Culture & Heritage

From the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct, where the Jacobite steam train (Hogwarts Express) winds through the hills, to the Royal Yacht Britannia, docked in Leith, Scotland is home to many fascinating sites.

The Kelpies, towering steel horse sculptures in Falkirk, represent the strength of the country’s industrial past, while Rosslyn Chapel, located just outside Edinburgh, represents an outstanding display of craftsmanship with walls carved into hundreds of figures. In Glasgow, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum houses an extraordinary collection of art and artefacts, and in Dundee, the V&A Museum showcases Scotland’s design heritage and contemporary innovation.

In Stirling, the Wallace Monument commemorates the life of William Wallace, a key figure in Scotland’s fight for independence. In Edinburgh, the Sir Walter Scott Monument, a towering gothic spire, is dedicated to the famous Scottish author and offers visitors the chance to climb to the top for panoramic views of the city.

Scotland’s wild landscapes are what make this country truly magical. From the rugged beauty of Wester Ross to the dramatic peaks of the Torridon Mountains, Scotland’s diverse terrain is a paradise for walkers. The Isle of Skye is an island where myth, folklore and legend coil around waving kelp and bubble their way into fairy pools.

Hiking on Skye means exploring otherworldly rock formations such as the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. Inland, Scotland’s most famous glen, Glencoe seems to push against the boundary of reality into a fairytale, where heathery mountains clamber skywards, and low evening mists shroud the moors in a captivating translucent blanket.

Scotland’s most remote mainland location, the Knoydart peninsula, a place cut off from the mainland road network, is a landscape defined by water, craggy mountains, and rushing, tumbling rivers. Old drovers’ roads ribbon through the hills and along the edge of Loch Hourn, arguably the country’s finest sea loch. Knoydart is also home to Britain’s most remote pub, golden eagles, red deer and clusters of Caledonian pines.

Across The Minch and on the edge of the Atlantic the breathtaking Hebridean beaches, featuring white sands and azure waters, contrast beautifully with the rugged cliffs of St Kilda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to an extraordinary array of birdlife. Whether exploring the Cairngorms National Park or hiking in the verdant embrace of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, there is no doubt that time spent walking in Scotland will be an unforgettable experience.

​​Scotland’s past is woven into every corner of its landscape. Edinburgh Castle, perched atop the volcanic Castle Rock, has witnessed centuries of history unfold beneath its walls. Stirling Castle, another key stronghold, was once the residence of Scottish kings and queens, including Mary, Queen of Scots.

In the Highlands, the haunting ruins of Urquhart Castle overlook the mysterious depths of Loch Ness, while Eilean Donan Castle, standing at the confluence of three lochs, offers a striking example of Scotland’s medieval heritage. For those fascinated by ancient history, Skara Brae on Orkney, a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village, and the Standing Stones of Stenness take you back to Scotland’s prehistoric roots.

Additionally, the solemn Culloden Battlefield near Inverness marks the site of the Jacobite uprising in 1746, a turning point in Scottish history. These landmarks are just a few of the many treasures awaiting discovery, each telling a chapter of Scotland’s dramatic past.

Scotland is a country of stories, and some stories are so old they mesh themselves into the very bones of the land. It is a country of tales told around crackling fires and of legends recounted on walks along wild, open moors. Myths and legends are an intrinsic part of Scottish history and still play an important role in our lives today. The Loch Ness Monster, or “Nessie,” is perhaps the most famous of these legends, drawing visitors to the scenic shores of Loch Ness.

Nearby, the goddess Beira, often referred to as the Queen of Winter, is associated with the rugged Cairngorms, where her influence is said to be felt in the changing seasons. The Highland’s ancient forests hold their own secrets, and it is said that Merlin roamed in his madness here. Loch Coruisk, the most remote loch in Britain, is known to be home to a kelpie, a dangerous, shape-changing aquatic spirit that can be told apart from other horses by its mane of long, dark seaweed. These stories shape a collective understanding of Scotland’s past and are a gift to all those who travel here.