Scotland Guide
Things not to miss
1 Mousa, Shetland • The mother of all Iron Age brochs, on an island off the coast of Shetland.
2 The Falkirk Wheel • Less a wheel, more a mighty claw, this engineering and design marvel lifts boats between two stretches of canal.
3 Dunnottar Castle • Memorably dramatic ruined fortress, surrounded by giddy sea cliffs.
4 Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh • The ivory Lewis chessmen are part of the superb collection of artefacts here.
5 Eigg • Perfect example of a tiny, friendly Hebridean island with a golden beach to lie on, a hill to climb and stunning views across the sea to its neighbour, Rùm.
6 Gearrannan, Lewis • Stay in the thatched blackhouse hostel in this beautifully restored former crofting village.
7 Glen Coe • Moody, poignant and spectacular glen within easy reach of Fort William.
8 Iona • The home of Celtic Christian spirituality, an island of pilgrimage today as in antiquity.
9 West Highland Railway • One of the great railway journeys of the world.
10 Tobermory • The main town on the beautiful island of Mull, and Scotland's most picturesque fishing port.
11 Skye Cuillin • The most spectacular mountain range on the west coast, for viewing or climbing.
12 Scottish Parliament • Enric Miralles' startling, contemporary design has transformed the old Holyrood area of Edinburgh.
13 Jarlshof, Shetland • An exceptional archeological site taking in Bronze Age, Iron Age, Pictish, Viking and medieval remains.
14 Islay • Hebridean island with no fewer than seven whisky distilleries, and wonderfully varied birdlife that includes thousands of wintering geese.
15 Burrell Collection, Glasgow • An unconventional but impressive museum at the heart of Glasgow's cultural renaissance.
16 Edinburgh Old Town • Lose yourself in the capital's medieval cobbled streets and closes.
17 Staffa and the Treshnish Isles • View the basalt columns of Staffa's Fingal's Cave from the sea, and then picnic beside the puffins on the Isle of Lunga.
18 Calanais, Lewis • Prehistoric standing stones that occupy a serene setting in the Western Isles.
19 Cairngorm National Park • Natural splendour and terrific outdoor activities.
20 Melrose Abbey • Ruined Cistercian abbey situated in the most beguiling of Border towns.
21 Stirling Castle • The grandest castle in Scotland, with a commanding outlook over Highlands and Lowlands.
22 Maes Howe, Orkney • Europe's best-preserved Neolithic chambered cairn also contains fine examples of Viking runic inscriptions and drawings.
23 Kinloch Castle, Rùm • Stay in the servants' quarters of this Edwardian hideaway or in one of its few remaining four-poster beds.
24 St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall • A medieval cathedral in miniature, built by the Vikings using the local red and yellow sandstones.