Place of interest Archive

Plockton – a fishing village turned holiday idyll

There are several beautiful fishing villages on the west coast of the Highlands. And Plockton turns out to be a true gem among them. In good weather, Plockton’s idyllic charm is almost too much to take: white houses line a road running along the shore. Palm trees (!) occasionally interrupt the view over the small […]

Castle Tioram – idyllic ruin, bitter fight

Castle Tioram looks so peaceful, and yet a bitter battle has been raging over the castle for years. All the more reason to make sure you visit it on your next Scotland trip. Through a landscape unusually cultivated for the Highlands, the River Shiel meanders lazily down to a large bay fringed by woodland. In […]

Linlithgow Palace – the proud palace of the Stewarts

The rise and fall of the Stewart monarchy is mirrored in the history of Linlithgow Palace. A very special ruin. You could almost say Linlithgow Palace was the Stewarts’ motel. After all, the kings and their court liked to stop off here on the journey between Edinburgh and Stirling Castle, since it lies roughly halfway […]

Culross – a Royal Burgh from Old Scotland

The whole village is a sight in itself: the houses and lanes of the Royal Burgh of Culross take visitors back centuries into the past. It was sheer hardship. For 150 years, the community of Culross experienced economic decline. And while the other towns here on the arm of the Firth of Forth could afford […]

Doune Castle – a castle for many films

Castle Leoch in Outlander or Castle Anthrax in Monty Python – Doune Castle has already had many names in many films. But a visit is worthwhile for more than that reason alone. Robert Stewart, the first Duke of Albany, presumably never intended to create a perfect film set – after all, cinema didn’t exist yet […]

Rannoch Moor – Wilderness in the Heart of Scotland

Straight from the green valley into the Scottish moor. Rannoch Moor is wilderness in its purest form. Bad for living, but good for the eyes. Just moments ago, rocky giants rose up on either side of you. Just moments ago, lush green covered the rocky slopes. Just moments ago, you passed a ski station at […]

Chanonry Point – Watching Dolphins in the Moray Firth

Chanonry Point is the best meeting place between humans and dolphins in Scotland. Here’s why that is, and how best to watch the bottlenose dolphins. A small lighthouse, a long sandy beach, and a pod of dolphins – Chanonry Point on the Black Isle in north-east Scotland doesn’t skimp on beautiful promises. But most visitors […]

St Kilda – island group at the edge of Europe

In the middle of the Atlantic, far from Scotland, lies the archipelago of St Kilda. Its wild nature once drove the islanders to a sad decision. As was usual for important decisions of daily life, the men of the island met for the “Parliament”, the village assembly. So it was on this day in 1928 […]

Kilchurn Castle – a romantic ruined castle on Loch Awe

One of Scotland’s most enchanting ruins stands on Loch Awe: Kilchurn Castle tells the story of the expansion of Clan Campbell and its strong women. Two women decided the fate of this castle. One is said to have overseen its construction, the other unwittingly sent the castle into obscurity. Between them lay around 200 years, […]

Glen Affric – where Scotland’s original nature survives

A beautiful view of untouched nature: a walk through Glen Affric is one of the enchanting moments of any trip to Scotland. After the last village, Cannich, the car rattles for half an hour along the single-track road before reaching the car park at Loch Affric. Here, parallel to the Great Glen and Loch Ness, […]