Scotland Things to Do

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Most Viewed Things to Do in Scotland

1.

Arthur's Seat   Edinburgh

Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

 48 Reviews  If it's a nice day you might want to walk up to the top of Arthur's Seat (which I did on a previous visit two and a half years ago) to get some nice views of the city and the surrounding... 

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2.

George Square   Glasgow

George Square, Glasgow

 40 Reviews  The City Chambers were designed by William Young in 1880, and was one of the 19th centureies finest public buildings. It took seven years to build and craftsmen were brought from Italy and France to... 

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3.

Royal Mile   Edinburgh

Royal Mile, Edinburgh

 128 Reviews  Facing St Giles cathedral in the Royal Mile, there's a statue identified as "Duke of Buccleugh" that, for me, meant... no one. Trying to identify him, I read that he was Walter... something... Scott,... 

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4.

People's Palace   Glasgow

People's Palace, Glasgow

 18 Reviews  The People's Place and Winter Gardens was worth a quick visit, although you would struggle to spend more than an hour or so here. The social history museum set inside the main building is a quirky... 

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5.

Castle   Edinburgh

Castle, Edinburgh

 314 Reviews  From the roof of the Museum of Scotland you can get some views out over the city, for instance of Edinburgh Castle, as shown here. For some more views, please see my Views of Edinburgh travelogue.  

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6.

Necropolis   Glasgow

Necropolis, Glasgow

 18 Reviews  For some unconventional sightseeing, the Glasgow Necropolis found behind Glasgow Cathedral is an interesting place to visit. Crossing the bridge from the cathedral, you are transported to Glasgow's... 

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7.

Calton Hill   Edinburgh

Calton Hill, Edinburgh

 59 Reviews  Calton Hill (NOT Carlton) is one of Edinburgh's main hills, set right in the city centre. Rising to 108m (355 feet) to the east end of Princes Street, Calton Hill is not the highest of the city's... 

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8.

Glasgow Cathedral   Glasgow

Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow

 32 Reviews  Glasgow's cathedral is worth a stroll around. It has been added to over the centuries, but there has been a stone cathedral on this site since 1136 when it was dedicated in the presence of King David.... 

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9.

Holyrood   Edinburgh

Holyrood, Edinburgh

 71 Reviews  If the Queen doesn't happen to be in town and there are no demonstrations in the works, you might well be able to take a tour of this palace, which is at the lower end of the Royal Mile. This palace... 

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10.

Kelvingrove   Glasgow

Kelvingrove, Glasgow

 32 Reviews  If someone had asked me what is the most visited museum in the UK outside of London, I would never have guessed it is in Glasgow, but it is the Kelvingrove. It is a very impressive building of red... 

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11.

Scott Monument   Edinburgh

Scott Monument, Edinburgh

 70 Reviews  On Princes Street in the center of Edinburgh there is a tall (200 feet 6 inches = 61.1 meters) monument to the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). Scott was the author of numerous books... 

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12.

Byres Rd/West End   Glasgow

Byres Rd/West End, Glasgow

 14 Reviews  There is plenty things you can do at Byres Road. I discribe Byres Road as Small Happening Shopping Area. In the weekend you can just drop by at Hillhead Library that situated along Byres Road. After... 

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13.

Tours   Edinburgh

Tours, Edinburgh

 63 Reviews   * * * TIP UNDER CONSTRUCTION * * * On this, my second visit to Edinburgh, I really looked forward to finally seeing the famous underground city. For our group of 6 adults, I booked with Mercat... 

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14.

River Clyde   Glasgow

River Clyde, Glasgow

 14 Reviews  Makes the liffey look like a wee burn this river ,mother of 90% of all the worlds metal ships in 1900 ,is a historical maritime live story. We took the cruise from under central station to the... 

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15.

Greyfriars   Edinburgh

Greyfriars, Edinburgh

 32 Reviews  Greyfriar's Bobby was a little dog, who until this day has remained the symbol for utmost loyalty in Edinburgh. This faithful Skye Terrier mourned his master for 14 years and has become a much-loved... 

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16.

Tours   Glasgow

Tours, Glasgow

 12 Reviews  I'm a big fan of CitySightseeing tours and have used them in other cities before so I was pleased to find out that they operate a tour in Glasgow. The beauty of these bus tours is that you can hop off... 

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17.

National Museum and Gallery of Scotland   Edinburgh

National Museum and Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

 44 Reviews  As the name suggests, the country's national museum. It is located in a modern purpose built building on 7 levels (top one just being a roof terrace). Entry is free. Donations are welcomed (as... 

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18.

Museums   Glasgow

Museums, Glasgow

 14 Reviews  This museum is situated in one of the buildings of Glasgow University. It features the collections of the Scottish obstetrician and teacher, Dr William Hunter. You cannot help but be intrigued by many... 

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19.

Old Town   Edinburgh

Old Town, Edinburgh

 34 Reviews  Under the City Chambers on the Royal Mile are hidden streets where people lived and worked for centuries. When the Royal Exchange (now the City Chambers) was constructed in 1753, the top floors of the... 

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20.

The Barras   Glasgow

The Barras, Glasgow

 8 Reviews  Held every Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM, the Barras Market is a gigantic outdoor and indoor flea market. It's best to get here early in the morning before it gets crowded. You can get... 

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21.

Princes Street   Edinburgh

Princes Street, Edinburgh

 57 Reviews  Maybe a unique feature of the city? The gardens extend almost the whole length of one side of the city's main street. They separate the new town from the old. The area was a loch originally and was... 

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22.

Shopping   Glasgow

Shopping, Glasgow

 20 Reviews  Anyone who knows me well, knows that one of my favourite pastimes is shopping! And Glasgow really is a great place to shop. Its second only to London in the UK for shopping. The main shopping streets... 

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23.

St Giles Cathedral   Edinburgh

St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

 43 Reviews  Edinburgh can often be gray and rainy, but there are numerous interesting things to do and see even on wet days: we visited the cathedral on such a day and were quite intrigued by its interiors and... 

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24.

Glasgow University   Glasgow

Glasgow University, Glasgow

 19 Reviews  The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451, by Bishop Turnbull. The names on the gate are of notable alumni over the years and include Lord Kelvin, Joseph Lister and Adam Smith. The second photo... 

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25.

Eating and Drinking   Edinburgh

Eating and Drinking, Edinburgh

 26 Reviews  Food in Edinburgh... hmmm... well, I suppose to the local Scots and Perhaps even the English the selection is fabulous and the prices are fine. To anyone from farther away they likely will find an... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Isle of Skye

by Maria81

My travels to the Isle of Skye:Isle of Skye has been another 'must do' on my Scotland travel list - but given the lack of public transport I have decided it would be best if I went after having passed my driving test. So, some time after that - in May 2011 - we visited Isle of Skye for the Easter break. Driving there - via A82, of course.What to do in the Isle of Skye:10+ Munros for the keen hill-walkers - including the Inaccessible Pinnacle, the only Munro top which requires rock-climbing techniques. A hike around Quiraing if you're a hiker or a photographer (for the latter, best done in the afternoon). The Old Man of Storr - again for hikers and photographers (but this one best visited in the morning otherwise you'll be shooting straight into the sun). Plus the Cuillin, numerous waterfalls, scenic roads, beaches, boat trips - in general, anything and everything outdoors. Choice of...

St. Andrews

by Maria81

My travels to St. Andrews:I wanted to visit St. Andrews since I began watching golf, let alone playing it. After moving to the UK in 2005, I've visited the city on a number of occasions, although I am - still being awful on the links - yet to play the Old Course.What to do in St. Andrews:A game of golf is a must - this is, after all, the home of golf - and so is the Old Course, if you're good enough and have proof of it in the shape of a handicap certificate. If you're not quite making the grade (i.e., me) - at least try minigolf at the side of the Old Course. If you can play a bit - there are several other courses which do not require either a lottery or a substantial fee to play. To continue the theme - the Museum of Golf. And to continue it even further - splendid golf-related shopping (why am I not surprised!). And the ruins of the Cathedral. A hike along the Fife Coast Path. Choice...

Loch Faskally

by Ben-UK

If you're staying in Pitlochry there's a nice walk around Loch Faskally which is in easy walking distance from Pitlochry centre -- if you want to extend the walk you could go to Killiekrankie (approx 6 miles / 10k) then either walk back or take the local bus but they're only about every three hours!

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Pitlochry

by Ben-UK

In the Perthshire highlands, near Lochs Tummel and Rannoch, the old Victorian town of Pitlochry is an ideal base for walkers. It's a busy town and in high season accommodation can be at a premium. Apart from the scenery, Pitlochry is known for its hydro-electric dam and salmon ladder -- rather than jump, the salmon swim through interconnecting pipes -- there's an observation place for visitors to watch the fish underwater.There's very good walking in the area with nearby Loch Faskally and surrounding woodland, you can walk to Killiekrankie or hike up Ben Vrackie, lots of choice.The below weblink gives detailed information about the town.

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Driving the A82

by Maria81

As soon as I passed my driving test, I have started seeking out a new breed of sights - the best driving roads. In the UK, this accolade most often goes to the A82, linking the Highlands from Ft. William to the Lowlands. So, when we decided we were going to do Isle of Skye as a driving trip, a return via the A82 was high on the agenda, even though it was not the shortest way back (a fact which much puzzled our satnav system).Although the road is bendy and you have to take extra care, whatever scenery you do get to see is spectacular. The highlight is definitely driving through Glencoe, although the Lowlands lakes gave it a run for their money.To keep in mind:- Even if you are a good, confident driver and are in a car which handles well, don't assume you can do 60mph all the way. Also, there are quite a few buses and caravans to overtake- Petrol stations are rare on the Glencoe section so...

Cheviot

by solopes

In my basic school I had to memorize the names of all the Portuguese rivers, mountains, railroads (and railway stations), and more. I had also to memorize some international names, one of them "Cheviote", I don't know why. Fifty years later I remembered it when travelling from Edinburgh to Newcastle - it's the geographic element that signals the border between England and Scotland. (how could I forget such important detail in a Portuguese child's education?)But now, I know more - it's one of the best places in England to find two things: snow in spring, and the sheep who make the pulls that Fernanda made me carry back home.

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Oban - much to offer

by vtveen

We reached Oban, coming from Inveraray, along a very scenic road through Lochgilpead and along some stunning 'lochs'. Oban is a busy port with a lot of ferries leaving to one of the Scottish islands. Oban is called "Gateway to the Isles".We were surprised by the amount of tourists (mid September) strolling along the esplanade or browsing one of the several shops. It has a lot of accommodation varying from luxury hotels to basic B&B’s and pubs and restaurants.Other highlights for visitors are the Oban Distillery, the Waterfront Centre and north of the town Dunstaffnage Castle. It is also possible to make (half)day trips by boat in the Oban Bay or to one of the islands and to spot sealife. Oban is dominated by McCaig’s Tower, a kind of Scottish Colosseum built by a rich Oban banker (John Stuart McCaig) with the intention to provide a family museum. The views from the hill over Oban, Oban...

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Dolphin Tours in the Moray Firth (Cromarty)

by JessH

Who doesn't like dolphins? Located at the heart of the Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation, EcoVentures offers a truly exhilarating and memorable boat trip experience & wildlife encounter. First, you are given a short introduction to the route of the trip, safety instructions and a Q&A session. You are then given rather "sexy" (...NOT!) full-body blue suits to wear over your clothes. Climb into the boat, straddle your seat, hang on and off we go!--> This is a high speed, offshore RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with saddle-like seats: the tour may not be suitable for frail, elderly passengers, highly pregnant women or children younger than 5 yrs.Our tour was conducted by the company's owner/skipper Sarah, who clearly loves her job and gives great information and insight into the Moray Firth's abundant wild inhabitants.EcoVentures is an accredited operator both with the WiSe Scheme...

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Cairngorms National Park: UK's largest wilderness

by JessH

When travelling around the Highlands, chances are that you'll come though the huge and wonderful Cairngorms National Park at one point. The main 'A' roads running through the park's boundaries are the A9, the A93 and the A939.The Cairngorms National Park is Britain's largest National Park and was established in September 2003 to ensure the conservation of its unique environment & wildlife. It covers a vast area of 4528 sq kilometres (approx. 1,467 square miles).Cairngorm means "blue mountains" although ironically the Gaelic name (Am Monadh Ruadh) means the red hills. Cairn Gorm, the main peak, stands at 1245m and is easily accessible to those of average fitness, or you can travel up to the visitor centre on the funicular railway. Five of Scotland's six highest mountains are located within the park.The forests of the Cairngorms contain remnants of the original Caledonian pine forest and...

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URQUHART CASTLE - "our castle" by Loch Ness

by JessH

Besides Edinburgh Castle and Eilean Donan (see my separate "Things to Do" tip), Urquhart Castle must be in the top 5 of the most famous & picturesque in Scotland. It is also one of the country's largest remaining castles. To my husband and I, it is affectionately known as "our castle", as we got married here in 2009!These ruins are a beautiful, yet also eerie and foreboding sight on the shores of the equally ominous Loch Ness. Urquhart castle first appears in historic documents around AD 580 (visited by St. Columba). From the 13th century until its demise in 1692, Urquhart saw much military action (in 1296 captured by the English). Thereafter, the stronghold passed back and forth between Scottish and English control. In 1332, in the dark days following King Robert Bruce's death, Urquhart remained the only Highland castle holding out against the English. Soon after the English threat...

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Fun things to do in Scotland

Top 3 Hotels in Scotland

The Balmoral Hotel  Edinburgh

 5 Reviews and 770 Opinions  Two men wearing kilts (or trews) welcome you at the door and an open fire welcomes you in the lobby,... 

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Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens  Glasgow

 1 Review and 352 Opinions  One Devonshire Gardens is a class of its own.Fabulous rooms with four poster beds,tubs you could... 

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Skene House Rosemont Hotel  Aberdeen

 1 Review and 247 Opinions  Skene House Apartments was so nice, an impressive layout , nice bedrooms !, Fantastic and modernised... 

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Things to Do: Cities in Scotland
  1. Edinburgh Things to Do
  2. Glasgow Things to Do
  3. Aberdeen Things to Do
  4. Inverness Things to Do
  5. Isle of Skye Things to Do
  6. Fort William Things to Do
  7. Ayr Things to Do
  8. Oban Things to Do
  9. Stirling Things to Do
  10. Aviemore Things to Do
  11. Dunfermline Things to Do
  12. Pitlochry Things to Do
  13. Dundee Things to Do
  14. Perth Things to Do
  15. Dumfries Things to Do
  16. Ullapool Things to Do
  17. Saint Andrews Things to Do
  18. Island of Mull Things to Do
  19. Stornoway Things to Do
  20. Paisley Things to Do
  21. Leith Things to Do
  22. Falkirk Things to Do
  23. Lerwick Things to Do
  24. Islay Things to Do
  25. Loch Ness Things to Do
  26. Loch Lomond Things to Do
  27. Troon Things to Do
  28. North Berwick Things to Do
  29. Inveraray Things to Do
  30. Fair Isle Things to Do
  31. Durness Things to Do
  32. Portree Things to Do
  33. Musselburgh Things to Do
  34. Callander Things to Do
  35. Arrochar Things to Do
  36. Applecross Things to Do
  37. Killin Things to Do
  38. Stonehaven Things to Do
  39. John O'Groats Things to Do
  40. Falkland Things to Do
  41. South Uist Things to Do
  42. Nairn Things to Do
  43. Moffat Things to Do
  44. Fraserburgh Things to Do
  45. Turriff Things to Do
  46. Prestwick Things to Do
  47. Melrose Things to Do
  48. Lanark Things to Do
  49. Iona Things to Do
  50. Linlithgow Things to Do
  51. Plockton Things to Do
  52. Kilmartin Things to Do
  53. Kilmarnock Things to Do
  54. Gairloch Things to Do
  55. Tobermory Things to Do
  56. Banff Things to Do
  57. Jedburgh Things to Do
  58. Stromness Things to Do
  59. Langholm Things to Do
  60. Glenelg Things to Do
  61. Ballachulish Things to Do
  62. Dunbar Things to Do
  63. Aberfeldy Things to Do
  64. Haddington Things to Do
  65. Arbroath Things to Do
  66. Penicuik Things to Do
  67. Fort Augustus Things to Do
  68. Dornie Things to Do
  69. Motherwell Things to Do
  70. Dunblane Things to Do
  71. Handa Island Things to Do
  72. Inverkeithing Things to Do
  73. Invergarry Things to Do
  74. Hawick Things to Do

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Popular Regions in Scotland

Lothian Things to Do  Strathclyde Things to Do  Highland Things to Do  Grampian Things to Do  Tayside Things to Do  Central Things to Do  Dumfries and Galloway Things to Do  Fife Things to Do  Shetland Things to Do  Western Isles Things to Do  Orkney Things to Do  Borders Things to Do 

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Questions and Answers

zchatila profile photo

Q:  Hello Lovely site indeed. Great resource. I plan on spending 11 days in Scotland and just wanted some advice. FYI: I have... 

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A: I can't address all your questions, but wonder if you want a full day on Loch Lomond unless you plan on boating, fishing, etc. One of the ways we dealt with not having a... 

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