Where to visit in Scotland

If you’re visiting Scotland for a few weeks, you’ll want to explore our beautiful country from top to bottom. Every region of Scotland has its own unique landscapes, stories and traditions. You may wish to travel from one region to another and stay in lots of different places. Or, you might choose to base yourself centrally and take day trips to the north and south. However you plan to do it, add Loch Lomond Waterfront to your holiday itinerary. Located in the village of Balmaha, our lodge resort provides luxury self-catering accommodation in a peaceful lochside setting. Perfect as a stopping point between the Highlands and the Lowlands, or as a central base for day-trippers. If you need some help deciding where to visit in Scotland, here’s our guide to the main areas and best things to see and do.

How to explore Scotland

Scotland is a relatively small country. It takes approximately 7 hours to drive from John O’ Groats at the very top to Gretna Green down in the Borders. Of course, taking the scenic route is longer. And stopping off at various points along the way, you can spend as much time as you like. Scotland is also well-connected by buses and trains, so you can travel around without the use of a car. If you decide to move from place to place, we recommend planning your route carefully and booking your accommodation in advance. Don’t rush, take a few days to enjoy each location to the full.

If you’re staying with us at Loch Lomond Waterfront in the middle of Scotland, both the north and south of the country are easily accessible and within a few hour’s drive. So you may decide to base yourself here for the whole holiday and take day trips to other places of interest. Although, the far north of Scotland takes a little longer to get to and may require a multi-day trip. Coach tours are available, if you prefer not to drive. And you can spend the days in between relaxing on our peaceful resort with its own private beach, or discovering the local area.

View of Loch Lomond from Conic Hill, Balmaha — Take in views of Loch Lomond from Conic Hill, Balmaha

To help you plan your itinerary, here are some of our favourite places to visit across Scotland:

The north of Scotland

Caithness and Sutherland – Way up north. Visit Great Britain’s most northerly village, John O’ Groats and take in dramatic, rugged coastal scenery. Hop across the water to the Orkney Islands from here.
Inverness and Loch Ness – The heart of the Scottish Highlands. Enjoy the city of Inverness, picturesque villages around Loch Ness, and search for the elusive Nessie!
Aberdeenshire – From the granite city of Aberdeen to the magnificent scenery of rural Aberdeenshire. Home of the king’s Balmoral Estate.
The Outer Hebrides – The spectacular Western Isles, including Harris and Lewis, are fantastic for outdoor adventure, gorgeous beaches and abundant wildlife.

The Duncansby Sea Stacks in Caithness. Scotland — Start at the top – See the amazing Duncansby Sea Stacks near John O’ Groats

Central Scotland

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs – Of course, our homeland is top of the list! This glorious region is where the Highlands meets the Lowlands, so you’ll find a mix of landscapes.
Stirling and Falkirk – Our closest city is the wonderful Stirling, where you’ll find Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument. In nearby Falkirk, see the stunning Kelpies statue and the Falkirk Wheel.
Glasgow and Clyde Valley – Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, which sits on the Clyde River. Fantastic for shopping, museums, art and live music. Delightful towns and scenery in the surrounding Clyde Valley.
Edinburgh and the Lothians – Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. A city of history and wonderful architecture. There is much to discover in the Lothians, including beautiful East Lothian beaches.
Fife – The ancient Kingdom of Fife. Visit the historic town of St Andrews and picturesque traditional fishing villages along the east coast.
Perthshire and Angus – The cities of Perth and Dundee, surrounded by stunning Scottish countryside with rolling hills and shady glens.
Argyll and Ayrshire – Ayrshire is the birthplace of Robert Burns, our national Bard. Top attractions in this area include Culzean Castle, Robert Burns Birthplace and Inverary Castle. Explore the Kintyre Peninsula and the islands of Bute, Arran, Islay and Jura.

Glasgow Cathedral and skyline from the Necropolis — Experience Scotland’s largest city – Glasgow in the Central Belt

The south of Scotland

Dumfries and Galloway – A lovely part of Scotland with rolling countryside and pretty towns to visit, including Gretna Green, famous destination for elopement weddings.
Scottish Borders – North of the border between Scotland and England, the Scottish Borders is an enchanting area of countryside and coastline. Popular towns include Peebles, Hawick and Jedburgh.