Scotland Area Guide

How to sum up Scotland? It’s a country covering 30,420 sq miles/78,789 sq km of wildly diverse landscapes from remote moorlands of Sutherland in the north-west to the rugged Grampian Mountains and the undulating hills of the Borders abutting northern England. Scotland is proud home to two national parks, 40 national scenic areas and six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and has a coastline sprinkled with 790 islands. Major cities include historic Edinburgh, lively Glasgow, post-industrial Dundee and oil-rich Aberdeen. Of course, the best way to experience this northerly outpost of the UK is to visit for yourself… and here’s where your adventures begin.

Top Attractions in Scotland

It’s hard to pinpoint the very best of Scotland as there’s so much to choose from – but these three names are synonymous with trips north of the border. 

Edinburgh

Compact and hilly, Scotland’s capital is both an ancient and modern city showcasing a blend of medieval architecture, a Georgian New Town, great Victorian monuments and dynamic modern museums. Edinburgh is the cradle of numerous cultural festivals, the seat of the Scottish Parliament and home of fine-dining opportunities galore. There are panoramic views to the Firth of Forth from Arthur’s Seat – the vast volcanic plug that dominates the city – and the National Museum of Scotland provides a deep dive into the country’s rich heritage.

Glasgow

Glasgow is Scotland’s cultural powerhouse, with a fabulous arts heritage in mammoth-sized galleries and numerous family-friendly museums including the Riverside Museum and Science Centre, both sitting on the banks of the Clyde. It’s also a shopping mecca – from the big names along Buchanan Street to vintage finds at Barras Market and designer jewellery tucked away down Hidden Lane – and a late-night city known for live music in famed venues like The Barrowlands or King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, plus cool bars in the West End.

Loch Ness

In the centre of the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness is globally famous for its mythical and somewhat elusive monster. Boat trips run around the loch from Fort Augustus at its southernmost tip, and there’s more to learn about Nessie at the Loch Ness Centre in the pretty village of Drumnadrochit. At the north end of the sinuous 22.5-mile/36-km loch is the small city of Inverness, the ‘capital’ of the Highlands and an outdoors hub with a lively dining scene.

Scenic landscapes for outdoor adventures

The diverse landscapes of Scotland lend themselves to alfresco activities from winter skiing to mountain climbing, fishing salmon rivers to hiking rugged moorland, and cycling to walking the long-distance Great Glen Way.

Cairngorms National Park

Designated in 2003, the Cairngorms National Park provides protection to some of Scotland’s most endangered species, including red squirrels, ospreys and red deer. There are ski slopes and reindeer herds at Aviemore, a year-round adventure tourism scene and endless opportunities for climbing, hiking or cycling. Living among the moorland and mountain landscapes are thriving artistic communities selling their wares in galleries and indie shops. 

The Highlands and Islands

Stretching from Shetland, the Orkneys and Outer Hebrides south to the climbing centre of Fort William and down the west coast to Mull of Kintyre, The Highlands and Islands area has ‘Scottish’ attributes in spades: lochs and heather-clad hills, rugged landscapes and historic castles, whisky trails and everyday use of the lyrical Gaelic language. As well as being home to rare wildlife, the region encompasses prehistoric standing stones at Callanish on Lewis, Ben Nevis – at 4,413 ft/1,345 m, the highest mountain in the UK – and eerie Glencoe with its tumbling burns.

Isle of Skye

Accessed across the Skye Bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh, dramatic Skye is Scotland in miniature, with wave-pounded cliffs, sea lochs dotted along the jagged coastline, windswept castles and golden eagles soaring in the thermals. The island is dominated by the granite bluffs of the Cuillin range, intertwined with popular hiking trails leading to the jagged Old Man of Storr, remote Quiraing and mysterious Fairy Glen. 

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Scattered with 38 rocky islets, Loch Lomond is a sailor’s paradise and an integral part of the stunning Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, which stretches north to Killin, east to Callander, and west to Tyndrum on the edge of bleak Rannoch Moor. Within the park are 21 challenging Munros (hills over 3,000 ft/915 metres) for climbers, and walking routes in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. The steamboat SS Sir Walter Scott plies peaceful Loch Katrine, while the lions, bison and tigers at Blair Drummond Safari Park are a sure-fire hit with the kids. 

Eight cultural highlights of Scotland

Scotland’s not just a pretty face; the country is bursting with world-class cultural attractions. It’s home to the world-renowned Edinburgh International Festival, the location of blockbuster film locations for Outlander and the Harry Potter series, and packed to the gunnels with stunning architecture – and that’s before you consider the extensive range of art collections and museums. Here are eight Scottish cultural highlights.

Aberdeen Maritime Museum 

Narrating the history of Aberdeen’s seafaring past using interactive exhibits, the Maritime Museum houses exhibitions on the shipbuilding and fishing industries that first brought wealth to the area. It’s also one of the few museums to look at the impact of the discovery of oil as well as life on the offshore rigs; its centrepiece is a vast scale model of an oil platform.

Burrell Collection, Glasgow 

In 1944, shipping magnate Sir William Burrell bequeathed a vast collection of medieval statuary, tapestries and Oriental art to Glasgow, and it’s all displayed in a magnificent, airy glass building in Pollok Country Park just outside the city centre. The plant-filled courtyard of the Burrell Collection contains copies of famous sculptures like Rodin’s The Thinker,as well as the vast alabaster Warwick Vase, dating from the second century AD and dug up at Tivoli in Italy. 

Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile

Looming above Princes Street on its rocky bluff is Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, Stone of Destiny, the giant cannon Mons Meg and summer’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The Royal Mile runs downhill between the castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, lined with ancient tenement buildings and the claustrophobic underground warren at Real Mary King’s Close, which was sealed during the plague of 1645. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, St Giles’ Cathedral, numerous restaurants and gloriously tacky souvenir shops are also found along the street’s imposing length.

Jedburgh Abbey, Roxburghshire

The Romanesque/early Gothic ruins of Jedburgh Abbey tower over the north bank of Jed Water, edging the Borders town of Jedburgh. Though founded by King David I in 1138, there are fragments of Celtic stonework dating back to the ninth century. The abbey gardens have been faithfully recreated and the visitor centre provides an enlightening background history on the Augustinian monks who once lived there. 

Good to know: There are other medieval abbey ruins close by at Melrose, Kelso and Dryburgh in the Scottish Borders.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow 

Glasgow’s premier art destination, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum possesses more than 8,000 works of art, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Titian and Dalì alongside the native talents of the 19th-century Glasgow Boys and Scottish Colourists. If you’re short on time, head straight for the wonderfully elegant Art Nouveau furniture designed by Glasgow’s most famous son, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh

Four venues make up the National Galleries of Scotland, including the splendid Neo-Classical gallery on Princes Street, showcasing the very best of Scottish painting alongside Old Masters by Rembrandt, Raphael and Rubens, and works by Velázquez, Titian, Constable and Turner. These vie for attention with Cubist art, erotic photography by Robert Mapplethorpe, sculpture gardens and a mixed bag of portraits from Mary, Queen of Scots to Billy Connolly.

National Wallace Monument, Stirling 

In 1869, this 220-ft/67-m monument was built to commemorate Scotland’s hero William Wallace, who won a famous victory against English troops just outside Stirling in 1297. The climb up 246 steps to The Crown gives magnificent views of the Ochil Hills to the north and Stirling Castle in the south.

Stirling Castle 

Of strategic importance on its volcanic crag, dour Stirling Castle played a part in many decisive battles against the English. Its architecture is medieval and Renaissance by turn; inside are ever-changing cultural displays, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum and recreated period interiors including the vaulted Great Hall and 16th-century kitchens.

Six of the best Scottish castles to visit

There are around 3,000 castles in Scotland, so you probably won't get to see them all. Here are six that have played their part in Scottish history alongside the mighty fortresses at Stirling and Edinburgh mentioned above. 

Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire

Synonymous with British monarchy, flamboyant Balmoral Castle was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1848, but the original castle here was built for the aristocratic Gordon clan in the 16th century. The forested grounds are open all year around – except when royalty is in residence – and there are guided tours of the vast building from April to the end of July, plus occasional dates in autumn. 

Culzean Castle and Country Park, South Ayrshire

Robert Adam’s final masterpiece, 18th-century Culzean Castle is one of the finest Georgian castles in Britain, with a clifftop setting and an ornately decorated Palladian interior that once hosted President Eisenhower. It’s also fabulously family friendly, as the 500-acre country park has woodland walks, an adventure playground and smugglers’ caves hidden along the seashore. 

 

Eilean Donan Castle, Inverness-shire

Scotland’s most romantic castle is also its most photographed; Eilean Donan has a dreamlike setting on a small island where the sea lochs Duich, Long and Alsh converge, and is accessed by stone bridge. With a backdrop of rugged mountains, its roots lie in the 13th century, and today much of its interior, including the Jacobite-era banqueting hall, is open for tours. 

Glamis Castle, Angus 

More French château than Scottish castle, multi-pinnacled Glamis Castle began life in medieval times. Home of the Earls of Strathmore for 600 years, it is famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth and as the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Its many opulent rooms and glorious gardens are open to the public daily. 

Scone Palace, Perth and Kinross

Looking over the River Tay, turreted Scone Palace has occupied central stage in Scottish history for centuries. The estate once housed the Stone of Destiny (now in Edinburgh Castle), over which kings Robert the Bruce and Charles II were crowned. Visits encompass state apartments filled with decorative arts, wooded parkland and a maze. 

Urquhart Castle and Visitor Centre, Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire 

Situated in the Great Glen, the impressive ruins of Urquhart Castle date back to 1230 and straddle a rocky peninsula on the banks of Loch Ness. A visit takes in the prison cells, the landmark Grant Tower and a full-size working trebuchet – and of course the loch views are spectacular, whether they include a sighting of Nessie or not.

With its inspiring blend of historic cities, lively nightlife and rich cultural heritage combining with dramatic coastal, mountain and loch landscapes, Scotland is a fabulous holiday destination for all the family. Whether you’re looking to bag a Munro, watch the Edinburgh Tattoo with the kids or tour opulent baronial castles, a visit to the country should be richly rewarding. 

If you’re planning an outdoor stay as part of your trip to Scotland, take a look at Pitchup's lists  of the best camping and glampsites in the country.