Not far from the cathedral and with dramatic coastline views, St Andrews Castle is mainly in ruins, but the site itself is evocative. The most intriguing feature is the complex of siege tunnels, said to be the best surviving example of siege engineering in Europe....
Once one of the richest Abbeys in Southern Scotland, Kelso Abbey was built by the Tironensians, an order founded at Tiron in Picardy and brought to the Borders around 1113 by David I. English raids in the 16th century reduced it to ruins, though what...
Jura lies off the coast of Argyll, long, dark and low like a vast Viking longship, its billowing sail the distinctive triple peaks of the Paps of Jura. A magnificently wild and lonely island, it’s the perfect place to get away from it all –...
West of Ballater lies Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s Highland holiday home, screened from the road by a thick curtain of trees. Built for Queen Victoria in 1855 as a private residence for the royal family, it kicked off the revival of the Scottish Baronial style...
High St, which stretches from George IV Bridge down to the Netherbow at St Mary’s St, is the heart and soul of the Old Town, home to the city’s main church, the Law Courts, the city council and - until 1707 - the Scottish parliament....
The Scottish National Trust’s flagship property, magnificent Culzean is one of the most impressive of Scotland’s great stately homes. The entrance to Culzean is a converted viaduct, and on approach the Castle appears like a mirage, floating into view. Designed by Robert Adam, who was...
Highland folklore is filled with tales of strange creatures living in lochs and rivers, notably the kelpie (water horse) that lures unwary travellers to their doom. The use of the term 'monster', however, is a relatively recent phenomenon whose origins lie in an article published...
Tobermory, the island’s main town, is a picturesque little fishing port and yachting centre with brightly painted houses arranged around 2 sheltered harbours, with a grid-patterned upper town as the setting for the children’s TV programme Balamory, the town swarms in summer with toddlers towing...
Edinburgh owes its existence to the Castle Rock, the glacier-worn stump of a long-extinct volcano that provided a near-perfect defensive position guarding the coastal route from North East England into central Scotland. Back in the 7th century the Castle Rock was called Dun Eiden (meaning ‘Fort...
Why not combine your trip to either Ireland or Scotland. Ireland tours can be combined with Scotland tours by the leading personalised tour company. At Ireland Luxury Tours we have successfully created bespoke tours of Ireland followed by a ferry trip and tour of Scotland. All based...