VisitScotland

Scotland's many islands offer fascinating history, plenty of activities and incredible views.

Amazing Scottish Islands: 10 incredible islands to visit in 2025

Cruachan Dam, part of the Cruachan Power Station complex in Argyll and Bute.

Power to the people: 60 years of Cruachan, Scotland’s hollow mountain

Scotland is home to several remarkable collections of ancient standing stones.

Best Scottish Standing Stones 2025: Here are 8 ancient stone circles

Neil Coulson, CEO of St Andrews Links Trust, is flanked Scottish Government Business Minister Richard Lochhead and Rob Dickson, Director of Industry & Events at VisitScotland, at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh

Why Scotland 'must work together' to build on £317m St Andrews boost

Symposium Building – The Auditorium at Surgeons Quarter

How Edinburgh's historic venues are shaping modern business events

The Scotsman/North Coast 500 roundtable on campervans

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Campervan issues drive recent roundtable discussion

The food festival will take place in next to Paisley Abbey.

Paisley Food and Drink Festival 2025: Full lineup for the celebration

Dundonald Castle in South Ayrshire is operated by the charity Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO. In 2024, the site welcomed 29,000.

New push to highlight significant benefits of visitor economy to Scotland

Edinburgh launches new accessibility guide for the city

Edinburgh launches new accessibility guide for the city

There's plenty of inexpensive Easter fun to be had in Scotland this year.

Things to do in Scotland this Easter: 7 budget-friendly activities

Clare Coghill of Cafe Cuil at the Isle of Raasay Distillery

Owner of Skye cafe to bring Scottish food to New York's Tartan Week

As oil and gas supplies dwindle and the fight against climate change becomes urgent, more and more wind farms are being allowed by government (Picture: William Edwards/ AFP)

Readers' Letters: Why is scandal of constraint payments being ignored?

Since its conception in 2015, the route has exploded in popularity, particularly with campervan and motorhome users, to the frustration of some local residents.

Anger over 'winter wonderland' North Coast 500 season

There's plenty to do in Scotland between Christmas and New Year.

Twixmas in Scotland: 10 things to do between Christmas and New Year

Kenny McMillan & Guy Crawford - Highland Coast Hotels

NC500 approaches 10th anniversary - these hotels are asking what next?

A Couple Birdwatching On The Mull Of Oa On The Isle Of Islay, Inner Hebrides Credit VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins

The Scottish destinations named in world's best places to travel

Scotland is a great place to catch a dramatic sunset.

Scottish Sunsets: The 10 most popular spots to watch the sun go down

A view of South Uist from the plane coming in to Barra. PIC: Visit Scotland.

The Scottish islands named in the 'best destinations in world'

Two residents speak in St Boswells (left) in the Scottish Borders, while (right) Kingsbarns Beach is one of Fife's best. Picture: NationalWorld/PA

The two best 'secret villages' in Scotland to live in

Oasis last performed at Murrayfield Stadium in 2009.

Oasis fans face soaring prices as hotels charging up to £850 a night

Slow tourism usually involves people doing long-distance walks or cycling trips

Discover the 'alternative' North Coast 500 trail

Hay's Way has made it to the NC500

I walked the NC500 - here are the unexpected discoveries I made

Orkney Isles: Windwick on South Ronaldsay must be the ultimate spot for a true re-set.

The 8 best places for 'quiet travel' in Scotland

THe NC500: The touring route across the Highland has helped fuel a surge in motorhome use across the area. Picture taken in July 2020 near Ullapool.

North Coast 500 boss says Highlands 'caught out' by motorhome surge

Ad Feature A modern way to step back in time

The men's elite road race crosses Princes Street in Edinburgh during the UCI Cycling World Championships last August. Picture: Katielee Arrowsmith

Cost of one-off cycling event soars above £60m

MD Steven Lindsay set up the business five years ago with his father George. Picture: contributed.

Outlander effect helps Edinburgh-based luxury travel firm boost turnover

The top 10 spending quangos in Scotland for public relations

The iCentre shares a space with Edinburgh City Council's customer hub. Picture: Google

Edinburgh council in bid to keep Royal Mile tourist information centre open

Women in Leadership Conference at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, one of the business events brought to the city by Convention Edinburgh. Picture: Malcolm Cochrane

New Edinburgh partnership will showcase power of business events to capital

Members of the Up Helly Aa 'Jarl Squad' parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland Islands in January. The event is widely used to promote Shetland as a tourist destination. Meanwhile, budgets to manage visitors on the ground have been cut. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Scottish islands call for 'fairness' as tourism budgets cut amid visitor boom

Exclusive 'Existential threat' warning over future of Scotland's events and festivals

Visit Scotland to close every tourist information centre around the country

Research by VisitScotland has uncovered the nation's favourite Scots song with 9 in 10 of respondents (86%) saying they have fond memories of learning Scots songs at school. PIC: TSPL.

What are the top 10 favourite Scots songs?

Island music festival reveals £3.6m spin-off for economy after record audience

Storm Babet caused significant damage to the beach promenade in Montrose (pic: Angus Council)

St Andrews Harbour closes after Storm Babet causes slipway to wash away

The campaign is aimed at those using DFDS services between Amsterdam and Newcastle (pic: Owen Humphreys/PA)

VisitScotland unveils campaign to boost Scottish tourism with ferry operator

Haunted areas of Scotland are a plenty. Cr. Getty Images

Here are the most hidden haunted locations in Scotland

Glorious Glen Affric is a great place to go forest bathing in Scotland this autumn.

How to embrace quiet living in Scotland this autumn - and where to go

Pumpkin patches are now boasting produce for Halloween

How autumn produce can help you embrace the quiet life trend

National Geographic crowns Scottish Highlands in Best of the World ‘23

SeaFest Peterhead is a new seafood festival taking place in the north-east of Scotland this month

Local food on the menu for tourists as new research shows its draw
New research from VisitScotland shows that trying local food and drink is one of the top activities for people enjoying a summer holiday in Scotland this year

Car parks and beauty spots along the A838 are busy as tourists take to the North Coast 500 route in Ullapool, Scotland (Photo by Paul Campbell/Getty Images)

Review of 'right to roam' policy needed to combat 'over-tourism'

Louise Duncan plays her shot from the 17th tee during the second round of the Freed Group Women's Scottish Open presented by Trust Golf at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire. Octavio Passos/Getty Images.

Outdriving Lydia Ko no longer Duncan's Scottish Women's Open highlight

Louise Duncan made her pro debut in last year's Freed Group Women's Scottish Open and is back in action at Dundonald Links this week. Picture: Tristan Jones/LET

Duncan and MacRae secure Women's Scottish Open spots at Dundonald Links

A scenic landscape at Loch Ness. Picture: Getty Images

Boom in French tourists as numbers flock to castles, lochs and Outlander sites

VisitScotland’s Malcolm Roughead

Summer travel: VisitScotland’s Malcolm Roughead on driving growth in tourism

VisitScotland has revealed Year of Stories 2022 highlights in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen.

Themed year proves to be a real success story

A couple survey Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire. Picture: VisitScotland

Surge in North America visitors to Scotland recorded

A festival celebrating the film's 40 anniversary has been cancelled (Moviestore/Shutterstock)

Local Hero festival in Aberdeenshire cancelled

Views along the Kirkpatrick C2C route which opens for public use this summer (pic: Andy McCandlish)

New cycle path stretching 250 miles across Scotland launches in July

Down on the Farm provides a unique accommodation experience for anyone looking for the perfect getaway

The quirky Scottish holiday lets seeing a bookings boom despite the downturn

Gail Porter was this year's Grand Marshal at the Tartan Day Parade in New York City (Picture: Ian West/PA)

Tartan Week shouldn’t be a nationalist affair – UK Government needs to do more

Footpath improvements have recently been made near the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

We must work together to preserve Scotland's beautiful countryside

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will create history with 13 championships in one 'mega event' in Scotland in August.

Scottish Government to spend nearly £36m on cycling 'mega event'

Peterhead Prison Museum's popular Prison Break returns this year.

Aberdeenshire tourism chief looks forward to season ahead

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries