Things to Do in Scotland

As huge as Loch Ness is, its vast size is not the reason for its global fame, nor is it the magnificent surrounding scenery. The real reason visitors flock to this Scottish body of water is to spot the elusive Loch Ness Monster. Rumors about Nessie have flown since an Irish monk first caught sight of something unusual swimming around the lake’s inky waters back in the seventh century. Today. travelers still cruise around the loch in hopes of catching sight of the mysterious aquatic monster.

Loch Ness is most often visited during day trips from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen that incorporate other Highlands attractions such as Urquhart Castle, Stirling Castle, Caledonian Canal, Glencoe, Rannoch Moor, Cairngorms National Park, and even Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. Shorter half-day trips, which typically include boat tours on the lake, typically depart from Inverness, while cruise-ship passengers can take shore excursions from Invergordon. Motorized boat trips are the most common way for visitors to scour Nessie’s lair, though it’s also possible to paddle a canoe or kayak out on the loch, or even take a self-guided cycling trip.

 

 

Loch Ness stretches between Inverness and Fort Augustus, and is one of many such lakes located along the Great Glen. Tours from Inverness, Edinburgh, and Glasgow typically include round-trip transportation to cruise departure points such as Clansman Harbour, Dochgarroch, and Tomnahurich Bridge.  

Boat trips around Loch Ness run year-round, though they are weather-dependent. During summer, the main A82 thoroughfare between Fort William and Inverness sees a lot of traffic and sightseeing cruises often sell out, so be sure to buy tickets in advance.

 

For the best chances of glimpsing the fabled Loch Ness Monster, choose a boat that is fitted with special onboard sonar systems to ensure Nessie doesn’t swim by unnoticed. If you are worried the sound of a motor may disturb Nessie, opt for a canoe or kayak tour instead. And if you’d rather stay away from the water altogether, the high lakeside perch where the ruins of Urquhart Castle lie makes for a great viewing spot, with uninterrupted lake panoramas.

Set within an imposing neoclassical building, this museum presents an impressive collection of artwork spanning the Renaissance to the 20th century. Works by European masters, such as Titian, Monet, Rembrandt, and van Gogh, are complemented by a collection of Scottish works that includes pieces from Allan Ramsay and Sir Henry Raeburn.

Because of its central location on the Mound between Edinburgh Old Town and New Town, the exterior of the Scottish National Gallery building is often seen during guided walking tours of Edinburgh. Of course, to explore the gallery’s collections, it’s necessary to venture inside. Visitors can browse permanent and special exhibitions independently or join free drop-in tours, talks, and workshops, which take place on select dates. 

The National Gallery of Scotland sits on the Mound, an artificial hill connecting Edinburgh Old Town to the New Town. From Edinburgh Waverley Station, it is just a 5-minute walk to the gallery. Take the Waverley Bridge exit and stroll through Princes Street Gardens. 

The gallery is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and until 7pm on Thursdays. Afternoons tend to be busier, especially on summer weekends, so get there first thing to avoid the rush. 

The National Gallery of Scotland is one of three institutions—together with the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery—that make up the National Galleries of Scotland. Visitors who want to gallery-hop between the three locations can use the wheelchair-accessible shuttle bus that travels between them.

Set within the city’s oldest park, historic Glasgow Green, the fascinating People’s Palace documents the social history of Glasgow, recounting tales of city life from 1750 through to the 20th century. Adjoining the red sandstone Victorian museum building is the Winter Gardens, a Victorian-era greenhouse packed with tropical plants.

The People’s Palace is one of the best places to get a real sense of life in Scotland’s biggest city and to find out what makes its people tick. Objects, photographs, films, and prints document everything from tenement life to wartime living. The People’s Palace and Glasgow Green are often included on private tours of the city. Glasgow hop-on hop-off tour buses typically stop near the museum. 

The People’s Palace and Winter Gardens are set within Glasgow Green, a large riverside public park. Take the subway to Enoch station and walk along Argyle Street. Alternatively, make the 15-minute walk from Argyle Street, Bellgrove, or High Street train station. 

The museum and greenhouse are popular among families, and therefore are busiest on weekends and during school vacations, with summer proving to be a particularly busy time. Go early to get in ahead of the crowds. 

Among the highlights of the history museum exhibits are Scottish comedian Billy Connolly’s banana boots and a mural by Scottish artist Ken Currie depicting the life of Glasgow’s working classes. Also worth checking out is the grand Doulton Fountain, an elaborate terra-cotta fountain honoring the British Empire located outside the entrance, and the glasshouse, where exotic palms, cacti, and orchids thrive in the hot environment.

Among the tall green grass and purple heather between Loch Harray and Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar standing stones thrust from the earth like rusting giants’ swords. 

 

At 340 feet (104 meters) in diameter, 27 of the original 60 stones survive, making this the third-biggest stone circle in Britain. Thought to have been built around 2000-2500 BC, this was one of the last of such monuments to be built in neolithic Orkney. Excavations of the site have revealed lots of pottery and animal bones, so it seems like cooking and eating around the still visible hearth was the order of the day here 5,000 years ago.

 

Famous for its perfectly circular shape, the beauty of the Ring of Brodgar is that, unlike Stonehenge, you can get right up to the stones. As you wander, look out for Viking graffiti on some of the stones: 12th-century runic carvings from the Norse invaders can be seen on quite a few. Just a few hundred meters away, you can also visit the neolithic Barnhouse settlement, discovered in 1984. 

With its dramatic perch atop Abbey Craig hill, the distinctive 67-meter-tall Gothic tower of the National Wallace Monument casts a striking silhouette, looming on the horizon just north of Stirling. Built in honor of Scottish hero Sir William Wallace, the fearless freedom fighter who led Scotland to victory during the 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge, the grand monument is a worthy tribute and is now one of Scotland’s most visited monuments.

Designed by architect J. T. Rochead, the monument took eight years to build and was finally inaugurated in 1869. Today, more than 100,000 annual visitors climb the 246 steps to the top of the tower, from where the views span Stirling Castle, Stirling town and the surrounding countryside. Following the spiral stairwell, visitors pass through three floors of exhibitions – the Hall of Arms, focusing on the Battle of Stirling Bridge; the Hall of Heroes, where Wallace’s legendary battle sword takes center stage; and the Royal Chamber, which tells the history of the monument itself. There’s also a gift shop and café housed in the ground floor Keeper’s Lodge.

Built in 1471 as the home to a hospital chaplain, this grey-stone house is one of just a few surviving medieval buildings—and the only surviving medieval residence—in all of Glasgow. Provand’s Lordship now serves as a museum, with period-accurate rooms filled with antique furnishings and displays relating to the history of the house.

Some choose to visit Provand’s Lordship—a rare example of medieval Glaswegian architecture and Glasgow’s oldest house—as part of private guided day tours, while others opt to explore the recreated rooms independently. Adjacent to the property is the tranquil St. Nicholas Garden, a herb garden where medicinal plants that would have been used in the 15th-century Scotland grow. The museum is also a stop on some hop-on hop-off tour-bus routes of Glasgow. 

Provand’s Lordship is situated on Castle Street, just a short walk from Glasgow’s Buchanan and Argyle streets. The nearest train station is High Street, which is a 5-minute walk away. First Bus routes 19, 19A, 38, 57, and 57A all stop near Provand’s Lordship. 

Provand’s Lordship is open Tuesday through Sunday, year-round. Peak visiting hours are between noon and 2pm, so arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon for a quieter, less-crowded experience. 

Glasgow Cathedral, another of Glasgow’s remaining medieval structures, is just a short stroll from Provand’s Lordship; the Gothic-style building was the only cathedral on the Scottish mainland to survive the Reformation. The National Trust–owned Provan Hall, a fortified country estate that dates back as far as the 15th century, is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of Provand’s Lordship; meanwhile, Crookston Castle, Glasgow’s only surviving medieval castle, is located about 7 miles (11 kilometers) away.

Lochranza Castle is a medieval castle on the Isle of Arran in southwestern Scotland. It sits on a narrow strip of land that juts out into Loch Ranza, and even though it is in ruins, it is still a fascinating castle to visit. Originally the castle was an old hall house built in the 1200s, but in the late 1500s it was incorporated into a newer tower house. The older castle had its main entrance one level up from the ground level. It was accessed by wooden stairs that could be removed if the castle was under attack. When the castle was rebuilt, the entrance was moved to the ground level. 

Lochranza Castle was most likely owned by the MacSween family at one time, though ownership changed around the time of its reconstruction. When the tower house was built, the tower stood five stories tall. Today it is possible to access the ground level at the north and south ends of the castle as well as parts of the upper level.

Separated from the northern tip of mainland Scotland by the choppy waters of the Pentland Firth strait, the Orkney Islands are an archaeological wonderland. Comprised of about 20 inhabited islands and many more uninhabited ones, the archipelago is littered with prehistoric ruins and Viking remnants. The islands’ interiors, a patchwork of heather-clad moors and fertile grasslands, are encircled by superb sandy beaches and sheer coastal cliffs.

 

The Orkney Islands showcase a side of Scotland few visitors ever get to see. Travelers can visit on guided day trips from John O’Groats, which typically include boat travel to Burwick and transport via the Churchill Barriers, a network of causeways that link the Orkney Mainland (the biggest island in the archipelago) to four other smaller islands to the south. Travelers can also see the islands as part of multi-day tours from Edinburgh that cover highlights of the Scottish Highlands too. Most guided Orkney tours will include a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Skara Brae, a prehistoric stone settlement that’s older than the Egyptian pyramids, and the Lamb Holm Italian Chapel, which was constructed by Italian prisoners of war during World War II.

 

Direct flights to Kirkwall run from the Scottish mainland cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness. NorthLink Ferries operate services from Scrabster to Stromness on Mainland Orkney (90 minutes), and from Aberdeen to Kirkwall on Mainland Orkney (six hours). Pentland Ferries run a route from Gills Bay to St. Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay (one hour). From May to September, John O’Groats Ferries carry passengers between John O’Groats and Burwick on South Ronaldsay (40 minutes).

No matter what time of the year, solitude and serenity can be found on the Orkneys. Because of the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, the islands are rarely subject to extreme weather, though the biting wind can make it feel colder than it is. Summer is the best time to go, as longer daylight hours facilitate exploration.

The Orkney Islands are jam-packed with attractions. In addition to the Stone Age temple complex known as the Ness of Brodgar and the Viking-era graffiti in the Neolithic Maeshowe tomb, visitors can survey sunken warships while scuba diving around the Scapa Flow, admire the 1,136-foot-tall (346-meter) cliffs on the island of Hoy, and stroll the boulder-strewn Rackwick Beach.

Using projections and special effects, this immersive exhibition focuses on the ecology of Loch Ness and the mysterious monster that supposedly swims its waters. Curious visitors find out about the lake habitat and the likelihood of a monster surviving here, as well as learning about previous monster hunts, research missions, and hoaxes. 

The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition is spread across seven themed areas, each offering high-tech multimedia presentations focusing on Scotland’s most storied loch. Visitors can review the evidence regarding Nessie’s existence with exhibits that help separate fact from fiction. Organized tours from Inverness often combine a visit to the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition with a cruise on the lake itself, and—on some tours—a trip to the ruins of Urquhart Castle, an atmospheric medieval fortress set on the banks of Loch Ness.  

The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition is located in Drumnadrochit, 14.5 miles (23 kilometers) south of Inverness. Public transport (bus lines 17,19, 119, and 919) connect Inverness to Drumnadrochit, but departures can be infrequent at times. The easiest way for car-free travelers to go is by organized tour. 

The center is open year-round, and is at its quietest first thing in the morning and at last entry. For visitors who want to combine a trip to the center with a cruise on Loch Ness, note that some operators only offer boat cruises between Easter and October. 

At the center, visitors can learn all about the important Nessie sightings and research expeditions that have taken place over the years. Among the most famous monster hunt expeditions was that involving the tiny Machan submarine in the 1970s (the submarine is on show here at the center) and Operation Deepscan in 1987, which utilized cutting-edge sonar equipment to trawl the vast loch. 

Straddling both the Scottish Highlands and the Lowlands, this island-studded loch boasts the largest surface area of any of Scotland’s lakes. It’s also one of its most famous, thanks in no small part to a well-known Scottish folk song that speaks of its “bonnie banks.” The lake’s mirror-clear waters reflect the crags and peaks that rear up around it, most notably the 3,195-foot (974-meter) Ben Lomond on its eastern shore, whose summit offers views of both Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

 

Loch Lomond is commonly visited on day tours from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the cruise port of Greenock, with many tours and day trips also stopping in nearby destinations such as Oban, Inveraray, Loch Ness, Loch Awe, Stirling Castle, and the William Wallace Monument. While you can drive, walk, or cycle around the loch’s shores, it’s most rewarding to go out on the water itself. Rent kayaks or canoes, or book tickets on a cruise from Tarbet to see the wild scenery of the north shores of the loch. 

With its southern tip just 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Glasgow, Loch Lomond is an easily accessible wilderness. The main access points are Balloch on the south shore and Luss on the west shore. From Glasgow Queen Street, ScotRail runs a direct, 50-minute train service to Balloch and another route to Arrochar and Tarbet, about a 15-minute walk from Tarbet. Driving to Balloch takes just 35 minutes from Glasgow and about 90 minutes from Edinburgh. Tour typically include round-trip transport from Glasgow and Edinburgh.

 

Loch Lomond has year-round appeal. Spring is wildflower season, autumn brings fantastic fall foliage, and winter promises snow-dusted mountain vistas. Despite seeing the most visitors, summer is probably the best option weather-wise. The vast size of the lake and the national park means the area rarely feels crowded.

 

Loch Lomond features more than 30 islands. Among the largest of them is Inchmurrin, home to the ruins of the 14th-century Lennox Castle. North of Inchmurrin is Inchcailloch, an easily accessible island with a 13th-century church and several attractive woodland walking trails.

Set among four hectares of Ayrshire countryside in the village of Alloway, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is a celebration of the life and work of Scotland’s most famous wordsmith.

The extensive museum contains a collection of over 5,000 artifacts relating to the Bard’s life, work and legacy. Visit Burns Cottage, where the poet was born, see the grand monument dedicated to him, and wander the commemorative gardens created in honor of the great “Rabbie” Burns. From the lawn, you can also see the famous Brig o’Doon, a 15th-century bridge immortalized in the Burns’ poem Tam o’ Shanter. 

Set amid splendid gardens at the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official Scottish residence of the British royals, who first decamped here from nearby Edinburgh Castle back in the 15th century. The complex grew from a 12th-century abbey, whose ruins can still be seen on the grounds, into a full-fledged Baroque palace complete with elaborate plasterwork, sumptuous furnishings, and a number of tapestries. The palace is perhaps most famous for having hosted to the rather unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots, whose beloved secretary was slaughtered here by her jealous second husband.

For anyone hoping to get a taste of the royal experience in Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is an essential stop. Visitors often glimpse the palace during walking tours of Edinburgh’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, as well as on hop-on, hop-off bus tours. Some city tours include admission to the palace so travelers can explore the state apartments and Mary's Bedchamber with the aid of an audio guide. Palace ticket holders can join guided tours of the Holyrood Abbey ruins, which take place several times daily, or buy combination tickets to the palace and the onsite Queen’s Gallery, which hosts temporary art exhibits from the royal collection.

 

 

To get to the palace, walk for 15 minutes from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station. Bus routes 35 and 6 also stop near the palace.

 

Although the palace is generally open year-round (November through March from 9:30am to 4:30pm and April through October from 9:30am to 6pm), it does close to the public during royal visits. Check ahead to find out when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is due in town. She usually stays here for Holyrood Week, or Royal Week as it’s known in Scotland, in late June and early July.

Of all the royals who have lived at Holyrood Palace—among them Queen Victoria and King George V—none are as closely associated with the palace as Mary, the 17th-century Queen of Scots. Many of the most shocking episodes from her tumultuous reign took place here, including the murder of her Italian secretary, David Rizzio, by her second husband, Lord Darnley. Holyrood is also where Mary married her third husband, James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, a suspect in the murder of her second husband.

Propelled into the limelight by Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, this 15th-century chapel is well worth a look, even for those with no interest in Knights Templar conspiracy theories. The Gothic exterior—with its flying buttresses, pinnacles, and pointed arches—hides an elaborate interior, full of stone carvings rich in symbolism. 

Rosslyn Chapel is a popular day trip from Edinburgh. Organized day tours often venture south from Edinburgh, stopping at Rosslyn Chapel, Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, and—in some instances—at Hadrian’s Wall across the border in England. Other organized tours plot courses north from Rosslyn Chapel, making stops at Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument, and Dunfermline Abbey (the burial place of Robert the Bruce). Other day tours to Rosslyn Chapel stick to historic sites in and around Scotland’s capital, such as the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and Glenkinchie Distillery.

The modern, on-site visitor center at Rosslyn Chapel helps day-trippers decode the enigmatic carvings using interactive displays, as do the informative talks, which take place at the chapel several times daily.

Rosslyn Chapel is in the Lothians, about a 30-minute drive south from Edinburgh city center. 

To get there by public transport, take the 37 Lothian bus (marked via Roslin) from Queensferry Street and get off at the Roslin Hotel stop. The chapel is a 2-minute walk from there. 

Rosslyn Chapel is open throughout the year. If you want to explore the grounds, go in summer when the weather is more likely to comply. Weekday mornings are especially peaceful. 

Rosslyn Chapel’s intricate carvings are the its star attraction, and have spurred many theories regarding their meaning. The carvings feature flowers and biblical scenes, tsymbols supposedly associated with the Freemasons and the Knights Templar, and mysterious native American plants that were made before Colombus’ discovery of the New World. Some posit that the Knights of Templar hid in parts of the chapel and that its vaults may hold the Holy Grail or even the body of Christ.

Many of the Stuart royals, among them James I and Mary, Queen of Scots, did stints in this loch-side 15th-century pleasure palace. Gutted by fire in the 18th century, Linlithgow lies in ruin, though evidence of its grandeur—from the great hall to the intricately carved King’s Fountain—is still plentiful. 

Not far from Edinburgh, Linlithgow Palace makes for an easy day trip from the city. You can purchase an admission ticket in advance and make your own way to the site. Alternatively go as part of an organized day tour from Edinburgh, which typically passes by Linlithgow Palace en route to Loch Ness, Glencoe, and other destinations in the Scottish Highlands. Outlander-themed day tours usually include free time at the palace—which was used as a filming location for Wentworth Prison in the hit series—so fans can explore the historic building and the surrounding site. The palace is now managed by Historic Scotland and is free to enter for holders of the Historic Scotland Explorer Pass. 

Linlithgow Palace stands about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Edinburgh city center, about a 35-minute drive. Without a car, you can get there via ScotRail train from Edinburgh Waverley station; trains depart regularly, and the journey takes just 20 minutes. From Linlithgow station, it is just a 5-minute walk to the palace.

The best time to visit is during summer, when milder weather makes it easier to explore Linlithgow Peel, the parkland surrounding the site. One of the best times to come is during the annual Spectacular Jousting event, which takes place in late June or early July, and features a medieval jousting tournament reenactment as well as music and demonstrations. 

For many visitors, the highlight of a visit to Linlithgow is the three-tiered King’s Fountain, located in the castle courtyard. Commissioned by James V in 1537, the magnificent fountain is covered in elaborate carvings. It’s said that when Bonnie Prince Charlie came to Linlithgow in 1745, the fountain flowed with wine. Nowadays, it flows—though only with water—on Sundays in July and August. 

With a history dating back to the early 1800s and a reputation for producing some of Scotland’s most famous malt whiskies, the Laphroaig distillery is a top choice for whisky lovers and one of several renowned distilleries on the Isle of Islay. Laphroaig’s biggest claim to fame is its distinctive single malt whisky, the only one in Scotland to bear the Royal Warrant of the Prince of Wales, and allegedly His Royal Highness’ favorite whisky.

Today, the Laphroaig distillery is open to visitors for tours and tastings, and whisky enthusiasts can learn about the traditional methods, visit the malting floors, mash house and stills, and sample a dram of whisky. There’s also a visitor center and shop, where visitors can learn the history of Laphroaig and purchase whiskies and souvenirs.

Remember to look up at all of the Victorian facades and lovingly restored 18th-century warehouses. From Glasgow Cathedral in all its Gothic glory to the looming necropolis known as the Victorian City of the Dead, there is plenty to interest architecture aficionados. Make sure to look out for Provand’s Lordship, too; it’s the only medieval house in the city.

Every year, tens of thousands descend on Merchant City for the multi-arts Merchant City Festival. The Public Arts Trail also runs right through the district, and the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) sits in Royal Exchange Square.

While the town of Rosslyn is most famous for its Chapel, it’s also the site of a beautiful ruined castle. Rosslyn Castle sits on a tree-covered cliff on the north bank of the North Esk River, and while a castle has occupied the grounds since the fourteenth century, the current ruins mostly date back to 1622, when finishing touches were completed. In 1650, the castle was besieged by Oliver Cromwell’s troops, and what was left after cannon and mortar fire is what you see today.

A few of the castle’s more habitable rooms were fully resorted and furnished by the current Earl of Rosslyn during the 1980s. Today, visitors can rent out the rooms as vacation accommodation through The Landmark Trust.

Dotted with small Scottish towns and with no shortage of scenery, the aptly named “Road to the Isles” is one of Scotland’s most beautiful drives and provides the base for exploring the Small Isles and Skye. Stretching from the base of the UK’s tallest mountain to a port town on the sea, both coastal and mountainous scenery abound. The unspoiled landscapes through the Highlands of Scotland have been the site of many film and television scenes — perhaps most famously in the Harry Potter films.

There are many stops to enjoy along the way, progressing from mountain towns, lochs (or lakes) and glens to isles, inlets, and white sand beaches. Of particular note is Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight lochs with views of the mountain Ben Nevis, and Glenfinnan, home to the historic monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie once raised his Highland army.

Lined with shops on the north side, Princess Street is Edinburgh’s principal shopping street. To the south, this heavily trafficked thoroughfare borders the memorial-dotted Princes Street Gardens, a park overlooked by Edinburgh Castle. Princes Street is also known for being one of the principal venues for Hogmanay, Scotland’s famous New Year’s celebrations.

With its shops, park, prominent position, historic monuments, and views out over the Old Town, Princes Street is undeniably an important lane—second in importance only to perhaps the Royal Mile. Walking tours of Edinburgh’s New Town typically follow a route down Princes Street, allowing visitors to see and, in some instances, even climb the Gothic-style Scott Monument dedicated to the famous Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott. It’s also a stop on hop-on hop-off bus routes and is even included on some Harry Potter-themed city tours, which typically pass by the lavish Balmoral Hotel, where J.K. Rowling composed the final chapters in the series. 

Princes Street is located in Edinburgh’s city center and is extremely well-connected. Edinburgh Waverley railway station and Princes Street tram station both provide direct access. Edinburgh Waverley offers connections to destinations all across the United Kingdom, including London.

Shoppers swarm Princes Street on weekends and during the lead-up to Christmas. Beat the rush of the crowds by coming early in the day. During the Christmas period, festive lights and a holiday market add to the atmosphere, while Hogmanay parties and performances are staged here over New Year’s. Princes Street Garden is at its prettiest in spring, when daffodils sprout. 

Stroll along Princes Street, specifically at West Princes Street Gardens near where it meets the Mound, between July and October to encounter the 1903 floral clock. Gardeners plant and tend the clock—which changes every year—using thousands of small, colorful blooms to create a clockface around which the electric-powered hands move.

The Quiraing is a hiking trail on the Isle of Skye in northern Scotland. The trail is a loop covering a distance of about 4.2 miles. It passes through spectacular Scottish landscapes and is part of the Trotternish Ridge. This ridge was formed by a massive landslip, which created cliffs, plateaus, and rock pinnacles. If you enjoy taking pictures, bring your camera to capture the scenery you'll see along the way. You'll be able to see the water as well as the many strange and beautiful land formations in the area.

The path starts through steep grassy slopes, and crosses rock gorges and streams. Parts of the trail are covered in loose gravel. Along the way, you will pass large rock formations, climb over rock walls, and walk near the edges of cliffs. It is a fairly difficult trail, and it is not recommended in bad weather due to visibility and trail conditions.