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

the Scottish home of the British Royal Family since Queen Victoria's time, with major Scottish works of art, and surrounded by extensive gardens

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

Enjoy a new, interactive visitor experience in the castle, including a Victorian arcade and extensive gardens and woodland

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

with guided tours and an introductory film in six languages and offering an outdoor picnic tables for visitors

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

one of Scotland's earliest visitor attractions. Curiosity has attracted travellers to Gretna Green since the middle of the 19th Century

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

retaining much of its 18th Century character with many personal relics belonging to Burns including manuscripts and entertaining letters

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

adopting a scientific approach to the Nessie story allowing the visitor to make up their own mind with many exhibits used in past monster hunts

aimed firmly at the kids, a mini Nessie theme park, including an outside children's play area

with up to the minute information about the weather forecasts and specific advice on climbing Ben Nevis and guides for local walks

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

an architectural jewel with an extraordinary collection of Chippendale furniture and numerous objets d'art, stunning gardens and children's adventure playground

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

the largest inhabited castle in Scotland with a fine collection of artefacts and recently restored tapestries. The Victorian gardens boast outstanding herbaceous borders. The modern tapestry garden and fruit cage add a contemporary slant to the garden

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 -

home of Sir Walter Scott, famous Victorian novelist, with a large library of rare volumes, weapons and armour with lovely grounds down to the Tweed

A unique collection covering shipbuilding, fast sailing ships, fishing and port history, with displays on the North Sea oil and gas industry

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

watch the production line at work from a wide variety of scented items. There is also a soap making and candle making shop where visitors can experiment with their own creations

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

covering over 2,500 hectares with Balmacara Square and Plockton the two main villages with excellent walks and cycle trails

18th century town house, bought in 1901 by E A Hornel, the renowned artist. He added an art gallery and a studio overlooking the fascinating garden with Japanese influences

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

the epitome of the medieval stronghold with a wide moat, twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements. Learn all about its turbulent history as a castle caught up in border conflicts

open, coastal landscape and wide skies are full of the sights and sounds of nature – and very little else. Bring your own picnics

guided walks to see and feed Britain's only herd of reindeer. The deer are very tame and will feed out of your hand

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

Mentioned in Shakespeare's Macbeth, although he couldn't have lived here. Sumptuous 18th and 19th Century interiors and many objets d'art and extensive gardens

Powerfully emotive and atmospheric battlefield where the 1745 Jacobite Rising came to a tragic end, illustrated in the 360 degree immersion theatre

a remarkably compete medieval ruin with remains of fine plaster and paintwork. Burial place of Sir Walter Scott and Field-Marshal Earl Haig

displaying a superb collection os Scottish and European art with works by Raeburn and Gainsborough with extensive grounds with a hidden ice house

the principle rooms include a superb drawing room, a great library, the Duke's study, bedrooms and kitchens, surrounded by extensive gardens

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

a leading adventure-sports training centre with courses in walking, rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking etc

22 lifts and 36 runs set in stunning countryside. Chairlift open in July and August for walkers and mountain bikers

boasting an impressive range of transport exhibits, from travelling chariots of the 1800’s to some of the fastest cars ever made

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

awesome, eerie ruin, known as “the guardhouse of the bloodiest valley in Britain” with a family quiz and stunning walks down to the river

historical buildings mainly reflecting the social and rural way of life of the Scottish Highlands from the 1700s up to the mid 1900s

a very child-friendly museum focusing on local history, covering geology, the Picts, the building of the cathedral and golf course

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

walk through the process via the viewing gallery and observation windows and visit the specially built brewery to see how the premium ales are brewed

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

set in a lovely location northwest of Craigelleachie in a state of the art modern building and boasting sherry casked, malt whisky

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

the remaining broken shell is pure Gothic with famous stonework - look out for the pig gargoyle playing the bagpipes. Robert The Bruce's heart buried here

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

breathtaking scenery and beautiful wildlife for all its visitors. There are a variety of different wildlife habitats and nature trails

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

relive the compelling and dramatic story of one of the British Army’s most famous regiments

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

'Explorer Maps' available detailing more the 50 miles of footpaths and cycling trails through the ancient forest of Scots pine. Purchase fly fishing permits here

dating back to 1107, and visited by 27 Scottish Kings and Queens Traquair with a magnificent maze and many children's facilities

gives an interesting insight into Highland life with audio-visual displays, photos, local archives. You can also trace your Scottish ancestry

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

in depth tour with a tasting session and the opportunity to hand fill and purchase your own, personalised bottle of single cask, strength selection

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

Scotland's highest and fastest mountain railway with spectacular views with guided walks and guided mountain bike descents

with 19 runs and 23 miles of piste, this is Scotland's biggest ski area

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

dedicated to the great days of steam the West Highland Line with the famous 21 arch Glenfinnan Viaduct close by, used in the Harry Potter films

a 4.5 mile walk round will encounter, fulmars, guillemots, numerous puffins and great skuas

offering a well informed tour where you can see the malting of the barley and the peat kiln where it is dried. 18 year old whisky is highly rated

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

described as the greatest railway journey in the world, this 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes

a Stone Age tomb built from enormous sandstone blocks and although nothing is known about who this was built for; it was a project of great significance

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

used as a strategic point in both World Wars with fascinating exhibits including letters home from naval seamen

predating Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza, Northern Europe's best preserved prehistoric village, with an excellent reconstruction to give the site more meaning

built in the early 12th Century, dedicated to the canonised son of King Magnus of Norway who is entombed in a pillar

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

this trail links a series of footpaths along the quieter southern side of Loch Ness and can be done on foot, bike or horseback

containing fully furnished household rooms portraying past life and times. with a good range of household items and furnishings

Scotland’s first science and discovery centre with over 50 hands on interactive exhibits and live science shows, inspiring the scientist within and entertaining the whole family

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

magnificent 16th century castle, rock garden, rose garden, audio visual, tearoom, shop, river walks

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

magnificent cliff-top castle, designed by Robert Adam, surrounded by woods, beaches, secret follies and play parks

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

a vast expanse of peat bog with a mosaic of small pools and lochans, the area is internationally important for its wildlife

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

award-winning interactive museum, where there are no barriers and visitors are invited to handle the exhibits. Rare species thrive in the heritage garden

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 abbey ruins are spread over a magnificent sloping site. The visitor centre and shop has an excellent exhibition and viewing area on its upper floor

first build in the 11th Century and restored in the 20th by an American who gifted the Castle to Historic Scotland for an annual rent of £1 and a Bottle of Talisker Single Malt

with a range of bike trails through the forests around Bonar Bridge including a black track to test expert bikers

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

set alongside the ruins of Armadale Castle, detailing the Clan Donald history and local history with extensive gardens and children's play area

Torridon has long been a magnet for hikers and climbers, a place of majestic beauty and uncompromising terrain

earn about the history of brewing. Kids will love dressing up in Victorian school uniform on the children's tour. Adults will enjoy finding out how hand-crafted beers are made