Scotland, a land of legends, a complex history and some of the world’s most lush scenery, calls out to the adventurous nature within us. Experience the place that inspired the epic movie “Braveheart”. Truly a place with something for everyone, Scotland is a small country that leaves a big impact on all who pass through. To help you organize your Scottish getaway, below is a list of the top tourist attractions in Scotland that should not be missed.

You can tour the castles and fabled battlefields where clans fought fiercely, trace the footsteps of legendary kings and queens, or follow literary trails blazed by the likes of Robbie Burns and Sir Walter Scott. Another of Scotland’s great attractions is its solitude, with its remote stretches of heather-covered moors, secluded beaches and wild, romantic mountains with their deep glens and lochs, all waiting to be explored.

 Edinburgh

Linda Macdonald, Telegraph TraveI’s Edinburgh expert, writes: “It is not difficult to understand how local boy Robert Lewis Stevenson came to write Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, growing up as he did in a city of such extraordinary variety. From the history-soaked medieval Old Town to the sweeping Georgian elegance of the New Town, Edinburgh deserves its reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful and compelling cities”.

Edinburg castle

Edinburgh Castle is a true icon of Scotland and has dominated the skyline of the capital for centuries. Unusually, it’s set atop of an extinct volcano. It takes the title of Scotland’s most-visited paid-for attraction.

Prior to joining the United Kingdom, Scotland is a kingdom of its own under the name Kingdom of Scotland. As an empire, of course, Scotland also has a castle as the residence of the royal family as well as the bastion. The castle is Edinburgh Castle, the most important building in the history of Scotland at the same time most iconic landmarks and buildings in the city of Edinburgh and even Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle stands majestically on the Castle Rock hill which has a height of 130 meters above sea level. This hill formed from the remains of a volcano that has erupted estimated at 340 million years ago.

Until the end of the prehistoric era, has not found evidence to suggest that this hill was inhabited. But then the area around the hill grown rapidly and become a civilization. In the year 683, the city was founded by British troops and later named as Edinburgh. Since then, Scotland have started to be colonized by the British forces with Castle Rock serve as one of the centers and military headquarters.

 National museum of Scotland

Set on Edinburgh’s Chambers Street, National Museum of Scotland is a treasure trove of ancient artefacts and precious objects. It’s the most popular attraction in the UK outside of London and offers a great, year-round programme of temporary exhibitions. Don’t miss the 10 recently opened galleries covering science, design and fashion.

Cuillin Hills

Located on the most northern island of Skye, the beauty of the rolling peaks of the Cuiillin Hills is undeniable. These hills are made up of two diverse formations. The Red Cuiillins are a red granite formation, which are softer and more inviting in appearance. In opposition, the Black Cuillins are more harsh in appearance with sharp, jagged peaks of volcanic rock that scale the skyline and warn off those who are unwelcome.

Loch Lomond Shores

Those bonnie banks of Loch Lomond have a very special allure, so it’s no surprise that hundreds of thousands of people flock to Loch Lomond Shores every year. It’s the perfect day trip destination with its offering of family attractions, fun activities and quality shops.

Riverside Museum

Opened in 2011, the spectacular Riverside Museum sits on the River Clyde and is home to the Glasgow Museum of Transport. It is full of fascinating objects and vehicles which tell the story of Scotland’s past and present.

The Riverside is a multi-award winning museum located on the banks of the River Clyde, with over 3000 objects on display from Glasgow’s rich past. You will find an incredible array of objects from skateboards and vintage cars to prams and powerful locomotives. You can even walk down an old cobbled Glasgow street with shops dating from 1895 to the 1980s.

Berthed outside you will find the Tall Ship, Glenlee, the UK’s only floating Clyde-built sailing ship and also free to enter. Step on board this impressive ship where you will find all sorts to entertain the kids including an under 5s play area in the cargo hold to a mouse hunt!

The Helix

Located in between Falkirk and Grangemouth, The Helix is a vast parkland space and home to the The Kelpies by Andy Scott. These two enormous horse head sculptures are a testament to the area’s equine-powered heritage and have to be seen to be believed.

Stirling

Ideally situated between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Stirling is famous for the Battle of Bannockburn which saw Robert the Bruce defeat the English invaders in 1314, as well as the Battle of Stirling Bridge, a victory for Scottish independence secured by the legendary William Wallace. The splendid Bannockburn Heritage Centre offers excellent displays and exhibits regarding this important era. Between Stirling and Bridge of Allan stands the majestic Wallace Monument, a spectacular 246-step tower with incredible views of the area, as well as artifacts said to have belonged to the great Wallace himself. Finally, there’s spectacular Stirling Castle built atop a 250 ft high volcanic crag. Dating back to the 12th Century, the castle played an important role in Scotland’s rich history and serves as a great place from which to explore the area.

The post Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Scotland appeared first on Travel Explore Now.