There’s no shortage of adventures in Scotland. Here, battlefields tell a story, royal castles loom around every corner, and ancient civilizations appear mysteriously after a stormy night.
The country’s remote landscape is another big draw for visitors. In the Scottish Highlands, you’ll find mirror-like lochs, romantic glens, heather-laden moors, and the tallest mountains in the UK. Along the coast, islands with pristine beaches and abundant wildlife are waiting to be explored.
For city lovers, Scotland’s capital Edinburgh is a juxtaposition of winding alleys and wide uniform roads busy with shops, restaurants, and plenty of history. Intrigued? Read on to discover the best fun things to do in Scotland.
1. Road trip around Skye
Located on the West Coast of Scotland, the Isle of Skye is renowned for its breathtaking and otherworldly scenery. The best way to see it all is to spend a few days road-tripping around the island. This is a must-visit if you’re planning your Scotland road trip itinerary.
A top place to visit includes the Trotternish Peninsula with its legendary Old Man of Storr, an ancient landslide known as the Quiraing, and the magical Fairy Glen.
Don’t miss the pretty town of Portree with its colorful houses along the harbourfront, and make sure you head to the island’s most westerly tip to see Neist Point Lighthouse jutting into the water.
2. Explore old and new Edinburgh
The City of Edinburgh is divided into Old Town and New Town, which are each distinct in character.
The Old Town, which sits on the hill beside Edinburgh Castle, is a maze of narrow cobblestone passages and alleyways leading to secret gardens. New Town is much more spread out with its wide streets and Neoclassical architecture.
One of the best things about Edinburgh is that it’s very walkable. Spend your day wandering through the city, searching for pretty spots and hidden gems (there are many here!).
Circus Lane, Dean Village, the Royal Mile, Victoria Street, Dunbar’s Close, Calton Hill, and Greyfriars Bobby are a must-visit!
Here’s a 2 day Edinburgh itinerary and 3 day Edinburgh itinerary to help you plan your trip!
3. Ride the Jacobite Steam Train
The Jacobite steam train is perhaps most famous for being known as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter film franchise. However, the little red train is iconic in its own right, boasting one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world.
The Jacobite follows the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig from April to October. You can either ride the train itself and admire the view over afternoon tea or visit Glenfinnan and watch the train chugging over Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Watch out for the Glenfinnan Monument, which was erected to honor the Highlanders that lost their lives in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. If you look carefully you might spot the lone highlander who stands guard at the top of the tower!
4. See Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
If you have a penchant for mind-bending illusions, Camera Obscura & World of Illusions in Edinburgh is a must.
Situated right on the Royal Mile next to Edinburgh Castle, Camera Obscura is one of the oldest attractions in the city.
It was opened in 1835 as the home of a live moving picture of Edinburgh, and it has since been extended to house a plethora of puzzles, holograms, and mirrors.
You can also climb the attraction’s tower and get a panoramic view of the city sprawled below!
5. Meet Britain’s only resident reindeer
Did you know Cairngorms National Park is home to Britain’s only resident free-roaming reindeer? Most of the 150-strong herd can be found wandering the mountains while the rest stay on the Glenlivet Estate.
You can meet the reindeer throughout most of the year, either by visiting their paddock or by taking part in a guided hillwalking excursion. It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly day out in Scotland.
6. Find the best spots to photograph Edinburgh Castle
It’s impossible to visit Edinburgh without spotting Edinburgh Castle perched on the rock above it. This magnificent fortress offers ample photo opportunities from every angle.
Some of the most famous spots include:
- The Vennel, a set of steps leading from Grassmarket to Lauriston Place
- Ross Fountain in West Princes Street Garden
- St Cuthbert’s Churchyard at the West End of St Princes Street
- Castle Esplanade, right at the entrance to the castle
7. Do an Outlander tour of the Highlands
If you’re an Outlander fan, following in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie on an Outlander filming locations tour is a must. Do a short walking tour, meet other fans on a small group tour, or make it a multi-day Outlander holiday. The choice is yours!
You can, of course, create your own route, but you won’t get all the fun facts and tidbits shared by your knowledgeable guide.
Top filming locations to see include Doune Castle (Castle Leoch), Falkland (Inverness circa the 1940s), Culross (Cranesmuir), Clava Cairns, and Culloden Moor.
You can easily find tours to suit a range of budgets and timeframes, starting from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness.
8. Road trip through Scotland in search of castles
Scotland is known for its castles. In fact, there are more than 1,000 of them, with the most famous being Edinburgh Castle.
Most of the best-preserved castles can be found in Aberdeenshire, otherwise known as ‘Castle Country’, as there are more castles per acre here than in the rest of the UK.
VisitScotland has put together a six-day self-guided Castle Trail itinerary. The perfect holiday for castle lovers and history buffs. Top castles include:
- Dunnottar Castle
- Crathes Castle
- Castle Fraser
- Balmoral Castle
- Craigievar Castle
You can follow the entire itinerary or create a shorter route that ticks off all the castles you find the most interesting.
9. See puffins on Staffa
Tucked among the islands of the Inner Hebrides is Staffa. The small island is uninhabited except for one creature, which makes it their home from April to early August – puffins!
Staffa is also home to Fingal’s Cave, a sea cave formed from the same dark basalt columns and hexagonal shapes you find at Giant’s Causeway in Ireland.
This cave has been a source of fascination throughout history with famous visitors such as Felix Mendelssohn, William Wordsworth, Sir Walter Scott, Queen Victoria, and Prince Albert.
The best way to visit Staffa is with Staffa Tours, which offers boat trips from March to October. Aim for summer if you also want to catch a glimpse of the puffins.
10. Spot orcas off the coast of Orkney and Shetland
Ocas have been spotted in waters all around the UK coast, but one of the best places to see them are Orkney and Shetland from May to September. A wildlife photography trip to the Shetland Islands is a must!
Keep an eye out on the ferry from John O’Groats to Orkney, and you may catch sight of that telltale dorsal fin.
Other top places to see them include Cantik Head on Hoy, North Hill on Papa Westray, and Noup Head on Westray. Visit Nature in Shetland for up-to-date Orca sightings.
While Orca sightings aren’t guaranteed, you’ll also have the chance to spot seals, dolphins, harbor porpoises, otters, and more!
11. Drive the North Coast 500
If you’re looking for a bucket list Scottish road trip, the most famous is the North Coast 500 (NC500). Voted a top coastal touring route, the road trip is 516 miles of breathtaking scenery through the North Highlands.
The entire route takes between five and seven days to complete. In reality, it will be based on how much driving you’ll want to do each day. Take your time to savor each sight as you pass through the route’s six regions.
The most wonderful thing about the NC500 is you can shape it to suit your interests. Travel by bike or car, make the focus all about food, or go off the beaten track in the wilderness. For more travel inspiration, see the official NC500 website.
12. Look for ‘Nessie’ in Loch Ness
Loch Ness is a large freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands and home to the legendary Loch Ness Monster, or ‘Nessie’ for short. While concrete proof of a lake-dwelling monster is yet to be uncovered, it’s still a great place to visit in its own right.
A top thing to do here is cruise the loch on a boat tour or in a kayak. Watch out for mysterious flippers appearing out of the watery depths below. You can stay in one of the cosy Loch Ness cottages and spend your days exploring the surrounding areas. Even if you don’t spot Nessie, the beauty of the loch and its surroundings make for a memorable experience.
Visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle on the shores of the loch and learn about the local history at the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition. In summer, head to Dores Beach for sunbathing and a full-service restaurant.
Hiking is another popular activity here, and the most famous trail is Loch Ness360. The entire route takes about six days to complete, but you can easily do little sections of it to suit you.
13. Visit the UK’s most remote train station
Sitting 408 meters above sea level in the middle of a vast stretch of moorland in the West Highlands, Carrour Station is the highest and most remote train station in the UK.
It’s so remote, there isn’t even a road here – just hiking trails and a small B&B and restaurant. Trainspotting fans may recognise the tiny platforms and sparse landscape from the film.
Carrour sits on the West Highland line and is a stop on the legendary Caledonian Sleeper train from Glasgow to Fort William.
14. Tee off in the birthplace of golf
St Andrews is considered to be the home of golf. In fact, the sport has been played here since the 15th century!
If you’re a golf lover then you have to tee off in St Andrews at least once in your life.
There are seven courses which make up St Andrews Links. Walk in the footsteps of the original golf players at the Old Course which is the oldest golf course in the world.
15. See ‘Scottish Pompeii’ in Orkney
An ancient site older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza is Skara Brae, a 5,000-year-old Neolithic settlement on the wind-swept Bay of Skaill in Orkney.
Once a thriving village, it’s now the remains of one of the best-preserved groups of prehistoric houses in Western Europe. It was discovered in 1850 after a violent storm had stripped off parts of a knoll to reveal the ruins of several small roofless houses.
Despite being thousands of years old, the artefacts found inside were so well-preserved that Skara Brae was nicknamed the ‘Scottish Pompeii.’ It’s unclear what became of the residents.
The easiest way to get there is to take the ferry from Thurso to Stromness and then it’s just a 10-minute drive or bus journey to the Neolithic site.
Final thoughts on fun things to do in Scotland
Scotland offers plenty of fun things to do, lending itself to any type of holiday you want.
See where ferocious clans once clashed, set sail in search of sea monsters, drive through ancient landslides that look like a fairyland or discover true wilderness in the moors. It’s all here.
All that’s left to do now is plan your epic itinerary. This Scotland travel guide can help!
