My Top 10 Places to see in Scotland

Before you get absorbed in this page, I would
like to direct you to a really good site for all
sorts of information about Scotland. It is
Rampant Scotland. Please use it as the guy who
maintains it is very knowledgeable and does it
largely unpaid!
Another invaluable site is Undiscovered Scotland.

1 The West Coast and the Western Isles have to be
my # 1 choice. The "Highlands & Islands" are what
have made Scotland famous for her scenery. I never
tire of seeing this area. Fortunately, to get to the
islands you will go through some of the highlands. So
many beautiful spots I will just say, "Go where your
time frame will allow. Get off the beaten track a bit.
There is something around every bend in the road."
The Islands are accessible by the many ferries...and
you can access Skye by the Skye Bridge from
Lochalsh.

2 The Borders would probably not be as high on other
people's lists, but I am going to give them # 2 status,
partly because they get overlooked. Certainly, if you
are a 'castles, abbeys and gardens' buff, this is the area
you just have to spend some time in. It has the added
advantage of being surrounded by other interesting
areas and places of interest. Edinburgh is on the Borders
doorstep. Even Newcastle, Hadrians Wall,
Berwick-upon-Tweed and Northumbria National Park,
though in England, are next door and almost as Scottish
in some ways as Scotland. (I might get into trouble with
that one!) This is a land of mountains, castles, abbeys,
beaches and pretty market towns that overflow with
history... and it's all so accessible!
3 Stirling for me is a great day out for all the family.
The famous castle is the obvious starting place, but it is
just the start of many other Stirling attractions. There's
the Wallace Monument that can be seen from the castle
where Robert Bruce and William Wallace view each
other across the Stirling Bridge and  Battlefield. If you
are able, the view from the top of the monument is not
to be missed. Climbing the 235 steps sounds formidable
but you pass three floors of exhibitions en route to the
top where you can draw breath! The staircase is a bit
narrow and claustrophobic, by the way. Just thought
you should be warned :-)  I would suggest seeing the
Wallace Monument first. Then go on to the Old Town
and the castle area. Spend some time in the Old Town
as it has a lot of history and some very interesting
buildings. There is the 'Church of the Holy Rood' where,
in 1567 the infant King James VI was crowned. It is the
parish church of Stirling. Be prepared for services, etc. to
be going on and be reverential of these. Down the street
there is Stirling Old Town Jail. At this time they are
having structural problems and it is closed until June 8th.
as they work on these. On that same street you will see
other things and places of interest and antiquity. You
can check these out at their website
http://www.stirling.co.uk/oldtown/index.htm
4 Edinburgh is almost too obvious to include. I do so.
however, as there is so much to see there and so much
within very easy travelling distance of the city. I will
leave the city to your own research as that is really not
a problem. Within easy reach I would include The Falkirk
Wheel, Linlithgow and its Palace, Roslyn Chapel, the Port
of Leith where the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored,
Kinross and Loch Levan, the Royal Burgh of Falkland and
Falkland Palace and the Forth Rail Bridge.
5 Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park now
unites two areas of some fame in one area that is 'greater
than the sum of its parts'. I have covered these areas on my
Scotland Information page so I will not say much here except
that it is another area where you can just drive around and
experience beauty at every turn.
http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/
6  Burn's Country, Ayr and the south side of the Clyde
Coast is well worth investigating. The drive from Glasgow
down the coast road to Ayr will take you about 2-3 hours
with stops. Ayr is a good base-camp for a night or two to see
the area. (I have a really good contact for B&B
accommodation there. Chalmers Ayr B&B.) From there you
can visit Culzean Castle Country Park, Alloway and Burn's
Cottage, Loch Doon castle, Dean Castle and Crossraguel
Abbey, to name just a few. (When I think of Ayrshire I
always think of the Ayrshire cream pastries you can get in
the many tearooms. You gotta try them!)

7  The Whisky Trail, The Grampians and The
Cairngorms  is my next choice. When you get there and
see the mountains, you will know why they need the whisky,
especially on cold winter nights!  It's rugged country and
quite spectacular driving  the little highland roads. The
distilleries are, of course, a big attraction to the area. Do
visit at least a couple of them, but go easy on the sampling
if you're driving. As an aside...do visit the Scottish Whisky
Experience in Edinburgh if you get a chance.  Also the
Speyside Cooperage. It is in the village of Craigellachie near
Aberlour and Dufftown. If you are a Scotch drinker these
names will be familiar. Glenlivet, Glen Morangie, Glenfiddich,
Glenfarclas, Cragganmore...all these and more are in quite a
small area around Dufftown and Grantown-on-Spey. The area
is not out of the way as the main roads to Inverness, Perth and
Aberdeen go through here. The village/town of Aviemore is
the centre for the Cairngorms area. It has suffered a bit from
the advent of mass tourism. Take it as you find it. You may
enjoy it more than I did. It hit a boom from the opening of the
Ski Centre in 1966. The first ski run was opened in 1961. The
Ski Centre is about 8 miles south of the village which now has
outlet centres, timeshares, etc. and is quite spoiled and
exploited.  The area, however, has much to offer with scenery
to die for. Here, nature comes out the winner...by miles!
8  St. Andrews, the Home of Golf is much more than that. The
whole of the Kingdom of Fife peninsula is worth a trip, even if
you don't play golf. From the M90 east is an area that, though
not very big, is a world of its own. The latest addition to its list
of unique attractions is 'The Secret Bunker' inland from the
very pretty fishing village of Crail. But I must tell you about
St. Andrews. I have to say that I am indebted to the game of
golf for making St. Andrews famous. It's a beautiful town with
such a wealth of history and in a beautiful area that includes
beaches, botanic gardens and much more. The University is the
oldest in Scotland and third oldest in Britain. You can see the
students walking around in their red gowns all over town. Stop
one and ask about the gowns and how they are worn. They will
willingly tell you their 'secret' and probably a lot more as they
are very proud of their heritage. See the castle and the abbey.
Wander the streets and see where George Wishart was burned
at the stake near the castle, and Patrick Hamilton in front of
St. Salvator's Chapel. It is said that he took 6 hours to die! The
initials of these martyrs are set into the cobblestones at the
places where their executions took place. It is said that, if a
student stands on the initials of Patrick Hamilton, failure of
exams will result. (I guess they are less worn than George
Wishart's!) Above the gateway into St. Salvator's there is an
image on a stone in the wall of a face.

 It is said that this appeared when he died at the stake and
uttered his last words, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit." John
Knox preached here with more success...at least he lived to
tell the tale.
Then there's the golf. The Old Course is only one of seven.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club is the governing body of
golf. I must apologise for not being a golfer and a bit lacking
in this direction. Anyway...you golfers are more than familiar
with St. Andrews place of honour within the world of golf.
All I can really say is that, if you are a golfer, you need to
make the pilgrimage to the Mecca of golf. What I saw was
enough to convince me that I was missing something!
9 The Inner and Outer Hebrides (Western Isles) I have to
treat these as a separate entity even though I included them in
my #1. I would also include the Orkney and Shetland islands.
I confess that I have only visited Skye, Aran and Bute so far. I
intend to put that right very soon. As I have covered some of
these in my Scotland Information page or don't have first-hand
knowledge of them, I will leave you to research them yourself.
10  The Scots Themselves are my final recommendation.
Please take time to meet the people. Strike up a conversation in
a country pub and just sit back and listen. Stop someone who
looks like he might be a local character and ask him about his
village. Use the visitor attraction information places, not to
browse the brochures but to talk to the lady behind the counter.
Ask her for local knowledge and not visitor information...there
is a difference. Most of these people take the job because they
are passionate about their town or attraction and they love to
talk to visitors. I struck up a conversation with a young man at
a visitor attraction on my last trip. He was a mine of information
and just a delight to talk to as his passion for his area was
obvious. One last thing...and I think I've said it before. Get off
the beaten (tourist) track if at all possible. You won't regret it!
P.P.S. If you are near the area just north of Lochalsh, near the
Skye Bridge, visit the little village of Plockton made famous by
the writer, Gavin Maxwell of "Ring of Bright Water" fame. You
might even visit the Ring of Bright Water Centre.

I have immensely enjoyed writing this page. It has brought back
many memories and encourages me to see more of this beautiful
land. You can read about it, see it on TV or research it on the net
but you have to experience it first hand. If you have been putting
it off for too long, I beg you to put your pennies away and start
planning you trip for a time not too far into the future. As they
say at Nike, "Just do it!"