Fodor's Essential Scotland
Whether you want to explore Edinburgh, sip Scottish whisky, or hike the Highlands, the...
Scotland packs spectacular landscapes, as well as rich history and tradition, into a small country. From the Lowlands to the Highlands, its lush woodlands, windswept moors, and deep lochs may take your breath away. Impressive castles, whisky distilleries, and golf courses entice, and cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow tweak tradition with cutting-edge festivals and vibrant cultural scenes. Scotland’s iconic products and customs—from tartans to bagpipes—may travel the globe, but there’s nothing like experiencing them firsthand.
Fodor's Essential Scotland
Whether you want to explore Edinburgh, sip Scottish whisky, or hike the Highlands, the...
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Glasgow
Trendy stores, a booming cultural life, fascinating architecture, and stylish restaurants reinforce Glasgow's claim to being Scotland's most exciting city. After decades of decline, it...
Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh is "a city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again," as Alexander McCall Smith once wrote. One of the world's stateliest cities...
Edinburgh
Edinburgh's Old Town, which bears a great symbolic weight as the "heart of Scotland's capital," is a boon for lovers of atmosphere and history. In...
The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles
Wild and remote, the Northern Highlands and the Western Isles of Scotland have a timeless grandeur. Dramatic cliffs, long beaches, and craggy mountains that rise...
Aberdeen and the Northeast
Here in this granite shoulder of Grampian, are some of Scotland's most enduring travel icons: Royal Deeside, the countryside that Queen Victoria made her own;...
The Borders and the Southwest
In the Borders region, south of Edinburgh, are more stately homes, fortified castles, and medieval abbeys than in any other part of Scotland. This is...
Stirling and the Central Highlands
The Central Highlands are home to superb castles, moody mountains, and gorgeous glens that are best explored at a leisurely pace. The waters of Loch...
Inverness and Around the Great Glen
Defined by its striking topography, the Great Glen brings together mountains and myths, history and wild nature—then lets you wash it all down with a...
Fife and Angus
Breezy cliff-top walkways, fishing villages, and open beaches characterize Fife and Angus. They sandwich Scotland's fourth-largest city, the rejuvenated city of Dundee. Scotland's east coast...
Argyll and the Isles
Argyll's rocky seaboard looks out onto islands that were once part of a single prehistoric landmass. Its narrow roads slow travel but give time to...
Orkney and Shetland Islands
A Scandinavian heritage gives the 170 islets that make up Orkney and Shetland a history and an atmosphere different from that of any other region...
Aberdeen
As a gateway to Royal Deeside and the Malt Whisky Trail, Aberdeen attracts visitors, though many are eager to get out into the countryside. Today...
Isle of Skye
The misty Isle of Skye is awash with romance and myth, lush green gardens, and steep, magnetic mountains. Its extraordinary natural beauty and royal connections...
Dundee
Dundee makes an excellent base for a cultural stay and Fife and Angus exploration at any time of year. The Dundee Contemporary Arts center gave...
Inverness
It's not the prettiest or the most charming Scottish city, but with a few attractions and some reliably good hotels and restaurants, Inverness makes a...
St. Andrews
It may have a ruined cathedral and a grand university—the oldest in Scotland—but the modern claim to fame for St. Andrews is mainly its status...
Stirling
Stirling is one of Britain's great historic towns. An impressive proportion of the Old Town walls can be seen from Dumbarton Road, a cobbled street...
Kirkwall
In bustling Kirkwall, the main town on Orkney, there's plenty to see in the narrow, winding streets extending from the harbor. The cathedral and some...
Dumfries
The River Nith meanders through Dumfries, and the pedestrian-only center of this town of 31,000 makes wandering and shopping a pleasure. Author J.?M. Barrie (1860–1937)...
Perth
For many years Perth was Scotland's capital, and central to its history. One king (James I) was killed here, and the Protestant reformer John Knox...
Pitlochry
In the late 19th century Pitlochry was an elegant Victorian spa town, famous for its mild microclimate and beautiful setting. Today it is a busy...
Callander
A traditional Highland-edge resort, the little town of Callander bustles throughout the year, even during off-peak times, simply because it's a gateway to Highland scenery...
Fort William
As its name suggests, Fort William originated as a military outpost, first established by Oliver Cromwell's General Monk in 1655 and refortified by George I...
Peebles
Thanks to its excellent though pricey shopping, Peebles gives the impression of catering primarily to leisured country gentlefolk. Architecturally, the town is nothing out of...
Lerwick
Founded by Dutch fishermen in the 17th century, Lerwick today is a busy town and administrative center. Handsome stone buildings—known as lodberries—line the old harbor;...
Melrose
Though it's small, there is nevertheless a bustle about Melrose, the perfect example of a prosperous Scottish market town and one of the loveliest in...
Isle of Harris
For most people, Harris is forever linked to tweed. Woven here and on nearby islands, the tweed has colors that echo the tones of the...
Jedburgh
The town of Jedburgh (burgh is always pronounced burra in Scots) was for centuries the first major Scottish target of invading English armies. In more...
Aviemore
At the foot of the Cairngorms, once-quiet Aviemore now has all the brashness and boxiness of a year-round holiday resort. In the summer months it's...
Ballater
The handsome holiday resort of Ballater, once noted for the curative properties of its waters, has profited from the proximity of the royals, nearby at...
Ullapool
Ullapool is an ideal base for hiking throughout Sutherland and taking wildlife and nature cruises, especially to the Summer Isles. By the shores of salty...
Isle of Lewis
The history of Lewis stretches back 5,000 years, as archaeological sites scattered across the island attest. Here, the Highland past persists in the Gaelic that...
Oban
It's almost impossible to avoid Oban when touring the west. Its waterfront has some character, but the town's main role is as a launch point...
Kelso
One of the most charming Borders burghs, Kelso is often described as having a Continental flavor—some people think its broad, paved square makes it resemble...
Dornoch
A town of sandstone houses, tiny rose-filled gardens, and a 13th-century cathedral with stunning traditional and modern stained-glass windows, Dornoch is well worth a visit...
Banchory
Banchory is an immaculate town filled with pinkish granite buildings. It's usually bustling with ice-cream-eating strollers, out on a day trip from Aberdeen. Nearby are...
Loch Lomond
The waters of Scotland's largest loch, which also happens to be one of its most beautiful, create a perfect reflection of the surrounding hills. You...
Stromness and the Neolithic Sites
On the southwest of the Mainland, on the shore of the old Norse anchorage Hamnavoe, is Stromness, a remarkably attractive fishing town seemingly so unsullied...
Castle Douglas
A quaint town that sits beside Carlingwark Loch, Castle Douglas is a popular base for exploring the surrounding countryside. The loch sets off the town...
Aberfoyle
This small tourist-oriented town has a somewhat faded air, but the surrounding hills (some snowcapped) and the green slopes visible from the town are the...
Elgin
As the center of the fertile Laigh (low-lying lands) of Moray, Elgin has been of local importance for centuries. Sheltered by great hills to the...
Brodick
Arran's largest village, Brodick, has a main street that is set back from the promenade and the lovely bay. Beyond that, it is really little...
Fochabers
With its hanging baskets of fuchsia in summer and its perfectly mowed village square, Fochabers has a cared-for charm that makes you want to stop...
Lochinver
Lochinver is a very pretty quiet shoreside community of whitewashed cottages, with lovely beaches to the north, a harbor used by the west-coast fishing fleet...
Braemar
Synonymous with the British monarchy, due to its closeness to Balmoral, and with the famous Highland Games, this village is popular year-round as a base...
Aberfeldy
The most dramatic thing about Aberfeldy is the high humpbacked bridge into the town, built by William Adam in 1733 and commissioned by General Wade...
Unst
Unst is the northernmost inhabited island in Scotland, a remote and special place, especially for nature lovers and those who want to experience a community...
Killin
...
The South Mainland
The narrow 3- or 4-mile-wide stretch of land that reaches south from Lerwick to Sumburgh Head has a number of fascinating ancient sites (and an...
Dunblane
The small, quiet town of Dunblane has long been an important religious center; it is dominated by its cathedral, which dates mainly from the 13th...
Dufftown
On one of the Spey tributaries, Dufftown was planned in 1817 by the Earl of Fife. Its simple cross layout with a square and a...
Nairn
This once-prosperous fishing village is now more likely to lure golfers than sailors. Nearby is Cawdor Castle, loaded with history. East of Nairn pier is...
Inveraray
Inveraray's star attraction is the grandiose seat of the Campbell Dukes of Argyll, for centuries the most powerful magnates of the Highlands. It's a trim...
Durness
The sudden patches of green surrounding the village of Durness, on the north coast, are caused by the richer limestone outcrops among the acid moorlands...
Selkirk
Selkirk is a hilly outpost with a smattering of antiques shops and an assortment of bakers selling Selkirk bannock (fruited sweet bread) and other cakes...
Forres
The burgh of Forres is everything a Scottish medieval town should be, with a handsome tolbooth (the former courthouse and prison) and impressive gardens as...
Cullen
Look for some wonderfully painted homes at Cullen, in the old fishing town below the railway viaduct. The real attractions of this charming little seaside...
Tobermory
With its rainbow crescent of brightly painted harborside houses, Tobermory is the most photogenic village in the Isles and among the prettiest in all Scotland...
Gairloch
Aside from its restaurants and lodgings, peaceful Gairloch has one further advantage: lying just a short way from the mountains of the interior, this small...
Aberlour
Aberlour, often listed as Charlestown of Aberlour on maps, is a handsome little burgh, essentially Victorian in style, though actually founded in 1812 by the...
Bowmore
Bowmore, Islay's capital, is a good base for touring because it's central to Islay's main routes. A tidy town, its grid pattern was laid out...
Drumnadrochit and Loch Ness
A tourist hub at the curve of the road, Drumnadrochit is not known for its style or culture, but it attracts plenty of people interested...
Thurso
The town of Thurso is quite substantial for a community so far north. In town are the Thurso Heritage Museum and Old St. Peter's Kirk...
Arbroath
You can find traditional boatbuilding in the fishing town of Arbroath. It has several small curers and processors as well, and shops sell the town's...
Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright (pronounced kir-coo-bray) is an 18th-century town of Georgian and Victorian houses, some of them washed in pastel shades and roofed with the blue slate...
Boat of Garten
In the peaceful village of Boat of Garten, the scent of pine trees mingles with an equally evocative smell—that of steam trains. You can take...
Dunkeld
The historic town of Dunkeld remains intact and beautifully preserved with its rows of white houses around the town square. The original village was destroyed...
Fort Augustus
The best place to see the locks of the Caledonian Canal is Fort Augustus, at the southern tip of Loch Ness. This bustling small town...
Newton Stewart
The bustling town of Newton Stewart is the place to stop when touring the western region of Galloway. It is the gateway to the Galloway...
Port Ellen
Islay's sturdy community of Port Ellen was founded in the 1820s, and much of its architecture dates from the following decades. It has a harbor...
Hawick
Hawick (pronounced hoyk) is a busy town at the center of the region's textile industry, commemorated in the interesting Borders Textile Towerhouse. The Victorian buildings...
Montrose
An unpretentious and attractive town with some charming museums and a selection of shops, Montrose sits beside a wide estuary known as the Montrose Basin...
Stonehaven
Stonehaven's golden sands made this historic town near spectacular Dunnottar Castle a popular holiday destination, until Scots began vacationing in sunnier climates. The surrounding red-clay...
Craigellachie
Renowned as an angling resort, Craigellachie, like so many settlements on the River Spey, is sometimes enveloped in the malty reek of the local industry...
Kintyre Peninsula
Rivers and streams crisscross this long, narrow strip of green pasturelands and hills stretching south from Lochgilphead...
Shieldaig
Just west of the southern coast of Upper Loch Torridon is Shieldaig, a village that sits in an attractive crescent overlooking a loch of its...
Loch Awe
Measuring more than 25 miles long, Loch Awe is Scotland's longest stretch of freshwater. Its northwest shore is quiet; forest walks crisscross the Inverliever Forest...
Anstruther
Anstruther, locally called Ainster, has a lovely waterfront with a few shops brightly festooned with children's pails and shovels, a gesture to summer vacationers...
Pittenweem and St. Monans
These neighboring harbors are places to wander among lobster creels, fishing nets, and rocks, discovering quirky local artworks and architectural features. Many examples of East...
Portpatrick
The holiday town of Portpatrick lies across the Rhinns of Galloway from Stranraer. Once an Irish ferry port, Portpatrick's harbor eventually proved too small for...
South Uist
Carpets of wildflowers in spring and early summer, superb deserted beaches, and historical connections to Flora Macdonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie head the list of...
Brae
A thriving community, Brae is where you can see the spoils of Shetland's oil money. The rugged moorland and tranquil voes (inlets) of Brae are...
Cupar
Cupar is a busy market town with several interesting sites, including a museum about Fife...
South Queensferry
This pleasant little waterside community, a former ferry port, is completely dominated by the Forth Bridges, three dramatic structures of contrasting architecture (dating from the...
Crieff
.Crieff retains the prosperous air of its Victorian heyday as a place to take the waters. Its central square, where local farmers may once have...
The Trossachs
The Trossachs has been a popular touring region since the late 18th century, at the dawn of the age of the Romantic poets. Influenced by...
Kingussie
Set in a wide glen, Kingussie is a pretty town east of the Monadhliath Mountains. With great distant views of the Cairngorms, it's perfect for...
Crinan
Crinan is synonymous with its canal, the reason for this tiny community's existence and its mainstay. The narrow road beside the Crinan Hotel bustles with...
Banff
Midway along the northeast coast, overlooking Moray Firth and the estuary of the River Deveron, Banff is a dour fishing town, huddled around a small...
Coldstream
...
Gatehouse of Fleet
A peaceful, pleasant, backwoods sort of place, Gatehouse of Fleet has a castle guarding its southern approach...
Arisaig
Considering its small size, Arisaig, gateway to the Small Isles, offers a surprising choice of high-quality options for dining and lodging. To the north of...
Ellon
Formerly a market center on what was then the lowest bridging point of the River Ythan, Ellon, a bedroom suburb of Aberdeen, is a small...
North Uist
Stunning coastal scenery and ancient ruins are the main draws on North Uist. You’ll find art everywhere on the island, from the ends of roads...
North Berwick
The pleasant little seaside resort of North Berwick manages to retain a small-town personality even when it's thronged with city visitors on warm summer days...
Alford
A plain and sturdy settlement in the Howe (Hollow) of Alford, this town gives those who have grown somewhat weary of castle-hopping a break: it...
Dunfermline
Oft-overlooked Dunfermline was once the world center for the production of damask linen, but the town is better known today as the birthplace of millionaire...
Mallaig
After the approach along the coast, the workaday fishing port of Mallaig itself is somewhat anticlimactic. It has a few shops, and there's some bustle...
Kirriemuir
Kirriemuir stands at the heart of Angus's red-sandstone countryside and was the birthplace of the writer J.?M. Barrie (1860–1937), best known abroad as the author...
Dunbar
In the days before tour companies started offering package deals to the Mediterranean, Dunbar was a popular holiday beach resort. Now a bit faded, the...
Grantown-on-Spey
The sturdy settlement of Grantown-on-Spey, set amid tall pines that flank the River Spey, is a classic Scottish planned town. The community was laid out...
Ochil Hills
The scarp face of the Ochil Hills looms unmistakably. It's an old fault line that yields up hard volcanic rocks and contrasts with the quantities...
Isle of Bute
The Isle of Bute, a Victorian holiday favorite convenient for Glaswegians, affords a host of relaxing walks and scenic vistas. Mount Stuart, a stately home...
Gullane
Follow the coastline on either side of Gullane and you're faced with golf course after golf course. Fairways are laid out wherever there is available...
Wick
Wick is a substantial town that was built on its fishing industry. The town itself is not very appealing, but it does have the gaunt...
John o'Groats
The windswept little outpost of John O'Groats is usually taken to be the northernmost community on the Scottish mainland, though that is not strictly accurate...
Scalloway
On the west coast of Mainland Island is Scalloway, which preceded Lerwick as the capital of the region. During World War II Scalloway was the...
Whithorn
Known for its early-Christian settlement, Whithorn is full of history. The main street is notably wide, with pretty pastel buildings nestled up against each other...
Scourie
Scourie is a small settlement catering to visitors—fisherfolk especially—with a range of accommodations. The bay-side town makes a good base for a trip to the...
Innerleithen
Innerleithen is one of the larger Borders towns; you'll feel that you've entered a hub of activity when you arrive. It's also dramatically beautiful. Surrounded...
Iona
The ruined abbey on Iona gives little hint that this was once one of the most important Christian religious centers in the land. The priceless...
Lochranza
Lochranza shows Arran's wilder northern side, with rocky seashores and sweeping slopes leading to the stark granite peaks of Goatfell and Caisteal Abahail (2,735 feet)...
Tongue
A popular pit stop between Thurso and Durness, Tongue has some worthwhile sights and good accommodations options...
Solway Firth
Mostly undiscovered by travelers, the Solway Firth is a must for walkers, cyclists, and bird-watchers. This lovely and protected inlet, guarded by beautiful Caerlaverock Castle...
North of Dumfries
Travel north along the A70 from Dumfries for a short trip through time at some very different attractions. Drumlanrig Castle is one of Scotland’s grandest...
Port Charlotte
Planned by a benevolent 19th-century laird (and named after his mom), Port Charlotte is an unusually (for Scotland) pretty village, with wild landscapes and sandy...
Auchterarder
Famous for the Gleneagles Hotel (including its restaurant by Andrew Fairlie) and nearby golf courses, Auchterarder also has a flock of tiny antiques shops to...
Wigtown
...
Appin
The little peninsula of Appin, a 20-minute drive from Oban, is a charming, well-kept secret. Just 2 miles along a narrow road from the main...
Glenfinnan
Perhaps the most visitor-oriented stop on the route between Fort William and Mallaig, Glenfinnan has much to offer if you're interested in Scottish history. Here...
Machrie
The area surrounding Machrie, home to a popular beach, is littered with prehistoric sites: chambered cairns, hut circles, and standing stones dating from the Bronze...
Glencoe
Glencoe is both a small town and a region of stunning grandeur, with high peaks and secluded glens. Dramatic scenery is the main attraction here;...
Birsay
Birsay itself is a small collection of houses, but some interesting historic and natural sites are nearby...
Tiree
...
Alyth
Dating back to the Dark Ages, this market town was completely transformed by the Industrial Revolution, which lined its streets with mills and factories. The...
Craignure
...
Gretna Green
The first town across the English–Scottish border, Gretna Green (not to be confused with nearby Gretna) was historically where runaway couples went to be married...
Elie
To give it its full name, the Royal Burgh of Elie and Earlsferry is an old trading port with a handsome harbor that loops around...
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is best known for its lochside palace, the impressive remnants of what was once the seat of the Stewart kings, but there are other...
Dingwall
This pretty market town and royal burgh (a Scottish town granted a royal charter) makes for a very pleasant stop if you're heading north from...
Galashiels
A busy gray-stone Borders town, Galashiels is still active with textile mills and knitwear factories...
Crail
The oldest and most aristocratic of East Neuk burghs, pretty Crail is where many fish merchants retired and built cottages. The town landmark is a...
Brechin
The small market town of Brechin has a cathedral that was founded around 1200 and contains an interesting selection of antiquities, including the Mary Stone...
Kildrummy Castle
The ancient ruins of Kildrummy Castle still show its history of expansion and reveal a variety of styles...
Kylesku
This tiny settlement once served as a ferry crossing, before being usurped by the (incredibly photogenic) Kylesku Bridge. Today it's a lovely stop for lunch...
Jura
The rugged, mountainous landscape of the island of Jura—home to only about 200 people—looms immediately east of Port Askaig, across the Sound of Islay: a...
Stranraer
Stranraer was for more than a century the main ferry port between Scotland and Northern Ireland. Its closure, and the transfer of ferry traffic to...
St. Kilda
The most distant corner of the British Isles, this archipelago of five islands has double World Heritage status, recognized for both its natural and cultural...
Crichton Castle
Sitting on a terrace overlooking a beautiful river valley, this 14th-century structure with diamond-faceted facade was home to the Crichtons, and later the earls of...
Culloden Moor
Culloden Moor was the scene of the last battle fought on British soil—and to this day its name is enough to invoke raw and tragic...
Roslin
It may be best known for its extraordinary chapel, but Roslin itself is a pleasant place to while away some time. There are some lovely...
Dalbeattie
...
Ruthwell
...
Lamlash
...
Weisdale
This tiny place is less a village than a group of houses, but it does have a worthwhile gallery...
Corgarff Castle
This castle has a striking setting on the moors and some rebuilt military features that recall its strategic importance...
Scapa Flow Visitor Centre
On the beautiful island of Hoy, Scapa Flow Visitor Centre explores the strategic and dramatic role that this sheltered anchorage played in two world wars...
Glamis
Set in rolling countryside is the little village of Glamis (pronounced glahms), the highlight of which is nearby famous Glamis Castle...
Blair Atholl
Located where the Tilt and Garry rivers flow together, this small town sits in the middle of the Grampian Mountains. Here you'll find Blair Castle...
Forfar
Forfar goes about its business of being the center of a farming hinterland without being preoccupied with (or even that interested in) tourism...
Golspie
The little coastal town of Golspie is worth a stop if you're heading for Dunrobin Castle. It has a number of shops and accommodations...
Colonsay
...
Dunbeath
...
Port Askaig
Serving as the ferry port for Jura and receiving ferries from Kennacraig, Port Askaig is a mere cluster of cottages. Uphill, just outside the village...
Isle of Raasay
This beautiful and rugged isle lies a few miles off Skye's east coast and offers a pleasant escape from its tourist hordes. Although only 10...
Falkland
One of the loveliest communities in Scotland, Falkland is a royal burgh of twisting streets and crooked stone houses...
Helmsdale
Helmsdale is a fascinating fishing village with a checkered past. It was a busy Viking settlement and then the scene of an aristocratic poisoning plot...
Fyvie Castle
This castle mixes ancient construction with Edwardian splendor and includes excellent art. The grounds are also worth exploring...
Jupiter Artland
For anyone drawn to interesting art and beautiful open spaces, a visit to this open-air collection of sculptures by world-renowned artists is a must...
Blackwaterfoot
...
Meigle
The historic village of Meigle, nestled in the rich agricultural land of the Strathmore Valley, is well known to those with an interest in Pictish...
Yell
A desolate-looking blanket bog cloaks two-thirds of the island of Yell, creating an atmospheric landscape to pass through on the way to Unst to the...
Summerlee–Museum of Scottish Industrial Life
A former ironworks is now a museum with a re-created mine and exhibits on both industry and the lives of workers...
Balquhidder Glen
...
Loch Leven
Scotland's largest Lowland loch, Loch Leven is famed for its fighting trout. The area is also noted for abundant birdlife, particularly its wintering wildfowl. Mary...
Coll
...
Haddington
One of the best-preserved medieval street plans in the country can be explored in Haddington. Among the many buildings of architectural and historical interest is...
Lochcarron
Strung along the shore, the village of Lochcarron has some attractive croft buildings, a couple of churches (one an 18th-century ruin set in a graveyard)...
Newhailes
With sumptuous interiors and relaxing grounds, this neo-Palladian villa a few miles east of Edinburgh hosted many luminaries of the Scottish Enlightenment...
Lochgilphead
...
Achiltibuie
Off the beaten track, Achiltibuie is a small coastal community set at the foot of magnificent mountains. It looks out over the Summer Isles, whose...
Dervaig
...
Finlaggan
...
National Mining Museum Scotland
The museum provides visitors with a sobering look into the lives of coal miners and the difficult conditions they endured down Scotland’s mines...
National Museum of Rural Life
The effect of farming on the land and on people's lives is the focus of this museum near Glasgow...
Culross
With its mercat cross, cobbled streets, tolbooth, and narrow wynds (alleys), seaside Culross is a picturesque little town. It's also a living museum of 17th-century...
Drymen
...
Borthwick Castle
...
Gifford
...
Easdale and the Slate Islands
...
Glen Trool
...
Lower Largo
...
Glasgow
Trendy stores, a booming cultural life, fascinating architecture, and stylish restaurants reinforce Glasgow's claim to being Scotland's most exciting city. After decades of decline, it...
Edinburgh
Edinburgh's Old Town, which bears a great symbolic weight as the "heart of Scotland's capital," is a boon for lovers of atmosphere and history. In...
Aberdeen
As a gateway to Royal Deeside and the Malt Whisky Trail, Aberdeen attracts visitors, though many are eager to get out into the countryside. Today...
Dundee
Dundee makes an excellent base for a cultural stay and Fife and Angus exploration at any time of year. The Dundee Contemporary Arts center gave...
Inverness
It's not the prettiest or the most charming Scottish city, but with a few attractions and some reliably good hotels and restaurants, Inverness makes a...
St. Andrews
It may have a ruined cathedral and a grand university—the oldest in Scotland—but the modern claim to fame for St. Andrews is mainly its status...
Stirling
Stirling is one of Britain's great historic towns. An impressive proportion of the Old Town walls can be seen from Dumbarton Road, a cobbled street...
Kirkwall
In bustling Kirkwall, the main town on Orkney, there's plenty to see in the narrow, winding streets extending from the harbor. The cathedral and some...
Dumfries
The River Nith meanders through Dumfries, and the pedestrian-only center of this town of 31,000 makes wandering and shopping a pleasure. Author J.?M. Barrie (1860–1937)...
Pitlochry
In the late 19th century Pitlochry was an elegant Victorian spa town, famous for its mild microclimate and beautiful setting. Today it is a busy...
Perth
For many years Perth was Scotland's capital, and central to its history. One king (James I) was killed here, and the Protestant reformer John Knox...
Callander
A traditional Highland-edge resort, the little town of Callander bustles throughout the year, even during off-peak times, simply because it's a gateway to Highland scenery...
Fort William
As its name suggests, Fort William originated as a military outpost, first established by Oliver Cromwell's General Monk in 1655 and refortified by George I...
Peebles
Thanks to its excellent though pricey shopping, Peebles gives the impression of catering primarily to leisured country gentlefolk. Architecturally, the town is nothing out of...
Lerwick
Founded by Dutch fishermen in the 17th century, Lerwick today is a busy town and administrative center. Handsome stone buildings—known as lodberries—line the old harbor;...
Melrose
Though it's small, there is nevertheless a bustle about Melrose, the perfect example of a prosperous Scottish market town and one of the loveliest in...
Aviemore
At the foot of the Cairngorms, once-quiet Aviemore now has all the brashness and boxiness of a year-round holiday resort. In the summer months it's...
Jedburgh
The town of Jedburgh (burgh is always pronounced burra in Scots) was for centuries the first major Scottish target of invading English armies. In more...
Ballater
The handsome holiday resort of Ballater, once noted for the curative properties of its waters, has profited from the proximity of the royals, nearby at...
Ullapool
Ullapool is an ideal base for hiking throughout Sutherland and taking wildlife and nature cruises, especially to the Summer Isles. By the shores of salty...
Oban
It's almost impossible to avoid Oban when touring the west. Its waterfront has some character, but the town's main role is as a launch point...
Kelso
One of the most charming Borders burghs, Kelso is often described as having a Continental flavor—some people think its broad, paved square makes it resemble...
Dornoch
A town of sandstone houses, tiny rose-filled gardens, and a 13th-century cathedral with stunning traditional and modern stained-glass windows, Dornoch is well worth a visit...
Loch Lomond
The waters of Scotland's largest loch, which also happens to be one of its most beautiful, create a perfect reflection of the surrounding hills. You...
Banchory
Banchory is an immaculate town filled with pinkish granite buildings. It's usually bustling with ice-cream-eating strollers, out on a day trip from Aberdeen. Nearby are...
Stromness and the Neolithic Sites
On the southwest of the Mainland, on the shore of the old Norse anchorage Hamnavoe, is Stromness, a remarkably attractive fishing town seemingly so unsullied...
Braemar
Synonymous with the British monarchy, due to its closeness to Balmoral, and with the famous Highland Games, this village is popular year-round as a base...
Elgin
As the center of the fertile Laigh (low-lying lands) of Moray, Elgin has been of local importance for centuries. Sheltered by great hills to the...
Fochabers
With its hanging baskets of fuchsia in summer and its perfectly mowed village square, Fochabers has a cared-for charm that makes you want to stop...
Brodick
Arran's largest village, Brodick, has a main street that is set back from the promenade and the lovely bay. Beyond that, it is really little...
Lochinver
Lochinver is a very pretty quiet shoreside community of whitewashed cottages, with lovely beaches to the north, a harbor used by the west-coast fishing fleet...
Aberfoyle
This small tourist-oriented town has a somewhat faded air, but the surrounding hills (some snowcapped) and the green slopes visible from the town are the...
Killin
...
Dufftown
On one of the Spey tributaries, Dufftown was planned in 1817 by the Earl of Fife. Its simple cross layout with a square and a...
Nairn
This once-prosperous fishing village is now more likely to lure golfers than sailors. Nearby is Cawdor Castle, loaded with history. East of Nairn pier is...
Dunblane
The small, quiet town of Dunblane has long been an important religious center; it is dominated by its cathedral, which dates mainly from the 13th...
Unst
Unst is the northernmost inhabited island in Scotland, a remote and special place, especially for nature lovers and those who want to experience a community...
Aberfeldy
The most dramatic thing about Aberfeldy is the high humpbacked bridge into the town, built by William Adam in 1733 and commissioned by General Wade...
Tobermory
With its rainbow crescent of brightly painted harborside houses, Tobermory is the most photogenic village in the Isles and among the prettiest in all Scotland...
Cullen
Look for some wonderfully painted homes at Cullen, in the old fishing town below the railway viaduct. The real attractions of this charming little seaside...
Inveraray
Inveraray's star attraction is the grandiose seat of the Campbell Dukes of Argyll, for centuries the most powerful magnates of the Highlands. It's a trim...
Forres
The burgh of Forres is everything a Scottish medieval town should be, with a handsome tolbooth (the former courthouse and prison) and impressive gardens as...
Gairloch
Aside from its restaurants and lodgings, peaceful Gairloch has one further advantage: lying just a short way from the mountains of the interior, this small...
Durness
The sudden patches of green surrounding the village of Durness, on the north coast, are caused by the richer limestone outcrops among the acid moorlands...
Selkirk
Selkirk is a hilly outpost with a smattering of antiques shops and an assortment of bakers selling Selkirk bannock (fruited sweet bread) and other cakes...
Arbroath
You can find traditional boatbuilding in the fishing town of Arbroath. It has several small curers and processors as well, and shops sell the town's...
Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright (pronounced kir-coo-bray) is an 18th-century town of Georgian and Victorian houses, some of them washed in pastel shades and roofed with the blue slate...
Boat of Garten
In the peaceful village of Boat of Garten, the scent of pine trees mingles with an equally evocative smell—that of steam trains. You can take...
Drumnadrochit and Loch Ness
A tourist hub at the curve of the road, Drumnadrochit is not known for its style or culture, but it attracts plenty of people interested...
Thurso
The town of Thurso is quite substantial for a community so far north. In town are the Thurso Heritage Museum and Old St. Peter's Kirk...
Aberlour
Aberlour, often listed as Charlestown of Aberlour on maps, is a handsome little burgh, essentially Victorian in style, though actually founded in 1812 by the...
Bowmore
Bowmore, Islay's capital, is a good base for touring because it's central to Islay's main routes. A tidy town, its grid pattern was laid out...
Shieldaig
Just west of the southern coast of Upper Loch Torridon is Shieldaig, a village that sits in an attractive crescent overlooking a loch of its...
Newton Stewart
The bustling town of Newton Stewart is the place to stop when touring the western region of Galloway. It is the gateway to the Galloway...
Montrose
An unpretentious and attractive town with some charming museums and a selection of shops, Montrose sits beside a wide estuary known as the Montrose Basin...
Loch Awe
Measuring more than 25 miles long, Loch Awe is Scotland's longest stretch of freshwater. Its northwest shore is quiet; forest walks crisscross the Inverliever Forest...
Stonehaven
Stonehaven's golden sands made this historic town near spectacular Dunnottar Castle a popular holiday destination, until Scots began vacationing in sunnier climates. The surrounding red-clay...
Kintyre Peninsula
Rivers and streams crisscross this long, narrow strip of green pasturelands and hills stretching south from Lochgilphead...
Hawick
Hawick (pronounced hoyk) is a busy town at the center of the region's textile industry, commemorated in the interesting Borders Textile Towerhouse. The Victorian buildings...
Craigellachie
Renowned as an angling resort, Craigellachie, like so many settlements on the River Spey, is sometimes enveloped in the malty reek of the local industry...
Fort Augustus
The best place to see the locks of the Caledonian Canal is Fort Augustus, at the southern tip of Loch Ness. This bustling small town...
Dunkeld
The historic town of Dunkeld remains intact and beautifully preserved with its rows of white houses around the town square. The original village was destroyed...
Port Ellen
Islay's sturdy community of Port Ellen was founded in the 1820s, and much of its architecture dates from the following decades. It has a harbor...
Portpatrick
The holiday town of Portpatrick lies across the Rhinns of Galloway from Stranraer. Once an Irish ferry port, Portpatrick's harbor eventually proved too small for...
South Queensferry
This pleasant little waterside community, a former ferry port, is completely dominated by the Forth Bridges, three dramatic structures of contrasting architecture (dating from the...
Anstruther
Anstruther, locally called Ainster, has a lovely waterfront with a few shops brightly festooned with children's pails and shovels, a gesture to summer vacationers...
Pittenweem and St. Monans
These neighboring harbors are places to wander among lobster creels, fishing nets, and rocks, discovering quirky local artworks and architectural features. Many examples of East...
Crieff
.Crieff retains the prosperous air of its Victorian heyday as a place to take the waters. Its central square, where local farmers may once have...
South Uist
Carpets of wildflowers in spring and early summer, superb deserted beaches, and historical connections to Flora Macdonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie head the list of...
Crinan
Crinan is synonymous with its canal, the reason for this tiny community's existence and its mainstay. The narrow road beside the Crinan Hotel bustles with...
Cupar
Cupar is a busy market town with several interesting sites, including a museum about Fife...
Brae
A thriving community, Brae is where you can see the spoils of Shetland's oil money. The rugged moorland and tranquil voes (inlets) of Brae are...
Kingussie
Set in a wide glen, Kingussie is a pretty town east of the Monadhliath Mountains. With great distant views of the Cairngorms, it's perfect for...
Gatehouse of Fleet
A peaceful, pleasant, backwoods sort of place, Gatehouse of Fleet has a castle guarding its southern approach...
North Uist
Stunning coastal scenery and ancient ruins are the main draws on North Uist. You’ll find art everywhere on the island, from the ends of roads...
Alford
A plain and sturdy settlement in the Howe (Hollow) of Alford, this town gives those who have grown somewhat weary of castle-hopping a break: it...
North Berwick
The pleasant little seaside resort of North Berwick manages to retain a small-town personality even when it's thronged with city visitors on warm summer days...
Arisaig
Considering its small size, Arisaig, gateway to the Small Isles, offers a surprising choice of high-quality options for dining and lodging. To the north of...
Banff
Midway along the northeast coast, overlooking Moray Firth and the estuary of the River Deveron, Banff is a dour fishing town, huddled around a small...
Ellon
Formerly a market center on what was then the lowest bridging point of the River Ythan, Ellon, a bedroom suburb of Aberdeen, is a small...
Coldstream
...
Port Charlotte
Planned by a benevolent 19th-century laird (and named after his mom), Port Charlotte is an unusually (for Scotland) pretty village, with wild landscapes and sandy...
Dunbar
In the days before tour companies started offering package deals to the Mediterranean, Dunbar was a popular holiday beach resort. Now a bit faded, the...
Kirriemuir
Kirriemuir stands at the heart of Angus's red-sandstone countryside and was the birthplace of the writer J.?M. Barrie (1860–1937), best known abroad as the author...
Mallaig
After the approach along the coast, the workaday fishing port of Mallaig itself is somewhat anticlimactic. It has a few shops, and there's some bustle...
Gullane
Follow the coastline on either side of Gullane and you're faced with golf course after golf course. Fairways are laid out wherever there is available...
Grantown-on-Spey
The sturdy settlement of Grantown-on-Spey, set amid tall pines that flank the River Spey, is a classic Scottish planned town. The community was laid out...
Lochranza
Lochranza shows Arran's wilder northern side, with rocky seashores and sweeping slopes leading to the stark granite peaks of Goatfell and Caisteal Abahail (2,735 feet)...
Ochil Hills
The scarp face of the Ochil Hills looms unmistakably. It's an old fault line that yields up hard volcanic rocks and contrasts with the quantities...
Scalloway
On the west coast of Mainland Island is Scalloway, which preceded Lerwick as the capital of the region. During World War II Scalloway was the...
Wick
Wick is a substantial town that was built on its fishing industry. The town itself is not very appealing, but it does have the gaunt...
Dunfermline
Oft-overlooked Dunfermline was once the world center for the production of damask linen, but the town is better known today as the birthplace of millionaire...
Whithorn
Known for its early-Christian settlement, Whithorn is full of history. The main street is notably wide, with pretty pastel buildings nestled up against each other...
Appin
The little peninsula of Appin, a 20-minute drive from Oban, is a charming, well-kept secret. Just 2 miles along a narrow road from the main...
Iona
The ruined abbey on Iona gives little hint that this was once one of the most important Christian religious centers in the land. The priceless...
Auchterarder
Famous for the Gleneagles Hotel (including its restaurant by Andrew Fairlie) and nearby golf courses, Auchterarder also has a flock of tiny antiques shops to...
Wigtown
...
John o'Groats
The windswept little outpost of John O'Groats is usually taken to be the northernmost community on the Scottish mainland, though that is not strictly accurate...
Scourie
Scourie is a small settlement catering to visitors—fisherfolk especially—with a range of accommodations. The bay-side town makes a good base for a trip to the...
Tongue
A popular pit stop between Thurso and Durness, Tongue has some worthwhile sights and good accommodations options...
Innerleithen
Innerleithen is one of the larger Borders towns; you'll feel that you've entered a hub of activity when you arrive. It's also dramatically beautiful. Surrounded...
Birsay
Birsay itself is a small collection of houses, but some interesting historic and natural sites are nearby...
Tiree
...
Jura
The rugged, mountainous landscape of the island of Jura—home to only about 200 people—looms immediately east of Port Askaig, across the Sound of Islay: a...
Craignure
...
Machrie
The area surrounding Machrie, home to a popular beach, is littered with prehistoric sites: chambered cairns, hut circles, and standing stones dating from the Bronze...
Galashiels
A busy gray-stone Borders town, Galashiels is still active with textile mills and knitwear factories...
Dingwall
This pretty market town and royal burgh (a Scottish town granted a royal charter) makes for a very pleasant stop if you're heading north from...
Kylesku
This tiny settlement once served as a ferry crossing, before being usurped by the (incredibly photogenic) Kylesku Bridge. Today it's a lovely stop for lunch...
Elie
To give it its full name, the Royal Burgh of Elie and Earlsferry is an old trading port with a handsome harbor that loops around...
Brechin
The small market town of Brechin has a cathedral that was founded around 1200 and contains an interesting selection of antiquities, including the Mary Stone...
Crail
The oldest and most aristocratic of East Neuk burghs, pretty Crail is where many fish merchants retired and built cottages. The town landmark is a...
Gretna Green
The first town across the English–Scottish border, Gretna Green (not to be confused with nearby Gretna) was historically where runaway couples went to be married...
Stranraer
Stranraer was for more than a century the main ferry port between Scotland and Northern Ireland. Its closure, and the transfer of ferry traffic to...
Glencoe
Glencoe is both a small town and a region of stunning grandeur, with high peaks and secluded glens. Dramatic scenery is the main attraction here;...
Glenfinnan
Perhaps the most visitor-oriented stop on the route between Fort William and Mallaig, Glenfinnan has much to offer if you're interested in Scottish history. Here...
Alyth
Dating back to the Dark Ages, this market town was completely transformed by the Industrial Revolution, which lined its streets with mills and factories. The...
Glamis
Set in rolling countryside is the little village of Glamis (pronounced glahms), the highlight of which is nearby famous Glamis Castle...
Weisdale
This tiny place is less a village than a group of houses, but it does have a worthwhile gallery...
Culloden Moor
Culloden Moor was the scene of the last battle fought on British soil—and to this day its name is enough to invoke raw and tragic...
Dalbeattie
...
Port Askaig
Serving as the ferry port for Jura and receiving ferries from Kennacraig, Port Askaig is a mere cluster of cottages. Uphill, just outside the village...
Colonsay
...
Lamlash
...
Ruthwell
...
Forfar
Forfar goes about its business of being the center of a farming hinterland without being preoccupied with (or even that interested in) tourism...
Golspie
The little coastal town of Golspie is worth a stop if you're heading for Dunrobin Castle. It has a number of shops and accommodations...
Dunbeath
...
Roslin
It may be best known for its extraordinary chapel, but Roslin itself is a pleasant place to while away some time. There are some lovely...
Falkland
One of the loveliest communities in Scotland, Falkland is a royal burgh of twisting streets and crooked stone houses...
Blair Atholl
Located where the Tilt and Garry rivers flow together, this small town sits in the middle of the Grampian Mountains. Here you'll find Blair Castle...
Lochcarron
Strung along the shore, the village of Lochcarron has some attractive croft buildings, a couple of churches (one an 18th-century ruin set in a graveyard)...
Blackwaterfoot
...
Helmsdale
Helmsdale is a fascinating fishing village with a checkered past. It was a busy Viking settlement and then the scene of an aristocratic poisoning plot...
Loch Leven
Scotland's largest Lowland loch, Loch Leven is famed for its fighting trout. The area is also noted for abundant birdlife, particularly its wintering wildfowl. Mary...
Haddington
One of the best-preserved medieval street plans in the country can be explored in Haddington. Among the many buildings of architectural and historical interest is...
Finlaggan
...
Culross
With its mercat cross, cobbled streets, tolbooth, and narrow wynds (alleys), seaside Culross is a picturesque little town. It's also a living museum of 17th-century...
Achiltibuie
Off the beaten track, Achiltibuie is a small coastal community set at the foot of magnificent mountains. It looks out over the Summer Isles, whose...
Balquhidder Glen
...
Meigle
The historic village of Meigle, nestled in the rich agricultural land of the Strathmore Valley, is well known to those with an interest in Pictish...
Dervaig
...
Yell
A desolate-looking blanket bog cloaks two-thirds of the island of Yell, creating an atmospheric landscape to pass through on the way to Unst to the...
Newhailes
With sumptuous interiors and relaxing grounds, this neo-Palladian villa a few miles east of Edinburgh hosted many luminaries of the Scottish Enlightenment...
Coll
...
Lochgilphead
...
Drymen
...
Gifford
...
Glen Trool
...
Rothes
...
Lower Largo
...
Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh is "a city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again," as Alexander McCall Smith once wrote. One of the world's stateliest cities...
The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles
Wild and remote, the Northern Highlands and the Western Isles of Scotland have a timeless grandeur. Dramatic cliffs, long beaches, and craggy mountains that rise...
Aberdeen and the Northeast
Here in this granite shoulder of Grampian, are some of Scotland's most enduring travel icons: Royal Deeside, the countryside that Queen Victoria made her own;...
The Borders and the Southwest
In the Borders region, south of Edinburgh, are more stately homes, fortified castles, and medieval abbeys than in any other part of Scotland. This is...
Stirling and the Central Highlands
The Central Highlands are home to superb castles, moody mountains, and gorgeous glens that are best explored at a leisurely pace. The waters of Loch...
Inverness and Around the Great Glen
Defined by its striking topography, the Great Glen brings together mountains and myths, history and wild nature—then lets you wash it all down with a...
Fife and Angus
Breezy cliff-top walkways, fishing villages, and open beaches characterize Fife and Angus. They sandwich Scotland's fourth-largest city, the rejuvenated city of Dundee. Scotland's east coast...
Argyll and the Isles
Argyll's rocky seaboard looks out onto islands that were once part of a single prehistoric landmass. Its narrow roads slow travel but give time to...
Orkney and Shetland Islands
A Scandinavian heritage gives the 170 islets that make up Orkney and Shetland a history and an atmosphere different from that of any other region...
The South Mainland
The narrow 3- or 4-mile-wide stretch of land that reaches south from Lerwick to Sumburgh Head has a number of fascinating ancient sites (and an...
The Trossachs
The Trossachs has been a popular touring region since the late 18th century, at the dawn of the age of the Romantic poets. Influenced by...
Solway Firth
Mostly undiscovered by travelers, the Solway Firth is a must for walkers, cyclists, and bird-watchers. This lovely and protected inlet, guarded by beautiful Caerlaverock Castle...
North of Dumfries
Travel north along the A70 from Dumfries for a short trip through time at some very different attractions. Drumlanrig Castle is one of Scotland’s grandest...
The Pentlands
These unmistakable hills begin almost in the suburbs of Edinburgh, and they make for a very welcome escape from the city crowds. There are access...
The Angus Glens
You can rejoin the hurly-burly of the A90 for the return journey south from Montrose or Brechin; the more pleasant route, however, leads southwesterly on...
Easdale and the Slate Islands
...
Isle of Skye
The misty Isle of Skye is awash with romance and myth, lush green gardens, and steep, magnetic mountains. Its extraordinary natural beauty and royal connections...
Isle of Harris
For most people, Harris is forever linked to tweed. Woven here and on nearby islands, the tweed has colors that echo the tones of the...
Isle of Lewis
The history of Lewis stretches back 5,000 years, as archaeological sites scattered across the island attest. Here, the Highland past persists in the Gaelic that...
Isle of Bute
The Isle of Bute, a Victorian holiday favorite convenient for Glaswegians, affords a host of relaxing walks and scenic vistas. Mount Stuart, a stately home...
St. Kilda
The most distant corner of the British Isles, this archipelago of five islands has double World Heritage status, recognized for both its natural and cultural...
Isle of Raasay
This beautiful and rugged isle lies a few miles off Skye's east coast and offers a pleasant escape from its tourist hordes. Although only 10...
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