Most Beautiful Places in Each Scottish County

One of the best ways to understand Scotland is by exploring the landscapes that define each area. From castle ruins on sea cliffs to mountain glens and island beaches, every part of the country has places that feel distinct and memorable.

Below are some of the most beautiful or iconic places travellers often associate with each of Scotland’s 32 council areas.

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County / Council Area	Landmarks & Places to Visit
Aberdeen City	Footdee, Aberdeen Beach, Marischal College, Duthie Park, Aberdeen Harbour
Aberdeenshire	Dunnottar Castle, Balmoral Castle, Crathes Castle, Cairngorm foothills
Angus	Glamis Castle, Arbroath Abbey, Montrose Basin Nature Reserve
Argyll and Bute	Oban, Isle of Mull, Iona Abbey, Inveraray Castle
Clackmannanshire	Alloa Tower, Ochil Hills, Gartmorn Dam Country Park
Dumfries and Galloway	Galloway Forest Park, Caerlaverock Castle, Sweetheart Abbey
Dundee City	V&A Dundee, RRS Discovery, Dundee Waterfront
East Ayrshire	Burns Monument Centre, Dean Castle Country Park
East Dunbartonshire	Campsie Fells, Mugdock Country Park
East Lothian	North Berwick, Tantallon Castle, Bass Rock
East Renfrewshire	Whitelee Windfarm, Rouken Glen Park
City of Edinburgh	Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat, Holyrood Palace
Falkirk	The Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel
Fife	St Andrews Cathedral, St Andrews Old Course, East Neuk fishing villages
Glasgow City	Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Cathedral, Riverside Museum
Highland	Loch Ness, Glencoe, Isle of Skye access, North Coast 500
Inverclyde	Lyle Hill Viewpoint, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park
Midlothian	Rosslyn Chapel, Dalkeith Country Park
Moray	Speyside Whisky Trail, Elgin Cathedral
Na h-Eileanan Siar	Luskentyre Beach, Callanish Standing Stones
North Ayrshire	Isle of Arran, Brodick Castle
North Lanarkshire	Strathclyde Country Park, Summerlee Museum
Orkney	Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, St Magnus Cathedral
Perth and Kinross	Cairngorms National Park, Scone Palace
Renfrewshire	Paisley Abbey, Gleniffer Braes Country Park
Scottish Borders	Melrose Abbey, Abbotsford House
Shetland	Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement
South Ayrshire	Culzean Castle, Ayr Beach
South Lanarkshire	Falls of Clyde, New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site
Stirling	Stirling Castle, Wallace Monument
West Dunbartonshire	Loch Lomond, Dumbarton Castle
West Lothian	Linlithgow Palace, Beecraigs Country Park

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