Scotland The Best: New and fully updated 12th edition of Scotland’s bestselling guide

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Sandwiched between the Trossachs, Stirling and Perthshire, Clackmannanshire is full of little surprises and scenic spots. A destination ideally positioned to bring together elements of country living with the attractions of an historic small city. Featured art will include Luke Jerram's 'Gaia' and 'Museum of the Moon', and Lucid Creates will bring 'Together', an immersive large-scale light and sound experience - featuring stories and memories from the community. Over on the east coast of Mainland, boats tootle across to the RSPB bird reserve on the isle of Mousa, home to 7000 breeding pairs of storm petrels and the spectacularly preserved remains of Mousa Broch, a chimney-like drystone tower erected by Shetland’s Iron Age inhabitants.

We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse. Fort William is also the start of the Caledonian Canal, which links Loch Lochy to Loch Ness all the way to Inverness, splitting Scotland in half. Scotland invented the game of golf and the city of St Andrews is still revered as its spiritual home by hackers and champions alike. Scout new ways to explore the planet's wildest places with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.Kisimul Castle, perched atop the rocky Bagha Chaisteil islet, the historic seat of Clan MacNeil is a site of pilgrimage for descend­ants of Barra emigrants, including those who left for Canada during the clearances of is a monument to the island's past Barra is studded by monolithic monu­ments, burial cairns and standing stones. The area is linked to folk tales about Rob Roy MacGregor and the Rob Roy Way, a long distance footpath that runs from Drymen to Pitlochry passes through the town. From Argentina to Vietnam, our worldwide network of local experts can plan your trip from arrival to departure, so you can spend less time poring over train timetables and more having the best experiences possible.

There's no overly elaborate cooking at Loch Fyne Oysters, although the chefs are certainly highly skilled, instead it's about allowing diners to really appreciate the freshness of the products.The house itself was the ancient seat of the Dukes of Hamilton and has a collection of period furniture, paintings, and sporting trophies. Three former lighthouse keepers’ cottages on the peninsula are now self-catering holiday accommodation.

Whatever activities we do, we always try to keep it neutral, either not taking from the land and if we can, trying to enhance it. During the Viking Age it belonged to the Norwegian crown before being absorbed into Scotland in the 13th century.Ben Nevis may be the highest of Scotland’s mountains, but the wildest are in the Cairngorms National Park, which cover a massive 1,748 square miles. It’s a really good place for independent businesses, and a real feeling of community with the other businesses too. Perhaps less celebrated than Harris, there are numerous enchanting beaches on the Lewis coast; apart from the odd surfie, you’ve likely to have the strand to yourself. One of the most recognisable landmarks in the town is Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight locks on the Caledonian Canal, built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822.