The South of Scotland has a lot to offer a visitor, with its diverse range of cities, towns and villages; there is somewhere to suit everyone.
From the moment you arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, you will find the stunning skyline and magnificent architecture captivating. The castle, Arthur's Seat, Palace of Holyrood, ancient buildings of the Royal Mile and Princes Street Gardens situated in the Georgian New Town are all waiting to be explored. The National Museum of Scotland, a combination of traditional and modern architecture is well worth a visit (More Details). There is an abundance of Bars, restaurants and nightlife in this bustling compact city. History, culture, architecture, the more you explore, the more this great city rewards you.
The East of Scotland, in particular the ancient county of Angus and bustling city of Dundee are easily accessible from the capital and offer a range of unique attractions. Such as Captains Scott's ship the Discovery, miles of dramatic coastline, championship golf courses and peaceful highland glens. Visit Angus the land of the mysterious Pictish people who's intricately carved stones still guard their secrets. History comes alive at Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mother and at the 12th century Arbroath Abbey. The dramatic North Sea coast contrasts with the timeless beauty and peace of the Angus Glens. Test your skill on the Championship Golf Links at Carnoustie, foremost among first class courses throughout the area and host to the 1999 open championship. Nearby, in the Historic Kingdom of Fife, visit St Andrews - the home of golf. For Angling, sea fishing, hill walking or bird watching, Angus, Fife and Perthshire are unsurpassed whilst Dundee offers a wide range of nightlife and activities.paragraph
Why not visit the Kingdom of Stirling home to the great battles of the Wars of Independence. This took place at Stirling Bridge in 1297 and at Bannockburn in 1314. In the uneasy peace that followed, Stirling Castle gradually evolved into a splendid renaissance palace, the favourite residence of the Stewart dynasty. It is fortunate that much of Stirling's heritage has survived, centred around the castle and below it the old town is the finest concentration of historic buildings in Scotland. This includes many important medieval and renaissance sites. Nearby, there are still more places of national historic significance. These include the national Wallace Monument, which commemorates Scotland's greatest patriot, Sir William Wallace and the Bannockburn Heritage Centre, marking the site where Scotland's hero King Robert the Bruce, won his greatest victory and secured Scotland independence for 300 years. Central Scotland is surprisingly rich in scenery and historic interest and a visit to the "bonnie banks" of Loch Lomond are definitely not to be missed
Convenient road, rail and air links make Central and South-West Scotland a popular tourist destination, Argyll has a long, much indented coastline, looking out onto a scatter of islands such as Mull, Jura, Gigha and Islay. This is a popular outdoor resort area and has excellent hotels and a wide choice of accommodation.
The lively city of Glasgow is well worth a visit and has a growing reputation for its superb cultural, entertainment, shopping and sporting facilities. Ayrshire naturally means Rabbie Burns and Alloway, and also means golf - Prestwick, Troon and Turnberry are international courses. You could include a trip to the lovely Isle of Arran - Scotland in miniature.
Situated only an hour by car from Edinburgh lies the Scottish Borders with rolling hills, glittering lochs and rivers, friendly people and historic houses and castles. The ruined abbeys of Dryburgh, Jedburgh, Kelso and Montrose are main attractions as are the mills and mill-shops, which have made towns like Hawick and Galasheils famous. Less than two hours drive from central Scotland lies a region steeped in history and rich in opportunities for outdoor pastimes or simply wandering around. This is Dumfries & Galloway. If you are a keen golfer there are over 30 courses to test your skills varying from fun holiday standard to tournament level. This area also has five major salmon rivers and dozens of burns and lochs for game and coarse fishing. The Southern Upland Way is a great pace for walkers or there are many coastal or forest walks across the region. Castles, stately homes and gardens are dotted throughout the countryside. The temp rate climate and warm Gulf Stream encourage growth of tropical fern and palm, especially in the West of the region. This is a region of surprises where you can pan for gold and visit a Buddhist temple all in the same day.
