Central Scotland Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities Guide

one of Scotland's best known landmarks, a mighty fortress dominating the Edinburgh skyline, with 3 military museums and Scotland's own Crown Jewels

interact with medieval warriors, archers and knights on either side of the conflict as they reveal how they became involved in this decisive battle

childhood home of the Queen Mother and legendary setting for Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' with sumptuous furnishings and extensive grounds

cleverly combining 19th Century and 20th Century buildings to deliver light and airy galleries depicting Scottish history from geological beginnings to the 1990s

huge working spinning mule, producing woollen yarn, a historic schoolhouse, a millworker's house and 1920s style village store

visited by some of Scotland's most well known historic figures, such as Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Today it is used by The Queen when carrying out official engagements in Scotland

the favourite royal residence of Her Majesty the Queen. Visit the state rooms, the engine room and even the laundry

site of the coronation of the Scottish kings, boasting magnificent collections of objets d'art, woodland walks and a unique Murray Star maze

come face to face with the people who shaped Scotland’s past, present and future

set in a commanding position, the residence of the Stuart monarchs and luxuriously, recently refurbished. Don't miss the Stirling Heads Gallery with beautiful sculptures

one of the finest industrial museums in Europe, exploring the history of the jute industry, with interactive and computer generated displays

a major tourist development with various family friendly visitor attractions, outdoor activities and boat trips

a superb array of sea life, now offering divers the chance to swim with Sand Tiger Sharks measuring a cool 12' in length

follow in the footsteps of Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton aboard the Royal Research Ship Discovery at the multi-award winning Discovery Point

one of the world's leading conservation zoos, helping to save many endangered species. Main attractions include Giant Pandas and the penguin parade

a typical example of a 17th Century tenement building with rare hand painted interiors and the only surviving arched shop frontage

visually stunning castle with fairy tale turrets with an impressive armoury hall and has been used in the TV series 'Downton Abbey'

a fascinating interpretative centre giving context for the ancient monuments in the surrounding area, with artefacts recovered from various sites

small, but densely decorated, a read through the guide book first is advised.Famously, the denouement for Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code"

One of the few distilleries that distils, matures and bottles all its whisky site - one of Scotland's finest malts -

in a spectacular setting, shielded to the north by mature woodlands and protected from the Atlantic winds by the elevated castle, this garden is full of magnificent species, including hybrid rhododendrons and rare and unusual shrubs and plants

carved by ice sheets by a long extinct volcano, a distinctive feature of Edinburgh's skyline. The view from the summit is well worth the walk

an infectiously fun place, producing a mind boggling range of whiskies with always something new on the go. Gin is also produced here

in a wonderful location with great views across to Jura with a more lightly peated malt than other distilleries

set against a magnificent forest backdrop and although extensively restored retains an authentic atmosphere with an attractive, well stocked walled garden

magnificent medieval cathedral, unusually undamaged during the Reformation, with stunning modern stained glass windows

a place of history, wildlife, adventure and myth. Site of the famous Clan MacDonald Massacre in 1692 and used extensively in film and TV productions

5 nostalgia fuelled rooms, everything you ever had, everything you ever wanted and everything the kid next door had

with interactive displays and videos on whale and dolphin biology and ecology - a great place for kids to learn about sea mammals

an entertaining interactive attraction, where visitors can sit in on a 19th Century trial, try out a cell and discover the harsh tortures that were meted out to prisoners

Famous peaty whisky with specialised tours which include seeing the water source, a picnic and trying plenty of drams

take a leisurely loch trip with stunning views on the world-famous Steamship Sir Walter Scott or the more modern MV Lady of the Lake

with an outdoor enclosure housing short-clawed otters and a host of sea-life including sharks, stingrays and turtles and children's animal encounters

the interiors, completed in 1981, have been furnished with the Mackintoshes' own furniture - all to Mackintosh's design - and decorated as closely as possible to the original

a magnificent 19th century stately home, first to have a telephone, underfloor heating and an indoor, heated pool

telling the history of the island with exhibits on crofting and on the 'Tobermory Galleon', a ship from the Spanish Armada that sunk in 1588

described as 'the noisiest museum in the world', a favourite with adults and children alike, crammed full of objects telling of childhood, past and present

offering a fascinating insight into 18th Century mining, complete with recreated miners' cottages and a tour of a real mine

founded in 1794 and still producing, with a small, interesting exhibition in the foyer with regular and specialist guided tours

impressive modern museum, with a fascinating collection of cars, buses, trams and bikes and an atmospheric recreation fo a Glasgow shopping street from the early 20th Century

one of the most respected botanic gardens in the world, with stunning displays, splendid 19th century glass houses and a striking, environmentally friendly modern visitor centre

home of The Diageo Claive Vidiz Whisky collection of 3,384 different bottles of whisky and offering a range of whisky tasting experiences

promoting the unique football heritage of Scotland, with a national football collection, educating and inspiring future generations

extraordinary mechanical theatre of large wondrous figures sculpted from bits of scrap, with fascinating stories, one moment inspirational and the next macabre

housed in a grand Ionic temple, providing a fascinating look at surgery from the 15th Century to the present day

with stunning views across the Falkirk countryside, as the wheel reaches its top point during the 360 degrees trip around the world's only rotating boat lift

designed by Andy Scott, a stunning pair of equine statues gracing the entrance to the Forth & Clyde Canal. Tours go inside the structures

a great place to watch wildlife, great cycle routes and interactive play options for children. Walks vary from 20 mins to 4 mile circuit

with a wide range of hire bikes to explore the natural beauty and excellent cycling routes of the Trossachs

smart Visitor Centre with displays about the Declaration of Arbroath, 1320, when Scotland's nobles swore their independence from England

a brand new distillery with smart Visitor Centre with a range of different tasting tours

stronghold of the MacDougalls, built before 1240 on a huge rock above the Firth of Lorn, then captured by Robert the Bruce in 1308. Children's quiz available

ultramodern science museum, bringing science and technology alive through hundreds of interactive exhibits on four floors

heavily reconstructed, but with a spectacular Romanesque nave and beautiful cloister. A new museum displays fabulous carved crosses and gives much background information

the creation of philanthropic John Stuart McCaig in 1890 to provide work for unemployed stonemasons with splendid views from the top

an outstanding example of a traditional truck frame cottage, little altered with original box beds, artefacts and contemporary clothing

exhibits from pre-history to the present, however the most popular being the collar and bowl that once belonged to Greyfriars Bobby, the city's most famous dog

the Living Building is designed to attract local wildlife where the visitor might see hedgehogs, pine martens or owls. There is excellent recorded footage if no beasties in site

beautifully restored, showing how Edinburgh's elite lived at the end of the 18th Century when those who could afford to, escaped the squalid conditions of the Old Town

take a relaxing stroll among the spectacular rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias, where vibrant colours and delicate fragrances tantalise the senses

North facing and steep, this is a challenge to garden. However, in Spring the magnificent daffodils are a definite draw. There is also a rose and herbaceous garden with wonderful views across the Tay Valley

set in a beautiful location, half in use and half in ruins with a small museum in the Chapter House

one of the top five collections in Scotland, with over a million items ranging from meteorites and mummies to Mackintosh

the childhood home of the creator of Peter Pan, with memorabilia of his creative life. The outside wash house was the inspiration for the Wendy House

the collection covers all ages from the Mesolithic (c.8000BC) to the 1950s, with particularly good artefacts from the Victorian and Edwardian era

dating back to the 18th Century, this charming mill has been used in the TV series 'Outlander'. Keep an eye out for otters, kingfishers and herons

spectacular hexagonal rock columns, visited by artists and royalty, with astonishing acoustics in Fingal's Cave which inspired Mendelssohn

this spooky, subterranean labyrinth gives a fascinating insight into the everyday life of 17th Century Edinburgh

displaying collection of paintings, sculptures and architectural drawings from 1831 to the present and hosting temporary exhibitions throughout the year

has been guiding ships safely through the waters off Scotland’s west coast since 1849 with an excellent and informative, hands on exhibits

with over 80 hands-on interactive exhibits. Whether you are a child or just a child at heart, 'Sensation' has something for everyone.

premier research library, hosting a major exhibition each summer with a year round events programme, workshops and educational activities

bringing Mull's heritage and natural history to life with tableaux and short film shows. There is also a children's outdoor play area

crawl through tunnels, hunt for fossils, explore secret works. A fun day out for all the family

dating back to the 12th Century and now the museum home of The Black Watch, detailing the regiments history

displaying the industrial heritage of the area and illustrate how iron was made with adult and children's quizzes available

majestically set at the mouth of the River Tay, housing a fascinating display on the life and times of Broughty Ferry, its people, the environment and the wildlife that live close by

with six exhibition galleries, Scotland's emporium of the visual arts. It is both home to the city's collection of Scottish Art, and one of the UK's leading temporary exhibition spaces

Set within traditional 18th century heather-thatched cottages, with an eclectic array of objects celebrating local heritage

walled garden with a delightful collection of old fashioned roses and fine herbaceous borders and the National Bonsai Collection for Scotland

showcasing a stunning collection of paintings of post impressionist Scottish artists. Also the starting point following a trail of sculptures by Antony Gormley along the Water of Leith

a monument to lavatorial luxury with green and black marbled stone ware, glistening white enamel, glass-sided cisterns and gleaming copper pipes

displaying some of the greatest art in the world with Botticelli, Vermeer and Constable represented, as well as the Scottish major names, including Raeburn, Ramsey and Wilkie