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.
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
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
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
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