Exclusive
GREAT SCOT
Scotland’s most unmissable places according to a local – from lesser-known lochs to ‘magical’ islands
Andy shares his top tops for creating a perfect holiday to Scotland
FORGET joining the endless queues of tourists at Edinburgh Castle or sitting in a traffic jam on the NC500 — Scotland's unmissable experiences are a bit more off the beaten track.
Author and TikTok-famous tour guide has revealed the best places to visit in Scotland from lesser-known lochs to coastal castles and free activities for kids.
15
15
Following his work as an actor on hit TV show Outlander, Andy discovered a passion for Scottish history and culture, which led him to post daily travel videos on social media platforms like , and .
By day, Andy the Highlander organises custom tours, through his business .
To mark the publication of his first book, , and as part of our Best of British series, he reveals the best places to visit in Scotland to Sun readers.
15
15
Swap the Isle of Skye for the Isle of Arran dubbed 'Scotland in Miniature'
While the Isle of Skye is a deserved bucket-list destination — and more on that later — there are plenty of other Scottish isles to visit, including the .
Read More on Best of British
Andy said: "You've got the Isle of Arran, which I do speak about in my book, Lochs & Legends. It's known as 'Scotland in miniature' or 'the sleeping warrior' because of its distinctive outline resembling a figure.
"You've got everything on the Isle of Arran, and it's quite accessible, but it's not as crazy busy as the Isle of Skye."
Ferries operate from Ardrossan on the Scottish mainland to Brodick, with journeys taking just 55 minutes.
Top attractions on the Isle of Arran include a visit to , , which is the island's highest point, and the and .
Most read in Best of British
Explore the Best Of British in Edinburgh: from the Museum Of Scotland to the coziest pubs in town
15
15
Head to Islay for lovely beaches and Scottish whisky
is the second Scottish isle Andy recommends visiting — and it's easy to see why.
He said: "Islay is very well known for its whisky but there's a lot more to see there as well lovely beaches and loads of history."
Islay is full of world-renowned whisky distilleries, including the likes of Ardbeg, Kilchoman, Bruichladdich, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin — to name just a few.
A number of small beaches line the banks of , which lies just outside of the village of Port Charlotte.
There are from the mainland, the Caledonian MacBrayne carries passengers from Kennacraig on West Loch Tarbert to Port Ellen or Port Askaig.
Another services operates from Ballycastle (Antrim) to Port Ellen.
15
15
Explore the Scottish loch with lakeside campsites and cascading waterfalls
As the largest freshwater lake in Britain, it'll come as no surprise that Loch Lomond has made the list of unmissable experiences in Scotland.
Andy told Sun Online Travel: "One of my favorites is . It's where my mum and dad used to hang out there when they were younger, and it's where my sister got married.
"There is the beautiful little town of Luss and there are lots of beautiful waterfalls, including .
"Holidaymakers can wander through the Luss Village Paths or visit Luss Pier for breathtaking views over and Ben Lomond.
"Head to at the top of the loch, they will have all the facilities you need."
Stays at Beinglas Campsite start from £20 per night for a pitch for a motorhome and £25 per night for a tent.
15
Three other lochs to visit — and one's history is tied to a mythical creature
With more than 3,000 recorded lochs across Scotland, it would be impossible to mention just one, which is why Andy gave several other recommendations.
He said: "You've also got or perhaps up in the you've got Loch Morlich and Loch an Eilein.
"You've got the Green Loch (Lochan Uaine), which in the legend gets its colour from the fairies."
Said to be the "home of the fairies", the tiny freshwater loch is surrounded by Caledonian pine trees.
It takes 45 minutes to reach on foot by walking through Glenmore Forest.
Best free places to visit in Scotland
Here are some of the best attractions you can visit in Scotland without spending a penny, according to Andy
Glasgow
- Glasgow Cathedral
- Glasgow Necropolis
- Kelvin Grove Museum and Art Gallery
- The Burrough Collection
- Pollock House, which is closed at the moment, but the gardens are still accessible
Edinburgh
- National Museum
- The Royal Yacht Britannia (free for under 5s)
- The Camera Obscura
- Mary King's Close
- Greyfriars Kirkyard
15
15
Learn about Scotland's myths and legends
Scotland seems intertwined with magic, myths and legends, so buckle up and get ready for a good story, or two.
Andy said: "I like the , a series of 4,000-year-old stones near Inverness.
"I had a young American girl on a recent tour, and as we walked I placed little coins in the tree roots for her to find.
"I told her they'd been left by the fairies, so that's something big kids can do for little kids to keep the magic alive."
Tucked away in a woodland setting, the Clava Cairns are a series of Bronze Age burial Cairns (a pile of stones) that are free to visit.
Andy added: "There's also Kelpies, mythical shape-shifting horse spirits that would drag you to your death and drown you.
Huge statues of the kelpies can be found at . The statues were designed by Andy Scott, and they're the largest equine statues in the world.
Spanning more than 350 hectares, there are plenty of other features inside the huge park, including an adventure zone and splash play area for kids, with fountains spraying from the ground and huge climbing structures.
Entry to Helix Park is free, making it ideal for families.
15
15
Visit the famous Scottish Isle that's home to clear blue water and fairy folklore
Despite already being popular with tourists, Andy revealed that the Isle of Skye was one of his favourite places in Scotland.
He said: "I'm trying to think somewhere not on Skye, but it's hard not to mention the island when it's intertwined with the legends of the fairies.
"You've got the , you've got the , the , and the .
"One of my favorite legends is of the Fairy Flag where the Clan Chief of Clan MacLeod fell in love with the fairy princess and asked for her father's hand in marriage.
"Of course, her father says no, but finally he says yes on the condition that they can only be hand fast for one year.
"So, a year passes and she must return to the fairy realm but before she does, so she gives this Clan Chief the Fairy Flag, their most prized possession
"When you have this flag you can't lose if you go into battle but you could only use it three times."
The island is found on Scotland's north-west coast and is known for its picturesque fishing villages, rugged scenery and amazing wildlife.
History buffs visiting the island have several castles to choose from, including Dunvegan, which has been the home of the Clan MacLeod since the 1300s.
say that the castle, which overlooks Loch Dunvegan, is "surrounded by extensive formal gardens" containing "exotic plants, specimen trees and gushing waterfalls".
The fairy pools on the river Brittle are one of the island's main attractions thanks to its clear blue water.
Getting to the Isle of Skye is easiest by car; however, buses link Glasgow and Inverness, the two closest airports, to the island.
A train to Mallaig is available from Glasgow, from where a ferry can take you the rest of the way.
15
Get up close and personal with Scotland's "super moodle" Highland Cow
Scotland is a must for animal lovers, with Highland Cow experiences being at the top of most bucket lists.
Andy said: "For the highland cows, there's a place called .
"It's by far the best experience to get up close and personal with the highland cows because you can brush them you can feed them.
"You're supervised by a farmer who is very experienced, he puts you in a pen, so you feel like you're in a zoo."
One of the cows has been labelled a "super moodle" after appearing on the cover of Italian Vogue.
Tours start from £24 per person, with prices rising slightly when extras like cream tea are included.
Kitchen Coos and Ewes is located in Airyolland Farm in South West Scotland.
It's a two-hour drive from Glasgow and a three-hour drive from Edinburgh.
Andy's Top Tips for first-time visitors
BEFORE visiting Scotland be sure to familiarise yourself with Andy's top tips, so you can make the most of your next visit.
He said: "Before people come, they should do their homework and just have an idea of where they want to go.
"Find out how far away places are from each other like Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye, for example.
"Be aware of the weather. Obviously, Scottish weather can be very fickle, so bring appropriate clothing.
"We do say here, there's no such thing as bad weather it's just bad clothing."
15
Visit two castles that are tied to history — with one set right on the coast
There are more than 2,000 castles in Scotland, with Andy's three favourite picks including and .
Andy said: "Blackness Castle dates back to the 1440s and was built by Sir George Creighton.
"The castles itself is known as the ship that never sailed because it's right on the water, and it was once known as one of Scotland's most formidable fortifications.
"When Henry VIII's army sailed up in 1543, they said: 'forget it, you'll never take this castle'."
Blackness Castle is located on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, just a 40-minute drive from Edinburgh.
Entry tickets into the castle start from £7.50 per person.
Read More on The Sun
Andy added: "I go to Doune Castle very often as well. That was used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which is great for fans of Monty Python.
"It was used for The Outlaw King with Chris Pine, and it was in the pilot episode for Game of Thrones."
Topics