And now that travel restrictions have been lifted, for the first time since Christmas we can get out-and-about to enjoy them.
Here are 13 of the most picturesque for a day trip.
![Set on the west coast of Scotland, eight miles north of the Skye Road Bridge, the palm trees and pretty buildings of Plockton make it a popular destination.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmYyOGRiMDEwLTBmMDktNDc3MS1hMmNiLTg2NzNmNTkwMWQ3Zjo4MTcxYzE3Ni1iZDUyLTQ5OWItOWI2NC0yOThmYmUxYzAxNDI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Plockton
Set on the west coast of Scotland, eight miles north of the Skye Road Bridge, the palm trees and pretty buildings of Plockton make it a popular destination. Photo: Canva
![One of several beautiful fishing villages in the East Neuk of Fife, Pittenweem has a charming working harbour, the nearby Fife Coastal Path, and St Fillan's Cave - a shrine to the saint who once lived there.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmRjNzc5Y2M2LTRmYmUtNGM4NC1hNTBjLTRmMmMzOGUzOWU4YjphZmY5ODM3OS1lMGJhLTQwMTgtODg2My1kYTBhNjdhOGI0NDc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Pittenweem
One of several beautiful fishing villages in the East Neuk of Fife, Pittenweem has a charming working harbour, the nearby Fife Coastal Path, and St Fillan's Cave - a shrine to the saint who once lived there. Photo: Canva
![Tarbert, in Argyll and Bute, is built around an inlet of Loch Fyne. It has a pretty harbour and traditional houses in the shadow of a picturesque ruined castle.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmM2N2VhZmFkLWU4ZjEtNDc0Mi05NmVkLTZiYzA4Yjg1NDcwODpmMDBkM2ExZC01NzQyLTQ0MWYtYTVlZC0zNWVjYTI0ODM4ODA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Tarbet
Tarbert, in Argyll and Bute, is built around an inlet of Loch Fyne. It has a pretty harbour and traditional houses in the shadow of a picturesque ruined castle. Photo: Canva
![Famous for being where outdoor scenes of Scottish soap Take the High Road were filmed, Luss is a perfectly village tucked away on the banks of Loch Lomond.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ4NjQ3ZjIzLWY1MzktNGVkZC1iNzUxLTU5YWVjOWZlNDUxNzo4ODc3NTZiMS1jMTc0LTQ2YjEtYWRmNC0yZDI2NzU4OTUzZTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Luss
Famous for being where outdoor scenes of Scottish soap Take the High Road were filmed, Luss is a perfectly village tucked away on the banks of Loch Lomond. Photo: Canva