Do you love castles in Scotland and gardens? Arnot Tower is a ruined castle whose grounds have been turned into magnificent gardens. The interior of this ruin is a courtyard garden as well. There are wonderful wooded areas around to enjoy to.

Located in the Kingdom of Fife Arnet tower dates back to the 1400s and was the seat of Clan Arnot. 

Today you can visit the Arnot Tower Gardens in the summer. It looks like these gardens are only open to the public on Tuesdays. They are also open by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Look for the Water Garden, Games Lawn, and Courtyard Garden. If you are interested in castles in Scotland then don’t miss Arnot Tower.

I can’t find a photo of Arnot Castle, I anyone would like to provide one I would be happy to give you a link in exchange. Contact me at sendemailhere@rocketmail.com

 

 

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Aedvreck castle is one of the castles in Scotland that just shouldn’t get to close to. This castle ruin can be down right dangerous. When you go see Ardvreck castle be sure to stay well back form it.

Located close to A837 north from Inchnadamph. There is a parking lot you can use, so you can have a nice walk out to the castle.

This castle dates back to the late 1500s when it was owned by the Macleods. In the mid 1700s it burned down and has be one of the ruined castles in Scotland ever since.

Today you can see what is left of the three story tower house that once stood here. You can also enjoy the views of the lock and the island that the castle is standing on.

Above photo of Ardvreck Castle and Loch Assynt by Shandchem

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While visiting castles in Scotland don’t forget to see Aberdour castle and the town of Aberdour tucked up next to it.

Located four miles east of Inverkeithing and close to the north shore of the Firth of Forth. This castle is mostly in ruins, but there is plenty to see. The oldest ruin here is the original tower that was build before 1200. As with all of the castles in Scotland, Aberdour castle has a rich history. Owned by the Douglas family for much of its existence, many of the buildings where built by them.

Today Aberdour castle is now an ancient monument. You can see if for yourself, just double check the hours and months that you can visit. There are different times depending on the season.

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Inverness is a good place to put on your itinerary for your Scotland vacations. The capital of the highlands and sits at the mouth of Lock Ness, Inverness has plenty to see and do.

Balnain House

A mansion built in the Georgian style that dates back to 1762 is now the center for the study of highland and island music.

Castle Gallery

In an 18th century building you will find a fine contemporary art gallery of art from British artists.

Church Street

A street of historical and interesting buildings. Look for High Church, Dunbar’s Hospital, and Abertarff House which is the regional headquarters for the National Trust of Scotland.

Clachnaharry Inn

This is a 17th century coaching inn where today you can get bar meals as well as whisky and beer.

Eden Court

Eden Court is a theater where you can watch movies, dramatics, and dance. This is the best place for this type of arts in the Highlands and Islands.

Hootananny

Yip you read that one right, this town centre bar is called the Hootananny. You can enjoy traditional music.

Inverness Castle

Dates back to 1843 this castle was built on the place that another older castle stood. Look for the statue of Flora Macdonald the young women who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie in front of the Highland Counsel buildings.

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

This is a museum with everything from archaeology to Jacobite relics and even fine art.

Johnny Foxes

A riverside pub with live music most nights and good food all the time.

 

Above photo of Inverness Castle by conner395

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Skye is known for its friendly people and incredible landscapes which make it perfect for your Scotland Vacations.

Armadale Castle and Gardens

The Garden of Skye contains the ruins of Armadale Castle and Gardens overlooking Kyleakin harbor. You will find a ruined castle turned into a museum, an old stable house restaurant, bookshop, gift shop, self catering accommodation, and guided walks around the grounds.

Aros Experience

Located just south of Portree this museum is a multi-media presentation tells the story of the island from the 1700 until now.

Dunvegan Castle

This has long been a stronghold for the MacLeod clan. Dates back to the 13th century. Find an incredible assortment of antiquities inside and beautiful gardens outside.

Eilean Ban

Eilean Ban is a nature reserve on a small island. It can be reached by the Bright Water Visitors Center on the Pier of Kyleakin. There is a decommissioned light house on the island with a beautifully refurbished keeper’s cottage.

Luib Croft Museum

The Luib Croft Museum is an interesting folk museum. Look for the collection of 19th century newspaper clippings of crofter’s grievances.

Skye Museum of Island Life

See how the crofters lived in these seven thatched cottages. Find it south of Duntulm Castle ruin.

Strathnaver

Strathnaver is a valley that was abandoned by its residents between 1912 and 1819 when the area was cleared for grazing during the highland clearances. You can see the remains of walls and small homesteads.

Torridon

Scotland’s first national nature reserve, complete with a visitor’s center. You can enjoy a nice trail along the north shore of Lock Torridon.

Ullapool

A well planed out village in the 1788 by the British Fisheries Society. Take the MV Summer Queen Cruse twelve miles up to see the “Green Bumps of the Summer Isles”.

Urquhart Castle

A ruined castle built on rocky outcropping in Lock Ness. This castle was blown up in 1691, but has a wonderful visitor’s center with found artifacts form the castle.

Wick Heritage Centre

A planned fishing village built in the 19 century. Look for the Heritage Centre which exhibits the town in its heyday as the busiest herring fishing port.

 

Above photo of Island of Skye by .:fotomaf:.

 

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Except during festival time Glasgow could easily rival Edinburgh as the best place to spend your Scotland vacations. The local residents are legendary for there friendliness and there love of there city. There is plenty in Glasgow to see during your Scotland vacations.

Barras

The Barras is a famous flea market which dates back to the 1920. This is an exciting place on the weekend filled with individual merchant stands and a once a month farmers market.

Botanic Gardens

The Botanic gardens are located on Great Western Road where you will find the Kibble Palace, herb garden, sequential border, and an arboretum.

Burrell Collection

Pollock Park is where the 8,000 item art collection is housed that once belonged to Sir William Burrell. This wonderful collection includes many priceless peaces by very famous artists.

City Chambers

If you enjoy the architecture and antiquities of the Victorian age you need to visit the City Chambers. It was built to show opulence and riches.

Clydebuilt

You can take a river waterbus to Braehead a Scotland maritime museum. 

Gallery of Modern Art

This is a contemporary collection of modern art places on four floors. You will not only get to see the artwork of great Scottish artists, but also works from other far off countries.

Greenbank Garden

Greenbank Garden is owned by the National Trust of Scotland and is mostly run as a demonstration garden. It is located south of town in Clarkson.

Glasgow Cathedral

Glasgow cathedral is one of the areas most historic and oldest sites. If you are in Merchant City then you could easily walk to the 13th century cathedral.

Glasgow Green

The oldest public park in Scotland and recently restored to its former glory. The park has a very rich and long history. This is also where you will find the Peoples Palace.

Glasgow Necropolis

The Glasgow Necropolis isn’t just any old seminary. This is a historic seminary filled with Victorian monuments by famous architects to Glasgow’s wealthy deceased. 

Glasgow School of Art

Designed by Mackintosh who trained at this collage is now considered his masterpiece. You can take a tour that includes an art exhibition also by Mackintosh.

Glasgow Science Centre

Lying on the south side of the River Clyde. The Glasgow Science Centre contains an 80 foot IMAX theater, a 400 foot high viewing tower that turns in the wind, and a science museum with over 500 interactive exhibits.

Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery

Opened in 1807 as Scotland’s first public Museum. You will enjoy exhibits of geology, archaeology, coins, and art.

Holmewood

Holmewood was the Mansion of architect Alexander Thompson. He had an interesting way of designing buildings and his mansion is no exception.

House for an Art Lover

Designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh and his wife Margaret Macdonald this building is a fantasy. The House for an Art Lover is located in Bellahouston Park. 

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

This is a red sandstone building that dates back to the early 20th century. Located in Kelinggrove Park, This museum holds art from many different eras as well as historical artifacts.

Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City

This building was designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh. Inside is an exhibition of the work of Macintosh, as well as a rooftop viewing platform.

Mackintosh Trail

The Macintosh trail is a self guided tour though the city of buildings designs by Macintosh. A good list of macintosh buildings include; Glasgow School Of Art, Willow Tearooms, House for an Art Lover, Scotland Street School, and St. Matthew’s Free Church.

Merchant City

Merchant City is located in the middle of Glasgow. It is Glasgow’s “New Town” but actually goes back to the 18th century.

Museum of Education

In the former Scotland Street School which was designed by Mackintosh is a museum that pays homage to Scottish Education.

Museum of Piping

This is Scotland’s centre of excellence for the learning and performance of bagpipe music. There is a small museum and an auditorium for performances here.

Museum of Transport

In the back of Kelvin Hall are all kinds of historic elegits of Scotland transport. 

Peoples Palace

Found in Glasgow’s Green the Peoples Palace is just as it sounds, a museum about the history of the people of Glasgow. There is a corner dedicated to the famous people of Glasgow.

Pollock House

Pollock house is a mid 17th century mansion set on 361 acres just 3 miles from city centre. 

Provand’s Lordship

This is the oldest house in Glasgow. Just east of the city centre you will find Provand’s Lordship across from St. Mungo Museum. You will find a wonderful collection of 15th and 16th century wooden furniture here.

Scottish Football Museum

Located in Hampden Park which is the home of the oldest football team, you can find the Scottish football Museum.

St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art

This museum exhibits religious art and artifacts from many different religions and countries. Different beliefs on life, death, after death, rights of passage, birth, and marriage.

Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbor

The CV Glenlee was built on the Clyde in 1896. You can take a tour of this ship and hear the ships tales.

Tenement House

This is a preserved Tenement House from 1911 where you can see for yourself how the slightly better off lived back then.

Glasgow has so many sights for your Scotland vacation that I could not list them all here. Once you get there you will find that there are more things to do and see than time to do and see them all.

 

Above photo of Argyle Street Glasgow, Scotland from the Oregon State University archives 

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Unless you are looking for really simple Scotland vacations where you will have lots of time on your hands to spend enjoying this small town like a locals then Dumfries is only going to be a jumping off place to visit the surrounding area. If you find that you have a free evening or afternoon in Dumfries on your Scotland vacations than here is a list of fun things to do.

Globe Inn

The Globe inn is a 400 year old pub, and serves home cooked meals. You can find it down an alley near High Street. 

Gracefield Arts Centre

Located near town centre this museum is filled with contemporary visual arts and crafts, and a permanent display of Scottish paintings.

Odeon

Odeon is located in the town centre. If you just want to do as the locals do visit this one screen theater to enjoy mainstream movies.

Robert Burns Film Theatre

If you are interested in more unusual films then visit the Robert Burns Film Theatre where not only mainstream films are shown. You can also enjoy foreign and Art House films. Look for this Theatre on the opposite banks of the River Nith from the main part of town.

Robert Burns Centre

Located by the river Nith, you will find the Robert burns Centre in an old mill building. This centre is an exhibition of the Dumfries burns connection.

Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal can be found in town centre. This is a theatre has live performances from the local armature Guild of Players, Touring companies, and the Scottish Opera.

 

Above photo of Sweetheart Abby, Dumfries from the Library of Congress 

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Scotland is a big country with a lot of things to see and do. You can hang out with the Scottish highland cows and enjoy long foot paths and numerous locks in the highlands. Or you can visit the Scotland coast with picturesque views of the ocean, and ruined castles hanging off high cliffs. Or you could visit a bustling city full of museums, easy transportation, and all types of restaurants to choose from. If you choose Edinburgh for your Scotland vacations then here are a few places you must see.

Calton Hill

At the east end of Princesses Street at the top of the hill is a park with a few interesting monuments, including part of what was supposed to be a reproduction of the Parthenon. It wasn’t finished because the money ran out. You also see the Tower of the Nelson, the City Observatory, a few other monuments, and a glorious view of the city. Hike up that hill and check it out.

Museum of Scotland

You will find this attraction on the western end of Chambers Street. The Museum of Scotland is enormous and can be quit intimidating. Luckily you can start on the grown floor with the earliest artifacts and work your way up to the most recent, or go the other way if you would prefer. The entry to this museum is free, so take your time and visit a few times; there is plenty to see to keep you busy for a few days on your Scotland vacation. The building the museum is in is built to be a modern interpretation of a fortification complete with a tower. Look for the Miniature Coffins made from wood that were discovered on Arthur’s Seat in the early 1800s. They have carved faces, feet that stick out, moving joints, and clothes. No one knows exactly why these tiny coffins were made. They do make you wonder there purpose.

 

above photo taken in the Royal Museum of Scotland by Shadowgate

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Many say that Glasgow doesn’t have charm. I strongly disagree; Glasgow has incredible architecture with the dominating color being gray. You can find magnificent buildings that can rival Barcelona and Paris. Glasgow has truly impressive galleries and museums to enjoy and inspire. This bustling city is the home to quite a few museums that you must add to you itinerary, here are two to get you started.

Burrell Collection

In 1944 Sir William Burrell gave the city of Glasgow a priceless collection of over 9,000 of pieces of art from all over the world. The museum was created to show off the collection that you can go see today. The Burrell Collection is something you absolutely must see. The outside of the museum is quit simple, but what it houses is fantastic. You will find priceless paintings, crafts, and decorative arts such as medieval tapestries. This museum will keep you on your toes with temporary exhibits coming in all the time. 

People’s Palace

This is not a palace of queens and kings or other types of royals. The People’s Palace is a museum all about Glasgow and the history of its people. You won’t get bored by this type of history. The story it tells is about the character and wit of Glasgow’s residents through its history. There is a wonderful section dedicated to famous people that came from Glasgow. The People’s Palace can be found on the Glasgow Green in a red sandstone building built in the late 1800s. Even if you are just passing though Glasgow to get to other parts of Scotland or plan to visit for a week this city will entertain, enlighten, and inspire you. If you choose to add Glasgow to your Scotland vacations itinerary visit some good museums and you won’t be sorry.

 

Above photo of Mungo Museum in Glasgow Scotland by lyng883

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When you think of visiting a metropolitan area on you Scotland vacations you might not think of Glasgow, think again. The beginnings of Glasgow dates back to the early 1100s. First as a religious community, then a university came along in the mid 1400s. Sea bourn trade started in the early 1600s with England and then beyond. During the late 1700s the industrial revolution started, which is when Glasgow’s most interesting history started. There were a lot of jobs to fill, so Glasgow filled up and became affluent which is obvious from the expensive architecture from the area. In the mid 20th century the industry left and so did the wealth, leaving a dying city. In the 1980s Glasgow turned itself around. Today Glasgow is a vibrant city with numerous high quality museums and galleries. This is a city that you simply must see on your Scotland vacations.

The Tenement House

Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in a Glasgow Scotland in the early 1900s? Most people in Glasgow lived in tenement houses that were like apartment buildings or flats. The residents shared washrooms, but had a few rooms of there own. Once upon a time a spinster named Agnas Toward. Agnas was considered on of the little better off as she worked as a shorthand typist. She didn’t throw anything out, so when she died in 1975 her home was a perfect time capsule of this era. You can visit this Tenement to see exactly how she and those like lived.  

St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art

This museum isn’t exactly what you might think. This building is not an ancient church, it is new construction filled with religious art from all over the world. Many religions are represented with there different types of art along with a hands on description of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism for kids.

Visiting Glasgow during your Scotland vacations is definitely worth you time.

 

Above photo of St. Enoch’s Station, Glasgow Scotland from the Library of Congress

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