10 ESSENTIAL PLACES TO VISIT IN SCOTLAND

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There are many essential places to visit in Scotland, more than monuments and cities it is a place that amazes by its impressive landscapes dotted with lakes and fairytale castles. Renting a car in Scotland, whether in Edinburgh or Glasgow and touring the island is the best way to enjoy it, yes, taking into account and remembering that in Scotland you drive on the left, something that after a couple of hours, we assure you you will have by hand.
Having the freedom to stop where and when you want, from the shore of a lake, in front of a waterfall, a castle or a ruined abbey, is priceless and is something that only allows you the freedom to travel by own car or rental . During our trip to Scotland in 11 days we toured much of this incredible land visiting many of its wonders.
If you are going to see many castles, as we did, we recommend you book the Explorer Pass of 5 or 14 days with which in addition to saving money on tickets, you will take a nice book-shaped souvenir with the stamps of each castle you have visited .
We leave you a list of what we believe are the 10 most amazing places to see in Scotland. We start!

1- Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan Castle is one of the jewels and one of the most essential places to visit in Scotland. Located in the Highlands, on a small island on Lake Duich, it is only accessible by a small stone bridge, which makes it even more scenic.
In addition, this castle was the scene of several films, including The immortals or Braveheart and it is the image of Scotch whiskey Cardhu.
You can take the best photos from the lake shore and after the visit, from the back. On a route through Scotland you will pass by when you cross the bridge to come or go from the Isle of Skye, so that may be a good time to include it on the route.
Visiting hours: from February to October from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From October to December from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. January closed.

Eilean Donan Castle

2- Neist Point on the Isle of Skye

Neist Point is our favorite place on the fantastic Isle of Skye. Known as the end of the Scottish world, it is a place where you drive on roads of a lane avoiding sheep and, very occasionally, a car. A lonely island and hard to forget.
Upon arriving at Neist Point you can climb a small hill and sit on the edge of a cliff, from where you will enjoy stunning views of the sea tongue that separates it from the Outer Hebrides. At this point there is also a beautiful lighthouse that will make the place even more memorable.

Neist Point on the Isle of Skye

3- Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

Loch Ness is possibly the most famous place in Scotland thanks to the legend of the monster Nessie, although we have to say that it is not exactly the prettiest, although it is one of the essential visits.
This deep dark water lake is located in the Highlands and began to be famous in 1933 with a photograph of a monster sighting, although it was later proven to be false, although the legend, mystery and business surrounding the lake no longer stopped, and from which you can see a video in the visitor center with which you will have a broader idea of the legend that surrounds Loch Ness.
Our favorite place on the lake is the ruins of Urquhart Castle and it is that we have a special predilection for unrestored castles and this one, located on the shore of the lake, seemed beautiful.
If you do not drive, you can visit it comfortably by booking an excursion from Edinburgh with a guide in Spanish, one of the best tours and excursions in Edinburgh.
Visiting hours: from April to September from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In October from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. From November to March from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Urqugart Castle and Loch Ness

4- Glen Coe

One of the most incredible landscapes and one of the best places to visit in Scotland It's Glen Coe. This deep glacier valley surrounded by the great mountains of Glen Coe is located in the Highlands and is of volcanic origin. It has appeared in movies like Skyfall James Bond and several of Harry Potter, although not only famous for that, but also for being one of the best places for hiking and mountain sports.
We traveled it coming from Oban, and as a recommendation we will tell you that before reaching Glen Coe, you will find the photogenic Stalker Castle, located on an island of Loch Laich. A place where you deserve to make a stop before following the route through Scotland.
In addition we warn you of something, while crossing the valley on the A82 road you can not stop stopping the car and to enjoy and shoot your camera at the mountains, rivers, waterfalls and incredible landscapes that surround it.
If you don't want to drive, you can book an excursion to tour the Highlands and the Isle of Skye in three days with a guide in Spanish from Edinburgh, with which you will also pass through Glen Coe.

Glen coe

5- Saint Andrews, one of the best places to visit in Scotland

Saint Andrews was one of the most pleasant surprises of our 11 days in Scotland by rental car. This ancient and historic university city bathed by the North Sea is known worldwide as the birthplace of golf.
Our favorite place in the city was its cathedral, walking among its ruins surrounded by tombs of all ages transports you to other times. The best place from which to have an incredible panoramic view is from the top of the tower of the church of Sant Rule, with fantastic views of the cathedral, the city and the sea.
In addition to this area, the medieval city of Saint Andrews is full of charm with its shops, cafes and markets, so it is worth visiting it with tranquility and spend a day.
And if you want to finish off this visit, you can't leave without running along the beach of West Sands, recalling the mythical scene of Fire cars, which was filmed there. As a curiosity we will tell you that next to the beach you will see people playing golf in the emblematic field Old course, one of the oldest in the world.
You can combine a visit to St. Andrews with Stirling with this day trip from Edinburgh.

Saint Andrews Cathedral

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

6- Whiskey Distillery

Scotland is a land of whiskey and visiting one of its 108 distilleries has become one of the great tourist attractions in the country. There is a whiskey route For lovers of this drink, although for non-fans it is interesting to visit at least one. On the route through the distillery they will teach you the whole process of making malt whiskey and you can make a tasting of several types of whiskey. We entered the Glenfiddich distillery, one of the most recognized and although we do not believe it is an essential, it was a curious visit and it is worth it if you have those hours.
Visiting hours: usually open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Sundays they can open an hour later and close an hour earlier.

Glenfiddich Distillery

7- Dunnottar Castle

Dunnottar Castle is one of our favorite castles and one of the best places to visit in Scotland. This medieval castle located on the east coast leaves you amazed by its location, on a rocky cliff above the sea, a perfect place to defend against attacks, with the waves of the North Sea protecting it and is only accessible by a narrow steep road.
The ruins are from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and appeared in the film Hamlet from Mel Gibson. When you visit it you can see the remains of what is left of the palace, the stables, the chapel ... and other places that are just as impressive as the views from them.
The best photo and the prettiest view is the one before arriving, with the perspective of the castle ruins above the summit and the sea in the background.
If you don't have a car, you can book a bus tour with a guide in Spanish, which also includes Glamis Castle, another of Scotland's most famous castles.
Visiting hours: from April to October from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From November to March from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dunnottar Castle, one of the best places to visit in Scotland

8- Rosslyn Chapel and The Borders

The Borders is an area in southern Edinburgh full of charming villages and beautiful ruins of medieval abbeys. We toured it including the Rosslyn Chapel that became very famous by having a key role in the book and the movie The Da Vinci Code.
This chapel of the mid-fifteenth century is full of gargoyles, symbols, reliefs, figures carved in stone, and it is really not strange to read the theories that say that the Knights Templar hid the Holy Grail here.
A little further south you will find the Scottish Borders area where the ruins of Melrose Abbey stand out, another amazing place that we recommend not to miss. Other interesting abbeys to visit in the area are Dryburgh and Jedburg.
Visiting hours of the chapel: from April to September from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From October to March from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays always from 12:00 to 16:45.

Melrose Abbey

9- Stirling and Loch Lomond National Park and the Trossachs

The town of Stirling dominated by a fabulous castle is another places to visit in Scotland. In addition to the castle you can visit the medieval town, its beautiful cemetery, the old jail or cross its famous bridge.
Near Stirling you also have to go see the monument to William Wallace, immortalized in the cinema by Mel Gibson in the movie Bravehart. The monument is a huge Victorian tower from which you will have fantastic views of the entire environment. Inside is what they say was the huge battle sword of William Wallace.
Stirling is also the gateway to the Loch Lomond National Park and the Trossachs, a beautiful park, dotted with lakes, forests, valleys and mountains, perfect for hiking. In the center of the park is the Loch Lomond, the largest in all of Britain, and one of the prettiest. It is also worth approaching to see Lake Katrine, the beautiful forest of Argyll Forest or the small town of Aberfoley.
If you don't do the route by car you can book an excursion to Glasgow and the Lomond and Katrine lakes with a guide in Spanish from Edinburgh.
Schedule Stirling Castle and monument to William Wallace: every day from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from April to September, the rest of the year closes at 5:00 p.m.

Stirling Castle

10- Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a tremendously welcoming city with a great atmosphere throughout the pub area. This city in which its fabulous Edinburgh Castle stands out, has two very different parts, the Old Town and the New Town. There are many things to see and do in Edinburgh, we would recommend in addition to visiting the castle, walking along the Royal Mile and Circus Lane, visiting the Palace of Holyrood or climbing to see the sunset at Calton Hill, with some large Views of the city of Edinburgh. Nor can you leave the city without taking a pint in one of its many taverns or a malt whiskey.
A good option, if it is your first time in the city, is to make a guided tour in Spanish to learn more about the history and curiosities of the city.