Northeast Scotland attractions

No exams are required to get into one of the world’s best universities—or, at least, onto the university grounds for the day. Scotland’s oldest university, the 600-year-old University of St. Andrews, exudes atmosphere and romance—this is where William met Kate, after all—and is a must-see while visiting St. Andrews.

Windswept, desolate, and teetering on the cliff tops of Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire’s Slains Castle (also known as New Slains Castle) evokes such a forbidding atmosphere it’s easy to believe it provided inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Literary association aside, Slains Castle draws visitors with its historic appeal and coastal walks.

Scotland’s first design museum, and the only Victoria and Albert museum outside of London, the V&A Dundee is a prominent landmark in Scotland’s fourth-largest city. The first UK project designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, it’s a must-visit for its building as well as what’s contained within.

Founded and constructed more than 700 years ago, Elgin Cathedral was once one of the grandest religious structures in Scotland. Also known as “the Lantern of the North,” the landmark was impacted by the Protestant Reformation, and it eventually fell into disrepair. Today, although it exists as a ruin, its remaining walls and features convey its extraordinary architectural beauty.

See the history of Scotland come to life at Haddo House, the family estate of the Gordons. Built in the 1730s for William Gordon, the Earl of Aberdeen, in a Georgian style, discover an interior filled with grand portraits, unique furniture pieces, and historical stories to tell. Outside, enjoy the terraced garden and Haddo Country Park.

A Georgian mansion dating back to 1740, Duff House was designed by renowned Scottish architect William Adam. The country manor is known for its ornate baroque exterior and estate of landscaped gardens. It was refurbished by the National Galleries of Scotland in the 1990s and is now a destination for its collection of Renaissance and Scottish art.

The tiny residential community of Footdee—or “Fittie” as it is pronounced locally—offers a peek into Scotland’s maritime heritage. The former fishing village still displays its historic character, with narrow cobblestone streets lined with stone cottages, which face inward, backing the North Sea, for protection from storms.

Designed in the Scottish Renaissance style, Pitmedden Garden is a celebration of local flora and a faithfully restored piece of Scottish history. It’s also home to a specially curated 21st-century take on a traditional stately garden and has more than 40,000 plants within its 100-acre (41-hectare) grounds during the height of summer.

Kellie Castle was built in the 14th century as the family home of the Oliphant family. Little has changed since the family left the castle in the 17th century, and it remains a perfect example of period architecture and design, with ornamental painted ceilings and plasterwork adorning the many rooms and chambers.

Found along the string of picturesque fishing villages that make up the East Neuk of Fife, Crail Harbour is celebrated for its idyllic setting, surrounded by 17th-century whitewashed cottages with red-tiled roofs. Sheltered by cliffs, the compact harbor is a charming spot for a stroll along the cobblestone streets, past colorful fishing boats and piles of lobster pots.

The Hill of Tarvit Mansion & Garden is an Edwardian-era mansion house, first built in the 17th century and remodeled in 1906. With an exquisite collection of antiques, Chinese porcelain, furniture, and paintings, it provides a glimpse of early 20th-century Edwardian life. One of the major attractions of the grounds is a nine-hole hickory club golf course, which was added in 1924.

Set among Victorian gardens and woodlands, the 18th-century House of Dun is a Georgian house adjacent to the Montrose Basin nature reserve. It’s home to the Hutchison and Stirling collections of paintings and furniture, including works by prominent Scottish artists. It was originally built for David Erskine (Lord Dun), and was home to generations of Erskines until 1947.