Looking for the best places to visit in Scotland? From the Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle to Loch Ness and the epic North Coast 500, Scotland is full of world-famous places to visit.
However, it is all too easy to fall into the trap of blindly following a top ten Scotland list and missing out on the really good stuff – and then taking the same photos as everyone else!
If you are looking for places to go in Scotland that are a wee bit off the beaten track, here are my best personal best places to visit in Scotland.
My top places to visit in Scotland
Searching for where to go in Scotland on your next adventure? Here’s my hand-picked list of the most beautiful places in Scotland, ideal for your Scotland bucket list.
- The East Neuk of Fife – I would argue that the East Neuk fishing villages on the eastern corner of Fife are amongst Scotland’s prettiest places to visit – and you won’t forget the seafood in a hurry.
- The lochs and glens of the Cairngorms National Park– deep in the heart of the Cairngorms, surrounded by huge Caledonian pines are beautiful lochs, my favourites are Loch an Eileen and Loch Morlich.
- Glen Affric – probably Scotland’s most beautiful glen, the 11-mile hike around Glen Affric is one of my favourite hikes in Scotland.
- Sanna Bay – looking for Scotland’s best beach? Let me introduce you to Sanna Bay on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula – one of Scotland’s hidden gems and one of the best views in Scotland.
- Lochinver and Assynt – the far north-west coast of Scotland is Assynt, one of the most remote and stunningly beautiful places in Scotland.
- The Isle of Islay – whether it’s the stunning wild landscapes or the cask strength Islay whisky, there is something about the Isle of Islay that grabs your heart and holds on. Don’t just head to Skye – go to Islay instead.
- The Moray Firth coast – with some of Scotland’s most picturesque harbour villages, waves crashing over towering sea cliffs and incredible changing light, exploring the Moray Firth coast is stunning – and make sure you try Cullen Skink from the source!
- Orkney – stone-age villages, huge seascapes, a vibrant arts culture and a genuinely warm welcome, a trip to Orkney is a dip into 5000 years of history. Love history? Orkney is one of the best places to visit Scotland.
- Torridon – if you are a hillwalker, then Torridon in Wester Ross should be top of your list of places to go in Scotland. All that marks the village of Torridon is a string of white cottages dwarfed by arguably the UK’s best mountains – there are 9 incredible Munros to climb.
- Handa Island – a breeding ground for over 200 pairs of puffins, great skuas, kittiwakes and guillemots – with stunning views of the north west Assynt mountains, Handa Island is one of the best places to go in Scotland if you like birdwatching.
Read on for more of my recommended places to visit in Scotland
Visit the East Neuk of Fife for a foodie adventure
The East Neuk (or eastern corner) of Fife stretches from Elie & Earlsferry north to Crail and was once the heart of the east coast of Scotland’s fishing trade.
The tiny harbours along the East Neuk may now be home to more pleasure boats than those landing lobsters, langoustines and crabs, but the area’s fishing history now gives it its charm.
Whether you walk the Fife Coastal Path or drive from Elie to Crail, don’t just zoom up to St Andrews or you will miss out on arguably some of Scotland’s best villages – as well as some of the best food that Scotland has to offer.
> Read more: how to visit the East Neuk
The fairy lochs of the Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms National Park is one of the best places in Scotland for a holiday. Deep in the heart of the Cairngorms in the ancient Glenmore Forest and surrounded by huge Caledonian pines are two beautiful lochs.
The most famous, Lochan Uaine, is said to have got its green hue from the local fairies washing their clothes in it and the walk up to green lochan is a great walk for families on a well-made trail.
Did you know that Scotland’s highest beach is also in the Cairngorm National Park?
The beautiful Loch Morlich is one of the best places to visit Scotland on a summer’s day for watersports and sunbathing – and is surrounded for much of the year by snow-topped peaks.
The loch is also supposedly home to Big Donald – the king of all the fairies!
> Read More: How to visit the Cairngorms
Hike from Glencoe to Glen Nevis
The walk from Glencoe to Glen Nevis might be a marathon distance and take in 5000 ft of hill climbing, but the views through Scotland’s most famous glen make for an incredible day out.
Passing the mighty Buachaille Etive Beag, follow the famous West Highland way to Kinlochleven and then to the very foot of Ben Nevis in the beautiful Glen Nevis – with views of Scotland’s highest mountain and the mighty Mamores all the way. Scotland at its best.
> Read more the best day hikes in Scotland.
The hills of the Trossachs in Perthshire
Rising above Loch Katrine and nearby Loch Achray in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are two of Scotland’s most popular hills.
Ben A’an is described by many hillwalkers as the perfect hill and is a ‘mountain in miniature’ – you only have to climb 454m (1500ft) for one of the best views in Scotland.
On the other side of the glen is Ben Venue, one of my favourite hills in Scotland. Ok, so you have to work for it a little harder for the view – Ben Venue at 729m is a bit higher than Ben A’an but it is so worth it.
> Read more the best hills in Scotland for beginners.
The wildlife paradise of Handa Island
Just off the tip of the north-west coast lies Handa, one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands and a nationally important wildlife reserve.
Owned by the Scourie Estate and managed in partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Handa is a breeding ground for over 200 pairs of puffins, great skuas, kittiwakes and guillemots – with stunning views of the Assynt mountains and one of Scotland’s best beaches.
Take the tiny ferry across to the island and spend a blissful few hours exploring. Don’t forget your binoculars!
> How to visit Handa Island.
Dunnottar Castle and the Angus Coast
Scotland’s east coast is as beautiful, wild, and as rugged as the west, but is often forgotten by visitors rushing past on the A90 heading north to Aberdeen.
Instead take the Angus Coastal Route (the A92), one of Scotland’s most scenic roads, passing along the Angus, Kincardine and Aberdeenshire coast.
On the way, you pass beautiful beaches, the spectacular Dunnottar Castle and as much fresh fish as you can eat in pretty seaside villages. It is also one of the best places to visit Scotland if you like the sun, but I can never guarantee you a blue sky!
> Read more: how to visit Angus.
The Isle of Islay
Whether it’s the stunning wild landscapes, incredibly friendly locals, or the cask strength whisky, there is something about Islay that grabs your heart and holds on.
With 8 whisky distilleries to sample (my favourite is Bunnahabhain) the Islay wave, incredible wildlife watching and walking on the beautiful Oa peninsula – the Isle of Islay offers up a truly unique Scottish island experience.
I can honestly say that I’ve never fallen in love with a place quite as quickly as I did with the Isle of Islay. If you love whisky then Islay is one of the best places to visit in Scotland.
> Read more: How to visit the Isle of Islay and my complete guide to Islay whisky.
The Isle of Harris and Lewis, The Outer Hebrides
A visit to the Outer Hebrides is an otherworldly dip into Scotland’s remote edge of the world island culture and Harris and Lewis are my favourites of the Western Islands.
Visit the Callanish Stones, the Isle of Harris Distillery and explore Harris’s incredible beaches including Seilebost and one of the best views in Scotland across to the famous Luskintyre.
If you are feeling more active, Harris’s hills include the mighty Clisham, a Corbett at 799 m (2,621 ft), and neighbouring Uisgneabhal Mor, Teileasbhal and Stuabhal, a paradise for walkers giving views across the whole Outer Hebrides.
The western Isles are one of the best places to go in Scotland if you like to get remote!
> Read more: How to have an adventure in the Outer Hebrides.
Orkney
With stone-age villages, huge seascapes, a vibrant arts culture and a genuinely warm welcome (and not just from the Orkney gin!) a trip to Orkney in north-east Scotland is a dip into 5000 years of history.
From the simply incredible Heart of Neolithic Orkney to tales of invading Vikings and World War 2 battles, spiritual awakening in gin, whisky and St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, to walks along a coast constantly being changed by time, with a history stretching back 5000 years, you won’t be short of things to do when you visit Orkney.
Big Tree Country, Perthshire
Perthshire is one of the most accessible places in Scotland and famed for its big trees which make it one of the best places to go in Scotland if you love taking photos of autumn colours.
Visit the pretty town of Dunkeld, Blair Atholl and its castle, stop for photos at the gorgeous Queen’s View over Loch Tummel and then explore the Victorian Hermitage.
On the River Tummel sits the resort town of Pitlochry and along the river is Faskally Wood – otherwise known as the enchanted forest.
Follow the woodland paths past the picturesque Loch Dunmore or walk as far as the dramatic Killecrankie – watch out for the bungee jumpers!
> Read more: how to visit Perthshire
The Moray Firth Coast
Much of the Moray Firth coastline has long been part of the North Coast 500, but the southern edge of the firth is much more untouched by tourism.
Now part of a new initiative, the North East 250, whether you want to go dolphin spotting, sailing, or walking the Coastal Trail, with picturesque harbour villages, waves crashing over towering sea cliffs, huge swathes of beach, and incredible changing light, exploring the Moray coast is about to become top of your Scotland list.
> Read more: how to visit the Moray Firth
The otherworldly mountains of Assynt
With turquoise blue seas, white-sand beaches, and tasty Lochinver pies, a visit to the far North West coast is one of the most beautiful places in Scotland.
However, just driving through Assynt on the North Coast 500 means you miss out on the best bit – the views from some of Scotland’s most dramatic mountains – including Suilven, Cul More, Quinaig and the two Munros Ben More Assynt & Conival.
Even if you don’t climb up very high (try the smaller Stac Pollaidh) you will still get an incredible view of Assynt’s hundreds of lochs – all the way down to the sea. One of the best views in Scotland – mindblowing.
> Read More: How to Visit Lochinver and Assynt
Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar
In a country the size of Scotland, it’s surprising that there are still beautiful places in Scotland so remote that it can take days to get to them.
The Inverness-shire glens of Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar in Strathglass might not be as remote, but as you drive south on single track roads, just 20 minutes south of Inverness, an ancient and undisturbed Scotland is revealed.
Walking the 11-mile circular path around Loch Affric must be one of Scotland’s most awe-inspiring walks. Explore Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Scots Pine forest under huge surrounding mountains.
> Read more: How to visit Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar.
Cities in Scotland
Should you visit Edinburgh or Glasgow? Have you been to Aberdeen?
Visit both Edinburgh and Glasgow
Edinburgh is undeniably gorgeous and buzzing with cultural events all year round, so explore with my favourite things to do in Edinburgh. Edinburgh will always be one of the best places to go in Scotland.
Over in the west is Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. Emerging fresh from decades of urban regeneration, with a lively music scene, a huge art community and people who can make a party out anything, Glasgow has a natural vibrancy which most cities dream of.
Visit Aberdeen – the Silver City
With quirky villages, street art, dolphins and fine food, Aberdeen should be on your radar for your next visit to Scotland. If you were asked to describe Aberdeen, you’d probably think of granite buildings, the oil industry and probably Aberdeen Angus steak – but Aberdeen as a tourist destination to rival Edinburgh or Glasgow? Maybe not.
However, with the Nuart Street Art Festival changing the face of the city centre, Footdee’s quirky tarry sheds becoming Instagram stars, and dolphins swimming right up to its doorstep – Aberdeen has discovered a buoyant and well-deserved pride in itself.
> Read more: visit Aberdeen.
Sanna Bay and Portuarik
Let me introduce you to one of the west coast’s true hidden gems – the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. The ‘headland of the otters’ is the most western part of the British mainland and is beautifully unspoilt, wild and remote and is home to just 2000 people.
At the end of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula is the stunning Sanna. Whilst Scotland has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world I think Ardnamurchan might just have the best.
> Read more how to visit Ardnamurchan.
The Elgol Peninsula, Skye
The Isle of Skye’s dramatic Cuillin mountain range dominates the misty isles’ skyline wherever you look – climbing the twelve 3000 ft+ peaks of the Black Cuillin ridge is on most Munro Baggers bucket list and summiting the Inaccessible Pinnacle is probably the most daunting climb in Scotland.
However, if you like life a little more sedate the Cuillin is also viewed in all its magnificence from a walk to Camasunary Beach on the Elgol (or to give it its proper name) Strathaird Peninsula.
If you don’t fancy a long walk, there is a long drive on a single track road to the village where you can take a boat ride into the heart of the Cuillin.
> Read more: How to visit the Elgol Peninsula.
> Read more: the prettiest villages and towns in Scotland
Love, from Scotland x