The 46 best places to visit in Scotland

Visit Abbotsford, a monument to the tastes, talents and achievements of its creator, one of Scotland’s most important national figures; a renowned 19^th century writer and ‘Great Scot’ who changed how the world saw Scotland and Scotland saw itself.

Located in the heart of the beautiful Borders countryside, Abbotsford was built by Sir Walter Scott in the 19th-century as a family home, work space and private museum and his interests can be seen in the amazing gothic architecture and interiors jam-packed with fascinating curios, artefacts, books and stories galore.

Home to the Dundas family for nearly 450 years, Arniston is a 6,000+ acre estate nestled just 11 miles from Edinburgh.

Featuring a magnificent William Adam Palladian style Mansion House, Arniston is proud to offer guests a guided tour with family members to learn more about the architect, the local history and of course, the Dundas family heritage.

With a 16th-century peel tower at its core Bemersyde House is an imposing house set within fine gardens and grounds close to the burgh of Melrose in the Borders.

The gardens were laid out by Field Marshal Earl Haig.

Bowhill House has been the principal home of the Scotts of Buccleuch for over two centuries. The House’s history gives it many great tales. It also houses one of the world’s greatest private art collections including masterpieces by Canaletto, Raeburn, Reynolds and Gainsborough.

You’ll find stunning French furniture, Mortlake Tapestries, antique porcelain and portrait miniatures. A new exhibition, Love and Respect in the Victorian Age, opened in 2017 and features many new items on display from the renowned Collection.

Carolside is an 18th century mansion in beautiful parkland, in a valley in the Scottish Borders. It’s setting is romantic and serene ; framed by steep wooded hills with the River Leader running through.

Its facade is thought to have been modelled on Chesterfield House , Mayfair , London (demolished 1937) .The design was by Isaac Ware the Palladian arcitect.(1704-1766) There has been a settlement there since at least the 16th Century and Carolside has been cultivated for over 200 years. It has a long history of good gardeners and was a well-known Rose garden in Edwardian days.

Dalmeny House was completed in 1817 and sits in rolling parkland to the West of Edinburgh. With spectacular views overlooking the Firth of Forth, the house is home to The 7th Earl and Countess of Rosebery.

Although very much a family home, the house is open to the public for viewings and corporate events. The inspired architecture of the house will fascinate some. Others will be enticed by the extraordinary collection of antique furniture, artworks and curious objects.

What could be better than exploring a beautiful Scottish Castle? Built by architect William Adam in 1721, Floors Castle is Scotland’s largest inhabited Castle and home to the 10th Duke of Roxburghe.

An architectural masterpiece inside and out, the Castle houses a marvellous collection of fine art and porcelain for you to enjoy, including paintings by Matisse and our famous Belgian tapestries.

Gosford House, the seat of the Earls of Wemyss and March, is set in 5,000 acres of combined coast and parkland in East Lothian on the south side of the Firth of Forth and close to the celebrated golf courses of Muirfield, Gullane and Craigielaw.

The property is dominated by Gosford House, an imposing neo-classical mansion which was one of the last great architectural commissions of the celebrated Scots architect, Robert Adam.

The Hirsel is a 500-acre park with lake and river. A spectacular rhododendron and azalea wood can be seen, along with daffodils in April.

The site is a haven for ducks and summer migrants. Also features craft shops, tea room, pottery, museum.

Hopetoun House is a unique gem of Europe’s architectural heritage and undoubtedly ‘Scotland’s Finest Stately Home’. Situated on the shores of the Firth of Forth, it is one of the most splendid examples of the work of Scottish architects Sir William Bruce and William Adam.

The interior of the house, with opulent gilding and classical motifs, reflects the aristocratic grandeur of the early 18th century, whilst its magnificent parkland has fine views across the Forth to the hills of Fife.

A strong and well-preserved keep or Pele tower with suitably rugged interiors; Lennoxlove, at its heart, was extended in the 17th-century into a more comfortable house.

This delightful castle now contains the Dukes of Hamilton collections of pictures, furniture and porcelain in addition to the death mask, famous letter casket, and other mementoes of Mary Queen of Scots.

Manderston is a stunning example of Edwardian architecture, the supreme country house in Scotland of it’s era. A house on which no expense was spared, with opulent staterooms, a silver staircase, marble hall, acres of formal gardens and magnificent stables.

John Kinross the architect designed the house for Sir James Miller a nouveau riche baronet who married into traditional aristocracy. John Kinross was instructed to create a home of glittering style to match Sir James Millers wealth and status as a country gentleman.

One of Scotland’s finest stately homes, this Robert Adam masterpiece is a ‘must-see’; complemented by the fine art, period furniture, china and embroidery collections within. It’s idyllic location does not disappoint, with acres of stunning parkland, formal gardens, lakeside walks and cafe.

Mellerstain, one of Scotland’s great Georgian houses was begun in 1725 by Scottish architect William Adam and completed in 1778 by his more famous son, Robert. The result is an outstanding example of 18th-century Scottish architecture, and some say one of Robert Adam’s finest works.

Mertoun House was designed by Sir William Bruce for Sir William Scott of Harden and was built in 1703-05. It occupies an outstanding situation on a high bank overlooking the River Tweed and ornamental parkland beyond.

Little is known of the early history of the gardens, but it is assumed from the great age of many of the specimen trees that they were laid out at the time the mansion was built.

Newliston is on of Robert Adam’s last and smallest country houses with an 18th-century designed landscape including rhododendrons, azaleas and water features.

An inventory of chattels not on public display can be inspected and such chattels can be viewed by request when the house is open to the public.

Originally built for Patrick Home, a young Scottish laird, Paxton House is one of the finest 18th-century Palladian country houses in Britain featuring Adam interiors.

It has recently gained recognition for its nationally important collection of Chippendale and Trotter furniture by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of The Scottish Government.

Penicuik House is the finest and most influential example of Palladian architecture in Scotland. Built in the 1760s and devastated by fire in 1899, the once magnificent buildings has stood as a ruin for over 100 years.

It sits at the centre of an important 18th-century designed landscape, which together form an exceptional physical record of the artistic patronage of the Clerk Family.

Set at 800’ in the wonderful Peebleshire countryside, the old Victorian gardens at Portmore have been recreated by the current owners Mr and Mrs David Reid over the past 30 years.

The 1½ acre Walled Garden, which is at its height between mid-July to August, has herbaceous double borders, a potager, rose garden, pleached lime walk and ornamental fruit cages.

Nestled in an idyllic part of the Scottish Borders, Thirlestane Castle is a magnificent 16th century castle set in a meadow landscape. Family seat of the Duke of Lauderdale, it is one of the oldest and finest castles in Scotland and still remains home to the Maitland family today.

Come and see the breathtaking 17th-century Dunsterfield plasterwork ceilings, one of the largest collections of family portraits in Scotland and nurseries full of historic toys.

Traquair is Scotland’s Oldest Inhabited House. Visited by 27 Scottish Kings and Queens Traquair dates back to 1107 and has been lived in by the Stuart family since 1491.

Originally a royal hunting lodge, Traquair played host to Mary Queen of Scots and later as staunch Catholics they supported the Jacobite cause without counting the cost. Today, we welcome visitors from all over the world. Enjoy the extraordinary history of this lived in family home.