Best things to do in Scotland

Edinburgh Castle

The imposing castle that stands on the craggy mound of an extinct volcano in the heart of Edinburgh is not only the city's top attraction, but a proud and lasting symbol of the Scottish nation. The castle rock has been inhabited since 800 BC, but today most of the remaining structures date from around the 16th century (with the big exception of St Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh's oldest building, dating from the early 12th century). Of all the things to see and experience at the Castle, including the spectacular view of the city, the favourite for visitors is the Crown Room, which contains the Scottish crown jewels and regalia of state. Also on view here is the legendary 'Stone of Scone', upon which all the monarchs of Scotland have been crowned.

The castle also still functions as a military headquarters, and is the site of the spectacular military tattoo, which is world-renowned and held each August. At 1pm each day, except Sunday, the 'one o'clock gun' is fired, traditionally to allow ships in the Firth of Forth to check their chronometers. The gun is also fired at New Year to mark midnight during the Hogmanay celebrations. Tickets should be pre-bought online to avoid queuing on arrival, especially if visiting during the summer months.

Address Castlehill

Website www.edinburghcastle.scot/

Opens Open daily, from 9.30am to 6pm (1 April to 30 September), and 9.30am to 5pm (1 October to 31 March). Last admission is always 45 minutes before the closing time

Admission

£17 (adults), £10.20 (children aged 5-15). Other concessions available.

Royal Botanic Garden

Not just any garden, the Edinburgh Botanic Garden is acknowledged as one of the finest in the world. The garden features six percent of all the world's known plants, the most tender being cosseted in elegant Victorian glasshouses. Visitors can admire vegetation from 10 climate zones from tropical palms to arctic tundra, and see some of the world's oldest plants in the orchid and cycad house. There are also several restaurants and cafes, and a gift shop.

The garden was established in 1670 as a physic garden in Holyrood, was later moved to Leith and was firmly planted in Inverleith in 1820, where it has remained a top attraction ever since. It is now one of the top-ranking attractions in Edinburgh according to tourists. Although the garden is at its best and busiest in the summer months, the impressive greenhouses are worth visiting at any time of year, making the botanic garden immune to the seasons to some extent. The views of Edinburgh Castle from the garden are some of the best in the city. The plants are very well labelled, and route maps can be picked up at the visitor centre.

Address 20a Inverleith Row

Website www.rbge.org.uk

Transport

Buses 8, 17, 23 and 27 connect the city centre to the east gate of the Gardens

Opens Open daily, from 10am to 4pm (November to January), 10am to 5pm (February and October), and 10am to 6pm (March to September)

Admission

General admission to the Gardens is free. Fee for Glasshouses: £6.50 (adults), free for children under 15

Burrell Collection

Glasgow's top cultural attraction was donated by the shipping magnate Sir William Burrell in 1944. Over his lifetime, Burrell amassed more than 8,000 works of art. The collection includes hundreds of sculptures, drawings and paintings from the 15th century to the present, some notable medieval European tapestries, as well as artefacts from Arabia and the Orient. The collection is housed in a functional, purpose-built building set in the sedate surroundings of Pollok Country Park.

Although it may seem unassuming, the building was meticulously designed to showcase the collection and complement the natural landscape. Within walking distance of The Burrell is Pollok House, which contains a fine collection of Spanish paintings including works by Goya, Murillo and El Greco. The Edwardian house is the ancestral home of the Maxwell family, who donated the house and the collection to the National Trust in 1966.

Currently undergoing extensive renovations, the Burrel Collection is set to reopen in 2020. The changes to the museum will increase its floor space fourfold, allowing 90% of Burrel's collection to be on display at any given time.

Address 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Pollok Country Park

Website www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/burrell-collection/Pages/default.aspx

Transport

Train from Glasgow Central to Pollokshaws West; or public bus 45, 47, 48 or 57

Opens Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Friday and Sunday 11am to 5pm.

Admission

Free admission

Loch Ness

Loch Ness is situated in the Great Glen that links Inverness on the east coast to Fort William in the west. The most famous lake is 24 miles (39km) long, half a mile (1km) wide and 700ft (213m) deep and is home to the legendary Loch Ness Monster (affectionately called Nessie), which many claim to have glimpsed from the shore, despite the ongoing scepticism of scientists. There are fine walks around the mountains and glens that surround the loch and many head for the scenic ruins of Urquhart Castle or the Nessie exhibition at Drumnadrochit.

The four lochs that make up the Great Glen are linked by the Caledonian Canal, which was built in the early 1800s to enable ships to pass from the North Sea to the Atlantic without having to navigate Scotland's harsh north coast. The most traditional and comfortable way to travel along the glen is by boat, and a flotilla of canoes, yachts and cruising boats are available for hire in Inverness and Fort William. The more energetic may opt to walk or cycle along the 70-mile (113km) Great Glen Way. The walk will take four to seven days. Whether for the enticing mystery of the monster or the stunning natural beauty of the area, travellers relish a visit to Loch Ness.

Website www.loch-ness.org

Malt Whisky Trail

The Grampian Highlands area is famous for its delicious malt whisky, and the best way to explore this long-standing tradition is by following a whisky route to eight different distilleries, including the Glenfiddich Distillery that was founded in 1886. Visitors can learn about the age-old process of coaxing different scents, tastes and colours from a mixture of yeast, barley, peat and water. Most distilleries offer tours and tastings but some can only be visited with advanced bookings.

Glenfiddich, the most famous and popular, is worth visiting alone if you don't have time for a full whisky tour. The renowned distillery offers three different tours. The Classic Tour, which is a fantastic introduction to the art of whisky making, takes an hour and includes tastings, it is free of charge with no advance booking required. The Explorers Tour takes an hour and a half, including a more extensive tour and tasting session, this tour should be booked in advance. The Pioneers Tour, lead by the senior guide, provides a four-hour immersion in the world of the distillery and will delight connoisseurs, affording the chance to taste whiskies up to 30 years old.

Address Glenfiddich Distillery: Dufftown, Banffshire

Website www.glenfiddich.com

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Situated on historic Shiprow, with spectacular views of the busy harbour, the Aberdeen Maritime Museum proudly exhibits the city's strong maritime history and its close connection to the sea. It is an award-winning museum and is housed partly in Provost Ross's House, built in 1593, which justifies a visit all by itself for lovers of architecture. The city's significance in the North Sea oil industry is explored, as well as the importance of fishing, shipbuilding and sailing in the development of the area.

Displays are aimed at allowing visitors the chance to investigate the working environment and duties of workers on offshore oil platforms, and include collections of photographs and plans from major Aberdeen shipbuilders, and various naval paintings. Some interactive exhibits ensure that the museum is modern and that children should be entertained by the content, making it a good stop for families. A pirate mascot called Granite Jack guides kids through the museum and there are quiz sheets designed for specific age groups for younger visitors to fill out as they explore. There is also a café and gift shop at the museum for souvenirs and refreshments.

Address Shiprow

Website www.aagm.co.uk

Scotch Whisky Experience

Alongside Edinburgh Castle, visitors can enjoy a 'wee dram' and uncover the secrets of brewing Scotland's famed malt, grain and blended whiskies, known to the locals as 'the water of life'. The whisky tour includes a barrel ride through the history of whisky, a tutored tasting, and a chance to meet a resident ghost. The bar offers the chance to choose from about 270 different whiskies, and a restaurant serves up traditional Scottish cuisine.

The interactive tour promises fun for the whole family, although of course only adults are permitted to sample the wares. There are several different tours on offer: The Silver Tour is ideal for families; The Gold Tour offers a more in-depth experience; The Platinum Tour is perfect for the confirmed whisky lover; The Taste of Scotland offers a mixture of whisky tasting and Scottish food; and the Morning Masterclass is crafted for connoisseurs. Although booking is not required it is recommended that visitors book in advance to secure a tour; for the Morning Masterclass pre-booking is essential. The guides are experts in their trade and do a fabulous job of educating visitors and keeping them entertained.

Address 555 Castlehill, Royal Mile

Website www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

Transport

Edinburgh Tour buses stop right at the bottom of Castlehill, and Waverley train station is located 5 minutes by foot from the Scotch Whisky Experience

Opens Various tours are available, please check the website for details. Generally, tours operate every day from 10am to 6pm.

Admission

Various tours are available, please check the website for details. Silver Tours cost £15.50 (adults), and £7.50 (children 5-17)

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

The Edinburgh Festival Theatre is used primarily for musical events and touring groups, and it is one of the main venues for the annual summer Edinburgh International Festival, as well as being the year-round venue for the Scottish Opera and the Scottish Ballet. This historic location is Edinburgh's oldest continuous theatre site: there has been a theatre on the site since as far back as 1830. After decades of illustrious but tumultuous performances, in 1963 the theatre became a bingo hall for nearly thirty years, but was still occasionally used as a festival venue.

It re-opened in June 1994 with a glass-fronted structure as the new entrance and a dramatic mix of art nouveau, beaux-arts and neo-classicist architecture, and now has adequate acoustics, serving all the artistic requirements of the community, and seating nearly 2,000 people. There are frequent children's plays and performances at the theatre, making it a good option for families. The Edinburgh Festival Theatre is supposedly one of the city's many haunted buildings, stalked by a tall, dark spectre rumoured to be the famous illusionist Sigmund Neuberger (The Great Lafayette), who was one of a number of performers burnt to death in a stage fire at the theatre in 1911.

Address 13/29 Nicolson Street

Website http://www.edtheatres.com/

Transport

Within walking distance of Waverley rail station.

Royal Mile

An essential activity for travellers in Edinburgh is a stroll along the Royal Mile, a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of Edinburgh's Old Town. Fittingly, the Royal Mile is approximately one Scottish mile long, running between two historic attractions; Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle Rock and Holyrood Abbey. This is Edinburgh Old Town's busiest tourist strip, rivalled only by Princes Street in the New Town. The streets that make up the Royal Mile include Castle Esplanade, Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate and Abbey Strand.

The Hub, at the top end of the mile, plays host to the Edinburgh International Festival, and holds integral information on all the Edinburgh festivals. Its gothic spire, which is the highest point in central Edinburgh, towers over the adjacent castle and surrounding buildings. During the Festival the Royal Mile comes alive with entertainers and visitors. It would be quite an achievement for any sightseer in Edinburgh to manage to not walk the Royal Mile at some point as the stretch is riddled with many of the city's best and most popular attractions, as well as being the most photogenic amble in Edinburgh. There are many wonderful restaurants, pubs and shops along the Royal Mile, and tourists often choose to find accommodation nearby.

Address Edinburgh Old Town

Scotland

Attractions

Edinburgh Castle

Royal Botanic Garden

Burrell Collection

Loch Ness

Malt Whisky Trail

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Scotch Whisky Experience

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Royal Mile

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Edinburgh Castle

Admission

Royal Botanic Garden

Transport

Admission

Burrell Collection

Transport

Admission

Loch Ness

Malt Whisky Trail

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Scotch Whisky Experience

Transport

Admission

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Transport

Royal Mile