Last Updated on November 13, 2022
There are lots of great places to see when you’re on your next coast-to-coast tour of Scotland. In fact, there’s so much to do you might not be able to cram it all into one visit. It all depends on how long you stay. The country is full of stunning botanic gardens, beautiful highlands and country parks, and it’s dotted with iconic castles, historic buildings and spectacular cathedrals.
You can find some excellent museums and galleries, visit mountain ski resorts (depending on the season), and go island-hopping, and the best way to travel across the country is either by train or a scenic drive in a motorhome (more recommended). Here are ten of the hottest spots to add to your next coast-to-coast tour of Scotland.
10 spots to add to your coast-to-coast tour of Scotland
When you next travel to Scotland, instead of staying put in one place, there’s so much to see, and a coast-to-coast tour of the country is highly recommended. If you want to know more about motorhome hire in Scotland, visit Ariescape (www.ariescape.co.uk). Travelling by motorhome is one of the best ways to get around Scotland. Here are 10 spots you must add to your tour before visiting anywhere else. They include the following:
- The North Coast
- Inverness
- Galloways (Southwest Coastal Route)
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
- Glen Coe
- Loch Ness
- Oban
- Isle Of Skye
- Cairngorms National Park
- Fort William
Other honorable mentions
If you enjoy visiting any of these top spots and want more of Scotland, then you may also like to check out some of these other honorable mentions. For example, you have to visit Glasgow at some point and take in both the old and the new. If you enjoy your time here, then you also have to check out Stirling. There’s also Glenfinnan, Applecross, Edinburgh, Mallaig, Aberdeen, Falkirk, Portknockie, and, not forgetting, St. Andrews.
The Best Things to do and see when visiting Scotland
It all depends on where you go, but at each of the destinations mentioned above, there’s something for all ages and all walks of life to take in. You can visit Scotland all year round, but each season of the year comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. For example, if you’re looking to go snowboarding or skiing, then the summertime isn’t a great time to visit. Likewise, if you want to lay on the golden sand on any of Scotland’s most iconic beaches, then perhaps the depths of winter aren’t a great time to go, and so on.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the things to do when you next visit one of the top 10 spots mentioned above.
The North Coast
It can get a little windy up here, and some of the important things you should remember to do when visiting the North Coast of Scotland are checking out the John O’ Groats beer distillery and the captivating Duncansby Head [and stacks] feature. There’s also Smoo Cave, which a lot of people forget to visit when they stay in this part of the country.
Inverness
Don’t forget to check out the Victorian market when visiting Inverness – one of Scotland’s most beautiful cities, and get to Inverness Castle just before the sun sets. Inverness is also home to one of the country’s biggest second-hand bookstores.
Galloways (Southwest Coastal Route)
In this part of the country, you have the iconic Culzean Castle and the awe-inspiring Caerlaverock Castle. Also, while visiting one of the furthest reaches of Scotland, check out the Galloway Lighthouse that looks out to see and faces three different countries
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
If you’re a more adventurous person with a love of climbing and the great outdoors, you can climb Ben Lomond Mountain in this part of the country. We also recommend going on the Three Lochs Forest Drive and cruising by boat over the stunning Loch Lomond.
Glen Coe
Many people visit here to see where part of a James Bond movie was filmed, plus there’s also the seasonal Glencoe mountain resort for snowboarding and skiing, as well as the Rannoch Moor viewpoint.
Loch Ness
It’s not all about seeing Nessie when visiting here. It’s all about taking in the magnificent trail around the loch. There’s also Urquhart Castle to check out.
Oban
Here, you have the Oban Distillery, McCaig’s Tower (aka McCaig’s Folly), and plenty of eateries along the seafront where you can eat the latest catch and other great dishes.
Isle of Skye
This location is famous for the dinosaur prints and Kilt Falls, plus you can also trek up Storr Hill (aka the Old Man of Storr) and even take a trip to your very own private island, to name just a few points of interest.
Cairngorms National Park
You can ski here down Cairngorm Mountain during the winter season here. It’s also where the King’s iconic retreat, Balmoral Castle, is located, and it’s also home to the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, which mustn’t be missed.
Fort William
Finally, at Fort William, you can go skiing at the Ben Nevis Ski Centre, climb up and down Ben Nevis Mountain, and take a slow journey on the famous Jacobite steam train.
Don’t forget that these are just ten of the numerous top spots in Scotland that you must check out during your time here. There are lots of other fantastic places to visit as well if you have the time. However, squeezing them all in during just a short stay is much easier said than done.
