For the most popular Scottish tourist attractions you can easily find suggestions like Edinburgh or the Scottish Highlands with a quick online search, but of course there is much more on offer in this bonnie wee country of ours.
So, here are twenty-five of the most spectacular places to visit in Scotland according to our Scotsman readers.
. Unicorn Tapestries at Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most well-known castles for its intriguing history and architecture. New tapestries at the castle were crafted as part of a £2 million project which took 13 years to complete. They recapture the atmosphere of the royal court. Photo: via WikiCommons
. St Magnus Cathedral
The Cathedral was built to serve as the final resting place for the relics of Saint Magnus. Built from local yellow and red sandstone, construction commenced in 1137 making it one of Scotland’s oldest cathedrals and the most northerly one in the United Kingdom. Photo: stuartherbert on Flickr
. St Giles’ Cathedral
St Giles’ Cathedral started as a Romanesque Church in 1124 but now stands as a modern Presbyterian Church. Its 900-year-old heritage packs many fascinating stories but it recently hit headlines for acting as the site where Queen Elizabeth II’s body rested while in Scotland. Photo: vgm8383 on Flickr
. Barra
Barra is the most southerly of the inhabited islands in Scotland’s spectacular Outer Hebrides. The island is very often called “Barra-bados” or “Barra-dise” because of the tropical-looking white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. Photo: via WikiCommons
. Ben Nevis
This is the highest mountain in Scotland and the entire United Kingdom standing 4,411 feet above sea level. It used to be a huge active volcano which erupted and collapsed in on itself millions of years ago. Photo: via WikiCommons
. Glencoe
As the National Trust for Scotland puts it, “It's known equally for its awe-inspiring views and sorrowful past – it is a place of history, wildlife, adventure and myth.” It is considered Scotland’s most famous glen and is named after the River Coe which runs through it. Photo: tonyarmstrong on Flickr
. Inverness
Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands, located at the mouth of the River Ness found on the east coast of Northern Scotland. The settlement was once the capital of the Picts (ancient Celts) who were ruled by King Brude. Photo: via WikiCommons
. Isle of Arran
The Isle of Arran is described as one of the ‘most accessible’ islands in Scotland. It is situated off the breathtaking west coast of the country. The island is the largest in the Firth of Clyde and the seventh largest of all the Scottish islands. Photo: gails_pictures on Flickr
. Luskentyre Beach
Luskentyre Bay is located on the west coast of South Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Famed for its incredible beaches, in reality a substantial amount of the coastline is rocky, however the vast dunes are still well worth the visit. Photo: cosmicherb70 on Flickr
. Loch Awe
You can find Loch Awe in the heart of Argyll just a two-hour journey by car from Glasgow in Central Scotland. It measures forty-one meters in length and occupies thirty-eight and a half square kilometres making it Scotland’s longest freshwater Loch. Nearby you can find Kilchurn Castle; one of Scotland’s most photographed castles. Photo: via WikiCommons
1. Loch Awe
You can find Loch Awe in the heart of Argyll just a two-hour journey by car from Glasgow in Central Scotland. It measures forty-one meters in length and occupies thirty-eight and a half square kilometres making it Scotland’s longest freshwater Loch. Nearby you can find Kilchurn Castle; one of Scotland’s most photographed castles. Photo: via WikiCommons
2. Ben Nevis
This is the highest mountain in Scotland and the entire United Kingdom standing 4,411 feet above sea level. It used to be a huge active volcano which erupted and collapsed in on itself millions of years ago. Photo: via WikiCommons
3. Unicorn Tapestries at Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most well-known castles for its intriguing history and architecture. New tapestries at the castle were crafted as part of a £2 million project which took 13 years to complete. They recapture the atmosphere of the royal court. Photo: via WikiCommons
4. Glencoe
As the National Trust for Scotland puts it, “It's known equally for its awe-inspiring views and sorrowful past – it is a place of history, wildlife, adventure and myth.” It is considered Scotland’s most famous glen and is named after the River Coe which runs through it. Photo: tonyarmstrong on Flickr