighe Nature reserve visitor centre by Loch Maree , wildlife in the area includes red deer, pine martens, wild cats, snow hares, red foxes and golden eagles. In Ullapool you can find the Ullapool Museum and Visitor Centre which provides an insight into the life of a Highland parish using interactive touchscreens and an ever growing collection of artefacts. Close to the main Ullapool road The Corrieshalloch Gorge is a mile-long box canyon, one of the best in the country and it also has a viewing platform. During the summer months there are cruises to the Summer Isles from Ullapool. You can also get cruises from Gairloch Marine Life Centre between April and October, on the cruise there is a chance to spot, golden eagles, otters, and the sea eagle, plus Minke Whales, Common Dolphins, Porpoises, Humpback and Killer Whales.

Sutherland

Sutherland is in the Highlands in the North of Scotland and it is bordered in the south by Ross and Cromarty. The county has a mixture of mountains and rolling moors and dramatic seascapes.
The coastal village of Golspie has award winning beaches to the north and south of its pier and just 3 miles south of Golspie at Loch Fleet there is a national nature reserve where amongst other animals that you might see there are wading birds and wildfowl , as well as seals which bask on the sandbanks. Dunrobin Castle which is only half a mile north of Golspie looks like a fairy tale castle and is the most northerly of Scotlands great houses, there are daily Falconry displays held in the grounds of the castle and the gardens in the castle grounds are really worth a visit for their wonderful design and layout and there is also a Victorian Museum with a collection of Pictish stones and exhibits covering local history, geology and natural history. At the Falls of Shin Visitor Centre near Lairg you can watch Atlantic Salmon battle their way up the waterfall from around the end of April to the end of November from the viewing platform which is very close to the car park, there are also forest walks in the area and a children's adventure playground. The Clynelish Distillery in Brora is one of the most northerly distilleries in Scotland, visitors are welcome and tours are provided. Dornoch is noted for its restored cathedral and the story of the town is told in the History Links Museum. Ardvreck Castle is now in ruins but still a pretty sight on the shore of Loch Assynt. John O'Groats has many things to do and see, at the Last House in Scotland Shop and Museum see some of the wonderful artefacts of bygone times that have been loaned to the museum by local residents, you can have your postcards stamped with the official Last House Stamp and have it posted from inside the building. There is also the John O'Groats Pottery and Craft Village. There is a three kilometre walk along the north coast east from John O'Groats to Duncansby Head Lighthouse. From Mid June to the end of August there is 90 minute wildlife ferry tour that leaves at 2.30 pm and as you pass the cliffs on the coast you have a chance to see Arctic Skuas, Storm Petrels, Guillemots, Puffins, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Atlantic Grey Seals and many other animals besides.

Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire has over a hundred miles of unspoilt coastline to the north and the east of the county, and the Cairngorms Mountains are within close driving distance to the west. There are many castles and other historical monuments in the area, some of these include; Crathes Castle near Banchory which is a 16th century castle with fairytale turrets and is most famous for its Jacobean painted ceilings. Drum Castle also near Banchory is open to the public during the summer months. Dunnottar Castle is on the coast near Stonehaven and the ruins stand dramatically on a rocky outcrop. Slains Castle is set on the cliffs near Cruden Bay, at Slains you can see for miles around, and the scenery is quite breathtaking, the castle itself, while in ruins is very large and has many rooms and turrets to explore. There are also lots of ancient stone circles in the area including, Loanhead of Daviot near Inverurie, East Aquhorthies Stone Circle also near Inverurie, and the Cullerlie Stone Circle just to name a few, and nearby to Cullerie is the Garlogie Mill Power House which has a beam engine, the only one of its type to have survived intact on its original location and an award-winning audio visual presentation. The town of Banchory has many things to do in and around the area, there is the Banchory Museum and just over the River Dee from Banchory there is the Scolty Woodland Park which has waymarked walks and paths which lead to the monument at the top of Scolty Hill overlooking Banchory. Storybook Glen is 6 miles west of Aberdeen on the B9077, and is a magical world of make-believe and fun for younger children, there are over a 100 nursery rhyme and fairytale characters and it is set in a 28 acre park where there are majestic trees, secret waterfalls, exotic animals and fairytale houses to see. The Glendronach Distillery Visitors Centre has two one hour tours each day Monday - Friday around the distillery, at 10am and again at 2pm. At Fraserburgh on the north east coast The Museum of Scottish lighthouses is located in Scotlands oldest lighthouse. The city of Aberdeen has much to offer with its great shopping and superb selection of restaurants, Aberdeen is known to many people as the City of Roses, around 12,000 different types of roses cover every bit of Duthie Park's Rose Hill and it is a blaze of colour in the summer. Some sights of interest in the city include King's College and St Machar's Cathedral and the 16th-century Provost Skene's House, which is now a museum. The Aberdeen Art Gallery collection includes impressionists to modern Scottish artists.

Angus

The area of Angus can be split into three different areas, there is the mountainous north west, the south east is an area of rolling hills that meet the North Sea and in the middle there is the Great Valley which is an agricultural area. There are many Prehistoric monuments scattered all over the area along with many castles and castle ruins. Castles in the area include; Glamis Castle which is near Forfar, it is a very impressive sight as you make your approach along the drive and see its many spires and turrets, the castle was the childhood home of the Queen Mother. There are guided tours of the castle where you get to see varieties of furnishings, tapestries and works of art contained in its rooms, the gardens have nature trails and it is possible to spot red squirrels as your walk along the trail, other gardens there include the Italian garden. The Brechin Castle Centre has a Country park and a model farm, a play area, nature trails and a miniature railway. Also set in the country park is Pictavia, which is a Visitor Centre that tells the story of Scotland's ancient Pictish tribes. The ruins of Arbroath Abbey are located near the town centre and are an impressive sight, there is also a visitors centre on site. Up the coast from Arbroath in the town of Montrose there is plenty to do including a visit to the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre which depicts the story of the historic Scottish aerodrome, and there are aircraft and military vehicles on display. The Montrose Basin is a haven for birds and other wildlife, the visitor centre there has interactive displays, high-powered telescopes and there are television cameras which help to bring the wildlife a lot closer. Overlooking the Montrose Basin is the House Of Dun which is a Georgian house, and there are displays of woolwork and embroidery, a model theatre display and in the courtyard buildings you’ll find a handloom weaving workshop. Dundee is the fourth largest city in Scotland and also the sunniest, it sits on the north bank of the Firth of Tay. The city is built around Law Hill which is an extinct volcano, a trek to the top of this 571ft hill either by car or on foot is well worth it for the excellent views over the city. Two museums of note in Dundee are the Verdant Works, which is a working Jute Mill and there is a great range of displays including film shows, interactive computers and some original machinery which has been restored to working condition, and the Dicovery Point on the Tay which is home to R.R.S. Discovery which was Captain Scott's ship, the museum tells the story of the ship and crew on their Antarctic expedition.

Argyl

Argyll is on the west coast of Scotland and is mostly an area of beautiful lochs and islands. There are also wonderful mountains and a beautiful coastline. You can take a ferry across to one of the many islands and perhaps explore Mull. The harbour town of Oban is overlooked by McCaigs Tower and it looks like a coliseum standing there on the hill, it was built just over a hundred years ago to create employment for the local people, and you can get up to it via a steep climb from the town centre. The Oban Distillery is open to visitors only for the afternoon during the summer months but for longer periods in Spring and Autumn. A short distance north from Oban on the shores of the beautiful Loch Creran is the Scottish Sealife and Marine Sanctuary, and this is Scotland's leading rescue centre, there are more than 30 native marine habitats, an aquarium display which has starfish, sharks and stingrays amongst other marine creatures and there are also feeding displays, talks and demonstrations. There is plenty to do in Inveraray from a visit to Inveraray Castle, which is also known as the Fairy Tale Castle because of its four conical spires and is an impressive piece of architecture and one of Scotland's best hidden treasures, as well as a tour of selected rooms through which you can trace the castles history there are also walking routes through the estate to be enjoyed and follies and fancies to spot on the way. The Inveraray Maritime Museum is set aboard the Arctic Penguin, a three-masted schooner and the exhibition relates to the maritime history of the River Clyde and the West Coast of Scotland. The Inverary Jail which is housedin what was a real prison has recreated prison life from Victorian times with a Warder, Matron and Prison Guides, all dressed in period costumes and there are authentic prison smells, cells and furnishings, there is also a fully restored 1820 Courtroom, some of the other exhibitions here include, Torture Death and Damnation, and In Prison Today. The area around Kilmartin has more than 350 ancient monuments within a six-mile radius of the village and this makes it an area of outstanding archaeological importance, and the Kilmartin House Museum helps you to understand the importance of these monuments with its audio-visual display and ancient artefact displays, you can also go walking in the area and get to see the monuments.

Dundee

Dundee sits on the banks of the Firth of Tay and is known as the City of Discovery, it is built around the remains of an extinct volcano known as Law Hill, you can get some amazing views from the top, of the city and the surrounding areas. Dundee was once also synonymous with the three J's, Jam, Jute and journalism although jute is no longer produced here. Dundee is Scotlands only south facing city and this is said to make it the warmest city in Scotland. There are an endless amount of things to see and do in Dundee, there is the Olympia Leisure Centre with four water slides, wave machine and water rapids. The McManus Galleries and Museum is a Gothic style building which holds displays into Dundee's past, through exhibitions of history, art and the environment. The Mills Observatory which is only a mile from the city centre is the UK's only full time public observatory, there are several different and ever changing displays to see, a planetarium and a Victorian telescope. The Verdant Works museum is a working Jute Mill and there is a great range of displays including film shows, interactive computers and some original machinery which has been restored to working condition. The Dicovery Point on the Tay which is home to R.R.S. Discovery which was Captain Scott's ship, the museum tells the story of the ship and crew on their Antarctic expedition. The city is also home to the Scottish Dance Theatre, who are based in the city's Dundee Repertory Theatre, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra regularly plays in the cities Caird Hall. Things to do further afield north of the Tay in Angus include a visit to Glamis Castle near Forfar and the childhood home of the Queen Mother, The Brechin Castle Centre and country Park where you will also find Pictavia, a visitor centre that concentrates on the history of Scotland's Pictish tribes. There's also the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre,the House Of Dun which and the Montrose Basin. South of the Tay in Fife there's the Hill of Tarvit Mansion House and Garden which is a showcase for furniture and tapestries and paintings, exhibitions of local artists work and marked woodland walks. The Scottish Deer Centre has 9 species of deer and there are bird of prey demonstrations, a treetop walkway and two childrens adventure playgrounds.

East Lothian

East Lothian has over 40 miles of coastline varying from beautiful golden beaches to high cliffs and countryside made up of gentle rolling hills dotted with castles and ancient settlements. There are many things to do here in East Lothian ranging from visiting some of the many tourist attractions or playing a round of golf at one of the 19 golf courses, of which Musselburgh Links is the oldest surviving course in the world, or perhaps trying out some of the many water sports in the area which range from sailing to kite surfing, and the angling in the area is also quite superb with the chance to fish for native game fish such as salmon, brown trout and sea trout. Places to visit in the area include; Hailes Castle which is just a short distance from East Linton and though mostly in ruins is still an impressive sight with an history going back to the 13th century. Dirleton Castle sits on a rocky outcrop in Dirleton Gardens which hold the record for having the worlds longest herbaceous border. Tantallon Castle is near North Berwick and set on high cliffs looking out over the Firth of Forth. The National Museum of Flight shows how flight developed from the Wright brothers to Concorde, lots of rare planes are on display here and the collection includes one of the retired
Concorde's. John Muir’s Birthplace in Dunbar has been turned into a 3 floor visitor centre which tells the story of the father of the national park system and looks at the environmental movement today. Prestongrange Museum ducuments the story of Scotland's Industrial Revolution, with remnants of former industries which were on this site including a glass works, coal mine, pottery and brickworks, some of the structures on the site include a Hoffman Kiln and a Cornish Beam Engine, there are both guided and and a self guided tour avalable. The Scottish Seabird Centre with its visitor centre is a 5 star visitor attraction that overlooks the islands of the Firth of Forth and the white sandy beaches of North Berwick. The Glenkinchie Distillery, the home of The Edinburgh Malt, has a exhibition area describing the history of malt whisky and a guided tour of the production area and a tasting at the bar.