Scotland

Aberdeenshire offers so much, without feeling swamped by tourists.

It has a few surprises, including bottlenose dolphins off the coast, as well as Cairngorms National Park, which is twice the size of the Lake District in England. Royal Deeside is here too – home to the Highland Games and Balmoral Castle.

Argyll and Bute is made up of small towns, villages, lochs, and over 20 inhabited islands.

The scenic region has one of the sparsest populations in Scotland – so there’s little fear of feeling swamped. It has featured in both a James Bond film and a Paul McCartney song.

Ayrshire is full of history. Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns and former king Robert the Bruce were born here. Meanwhile, Kilmarnock was the original home of Johnnie Walker whisky.

You'll also find beautiful highland countryside and golden beaches.

The hilly geography of Dumfries and Galloway makes it a popular spot for hiking and mountain biking. The views are spectacular, even at night – over 7,000 stars and planets are visible from Galloway’s Dark Sky Park.

The region is full of firsts, including the western world’s first Tibetan Buddhist Centre, which has its own tartan.

Located on Scotland’s east coast, the city of Dundee is a UNESCO City of Design, and home to one of the only V&A Museums outside of London.

Sat beside it on the banks of the River Tay is the RSS Discovery, from which Dundee gets its nickname, ‘the City of Discovery’.

Known as ‘Scotland’s golf coast’, East Lothian boasts 40 miles of gorgeous coastline, dotted with picturesque seaside towns like Dunbar and Yellowcraig. It’s also the sunniest region in Scotland.

Edinburgh’s sights and sounds are just a 30-minute drive away – although North Berwick actually hosts its own mini version of the Fringe festival, ‘Fringe by the Sea’, during August.

Scotland’s capital and the first UNESCO City of Literature, Edinburgh’s top attractions include its castle – which stands atop an extinct volcano, at the end of Old Town’s Royal Mile.

Plus the world-famous Fringe festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of performers and spectators each August.

Still referred to as the ‘Kingdom of Fife’, the ancient county is brimming with history, from Scotland’s oldest university of St Andrews, to the world’s oldest tennis court and golf course.

Sat on Scotland’s east coast facing the wild North Sea, Fife offers dramatic scenery – ideally enjoyed with its award-winning fish and chips.

Scotland’s largest city Glasgow is a cultural juggernaut, with a world-class assortment of music venues – from underground basements and dancehalls, to arenas, galleries, and museums.

Even its streets are a feast for the eyes, smashing together medieval, neo-Gothic, and Art Nouveau styles.

Populated, urban areas of South Lanarkshire – like East Kilbride and Hamilton – sit close to its border with the south east corner of Glasgow, while things get more green as you move south.

The county has plenty of history and culture, with two UNESCO World Heritage sites, and a 13th century castle.

A number of typically Scottish exports hail from the north-east county of Moray, including Walkers Shortbread biscuits, and half of Scotland’s whisky. It’s also the birthplace of the real-life Macbeth.

The Moray Firth is a prime location to spot dolphins, seals, otters, and other wildlife.

Located off Scotland’s north coast, Orkney and Shetland are both made up of lots of small islands with incredible Neolithic sites.

The port towns Kirkwall and Lerwick are their largest settlements.

County town Perth has played a key role in Scotland’s history. For centuries it was the capital, with kings crowned at Scone Palace. The county has stunning scenery and magical towns like Pitlochry on the road north.

And yes, this is where Perth in Australia got its name.

Bordering Glasgow, and with excellent links to its city centre, Renfrewshire is a popular spot for commuters and students. Scotland’s second busiest airport is located here too.

Renfrewshire’s main settlement is Paisley – home to the local government, and famous around the world for its textile industry and design.

Stirlingshire has a proud place in Scottish history – particularly county town Stirling, a key battleground in the Wars of Independence with the English.

Meanwhile, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is the oldest in Scotland, and contains Britain’s largest lake – the perfect escape for some peace and inspiration.

The Outer Hebrides – also known as the Western Isles – are a chain of islands off Scotland’s west coast, although only around a dozen are inhabited.

Here you can feel like you’re at the edge of the world, especially at the ‘Butt of Lewis’ – the tip of the most northern island.