Where would be some interesting places to include on a visit to Scotland?

Question

Visiting Scotland is on an increasingly long list of things I'd like to do before I die. I've always wanted to go but somehow never managed it.
Although my main interest would be wildlife, especially birds, but any flaura and fauna, my interests are varied but include history, architecture, art and handcrafts.

Some wonderful suggestions, I can see it's going to take a lot more than one visit! and it will take some time to plan. I'm looking forward to it, at last.

Answer 1

There are so many places to go and visit for a variety of reasons....I never tire of going over there.
Moffat - great place to purchase Tartans
Glasgow - I have never spent much time there, usually just pass through but am sure there is a lot there.
Edinburgh - the Castle is a must see and the shopping on Princess Street is a real must do!!
Before heading north - visit Drumlanrig Castle - beautiful architecture - amazing story behind it all (architecht made an error and threw himself to his death over it) and the grounds in the back are great for adults and kids alike.
Loch Lomand - beautiful place.
Glencoe - place of a very historical battle - I swear you can feel the deadly calm there, as if the ground still holds the sounds and blood from the battle. Wow!
Loch Ness - the lake as well as the Loch Ness Museum.
Aberdeen - beautiful city in the north.
Isle of White and Mull of Kintyre

Definately a must trip for everyone - I never want to come home!

Answer 2

Do yourself a favor and check out Glen Coe. Its beautiful area, its quiet, has a very important historical story to it and is in the middle of no where. Inverness is also a must stop (home of Loch Ness) its a neat little town as well besides the Loch. St. Andrews is also a good stop. Its on the North Sea and even though is the place where golf was created there is actually some fantastic scenery as well as castle ruins I didn't know were there. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Scotland is a fascinating country, and places I would recommend have already been mentioned such as Edinburgh, Inverness, Loch Ness, and the hauntingly beautiful Glencoe (which is, in my opinion, the most beautiful place in Scotland).

I make no bones about it; I love Glasgow. I just think it is a fantastic city, with so much to do, so many places to see, and would also be an ideal base to take a day trip to some of the Clyde Islands such as Bute, Arran, Cumbrae, and to Dunoon on the Cowal Peninsula. Visit the gardens at Dunoon Castle or Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran.

However, if you want to visit a part of Scotland with most of it's natural beauty intact, I would recommend going out further afield to the Southern Hebredes Islands of Islay and Jura, Islay reachable by air from Glasgow, and by ferry from Kennacraig on the Kintyre Peninsula. Getting to Kennacraig is a stunning journey in itself. Passing the shores of "Bonnie" Loch Lomond, around the Argyll Forest with some impressive and almost perpendicular mountains on the North Cowal peninsula, and along the shores of Loch Long, and Loch Fyne.

Stop at Inverary and look at the Nautical Museum, Inverary Castle, and Inverary Jail, a jail dating back to Victorian times.

The inner Hebredes island of Coll is virtually undeveloped, with only one main road on the island, and the rest of it is farmland or sand-dune. There is a huge beach at Crossopol towards the South-East of the Island, but, you would need either to walk there (approx 5 miles from the main village, Arinagour), or have a 4X4 vehicle, as the terrain would almost certainly wreck the suspension of a standard car.

It's southern neighbour, Tiree is steeped in history, and is officially, the sunniest place in the UK. However, Tiree is also officially, the windiest place in the UK.

Even further away is the Outer Hebredes Islands of Barra, the Uists, Harris and Lewis. Getting to these islands can be an adventure in itself (Barra and South Uist are appoxiamtely 5 to 7 and a half hours ferry journey from Oban), and Barra has the only beach airport in the world at Northbay. And yes, the plane from Glasgow or Benbecula lands on the beach! The seat of the MacNeil clan, Kissimul castle, is at the entrance to Castlebay harbour, and can be seen on the ferry approaching Castlebay on the Isle of Barra from Oban daily and from Tiree on Thursdays only during the summer.

One thing though. Most of the signs on the Outer Hebredean Islands and on the Isle of Skye are in Scots Gaelic, but don't worry, the people there do speak English. They will always speak to people who are not locals in English.

If you are driving in Scotland, there are a lot of single track roads, especially in the Northern Mainland, Kintyre Peninsula, and on all of the Scottish Islands. These roads have passing places every hundred yards or so on either side, as the roads are only wide enough for one vehicle.

Answer 4

I recommend the Inner and Outer Hebrides, and especially Assynt. This is the furthest north on the west coast. It is absolutely beautiful and great for wildlife, golden eagles etc.. on the coast you'll see lots of seals and things. Stay at Inchnadamph or Lochinver. It's very remote and barren though. It's a long way even from Edinburgh (get to Inverness either flying or on the sleeper from London Euston) then hire a car and drive for about 4 hours or more.

Answer 5

St.Abbs not far from the Scottish Borders just off the A1.
It is a little village with a harbour and you can go on a boat trip to see some rare birds, there is a Wildlife centre and many beautiful shore walks and on a Saturday and Sunday see the spectacle of the local and migrant divers getting out of their dry suits in the car park.

Berwick on Tweed is an ancient town with many fine architectural features a lovely beach and a lot of Military history.

Edinburgh holds many attractions for visitors to many to list.

Glasgow's Art Gallery and Burrel collection and examples of some of the finest Architecture in Britain.

The Highland to see Eagles and spectacular scenery.
Mull, the beautiful wildlife and Puffin's.
Harris, Stornaway,Sky lots' of weavers.
Could go on and on,

Hope this helps and we will be delighted to welcome you.

Answer 6

Edinburgh citadel Royal Mile Princess highway + St James Centre assorted statues or monuments alongside with the Scott Monument + Greyfriars Bobby statue. nationwide artwork Gallery nationwide Museum Of Scotland Tynecastle Park + Murrayfield stadium. Kings Theatre pageant Theatre

Answer 7

well the list is endless really, and you wont get everything in one visit to Scotland, every city and town has all you want from history to architecture, we have fantastic castles all over the country from the far north to the far south, the highlands is a must the cairngorms, Ben Nevis, glen coe all sorts of wildlife eps birds eagle's, buzzards, we also have great coastline's and many protected bird colony's fantastic for the camera, i would also advice you take a look at the inverness area on your visit its breathtaking, you have the firth of forth and of course loch ness not to be missed, most places are accessible by car, you would get from glasgow to inverness in 3 hours a 170 mile drive,

here is a few site for you to explore

http://www.visitscotland.com/

http://guide.visitscotland.com/

with a fantastic culture and friendly people, there is no other place in the world, hope you enjoy your trip

Answer 8

Lucky you to be going to Scotland. I visited there from Canada a few years ago and would love to go back someday. While we were there we stayed in Glasgow and travelled about from there. I would definitely visit Edinburgh and Edinburgh castle, Alloway and Robert Burns home, while in Alloway be sure to see Brig a Doon bridge (beautiful) and the Alloway Kirk, an old church and churchyard from the 16th century. Just being there and reading the gravestones was marvellous. Sterling Castle (15th century I think) and the town of Oban (a beautiful seaside town) were all just beautiful. There were other places I wanted to see but didn't get to so next time.............
Hope you enjoy the country and people as much as I did.

Answer 9

Edinburgh is great. beautiful architechture and very friendly people. I would love to move there.
Inverness is also a great city in the Highlands.
To us Loch Ness was slightly disappointing but we were there in December.
My brother was recently married in a city called Laggan, which is about 3 hours north of Edinburgh. Right by the house that we stayed in was a breathtaking nature/bike trail. I can send you pictures if you'd like and find out the exact name of the trail. I would highly recommend this if you like nature which it seems you do.

Answer 10

Drunmossie moor,,loch ness,the mile,holyrod house,all castles.there is so much history in Scotland,it is a very beauitful place so much so,that i am going there at the end of May for a holiday myself.