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.
Majestic castles, UNESCO heritage sites, and tropical-style beaches are only some of the sights that make Scotland such an unforgettable place to visit. This list includes attractions that are free to visit, some famous and others considered to be ‘hidden gems’.
So, here are twenty-five of the most spectacular places to visit in Scotland according to our Scotsman readers.
21. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Loch Lomond is the largest expanse of freshwater in the United Kingdom with a surface area of 27.5 square miles. The Trossachs National Park is the fourth largest, with a total area of 720 square miles. Photo: Robert Brown on Flickr
22. Calanais Standing Stones
The Calanais Standing Stones overlook the stunning Loch Roag above the village of Calanais on the Isle of Lewis (Outer Hebrides). Historic Environment Scotland reports that the stones “were erected between 2900 and 2600 BC – before the main circle at Stonehenge in England.” Photo: via Wallpaper Flare
23. Chanonry Point
Chanonry Point is nestled in at the end of Chanonry Ness; land which reaches out into the Moray Firth between Rosemarkie and Fortrose on the Black Isle. It has been called “one of the best spots in the UK” to view Bottlenose Dolphins. Photo: caroline legg on Flickr
24. Smoo Cave
This is a natural sea cave situated one mile away from Durness village which sits in Sutherland in the north-western Scottish Highlands. According to Smoo Cave Tours the location “is fully accessible 365 days a year public access with a walkway into the waterfall chamber, free of charge.” Photo: karismafilms on Flickr