7 Places You Wouldn't Believe Are in Scotland

 

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Dunrobin Castle | Golspie, Highlands

Dunrobin Castle is one of the most northerly great houses in Scotland. It was remodelled in the French Renaissance style, which is both striking and uncommon in Scotland. The gardens were inspired by Versailles, and it’s easy to picture yourself strolling through one of France’s most iconic visitor destinations when you’re in them. Despite its northern latitude, the gardens are sheltered and lush. Visitors will be able to visit sections of the interior, the gardens, the falconry and the museum.

 

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Isle of Barra | The Outer Hebrides

The puns are endless but apt. Barra’s notoriously beautiful beaches look like they’ve been lifted straight out of the Caribbean. Characterised by their azure waters and white sands, a bit of a temperature difference stands between you and living your best beach life. You can get the ferry to Barra or fly to the island to experience landing on what is rumoured to be the only tidal beach runway for scheduled flights in the world. If Barra is a bit too far-flung for you, most beaches in the Inner and Outer Hebrides are also pretty spectacular. Travel to Barra with us on an island-hopping road cycling adventure, a walking holiday to Uist, Barra & Mingulay or on a self-guided cycling tour.

 

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Tobermory | Isle of Mull

When thinking of Scandinavia, colourful harbour fronts may spring to mind, such as famous sites like Nyhaven Harbour in Copenhagen, Stockholm’s old town Gamla Stan and Bryggen in Bergen. You might imagine brightly-painted warehouses lining sunny quays, cobbled streets and fishing boats moored on the water. You can find sights like this dotted around Scotland if you know where to look! The most obvious is the picturesque town of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, which is undeniably pretty. You can also get the Scandi vibes on Leith’s Shore in Edinburgh, Pittenweem Harbour in Fife and in Portree on Skye. Visit Mull as part of a wilderness trip on a self-guided cycling adventure to Skye & the Inner Hebrides, on a wildlife tour taking in Mull, Staffa & Iona or on a green-graded sea kayaking holiday.

 

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The Italian Chapel | Orkney Isles

A little bit of Italy….on Orkney. The last thing you’d expect in Orkney’s typical windswept and wild landscapes is an ornate Roman Catholic chapel, but there it is! The chapel’s pretty white facade fronts two joined Nissen huts. The Italian Chapel’s creation was a result of Italian prisoners being placed on Orkney during the second world war. Whilst the prisoners were set to work on building the Churchill Barriers at Scapa Flow, they requested a proper place of worship. The chapel is a testament to their ingenuity and creativity, as they were given limited resources and had to construct it outside of working hours. The prisoners recycled corned beef tins, ship parts and car parts to make lanterns, candlesticks and even the holy water stoup. One of the prisoners, Domenico Chiocchetti, was an artist, and his interior paintwork still stuns visitors today. The impressive murals and painted windows are all by his design. Experience the beauty for yourself on our winter walking trip to Orkney or on our summer walking holiday to the Orkney Islands.

 

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Fingal’s Cave | Isle of Staffa

If Fingal’s Cave is not on your travel bucket list, then it should be! This atmospheric sea grotto is truly a sight to behold. It’s formed entirely out of hexagonal basalt columns, and visitors can walk into the mouth of the cave. It’s often compared and confused with the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland as they were formed in the same ancient lava flow, but Fingal’s Cave exists on a much smaller scale. It’s considerably harder for visitors to get to Fingal’s Cave, which in combination with its smaller size, means it’s not as famous. Find out more about Fingal’s Cave here and experience it for yourself on our Mull, Staffa & Iona wildlife holiday or our Isle of Mull sea kayaking trip.