Scotland attractions

Thurso is in mainland Scotland's far north. While many travelers pass through on their way to catch the ferry to Orkney, the little town has plenty to merit a longer stay, from historic sites and quaint cafés to some of Scotland’s best surfing.

Dive into the history of one of Scotland’s greatest military regiments at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum. Set in the heart of the mighty Stirling Castle, this museum traces the history of the regiment through artifacts and engaging exhibits. The museum brings Scottish history to life and provides insights into its culture and heritage.

Close to a wooded gorge and surrounded by spectacular Highland scenery, the Perthshire village of Killiecrankie is a top attraction for those interested in history and natural heritage. Nestled in the scenic Killiecrankie Pass, the Killiecrankie Visitor Centre marks the site of an infamous battle during the first Jacobite Rebellion.

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.

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.

An archaeological mystery that has defied explanation for almost 300 years, Gilmerton Cove features a series of chambers and passageways carved by hand into sandstone underneath the streets of South Edinburgh. Explore one of the city’s best-kept secrets to see if you can figure out the riddle behind who created this place and why.

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.

Just a few minutes’ walk from Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Crathie Church is where the Royal Family attends church while staying at the castle. Though a church has stood here for centuries, the current structure was built in the 19th century—Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone here back in 1893.

Nestled just north of the English border in Scotland, the Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop is known for hosting the marriages of couples who had fled England’s restrictive marriage laws during the 1700s and 1800s. The quaint shop remains a wedding venue and draws visitors with its marriage rooms, museum, shop, and restaurant.

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.

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.

On the shores of Loch Ness, Nessieland is a miniature theme park that celebrates the famed monster that supposedly lives in the depths of the loch. Combining fun, kitsch, and education, the park features informative displays along with models of Nessie, an adventure playground, sandpit, cave, model railway, gift shop, and café.

St. Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve is one of the Borders’ most beautiful hiking spots, a coastal wonderland of soaring cliffs, rugged crags, ever-changing coves, and a lighthouse. Come summer, seabirds are the star, with fulmars, razorbills, kittiwakes, guillemots, and even the occasional puffin nesting, hunting, and swooping.

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.

The award-winning Devil’s Porridge Museum pays homage to HM Factory Gretna, also known as the Greatest Munitions Factory on Earth. Experience the work of this important wartime site with interactive exhibits and virtual reality headsets, and learn about the history of this area of Scotland.

Set on parkland, this 16th-century tower house offers stunning views of the Firth of Forth estuary. The property’s elegant frozen-in-time interiors showcase the life and style of an upper-middle-class family in Edwardian-era Scotland, with collections of antique furniture, artwork, and decorative objects, from porcelain to Oriental rugs.

Edinburgh Castle sits 430 feet (130 meters) above sea level on the summit of Castle Rock, a volcanic plug in the center of Edinburgh. Easy to spot from almost anywhere in town, the castle and rock are an arresting sight, and the top of the rock affords sweeping city views.

One look at the grand facade of Newhailes House makes it easy to see why the 17th-century villa is hailed as one of Scotland’s most impressive National Trust properties. Along with boasting an eclectic mix of architectural styles and materials—including Chinese decor, Italian marble, and rococo interiors—the house is surrounded by 84 acres (34 hectares) of gardens and woodlands.

Perched on the banks of the Clyde River, Geilston Garden is a 200-year-old walled garden surrounded by woodlands and wildflowers. The small country estate looks as if it’s been taken from the pages of a Scottish fairy tale. It's most famous for the huge Wellingtonia tree that stands in its center and its exquisitely kept gardens.

A tranquil community forest located at the western edge of Cairngorms National Park, Strathmashie Forest offers Scottish Highlands scenery on an accessible scale. It’s home to several walking trails that range in difficulty, plus pine and Sitka forests, rich wildlife, waterfalls, ruins, and views overlooking the nearby hills and lakes.

Perched on the southern tip of Iona—part of the Inner Hebrides islands off Scotland’s west coast—St. Columba’s Bay is said to be where St. Columba and his fellow monks entered Iona in the 6th century. The remote bay is the ideal place to escape to, and is also a breeding site for Atlantic seals. With some luck, you might spot a seal pup basking on the beach.

Close to Glasgow, David Livingstone Birthplace is dedicated to preserving and discussing the legacy of one of Scotland’s best-known explorers. The museum is home to an internationally significant collection of Livingstone’s belongings and an exhibition that charts his life, from his birth in Scotland to his death in Zambia.

Alloa Tower, in the Clackmannanshire town of Alloa, is one of Scotland’s oldest and biggest medieval tower houses. An ancestral home of the Erskine family and Earls of Mar—the building dates back around 700 years. Visitors come to see opulent interiors, historical artifacts, artwork, and well-preserved architecture.

A riot of color, mainly when the rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias bloom, Arduaine Garden rolls down to the Atlantic to create one of western Scotland’s most magical gardens. You may spot seals, porpoises, kestrels, red squirrels, and even badgers if you're lucky.

With a history dating back almost eight centuries, Barry Mill is one of Scotland's few working water mills. It offers nature walks by Barry Burn and the chance to learn how millers lived and worked—not to mention where flour and oatmeal come from. The building dates from around 1814, when the old mill caught fire.

Home to Scotland’s 10th-highest peak, 3,984-foot (1,214-meter) Ben Lawers, and other mountains, the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve offers hikes from family-friendly 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) strolls to the challenging Tarmachan Ridge trek. Rare alpine and arctic flowers bloom, cattle and deer graze, and views can be spectacular.