13 of the best things to do in Scotland

1. Hunt for Nessie on the shores of Loch Ness

Tales of Scotland’s most famous monster have been captivating visitors — and confounding scientists — since that first sighting in 1933. And what lies beneath the inky waters of one of Scotland’s largest lochs still has the power to pull people up to this remote corner of the Highlands. Take a boat trip out on the water or check out the recently revamped Loch Ness Centre in the little village of Drumnadrochit to learn more about the folklore and scientific explorations.

2. Sip a dram in a whisky distillery

Glenfiddich distillery

ALAMY

Do you prefer a peaty malt or a smooth dram? Scotland is the home of whisky and the country is peppered with distilleries. There are whisky festivals scattered throughout the year, luxurious distillery hotels where you can bed down and even a Malt Whisky Trail which weaves through Speyside’s bucolic hills. Take a tour and tasting at Glenlivet or Glenfiddich to find out more about the history of “Uisge beatha” or the “water of life”.

3. Ride the rails in the Scottish Highlands

The Jacobite steam train

ALAMY

Starting off near the foot of the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, the Jacobite steam train runs from Fort William to Mallaig — an 84-mile round trip often dubbed one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world. Snake around seawater lochs, the deepest freshwater loch in Britain (Loch Morar) and majestic mountains, also admiring views out towards the small isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna. One of the highlights is the crossing of the Glenfinnan viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films.

• Best hotels in the Highlands

4. See the sights of Edinburgh

The Scottish National Gallery

ALAMY

With its iconic castle dominating the skyline, Edinburgh offers a mix of world-class museums, elegant Georgian and medieval architecture, grand gardens and upmarket shopping. Must-see cultural sights include the National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery, which is hung with grand masters including Titian, Rembrandt and Constable. The Royal Botanic Garden has over 13,500 plant species — or you can follow the capital’s Royal Mile to 17th-century Holyrood Palace; its state apartments, throne room and gallery are open to visitors unless the King is in residence.

• Best hotels in Edinburgh
• Best things to do in Edinburgh

5. Go back in time at Stirling Castle

Childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots, this historic fortress towers over the River Forth on a volcanic outcrop at the meeting point of the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands on the outskirts of Stirling. Highlights include the Royal Palace and apartments; the Great Hall, completed in 1503; the Chapel Royal and the Great Kitchens. Children can dress up in period costume, while the museum tells the story of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from the 1800s to modern times. Stirling is around an hour’s drive from Edinburgh.

6. Get your culture fix in Glasgow

Glasgow’s Riverside Museum

ALAMY

By the shores of the River Clyde on Scotland’s west coast, Glasgow is a cultural centre to rival any in Europe. Home to the Scottish Ballet, Opera and National Theatre of Scotland, it also has cutting-edge museums and art galleries. From the civic art collection in gothic-style Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to the modern zig-zag building housing the Riverside Museum, the eye-catching architecture is almost as big a draw as the exhibits inside. Culture overload? For a leafy escape, head to the city’s Botanic Gardens.

• Best hotels in Glasgow
• Best things to do in Glasgow

7. Explore two national parks

Loch Lee in the Cairngorms national park

GETTY IMAGES

Scotland has two national parks. The Cairngorms extends over the eastern Highlands and west Aberdeenshire and contains five of the UK’s six highest mountains. Its huge forests are home to golden eagles, snow bunting and ptarmigan. Further south is Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, with its vast stretch of water peppered with over 30 islands (there’s one which is home to a colony of wallabies introduced in the 1940s). Activities include kayaking, windsurfing and fishing, and both parks are paradise for hill walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

8. Have a picnic in Inverewe Garden

The lawn in front of Inverewe House at Inverewe Garden

ALAMY

Among the many inspirational gardens in Scotland is this intriguing subtropical landscape overlooking Loch Ewe, in the northerly corner of Wester Ross. It was planted by 19th-century owner Osgood Mackenzie and his daughter Mairi Sawyer, and exotic species include California redwoods, Tasmanian eucalyptus and plants from Nepal, India and China which thrive courtesy of the warm Gulf Stream. Home to red squirrels, deer, pine martens and eagles, the gardens are managed by the National Trust for Scotland, which offers guided and self-guided walks.

9. Take a tour of St Andrews, the home of golf

St Andrews town centre

GETTY IMAGES

The R&A World Golf Museum (formerly the British Golf Museum) outlines the origins of the game and delves into the story behind the Old Course with its landmark Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole. This university town has a rich history, and a tour of its cobbled streets and ancient quadrangles, the ruins of its 12th-century cathedral and 13th-century castle brings it to life. It also has not one, but two, beaches. East Sands is the small beach by the harbour, while you might recognise West Sands from the classic film Chariots of Fire. Annual events include food festivals, a Highland games and St Andrew’s Day celebrations in late November.

10. Bag a Munro

A walker approaching the summit of Ben Lomond

ALAMY

Named after Sir Hugh Munro — the man who decided to count all the Scottish mountains over 3,000ft in 1891 — “Munro-baggers” is what climbers on a mission to tick off these mighty summits are called. At the last count there were 282; the highest and most famous, Ben Nevis, is one of the most straightforward to tackle. There’s a well-worn trail but it’s still a mighty schlep so make sure you take the right kit. Another of the easiest Munros for beginners is Ben Lomond, just a short hop from Glasgow, with a clear path and killer views.

nts.org.uk

11. Sail between the Scottish islands

The beach at Loch na Mile bay on Jura

ALAMY

When it comes to spectacular scenery, it’s hard to beat the Scottish islands. There are almost 800, ranging from tiny outcrops to the largest island, the two-for-the-price-of-one landmass Lewis and Harris. Divided into four main archipelagos — Shetland, Orkney, the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides — there’s no shortage of options for island-hopping holidays. Among the most beautiful are wildlife-rich Jura with its famous whisky distillery, Iona with its peaceful abbey and royal burial ground, Barra with its white, sandy beaches and Unst, Britain’s northernmost island.

visitscotland.com

12. Get arty at the V&A Dundee

The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Oak Room at the V&A Dundee

ALAMY

Scotland’s first dedicated design museum dominates Dundee’s historic River Tay waterfront and is the only V&A outside London. A highlight is the restored Charles Rennie Mackintosh Oak Room, while the Scottish Design Galleries explore architecture, fashion, furniture and jewellery — with exhibits ranging from a 15th-century illuminated manuscript to a pistol made in the early 1700s and a pair of classic Hunter wellies dating from the 1980s. Tatha Bar and Kitchen serves refreshments.

vam.ac.uk

13. Explore Fingal’s Cave

Fingal’s cave on the island of Staffa

GETTY IMAGES

Celebrated in Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture and visited by Queen Victoria, William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott, this remote but extraordinary cave is characterised by its hexagonal rock columns formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. On the island of Staffa lying off Scotland’s west coast, it was discovered by naturalist Joseph Banks in 1772. Staffa was designated a National Nature Reserve in 2001, and local boat tours to the island depart from Fionnphort and Tobermory on Mull, the isle of Iona, and Oban on the mainland, taking in the local birdlife including puffins, guillemots and fulmars.

visitmullandiona.co.uk

• Best places to stay in Scotland
• Best family hotels in Scotland

Additional reporting: Lucy Gillmore

Sign up to the Times Travel newsletter for weekly inspiration, advice and deals here