Must Visit Places In Scotland

Scotland is a magical place, bursting with rugged landscapes that will take your breath away, vibrant towns and cities, amazing architecture and iconic historic monuments. Of course it’s also home to some of the smoothest whisky ever made! No wonder millions of tourists flock to Scotland each year. In this post we’ll go over some of the must-visit places in Scotland that you need to head to.

Must Visit Places In Scotland

• Edinburgh

• Loch Lomond

• Fingal’s Cave

• Stirling

• Glencoe

• Glenfinnan Viaduct (viewpoint)

• Isle of Skye

Edinburgh

Edinburgh; Scotland’s capital and arguably its most famous destination. This city may be compact but it packs a punch! You could almost say it’s a city of two halves, with its medieval old town and its Georgian New Town, brimming with blooming gardens and neoclassical architecture. But there is also a hidden part of this city that you have to go underground to find! Thats right, the ‘city of the dead’ is underneath Edinburgh’s streets and you can take a tour.

Of course there is plenty to see above ground too, such as The National Museum of Scotland, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions and of course the Iconic Edinburgh Castle that sits atop castle rock, overlooking the city below. To really take in the views, take a stroll up to Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park. It’s an ancient volcano that is 251m above sea level and once you get to the top, you can enjoy 360-degree views of Edinburgh. Pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it!

Finish off your Edinburgh experience with a visit to Johnnie Walker Princes Street and relax with a wee dram.

Loch Lomond

This freshwater lake is located in the heart of Scotland’s first National Park, The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. People come from all over to visit Loch Lomond because of its breathtaking beauty, wildlife, range of activities and quaint villages. The lake itself is the product of glacial excavation and sits just 7 metres above sea level and is home to 22 islands and 27 islets!

Beauty aside, Loch Lomond also has great historical significance in Scotland. Due to its position in the Southern Highlands, it was the site of many battles as clans fought to protect their lands.

There are plenty of fun things to do along the banks of Loch Lomond including beautiful walks, cycling, boat trips, visiting the local villages and watersports, making it one of the must visit places in Scotland.

Fingal’s Cave

The spectacular Fingal’s cave is a natural sea cave, situated just off of the uninhabited island of Staffa, in the Inner Hebrides. Its striking appearance is due to the basalt columns its made of, created 60 million years ago when a lava flow cooled, causing the molten rock to shrink and create the ‘gaps’, resulting in columns. Despite the remote location and dramatic structure, there is actually a natural walkway that means at low tide, you can walk right inside the cave! For many years, this natural wonder has been a source of inspiration for people, including famous artists and botanists, and many have made a pilgrimage to this must visit place in Scotland.

Tour operators run trips to this beautiful island and to Fingal’s Cave plus some offer wild swimming and snorkelling experiences too. Combine it with trips to nearby Mull and Iona and be inspired by the rugged beauty of the Inner Hebrides.

Stirling

Known as ‘a small city with a big history’, Stirling will capture your imagination as you immerse yourself in 900 years of history. Of course one of the most famous, and important, landmarks in Stirling is its castle. This 12th Century stone marvel sits high upon a craggy peak, overlooking the city and beautiful surrounding landscape. Due to its location and elevated position, it has been a key stronghold over many years, often passing between Scottish and English power throughout the ages. It was most famously the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots and today, you can see how the royal apartments would have looked thanks to a huge restoration project.

Stirling is also home to many other attractions including the Old Town Jail, Blair Drummond Safari Park, Dunblane Cathedral plus the William Wallace Monument, a key highlight in the Stirling Skyline.

If shopping is more your thing, you can soak up the character of Stirling while browsing the shops in the city’s shopping centre, Thistles. Or for more boutique shopping, head to the Victorian shopping centre, the Stirling Arcade. Then, make your way to Stirling’s high street, Murray Place and Port Street, for a refreshment stop in the sunshine.

Glencoe

Glencoe is based in Western Scotland and is probably the most famous of the glens. It’s known as the ‘outdoor capital of the UK’ and is renown for its hikes, waterfalls and breathtaking views. The village itself is also home to some incredible food and cosy pubs, waiting to invite you in after a day of exploring. Glencoe definitely makes a fantastic base for exploring the Highlands.

There are also lots of sporting opportunities in both summer and winter at the Glencoe Mountain resort. In the summer you can go mountain biking, hill-walking, take a chair lift ride, do a spot of photography and finish it all off with some tasty food in the log cabin cafe. In winter, the centre offers winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding and sledging, boasting the longest and steepest ski run in Scotland!

Glenfinnan Viaduct

You may recognise this Victorian railway bridge from the Harry Potter films (specifically the 2nd and 3rd ones) but the Glenfinnan Viaduct is actually the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland. Head up the hill from the Glenfinnan visitor centre car park to catch breathtaking views down to Loch Sheil and across to the viaduct. It’s the perfect viewpoint to see the viaduct and even catch the Jacobite steam train in action as it passes across, every day, in spring and autumn.

There is a new path from the visitor centre too, where you can take a 20 minute walk and get up close to this mighty structure and really appreciate how tall the bridge is.

Or for an immersive day out, ride across the viaduct by catching the train from Fort William to Glenfinnan, as you take in the views from one of the most picturesque train rides in the country. From Glenfinnan station, there is a 1.5 mile walk, on a well built path, that takes you through the landscape, past the viaduct and on to the Glenfinnan monument.

Isle of Skye

A visit to Scotland’s misty Isle of myth and legend is a must! This island, located in the Inner Hebrides, is home to some of the most scenic landscape in the world as well as some interesting wildlife, such as whales and otters. There is plenty to do on the Isle of Skye, including visiting the iconic Fairy Pools, walking up the Old Man of Storr, seeing Dunvegan Castle plus tasting some authentic Skye Whisky.

To really explore this magical island, a road trip is probably the best way, making sure you see some of the hidden gems as well as the better known sights. Our comprehensive guidebook Destination Skye is the perfect resource for planning your ultimate Isle of Skye trip, detailing not only the best and most popular sights along the route but also the hidden gems that most overlook.

Wherever you choose to visit in Scotland, we know you will have an incredible time exploring this wonderful country, full of myth and magic.

If you have visited Scotland recently and have any must visit places we haven’t mentioned, share your suggestions in the comments below.

As always, sharing is caring so make sure to share this guide with your family and friends and inspire them to head off on their own Scottish adventure.