Skip to main content

MEMBER LOGIN

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design

FOLLOW US

LOGIN

NEWSLETTER

More In City Guides

15 Independently Owned Boutique Hotels in the US That Set the Standard for Luxury

One more way to shop small, all year-round.

Manhattan’s Newest Art Deco Tower Is a Glam Nod to the Roaring 1920s
Serena Williams Opens Up About Her New Limited-Edition Collaboration With Away That's Meant to Inspire Your Future Travels
New Superyacht Built for World Travelers Can Withstand Climates From the Caribbean Down to Antarctica

More In Travel

  • Hotels
  • Travel Guides
  • Restaurants

LVMH Releases Host of New Watches From Bulgari, Hublot, and Zenith—Take a Look

Following last year’s departure from the Baselworld tradeshow, LVMH continues to chart its own co

The Luxury Watches That Were Made for Winter Sports
De Bethune’s New Watch Is Like Two Super Luxe Timepieces in One
Dior Teams Up With Painter Peter Doig for Its Newest Collection

More In Fashion

  • Style
  • Shopping

Architects Design a 278-Foot-Tall Building in Switzerland That’s Made Entirely Out of Wood

Firms 3XN and IttenBrechbühl won an international competition to design the wooden tower called T

Midtown Manhattan Could Look a Lot Different If the Madison Square Garden Redevelopment Were to Take Shape
20 of the World's Most Beautiful Midcentury Modern Buildings
We Asked Independent Bookstores Across the US for Their Favorite Travel-Inspired Reads—Here are 19 Books They Recommended

More In Art + Culture

  • Books
  • Philanthropy
  • Film

Furniture and Décor Pieces That Do Double Duty

This is what happens when form and function meet.

The Best Online Poker Sites for Every Kind of Player
Can’t Travel? Get the Scent of Famous Destinations With These Luxe Candles
How to Turn Your Living Room Into a Luxurious Space to Entertain

More In Home + Design

  • Art + Design
  • Architecture
LOGIN
NEWSLETTER
  • City Guides
  • Travel
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Travel Guides
  • Fashion
    • Style
    • Shopping
  • Art + Culture
    • Books
    • Film
    • Philanthropy
  • Home + Design
    • Art + Design
    • Architecture
  • MEMBER LOGIN
  • JOIN OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
  • Contact Advertise Sitemap
Home / Travel
Travel

The 7 Most Beautiful Towns in Scotland

By Maya Kachroo-Levine on November 21, 2019

Plan a trip through the Scottish countryside to see these scenic, history-rich, and culture-filled towns.

© Tommy Dickson/Getty Images

SHARE:

The Scottish countryside is more than Scotch distilleries and searching for the Loch Ness monster—though these are both top-notch itinerary fixtures to consider when planning a tour of Scotland. Whether you’re planning a winding road trip through Scotland’s most picturesque towns or are just looking for a weekend trip from Edinburgh or Glasgow, the coastal towns and sleepy rolling hills-nestled villages are ever-inviting. The towns on the Scottish outskirts rarely get credit for their culture gravitas, but these towns are home to artist colonies and have had an impact on the narrative of the UK arts scene. They also, of course, have historical significance, and each area offers something different in terms of cuisine and culture. That said, these are the towns to see on a tour of the Scottish countryside.

 
Alan Tunnicliffe Photography/Getty Images

Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway

Kirkcudbright is nestled in the Dumfries & Galloway region and is the only town on the Solway coast with a working harbor. Architecturally, it features a blend of medieval, Georgian, and Victorian buildings—all set against the backdrop of rural, coastal scenery. Kirkcudbright is known as the Artists’ Town because it attracted so many Scottish artists in the late 19th century. Visitors can now see some of the artwork that was created during (and following) that period at Kirkcudbright Galleries, which opened to the public in June 2018. Kirkcudbright is on the South West Coastal 300, a circular 300-mile driving route showcasing some of the best southern Scotland scenery.

Heartland Arts/Getty Images

Kelso, Scottish Borders

Whether you’re drawn to this town because of a deep-seated affinity for Ashton Kutcher in That 70s Show or fandom of Sir Walter Scott, the town of Kelso will satisfy both niches. Sir Walter Scott touted Kelso, which sits at the intersection of the Tweed and Teviot rivers, as “the most beautiful” town in Scotland. Visit the ruins of Kelso Abbey, a structure that dates back to the 12th century but was largely destroyed during the Reformation.

Tamara Meyer/Getty Images

Arbroath, Angus

Arbroath is a seaside town northeast of Dundee, with sandy beaches and sandstone cliffs that make for dramatic coastal views. They’re famous for their Arbroath Smokie, which is haddock smoked over wood fires—if you’re a smoked fish fan, it’s a must-have. Apart from the coastline and the smoked fish, visit the red sandstone ruins of Arbroath Abbey, a historically significant sight for everyone in Scotland because it saw the declaration of Scottish independence under The Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. Arbroath could see an uptick in tourism this year because 2020 marks the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath.

David C Tomlinson/Getty Images

Oban, Argyll & Bute

Often referred to as the gateway to the Isles, Oban is a western Scotland coastal town known as Scotland’s seafood capital. The name Oban derives from Gaelic meaning “little bay.” In town, while poking around the shops and galleries, stop into Oban Distillery, and take the seafront walk to the ruined Dunollie Castle. To sample some of the best local fish and seafood, visit Oban Bay Fish Bar & Restaurant (which is on Scotland’s Seafood Trail) and Oban Seafood Hut, dubbed “The Green Shack.”

Michelle Kelley Photography/Getty Images

Melrose, The Scottish Borders

Melrose sits next to the Eildon Hills in the Scottish Borders. The town is known for the Melrose Abbey, a popular ruin to visit with intricately decorated masonry—look out for sculptures of hobgoblins and a pig playing the bagpipes. Rugby Sevens started in Melrose, and they still host the oldest Rugby Sevens tournament in the world, which started in 1883. They also have a rich equestrian tradition, a fixture in Scottish Borders culture, and host Common Riding each year, as they have since the 13th century. Finally, when traveling in the Scottish Borders, about three miles west of Melrose, you can visit Sir Walter Scott’s stately home, Abbotsford.

VFKA/Getty Images

Moffat, Dumfries & Galloway

In the Annandale Valley of Dumfries & Galloway is Scotland’s dark sky town: Moffat. Moffat has gone to great lengths to protect its status as a star-gazing destination, adopting special street lighting to keep light pollution to a minimum to preserve the wonders of the night sky. It’s considered a spa town, historically, because it was traditionally a town where people would come to bathe in the sulphur-heavy water pumped from Moffat well. For great views of the rolling Scottish hills, walk the local section of the Southern Upland Way, a 214-mile coast-to-coast trail.

Arpad Benedek/Getty Images

Dunkeld and Birnam, Perthshire

Dunkeld and Birnam is one of the best preserved historic towns in Scotland. The brightly colored “little houses” on Dunkeld and Birnam, built in the 1700s, have been beautifully restored and Dunkeld Cathedral is in remarkable condition. The 18th-century architecture set against the Perthshire scenery makes this town feel distinctly Scottish. In the center of town, you’ll find an impressive selection of independent shops and galleries that showcase the dynamic art scene here. Visitors can also get a taste of the Perthshire forest—a worthwhile excursion in any season, especially fall—walking The Hermitage.

Explore More in Travel

tout-img

Serena Williams Opens Up About Her New Limited-Edition Collaboration With Away That's Meant to Inspire Your Future Travels

tout-img

New Superyacht Built for World Travelers Can Withstand Climates From the Caribbean Down to Antarctica

tout-img

Mix Classic With Cool on Your Next Vacation in Charleston


Marketing Events & Promotions

Become a DEPARTURES VIP

Join our Weekly Newsletter

Privacy Statement
Join our Weekly Newsletter
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
FOLLOW US
Other Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group websites: 
  • Travel + Leisure
  • Food & Wine
Related Websites for DEPARTURES International Editions:
  • DEPARTURES-International.com
Learn more about the American Express Platinum Card® benefits

View Terms of Service  and  Privacy Statement.   Ad Choices EU Data Subject Requests All users of our online services subject to Privacy Statement and agree to be bound by Terms of Service. Please review.

© 2021 American Express Company. All rights reserved. Departures® is published by Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group, a subsidiary of Meredith Corporation. Departures is a trademark of
American Express Marketing & Development Corp. and is used under limited license. Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group is not affiliated with American Express Company or its subsidiaries.

  • RSS
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Promotions
  • Site Map

Member Login

The current issue of DEPARTURES is available exclusively to American Express Platinum Card® Members.

Cancel