Discover Scotland in 2018

The Scottish Highlands covers the northern two-thirds of the country, with the Islands scattered to the west and north. The Highlands and Islands are home to some of the most unspoiled wilderness in Europe and are a magical mix of big skies, mountainous landscapes, sandy beaches and stunning wildlife. The Highlands and Islands are remote but don’t think for a second that there is not much going on up there.

Urquhart Castle, set on the bonnie banks of Loch Ness, is the ultimate opportunity to delve into the stirring and dramatic history of the Scottish Highlands. For 500 years Urquhart Castle served as a medieval fortress. By exploring the iconic ruins of Urquhart you can get a glimpse into medieval times, with a back drop to boot!

The Blackhouse, Arnol, is a preserved thatch house in the Western Isles. It was last home to a family of crofters, along with their animals who all lived under the same roof! Blackhouses were surprisingly suited to the harsh climate and with rounded walls and no windows, they’re a bit different to how we build houses these days. 

In comparison to the remoteness of the Highlands and Islands, the central belt has the highest population density in Scotland and is home to the two largest cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow. All the people, towns and attractions crammed into this part of Scotland make it an appealing part of the world with a lot going on. Cultural festivals, concerts, sporting events and much more all add to the hustle and bustle of city life, offering excitement and liveliness for locals and tourists alike. Edinburgh itself attracts over 4 million tourists every year! Throughout the central belt Scotland's historic routes are deeply embedded.

Stirling Castle was once the key to the kingdom of Scotland at the meeting point between the Lowlands and Highlands. Over the centuries it grew into a great royal residence and a powerful stronghold. In times of peace, knights, nobles and foreign ambassadors came to Stirling Castle to enjoy its splendour. At times it was not so peaceful, with famous battles like Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn taking place within sight of the castle walls.

Glasgow Cathedral stands near the heart of Scotland’s largest city and is considered the birthplace of the city of Glasgow. Thriving burghs sprang up to the south and west of the cathedral and since then it has grown into the vibrant city we know today. It was built in the 1200s and is one of the only medieval cathedrals on the mainland that survived the Protestant Reformation of 1560 virtually intact.

The Scottish Borders is the gateway to Scotland from the South. It covers 1,800 square miles and stretches from the rolling hills of the west to the rocky coastline of the east. The Scottish Borders is home to the castles, abbeys and stately homes that played a part in the exciting and bloody history of the area. The rolling hills of the Borders continues long into neighboring Dumfries and Galloway, contributing to its lush greenery.

New Abbey Corn Mill was built at the end of the 1700s and was fully operational up until 1948. It was used to ground oats, barley, wheat and pease which were staple foods for locals. The preserved mill at New Abbey offers an insight into rural Scottish life and gives a glimmer of what our ancestors might have gone through to produce basic food items which we might often take for granted these days!

Melrose Abbey was a very desirable final resting place. Among the privileged people who were laid to rest at Melrose was Robert the Bruce whose heart was buried here, although his body was buried at Dunfermline Abbey. Melrose Abbey was founded by David I in 1136 and was Scotland’s first Cistercian monastery. Very little of the original abbey remains yet it is regarded one of the most magnificent examples of medieval church architecture in Britain.

The North East is a perfect mix of coast and countryside with beaches, fishing ports and rugged coastline to the east and vast countryside and open farmland to the west. The Cairngorms National Park spawns into Aberdeenshire, Moray and Angus, as well as Perthshire and the Highlands! There is plenty to see and do in the North East and its also not shy in history with Aberdeenshire having more castles per acre than anywhere else in the UK. (There are 300!)

Duff House was to be the ultimate status symbol in the 1700s. William Duff set out to build a splendid Georgian mansion which he could call home. However, this was never to be as William Duff and architect, William Adam, spent five years disputing Duff House in the courts. As a result, Duff never spent a night in the house and it was left to his heirs. But don't worry, it is now the home to many important works of art from the National Galleries of Scotland. 

The declaration of Arbroath was famously sent to the Pope from Arbroath Abbey in 1320 by Scotland's nobles. The declaration set out Scotland’s case that it was an independent, sovereign kingdom. It is Arbroath Abbey that demonstrates how Scotland’s medieval monarchs mixed religion with politics.

Thanks for reading. We hope we have inspired you to visit Scotland's historic sites! Your points code is: CTZ5Y6.