Scotland — 9 Awesome Places You Need To See
Mysterious castles, lively cities and green hills as far as the eye can see: Scotland is a country that is as incomparable as it is varied. Whether you want to admire extraordinary landscapes, experience the vibrant life of Scotland’s cities or go in search of Nessie, there’s something for everyone. Ready for our ultimate Scotland Top 10? Let’s go!
Glasgow
Even if you feel at home in the tranquillity of the Scottish mountains and islands, you should definitely experience city life in Scotland. In Glasgow, you are particularly close to the pulse of time. The city has a special mix of industrial and modern charm, which you can admire on a street art tour, for example — the art on the walls of many public buildings is not to be missed. The music scene in Glasgow is also very strong. It’s worth taking a look at the city’s events calendar: maybe some of your favourite musicians happen to be in town — or you’ll discover a real insider tip.
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is the largest Scottish loch and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole country — and rightly so. The loch is located about an hour northwest of Glasgow and is also very easy to reach by public transport. If you fancy an extended bike ride along the shore, you can get your exercise on the 28km long “West Loch Lomond Cycle Path”. In the entire national park, of which Loch Lomond has been a part since 2002, there are countless other activities that could easily fill several days. So a visit is definitely worthwhile!
Inverness
Inverness is the northernmost of the major Scottish cities and is located in the middle of the Highlands. Translated, the name means “mouth of the Ness” and accordingly the famous Loch Ness is not far away — whether on foot or by boat, an exploration tour is worthwhile. And who knows, maybe Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, will make an appearance one day.
In addition, King Macbeth reigned at Inverness Castle in the 11th century. Today, a castle adorns the hill, offering a breathtaking view of the entire city.
For bookworms, we highly recommend a trip to Leakey’s Bookshop — the quaint bookshop is located in an old church and, with its spiral staircases, galleries and high shelves, is a dream come true for anyone who loves books.
Fort William
If you love nature, you should not miss Fort William. The “Outdoor Capital of the UK” with its proximity to Ben Nevis (the largest mountain in Great Britain!) offers an attractive destination for tourists and sports enthusiasts. Hiking, mountain biking, kayaking or winter sports — Glen Coe, the valley in which Fort William lies, makes it all possible.
The nature around Fort William has also served as a filming location on many occasions — for example for the ride on the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). Fans of the films should not miss a ride on “The Jacobite”, a historic steam train. When crossing the “Glenfinnan Viaduct”, you immediately feel as if you were on your way to Hogwarts yourself.
Mull, Iona & Staffa
On the west coast of Scotland lies the small town of Oban, famous for its whiskey distillery and seafood. But it’s not only worth driving to Oban for a day trip — from here you can also take a fantastic tour of three nearby islands.
On Mull, the largest of the three islands, you can admire the beautiful landscape before taking the boat to Iona. There, it is worth visiting Iona Abbey — one of the oldest churches in the whole of Scotland, where, among others, the legendary Scottish King Macbeth is buried. If you then cross over to the island of Staffa, you may be lucky enough to see dolphins or sharks. In any case, you can catch a glimpse of a unique natural spectacle: Fingal’s Cave. The volcanic basalt columns in this cave look almost like a modern work of art because of their geometric shape.
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is a place steeped in legend. You sense this everywhere you go on the island: Suddenly you find yourself in a world all of your own, full of angular rocks of cold stone and rushing waterfalls. And almost every place has a legend about fairies, Vikings or ancient Scottish clans.
The island is the perfect destination if you want to explore a bit of Scottish nature, go hiking or explore by boat. The special atmosphere of the Isle of Skye has also been discovered by filmmakers, such as those of Macbeth (2015) or Prometheus (2012), who have made skilful use of the impressive backdrop.
St. Andrews
On Scotland’s east coast, about an hour and a half north of Edinburgh, lies the small but beautiful coastal town of St Andrews. Here you can stroll through the tranquil town centre, visit ruins that are almost a thousand years old and walk along the coast — and thanks to the manageable size of the town, you can do all this in one day without any problems.
Incidentally, Prince William and Kate Middleton met at the University of St. Andrews. Several cafés in the town claim to be where they had their first date — but we especially recommend Café Gorgeous, where you can enjoy the delicious “Prince of Cambridge” scones with raspberries, blueberries and white chocolate at tea time.
Stirling
“They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!” shouts Mel Gibson at the top of his voice in the film Braveheart — for many the first (and only) point of contact with Scottish history. If you want to delve a little deeper and much more accurately into the country’s past, the small town of Stirling is the place to go.
Stirling Castle is enthroned in the centre of the city. In 1297, William Wallace recaptured the castle from the English in the Battle of Stirling Bridge. For this reason, you can also admire the impressive Wallace Monument here. The town itself is impressive with its medieval charm, leaning towers and narrow streets. At night, it resembles a sea of lights amidst the darkness of the Highlands.
Orkney Islands
The Orkney Islands are an archipelago in the north-east of Scotland, consisting of 70 smaller islands. No matter where you are on the islands, you are always surrounded by Scottish history. In fact, it’s said that if you stuck a shovel in the ground in Orkney, you’d be very likely to start an archaeological dig straight away. But if you don’t want to start digging straight away, you can simply enjoy nature or play an outdoor sport of your choice.
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