With a lush landscape that is nothing short of spectacular, ancient fortresses sitting sentry upon craggy hills, wild coastlines, placid blue lochs, cultural cities, picturesque towns, and cozy pubs, Scotland has something for everyone. There are so many must-see Scotland tourist attractions that you’ll be spoiled for choice on what to see on a one-week or two-week vacation.

From the famous highlands to legends of the Holy Grail and King Arthur, the history of Mary Queen of Scotts and “Braveheart,” and the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster, Scotland is intriguing, gorgeous, and exciting to discover.

Scotland Folk Tours

Nearly all of the sites below we visited with Scotland Folk Tours, a terrific boutique tour group that delivers far more than just taking you to see famous places.

Click here to read Tour of Scotland: Beyond the Tartan.

Meet “Lady” Patricia Morrow!

Technically, since I own a small parcel of land in southwest Scotland, I am entitled to be called Lady Patricia Morrow (see attached title certificate). How fun is that?

I hadn’t visited Scotland since a brief two-day visit to Inverness in 1993, so naturally, I was eager to explore more of these lovely must-see Scotland attractions.

INVERNESS

Culloden Battlefield

Culloden Moor was the scene of the turbulent battle of Culloden, which took place on April 16, 1746. It was one of the bloodiest battles in the history of Scotland, said to have been completed in just 40 minutes with a defeat of 1250 Jacobites and 376 soldiers taken as prisoners.

Today, you can explore the moors and take in its picturesque surroundings. Be sure to venture out into the (muddy) bogs to see gravestones set up for every clan – particularly the Fraser clan, now roped off due to the popularity of Jaime Fraser (he did not die in battle) of Outlander fame.

There’s also a well-done visitor center with a rooftop terrace overlooking the battlefield. Here, you can visit its onsite gallery displaying artifacts from the Jacobite rising found in Culloden Moor, including coins, weapons, and clothes. You can also watch a 6-minute film of the battle at its 360° immersion surround cinema, making you feel the fear as if you are a participant in this part of Scotland’s bleak history.

Clava Cairns

Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of the TV series Outlander, which is why this was my favorite must-see Scotland attraction! While the actual standing stones in the series were made out of Styrofoam, magical Clava Cairns was used as the inspiration.

Six miles from Inverness, the mysterious site is an ancient burial ground dating back 4000 years to the Bronze Age and has a collection of passage graves, cairns, and enigmatic standing stones believed to have been for astronomical purposes with arrangements appearing to have been aligned to the midwinter sun.

Loch Ness

One of the most well-known locations in Scotland, Loch Ness is an iconic freshwater loch that’s rumored to be the home of a mythical creature called Nessie. Shrouded in mystery and legend, sightings of Nessie date back to the 5th century, and many believe she is lurking somewhere in the deep, dark waters.

Loch Ness is just a 30-minute drive by bus or car from Inverness. Hikers can explore 28 miles of tails on the South Loch Ness Trail; you can also take boat cruises on the lake to try and spot Nessie.

Urquhart Castle

Medieval Urquhart Castle is one of Scotland’s most fascinating castles. Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, the picturesque fortress ruins enjoy the most scenic spot on the bank of Loch Ness. For 1000 years, the castle changed hands between the Scots and the British and was the center of many battles.

You can climb the spiral stairway that leads to the top of Grant Tower to enjoy expansive views of the freshwater loch and glen beyond. The castle also has a stone drawbridge and a dungeon.

Inverness Old Town

Located on the banks of the River Ness, Old Town city center features ancient castles and cathedrals, museums, and an indoor Victorian-era marketplace selling food, clothing, and crafts. The contemporary Inverness Museum & Art Gallery traces local and Highland history.

Inverness is also the perfect base to explore the outstanding Scottish Highlands.

Click here to read Best Things to Do in Inverness.

HIGHLANDS

Eilean Donan Castle

The utterly stunning, fully restored 13^th-century castle sits on a small tidal island at the confluence of three lochs: Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh.

Eileen Donan Castle is one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks, for good reason – it’s the most picturesque castle in Scotland with a dramatic backdrop of the Cuillin Mountains. Looking straight out of Scottish myths, many movies have been filmed here, including Rob Roy, The Highlander, and James Bond – The World Is Not Enough.

Glenfinnan Viaduct

You might recognize this remarkable landmark from its appearances in Harry Potter movies. Guests can board a Jacobite steam engine train to traverse the viaduct and a stretch of the highlands yielding some of the most scenic vistas found anywhere in Scotland.

Aberdeen

The port city of Aberdeen is located on the shores of the North Sea and is the third most populous city in Scotland. Boasting a beautiful coastline teeming with dolphins frolicking and picturesque fishing harbors, the city offers a mixture of outdoor and indoor attractions, museums, and historical attractions.

Fort William

Fort William resort town is a popular base to explore much of the windswept moors, mountains, and valleys of the highlands. It’s the gateway to Ben Nevis – the highest peak in the UK, and a bucket-list spot for avid hikers.

Named after fortifications built in the 17th century, the cobblestone streets of the town are dotted with cafes, pubs, historic hotels, and restaurants. Inverlochy Castle Hotel is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Fort William and is considered one of the best castle hotels in Scotland.

It’s also a great place to get up close and personal with the famous “hairy coos” (hairy cows)!

Glencoe Valley

Recreating the Outlander poster

Glencoe Valley is so spectacular and romantic that it was used as the backdrop for the poster of the immensely popular Outlander TV series.

The dramatic and lush landscape boasts powerful tales of victory and defeat. The jaw-dropping magnificence belies the history of the 17th-century massacres that took place in the hills and valleys.

LOWLANDS

Stirling

Conveniently located somewhat between Glasgow and Edinburgh and called the Gateway to the Highlands, Stirling is where the undulating Scottish Lowlands meet the rugged slopes of the Highlands. This ancient old town has hosted some of Scotland’s most epic events and delivered some of the nation’s most romantic and/or courageous characters.

Stirling is bursting with a rich history. It was here in 1297 that William Wallace, in the Battle of Stirling Bridge, defeated the English, memorialized in everyone’s Scottish favorite (but historically accurate) film, Braveheart. Stirling has also been home to many famous Brits, including Mary, Queen of Scots and King James V.

Click here to read Stirling Day Trip Itinerary.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is renowned for its fascinating history, rich culture, lively festivals, and architectural splendor. Spread across seven hills, the city has a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde persona with two very different faces. First, you have the medieval Old Town with its narrow, cobbled alleys and towering, fascinatingly grungy Gothic structures, witch hunts, myths, and legends. Then you have the impressive Georgian New Town (which is not really “new”) with its lovely green spaces, wide boulevards, and high-end shopping and restaurants. There are so many things to do in Edinburgh for couples!

There’s a lot of history to soak up, including one of its most iconic landmarks, Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock and offering panoramic views of the city.

But there’s also something that will lure non-history tourists: the fascinating city and surrounding area have inspired and hosted some amazing literature and filming sites, such as Outlander, Harry Potter, The Crown, Monty Python, and more.

Click here to read Things to Do in Edinburgh for Couples.

Glasgow

Glasgow, a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland’s western Lowlands, is famous for being a major European cultural center. Scotland’s largest city, it’s a mecca for museums, art galleries, festivals, and vibrant nightlife. Pedestrian-friendly streets lead past lovely Victorian and art nouveau architecture, green spaces, and public parks.

It’s a hub for the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, and National Theatre of Scotland.

St. Andrews

Famous as the motherland of golf, St. Andrews is nothing short of a pilgrimage destination for serious golfers.

But for those of us who are not golfers, there are plenty of other fun things to do in St. Andrews, too. The charming university town sits on Scotland’s east coast, just above Edinburgh. Visitors can explore the ruins of St. Andrews Castle and the town’s old cathedral, the Wardlaw Museum, or simply wander the university grounds to gaze at the well-preserved medieval architecture.

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is a freshwater lake in southern Scotland. Nestled in the heart of Scotland’s first National Park, it is the largest of the Scottish loch, home to 22 islands, and renowned for its stunning natural beauty and diverse wildlife.

The breathtaking scenery beckons visitors to swim, explore via kayak, or take a scenic cruise.

The Kelpies

The Kelpies are a pair of fantastical steel horse heads installed in Falkirk, a little more than halfway between Edinburgh and Stirling. Each head is approximately 100 feet high. The area around the massive sculptures is public for visitors to get up close or go inside a Kelpie on a tour for a look at their engineering and ingenuity. They are located next to a network of canals with the Falkirk Wheel connecting them via a rotating boat lift system.

In Scottish folklore, a kelpie is a dangerous shape-shifting water creature that can appear on land as a white or gray horse. The kelpies entice humans to climb on their backs for a ride, only to carry them down to a watery grave.

Doune Castle

Doune Castle is home to the MacKenzie clan. Recent research has revealed the castle was probably built during the 13th century but was subsequently damaged during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Restoration works were carried out in the 1880s, before its passing into state care in the 20th century. It is now maintained by Historic Environment Scotland.

The castle may look familiar to you… it was used in the filming of Outlander (Castle Leoch), Game of Thrones (Winterfell), and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

ISLE OF SKY

Portree

Located within the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, the bustling fishing village of Portree is the capital of the Isle of Skye. It’s considered to be among the “20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland” according to Condé Nast Traveler as well as one of the most colorful villages in the world.

Sheltered by a lovely harbor and fringed by the cliffs of Ben Tianavaig to the south, Suidh Fhinn or Fingal’s Seat to the west, and Ben Chrachaig to the north, Portree is a cultural hub for the island, one of its main attractions. It’s a popular base for exploring the rest of the island because it has restaurants, gift shops, banks, churches, cafes, a cinema, a library gas stations, and supermarkets

Quiraing

The landscape of the Quiraing is one of the most surreal landscapes in the world!  It is superb and otherworldly at once, and the first sight of it will leave you with your mouth gaping open.

Created by a series of landslides some of the geological formations are still moving. Landscapes have nicknames such as The Needle (a 121-foot pinnacle), The Prison (a pyramid-shaped peak that resembles a medieval keep), and The Table (a flat grassy area).

Fairy Pools

The Fairy Pools was another of my favorite must-see Scotland places. Snaking down the northern slopes of the magnificent Black Cuillin range, Skye’s famous Fairy Pools are beautiful crystal-clear rock pools of icy, translucent mountain springs fed by a series of waterfalls.

It’s a 1.5-mile hilly walk from the car park to the Fairy Pools via a gravel path bordered with flowering heather, peat, and rocks.

Now a spectacular and tranquil Highlands vista, it wasn’t always so. In 1601 the area was the scene of the last of Scotland’s clan battles and one of the bloodiest ever recorded in clan history.

Old Man of Storr

About six miles from the main village of Portree, the Old Man of Storr is one of the island’s most iconic and most photographed landmarks. The Old Man of Storr is a large, ancient rocky pinnacle that is said to resemble an old man and can be seen for miles around.

Formed by a massive ancient landside, legend has it that the towering rocks are the partially uncovered remains of a giant who lived on the ridge long ago.

Click here to read Day Trip to Skye Itinerary.

What to Eat in Scotland

Known for its rich history and cultural heritage, Scotland has much to offer your taste buds when it comes to traditional and delicious meals. Surrounded by plentiful seas and interspersed with fertile lands, the vibrant food scene is sure to leave you craving more.

From traditional haggis to savory porridge and everything in between, Scottish cuisine is unique among its European counterparts.

Click here to read about the best Scottish Cuisine.

Most photos by Kary Kern.

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.

She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.

Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.

Disclosure:  The author was honored to be the guest of Scotland Folk Tours during her stay, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.