Aberdeen  Aberdeen Surnamed the "Granite City" because of its buildings constructed largely of pink or gray granite, the historic Aberdeen presents a modern cosmopolitan image to visitors, boasting marvelous museums and galleries; a lively nightlife and the best shopping in the northeast. The city is famous for its outstanding parks, gardens, its top attraction being the Winter Gardens at the Duthie Park, home to the stunning Rose Mountain. The city's two miles of sands also ensures it a status of coastal resort. Aberfoyle Aberfoyle Situated at the base of Craigmore (1271 foot high) and on the Laggan, a head-water of the River Forth, Aberfoyle is a beautiful alpine resort. This land belonged to Rob Roy (1671-1734), the outlaw and leader of the MacGregors. Sir Walter Scott's romantic poem "The Lady of the Lake" greatly increased tourism to the area, eventually attracting Queen Victoria, who was enchanted by its beauty. It is the perfect is the gateway to the Trossachs, one of the most picturesque regions of Scotland. Aviemore Aviemore Aviemore is the nearest tourist resort to the Cairngorm Mountains offering accessibility to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Highlands, known for its skiing in winter and hiking in summer. It is the first skiing resort to be established in Scotland and is also notable for being near the freely grazing reindeer herd at Glen More, unique in the United Kingdom. The town offers a wide variety of activities including: husky racing, golf, horse riding, bird watching, fishing and water sports. | Drumnadrochit Drumnadrochit The village of Drumnadrochit is about 1 mile from Loch Ness at the entrance to Glen Urquhart. It's the nearest village to the part of the loch in which sightings of the the Loch Ness monster have been reported. Attractions include several Loch Ness Monster exhibitions, and the nearby Urquhart Castle. Informations about the geology and history of the loch can be found at the Official Loch Ness Monster Exhibition, where boat cruises on the loch can also be booked. The area is of spectacular beauty. Dundee Dundee Located on the north bank of the River Tay's estuary, Dundee is the fourth largest city in Scotland. It is known as the City of Discovery, both in honour of Dundee's history of scientific activities, and of the RRS Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic exploration vessel, which was built in Dundee and is now berthed there. Dundee it's a base for exploring the most famous Glamis Castle. Dundee also makes a good base for those who want to play at one of Scotland's most famous golf courses, Carnoustie. Dunfermline Dunfermline The ancient capital of Scotland, Dunfermline is a town with a rich historic and cultural heritage, having much to offer to its visitors. The town is intersected from north to south by the picturesque Pittencrieff Park. Much of the Town Centre is a Conservation Area and contains a large number of historic buildings. The most impressive is the Dunfermline Abbey where King Robert the Bruce is buried. The ruins of the former palace sit adjacent to this to the south. Abbots House Museum located nearby is one of the oldest properties in the town and it hosts exhibits relating to Dunfermline and its place in history. The town centre also contains a number of historic churches and the gothic style City Chambers which form an important part of the town's skyline. Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh has an almost fairy-tale setting and every step is a revelation. Its magnificent architecture shifts from the proud tenements of its medieval Old Town, to the grace and geometric precision of the Georgian New Town. Above it all stands Edinburgh Castle perched high on its volcanic rock looking down on a city where medieval lanes and elegant, sweeping terraces hold over ten centuries of history, mystery and tradition. | Fort William Fort William Located close to Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, and the beautiful Glen Nevis, Fort William is a major tourist centre for hillwalking and climbing. The town's attractions include the West Highland Museum with a large number of Jacobite relics including a secret portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and one of the old paneled rooms from the fort has been rebuilt here. Fort William was the first town in Britain to be lit by electricity generated by its own water power scheme. Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is an architectural dream: Victorian red & honey sandstone, Italianate steeples and medieval spires sit harmoniously with neo-gothic towers, the sensuous Art Nouveau of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the titanium, glass and steel of the contemporary city. Glasgow has an amazing portfolio of more than twenty museums and galleries, many of them free, including the unique Burrell Collection, stunning Mackintosh House, and contemporary Gallery of Modern Art. Heritage seekers will enjoy the Museum of Transport, Museum of Scottish Country Life at Kittochside and Clydebuilt, which tells the story of Glasgow and the River Clyde from tobacco to shipbuilding. Inverness Inverness The capital of the Highlands, Inverness is one of the oldest inhabited sites in Scotland. On Craig Phadrig are the remains of a vitrified fort, dating from the 4th century B.C. The main attraction of the town is the Balnain House. Don't miss the oldest church, Old High Church, on St Michael's Mount by the riverside, a site perhaps used for worship since Celtic times. Cawdor Castle is only 12 miles away. Another attraction is the lake of Loch Ness. Inverness is a good base for exploring the Highlands. Loch Lomond Loch Lomond Located in both the western lowlands of Central Scotland and the southern Highlands, the largest of Scotland's lochs, Loch Lomond was the center of the ancient district of Lennox. The loch contains a large number of islands, several of them quite large, including Inchmurrin, the largest island in a loch/lake, where the ruins of Lennox Castle and ecclesiastical ruins. Today, the loch is also well known for the Loch Lomond Golf Club which lies next to it, and which has hosted international events. | Perth Perth Perth was the historic capital of the Kingdom of Scotland, until the mid-15th century. Nowadays it is the administrative headquarters of Perth and Kinross council. The most popular architectural and historical attraction, Scone Palace, lies on the outskirts, and the surrounding countryside is wonderful for strolling and hiking. Perth is also the centre of the regimental Black Watch, whose museum is located inside Balhousie Castle, of medieval origins, but retaining little of its original character. Pitlochry Pitlochry Pitlochry is a Victorian town, whose success blossomed when Queen Victoria declared it one of the finest resorts in Europe. Its main tourist attraction is its setting, with the surrounding mountains attracting hillwalkers. The town has two whisky distilleries whose visitor centres are popular attractions Edradour, which is billed as the smallest distillery in Scotland, and Blair Atholl Distillery, which dates back to 1798.Pitlochry is a good base for touring the Valley of the Tummel. St Andrews St Andrews The medieval town of St. Andrews was the center of Scotland's religious life for centuries. Surnamed the "home of golf" it is known as the seat where the rules of golf in Britain and the world are codified and arbitrated. Golf was played for the first time in the 1400s, on the site of St. Andrews's Old Course. Visitors come here for the courses ranked amongst the finest in the world, as well as for the sandy beaches. It is also home to Scotland's oldest university, the University of St Andrews | Stirling Stirling Originally a Stone Age Settlement, and a former capital of the Kingdom of Scotland, Stirling was a royal burgh until 1975.
Nowadays it has become a centre for government, retail, and light industry. The city is clustered around a large castle and medieval old-town. Stirling is dominated by its impressive castle, perched on a 76m (250-ft.) basalt rock. This city is the perfect gateway for exploring distance from many attractions, including Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, and the Highlands.
Ullapool Ullapool Founded in 1788, on the lovely shores of the salt lake Loch Broom, Ullapool is a picturesque port and an excellent centre for a Scottish holiday. The town boasts a small museum, an arts centre, a swimming pool and plenty of pubs. The harbour is still the centre of the town, used as a fishing port, yachting haven and ferry port. Ullapool has a strong reputation for as a centre of music and performance. The Ullapool Guitar Festival takes place every year in October and attracts talented performers. Wick Wick Located on the eastern coastline of Caithness, the old port of Wick is a popular stop for those heading north to explore what's often called the John o'Groats Peninsula. The main attraction is the Old Castle Wick, also known as the Old Man of Wick, dating back to the 13th century. You can also visit two other castles in the area: Castle Girnigoe and Castle Sinclair. Wick also includes Pulteneytown with the Old Pulteney whisky distillery. The Wick Heritage Museum houses some interesting artifacts.
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