Other sights in Scotland
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Old Calton Burial Ground
One of Edinburgh’s many atmospheric old cemeteries, Old Calton is dominated by the tall black obelisk of the Political Martyrs’ Monument, which commemorates those who suffered in the fight for electoral reform in the 1790s. In the southern corner is the massive cylindrical grey stone tomb of David Hume (1711–76), Scotland’s most famous philosopher. Hume was a noted atheist, prompting rumours that he had made a Faustian pact with the devil; after his death his friends held a vigil at the tomb for eight nights, burning candles and firing pistols into the darkness lest evil spirits should come to bear away his soul.
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Rosslyn Chapel
The success of Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code and the subsequent Hollywood film has seen a flood of visitors descend on Scotland’s most beautiful and enigmatic church – Rosslyn Chapel. The chapel was built in the mid-15th century for William St Clair, third earl of Orkney, and the ornately carved interior – at odds with the architectural fashion of its time – is a monument to the mason’s art, rich in symbolic imagery. As well as flowers, vines, angels and biblical figures, the carved stones include many examples of the pagan ‘Green Man’; other figures are associated with Freemasonry and the Knights Templar. Intriguingly, there are also carvings of plants from…
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Castle Menzies
About 1½ miles west of town by the B846, Castle Menzies is the impressive restored 16th-century seat of the chief of the clan Menzies (ming-iss). The Z-plan tower house is magnificently located against a backdrop of Scottish forest. And inside it doesn’t disappoint: the place smells just like a castle should – musty and lived in. It reeks of authenticity despite extensive restoration work and is a highly recommended ramble. Check out the fireplace in the dungeon-like kitchens and the gaudy great hall upstairs, with windows unfurling a ribbon of lush, green countryside extending into wooded hills beyond the estate. You’ll get in for free if you share a surname with the…
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Callanish Standing Stones
The Callanish Standing Stones, 15 miles west of Stornoway on the A858 road, form one of the most complete stone circles in Britain and are one of the most atmospheric prehistoric sites anywhere. Its ageless mystery, impressive scale and undeniable beauty leave a lasting impression. Sited on a wild and secluded promontory overlooking Loch Roag, 13 large stones of beautifully banded gneiss are arranged, as if in worship, around a 4.5m-tall central monolith. Some 40 smaller stones radiate from the circle in the shape of a cross, with the remains of a chambered tomb at the centre. Dating from 3800 to 5000 years ago, the stones are roughly contemporary with the pyramids of…
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Dean Castle
In Kilmarnock, where Johnnie Walker whisky has been blended since 1820, is Dean Castle, a 15-minute walk from the bus and train stations. The castle, restored in the first half of the 20th century, has a virtually windowless keep (dating from 1350) and an adjacent palace (1468), with a superb collection of medieval arms, armour, tapestries and musical instruments. The grounds, an 81-hectare park, are a good place for a stroll or a picnic, or you can eat at the visitor centre’s tearoom, where snacks and light meals cost around £5. Free guided tours are available and there are regular activities for kids. From Ayr there are frequent buses throughout the day.
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Culzean
The Scottish National Trust’s flagship property, magnificent Culzean is one of the most impressive of Scotland’s great stately homes. The entrance to Culzean (kull-ane) is a converted viaduct, and on approach the castle appears like a mirage, floating into view. Designed by Robert Adam, who was encouraged to exercise his romantic genius in its design, this 18th-century mansion is perched dramatically on the edge of the cliffs. Robert Adam was the most influential architect of his time, renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and the elegant classical embellishments with which he decorated his ceilings and fireplaces.
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Montrose Basin Visitor Centre
At the southern edge of town, Montrose Basin Visitor Centre has indoor and outdoor hides, and viewing platforms with high-powered binoculars and remote-controlled TV cameras where you can zoom in on the local wildlife. In summer you can see curlews, oystercatchers and eider ducks – and perhaps an otter if you’re lucky – and in autumn the basin is invaded by huge flocks of pink-footed and greylag geese. The birdwatching is best from two hours after high tide till two hours before the next high tide – check times at any tourist office.
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Highland Adventure Safari
Highland Adventure Safari is ideal for those wanting to spot some wildlife or simply enjoy Perthshire’s magnificent countryside. Standard trips include the 2½-hour Adventure Safari for £35/13.50 per adult/child, which includes a dram in the wilderness, and the Safari Hike for £60, which includes a walk in the mountains and a picnic. Wildlife you may spot includes golden eagles, osprey and red deer. There’s also gold-panning for kids at the visitor centre. It’s on the B846, just past Castle Menzies.
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Hopetoun House
One of Scotland’s finest stately homes, Hopetoun House has a superb location in lovely grounds beside the Firth of Forth. There are two parts – the older built to Sir William Bruce’s plans between 1699 and 1702 and dominated by a splendid stairwell with (modern) trompe l’oeil paintings; and the newer designed between 1720 and 1750 by three members of the Adam family, William and sons Robert and John. The highlights are the red and yellow Adam drawing rooms, lined in silk damask, and the view from the roof terrace.
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Glamis Castlew
Looking every inch the Scottish Baronial castle, with its roofline sprouting a forest of pointed turrets and battlements, Glamis Castle was the legendary setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. A royal residence since 1372, it is the family home of the earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne – the Queen Mother (born Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon; 1900−2002) spent her childhood at Glamis (pronounced glams) and Princess Margaret (the Queen’s sister; 1930−2002) was born here.
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David Livingstone Centre
The David Livingstone Centre tells the story of his life from his early days in Blantyre to the 30 years he spent in Africa, where he named the Victoria Falls on one of his numerous journeys. It’s a good display and brings to life the incredible hardships of his missionary existence, his battles against slavery, and his famous meeting with Stanley. There’s a child-friendly African wildlife feature and the grassy park the museum is set in makes a perfect picnic spot.
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Dumfries House
A Palladian mansion designed in the 1750s by the Adam brothers, Dumfries House is an architectural jewel: such is its preservation that Prince Charles personally intervened to ensure its protection. It contains an extraordinarily well-preserved collection of Chippendale furniture and numerous objets d’art. Visits are by guided tour; book ahead by phone or internet. The once-daily Grand Tour (adult/child £12.50/4) also takes you to the bedrooms upstairs. The house is located 13 miles east of Ayr, near Cumnock. Buses from Ayr or Kilmarnock to Cumnock will drop you near the house.
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May Princess
The five-hour trip to the island on the May Princess, including two to three hours ashore, sails from three to seven times weekly (weather permitting) from mid-April to September (daily July to September). You can make reservations and buy tickets at the harbour kiosk near the museum at least an hour before departure. Departure times vary depending on the tide – check times for the coming week or so by calling, or check the website.
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Lennoxlove House
Lennoxlove House is a hidden gem of a country house dating originally from around 1345, with major extensions and renovations from the 17th to the early 20th centuries. It contains fine furniture and paintings, and memorabilia relating to Mary, Queen of Scots. Chief among these are her death mask and a silver casket given to her by Francis II of France, her first husband. The house has been the seat of the duke of Hamilton since 1947.
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Edinburgh Dungeon
This manufactured attraction combines gruesome tableaux of torture and degradation with live actors who perform scary little sketches along the way. There’s also a ‘horror labyrinth’, a creepy mirror maze inhabited by the ghost of a little drummer boy. Mildly amusing in a large group, mildly embarrassing in a small one and genuinely terrifying for small children. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult; not recommended for kids under eight.
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Breadalbane Folklore Centre
The Breadalbane Folklore Centre is in an old water mill overlooking the falls. There is an audiovisual presentation about St Fillan, a local saint whose religious teachings are said to have helped unite the ancient kingdoms of the Scots and the Picts in the 8th century. There are displays about local and clan history, including the MacGregors and MacNabs. The centre also houses the tourist office.
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The Shore
The most attractive part of Leith is the cobbled waterfront street alongside the Water of Leith, lined with pubs and restaurants. Before the docks were built in the 19th century this was Leith’s original wharf. An iron plaque in front of No 30 marks the King’s Landing – the spot where King George IV (the first reigning British monarch to visit Scotland since Charles II in 1650) stepped ashore in 1822.
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Scottish Seabird Centre
Top marks to the bright spark who came up with the idea for the Scottish Seabird Centre, an ornithologist’s paradise that uses remote-control video cameras sited on the Bass Rock and other islands to relay live images of nesting gannets and other seabirds – you can control the cameras yourself, and zoom in on scenes of cosy gannet domesticity.
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Sheila’s Cottage Heritage Centre
Ulva, a privately owned island on the west coast of Mull, has good walking and off-road biking, a 9th-century Viking fort, and an old chapel with a graveyard. A short walk north of the ferry landing is Sheila’s Cottage Heritage Centre, a reconstruction of a traditional thatched crofter’s cottage with displays about the history of the island.
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Dean Gallery
Directly across Belford Rd from the NGMA's main building, another neoclassical mansion houses its annexe, the Dean Gallery. The Dean holds the NGMA's collection of Dada and surrealist art, including works by Dali, Giacometti and Picasso, and a large collection of sculpture and graphic art created by the Edinburgh- born sculptor Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.
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Pictavia
Adjoining Brechin Castle Centre (a gardening and horse-riding centre on the A90 just west of Brechin) is Pictavia, an interpretive centre telling the story of the Picts, and explaining current theories about the mysterious carved symbol stones they left behind. It’s worth making a trip here before going to see the Pictish stones at Aberlemno.
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Beltane Studios
The small gallery at Beltane Studios is quite superb with plenty of high-quality artwork: the highlight is also the speciality – bronze wax casting. There are huge windows looking into the workshop where you can see the masters at work. Beltane is outside of Peebles, on the road to Galashiels, just past the Hydro Hotel turn-off.
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Oban Rare Breeds Farm Park
The Oban Rare Breeds Farm Park is a favourite with children, who get to meet all kinds of animals at close quarters, including rabbits, goats, cows, deer and even llamas. The farm maintains rare breeds of domesticated animals, including Tamworth pigs, Shetland and Soay sheep and longhorn cattle; it is 2 miles east of the town centre.
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Glenbarr Abbey Visitor Centre
At Glenbarr, 6 miles south of Tayinloan, is Glenbarr Abbey Visitor Centre, a centre for the Clan Macalister. This 18th-century house has a large collection of clothes, thimbles and china, and a pair of gloves worn by Mary, Queen of Scots. Angus Macalister, the laird of Glenbarr, will himself take you on an entertaining guided tour.
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Thurso Heritage Museum
Thurso Heritage Museum, in the old Town Hall, displays Pictish and Christian fossils and carved stones, and a reconstruction of a croft interior. It was closed at the time of research for a major renovation and will reopen as Caithness Horizons in late 2008, featuring a museum, tourist office, visitor displays and a café.
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