Scotland The Best: New and fully updated 12th edition of Scotland’s bestselling guide

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Hiking Wild walks, crumbling castles, Michelin-starred restaurants and more of Cumbria’s best experiences

This Neolithic village – which, at 5000 years, is older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids of Giza – lay buried in coastal sand dunes for centuries. Even today, it can feel as though the inhabitants have just slipped out to go fishing and could return at any moment. 10. Walk through the dramatic scenery of Glen Coe Best place for clan history Also visit Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA), a centre for contemporary art, for workshops, events and films... plus a great café.Situated in the heart of Royal Deeside, this beauty spot was a favourite with Queen Victoria describing it as, “my dear paradise in the Highlands”. Today, you’ll find visitors enjoying Ballater’swide range of outdoor pursuits. One of the best destinations for a weekend break in Scotland, Fort William sits on the eastern shore of Loch Linnhe, in the shadow of Ben Nevis. The start or end point of the West Highland Way, you are within striking distance of Skye and the Isle of Mull to the west and Fort Augustus to the north. The Great Western Bridge over the River Kelvin is the most recognisable landmark in an area of Glasgow that sits at the centre of a resurgent West End. The Kelvinbridge neighbourhood is home to some of the city’s most interesting independent businesses, set on and around the grand boulevard of Great Western Road with its period residential architecture and bohemian atmosphere. Some of the best places to visit in Scotland will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s ever gazed at a whisky label or shortbread tin. Think dramatic peaks, lonely glens, lochs, tartan and haggis!

We would also like to send you exclusive promotions, competitions and content from The Times and Sunday Times and selected partners. Food & Drink:Featuring in the Michelin Guide, find your favourite dishes under one roof at The Champany Inn . From succulent cuts of steak, mouth-watering burgers and delicious desserts, you’ll be spoiled for choice! From museums and art galleries to urban beaches and open-top tour buses, the city offers lots of inspiration for your next trip. Did you know it’s also a UNESCO City of Design ? TheTraigh Hornais Clachan SandsonNorth Uistis also an impressive stretch of pristine white sands, perfect for a scenic stroll or a picnic on the beach, as well as the crystal-clear waters and shallow bay making the perfect opportunity for snorkelling and swimming. Head for a wander at dusk to enjoy an immaculate sunset in one of the most beautiful areas of Scotland! Some of the glen's finest walks – to the Lost Valley, for example – follow the routes taken by fleeing clanspeople, many of whom perished in the snow.Scotland has drama in every corner: mountains that rise straight out of the sea; remote island archipelagos; legends of fearsome bravery and terrible betrayal. Throw in countless lochs, breathtaking wildlife — eagles, stags, whales and salmon — that need space, and isolation, to continue to exist. And don’t forget Scotland has castles aplenty, many of them broken ruins, but some given new life as aristocratic hotels. In short, this is a place with a rawness, and a purity, that will appeal to anyone with an ounce of poetry in their soul. Loch Fyne is, "a combination of the incredible scenery, the seafood and the beer plus the lovely people in the community - it' s a really special place." Things to do:Get ready to stretch those legs and take on the Cliff Top Trail. The walk is perfect for family outings and takes just under an hour to complete. You’ll pass by redstone cliffs, a golf course, Dunbar Harbour and down the High Street where you’ll find popular attractions along the way including John Muir’s Birthplace. Explore the route on two wheels by hiring a bike from Belhaven Bikes. If you’re feeling adventurous, ditch dry land and go surfing. Brave the chilly sea temperatures with Coast to Coast Surf Schoolwho offer surf lessons and courses on Belhaven beach, or enjoy an adrenaline rush with Foxlake Adventures. Food & Drink: Stop by Victoria's Vintage Tea Roomsfor tea and cake. Indulge in delicious chocolate brownies, freshly made scones and Victoria sponge, using only the best ingredients. It’s not only the big islands that are covered. Wee isles like Easdale (which once supplied the world its slate) appears to maintain a precarious truce with the sea, judging from the epic drone picture by Iain Masterton.

This area of the country deserves a pilgrimage in 2022. The landscape is nothing short of remarkable. The mountains of Glen Coe are built from some of the oldest volcanic strata in the world, dramatically moulded by fire and ice 380 million years ago.Take the wee ferry to the Isle of Gighafrom Tayinloan, which takes just 20 minutes and spend a day wandering across the tiny island. There are plenty ofbeautiful places to visit in every region, but why notslow down your travelsand experience all that Scotland has to offer? Enjoy a relaxing break away and delve into the manyslow travel experiencesthat allow you to explore at your own pace.