Scotland attractions

One of the most scenic ridge traverses in the U.K., the Trotternish Ridge is a challenging but rewarding walk. Covering almost the entire Trotternish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye, the route leads hikers 22.75 miles (36.5 kilometers) through an otherworldly landscape of cliffs, pinnacles, and needles.

Connected to the Scottish National Gallery by underground passageway, the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) presents temporary exhibitions of contemporary Scottish art and architecture. Inside the 19th-century Doric-style building, galleries host exhibits ranging from the work of recent graduates from Scotland’s top art colleges to pieces by eminent artists.

In the middle of the Old Course in St. Andrews stands the Swilcan Bridge, an old stone bridge used initially by pack animals to cross a small stream known as the Swilcan Burn. Today, it’s part of the golf course and frequently appears in magazines and photographs.

A cultural hub in the capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness’ Eden Court Theatre and Cinema hosts a variety of events from a broad range of disciplines, including music, theater, dance, comedy, and film. A visit to the venue is a great way for travelers to take the pulse of the local cultural scene.

Built by George II in the mid-18th century to defend against Jacobite attacks following the Battle of Culloden, this vast military fort functions as a working army base and as a tourist attraction. View collections of arms, browse exhibitions on Scottish army regiments, and make the 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) walk around its ramparts.

Located off the northern coast of Scotland, Scapa Flow is a strategically located, sheltered natural harbor. In use since Viking times, it was the location of several key events during World War I and II. Today, it’s a point of interest in the Orkney Islands, offering a rich maritime history, and spectacular seascapes.

With a history dating back to the sixth century, Iona Abbey is one of Western Europe’s oldest and most significant religious centers. Located on the tranquil Isle of Iona (itself just off the coast of the Isle of Mull), the abbey is offset by the wild Inner Hebridean scenery. Today, it remains a popular pilgrimage point for Christian worshipers.

Named after Glasgow’s patron saint, St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art focuses on six major world religions—Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Sikhism—and the sacred art they’ve spawned. The museum is set in a reproduction of a medieval building on the site of Bishop’s Castle and features a own Zen garden.

Carving its way coast to coast between Fort William and Inverness, Scotland’s Great Glen is a vast valley that’s home to lakes including Loch Ness—and can even be seen from space. Tracing its path, the Great Glen Way offers 79 miles (127 kilometers) of track, path, canal, and loch to discover on foot, on mountain bike, by kayak, by canoe, or by boat.

Together with the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, the Modern Two houses Scotland’s national collection of contemporary art. Originally named the Dean Gallery, the 19th-century building hosts a permanent collection of dada and surrealist works, as well as a re-creation of the studio of Scottish sculptor Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.

Located on top of Calton Hill, the Nelson Monument pays tribute to Admiral Lord Nelson’s victory and death at the Battle of Trafalgar. Designed by Robert Burn to resemble an upturned telescope, it stands 105 feet (32 meters) tall. At 562 feet (171 meters) above sea level at its top, it offers stunning panoramic views over Edinburgh.

Formerly the offices of The Glasgow Herald newspaper, The Lighthouse is now home to Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture. The building itself was designed by Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and today is a popular attraction both for its panoramic city views from a sixth-floor observation deck and for its exhibitions, workshops, and discussions connected to design and architecture.

One of a quartet of medieval abbeys in the Scottish borders, Jedburgh Abbey is a beautifully maintained Augustin abbey that dates back to the middle of the 12th century. It attracts history buffs and fans of architecture alike with its early Gothic and Romanesque architecture and its pretty grounds.

The red and yellow sandstone walls of St. Magnus, Britain’s most northerly cathedral, tower over the narrow streets of Kirkwall, Orkney. Commissioned in 1137 by the Norse Earl Rognvald, the Romanesque cathedral took 300 years to construct and has long been the spiritual heart of Orkney and its most-visited attraction.

Set amid idyllic Ayrshire countryside in the village of Alloway, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum celebrates the life and work of Scotland’s most famous poet. Though officially called a museum, the site is made up of several different attractions—a museum, a cottage, a church, and a monument, which together form Burns National Heritage Park.

One of the top draws for whisky lovers on the Scottish island of Islay, Laphroaig offers several distillery experiences—including tasting the distillery’s renowned single malts in its warehouse. Visiting Laphroaig Distillery lets you discover how landscape and culture have influenced its whiskies.

You can’t visit Islay without sampling a few drams of fine whisky, and peaty Ardbeg is one of the finest. Ardbeg Distillery welcomes whisky-loving and whisky-curious visitors with guided tours and tastings. Visitors can learn about the distillation process at the distillery, peek into the stillhouse, or sample whiskies straight from the cask in the warehouse.

At six miles (10 kilometers long, the River Ness is a relatively minor waterway, though it connects several major attractions in the Scottish Highlands. Beginning at the north end of Loch Ness—home to the mythical monster Nessie—it runs alongside part of the Caledonian Canal and cuts through Inverness before emptying into Beauly Firth.

Established in 1779, Bowmore Distillery is the oldest distillery on the Isle of Islay and one of its best-known. While many people visit the distillery to sample some of their award-winning oak-aged whisky, you can also stay the night at one of their five on-site cottages.

Set atop the Ayrshire cliffs, this sprawling neoclassical mansion is one of Scotland’s most famous stately homes—it even appears on the back of the Scottish 5-pound note. Designed by 18th-century architect Robert Adam, Culzean (pronouncedCullane) boasts palatial interiors and grounds that encompass woods, follies, and even beaches.

Foaming water tumbles over a series of zig-zagging ledges at this waterfall on the Black Water River in the Scottish Highlands. A suspension bridge over the falls provides a wonderful viewpoint from which to watch the water cascading over the rocks. Depending on when you visit you may even see Atlantic salmon leaping up the falls.

Rannoch Moor is a remote outdoor space in the Scottish Highlands that covers around 50 square miles (130 square kilometers). Often referred to as one of Europe’s last remaining unspoiled wildernesses, this uninhabitable land offers diversions, including the West Highland Railway, Outlander filming locations, hiking, and local wildlife, such as red deer and grouse.

This elegant 18th-century town house offers a glimpse into the lives of Georgian Edinburgh’s elite. Now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, the perfectly preserved property features a traditional 18th-century kitchen with collections of china and silverware as well as paintings by prominent Scottish artists.

On the Bealach na Bà Pass in the Scottish Highlands, you can drive along the steepest road ascent in Britain. Full of twists and turns, the historic single-track road runs from the pretty coastal village of Applecross right through the mountains up to 2,054 feet (626 meters) and offers a challenging but unforgettable driving experience.

Founded in 1881, Bruichladdich Distillery is known for its smokey malt whisky, but it also produces gin. The distillery uses traditional machinery that dates back to the Victorian era and sources as much of its barley and other ingredients from Islay as possible.

Fife’s Aberdour Castle is among Scotland's oldest standing castles—it dates back to the 12th century with a 500-year noble legacy. Renowned for its preserved hall-house and beautiful gardens, the castle has been both a medieval fortress and an Earl's stately home. The mix of ruins and preserved sections offers a fascinating glimpse of how it’s evolved.

Duncansby Head, located in northern Scotland, is the northernmost point on the British mainland. It is a set of dramatic sandstone cliffs that overlook the sea and offer views of Orkney, John O’Groats, and Dunnet Head. Exploring the area along the coastal pathway will give you a great opportunity to see some of the region's unique seabirds and other wildlife.

The origins of Drum Castle, one of Scotland’s oldest tower houses, can be traced back to the 14th century. Home to the Irvine family for more than six centuries, Drum Castle, Garden & Estate—now owned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS)—features a medieval grand hall, a Jacobean mansion house, a Victorian-era library, and an ancient oak forest.

Equipped with state-of-the-art interactive exhibits, an IMAX cinema, a planetarium, and a 416-foot (127-meter) observation deck, the Glasgow Science Centre will keep visitors of all ages engaged and entertained. The museum’s Science Show Theatre hosts live demonstrations so visitors can witness the magic of science firsthand.

Protruding into the Moray Firth, this tapering spit of land is one of the best marine wildlife-viewing spots in Scotland, with bottlenose dolphins often seen frolicking offshore. Standing at the tip of the spit is a mid-19th-century lighthouse that is still in operation (though automated, and a pebble beach looks across to Fort George.