1. Kilmartin Glen
Kilmartin Glen is one of Scotland’s richest and most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age elements, with elements dating back over 5,000 years. There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six-mile radius of Kilmartin village, 150 of them prehistoric. These historic sites include standing stones, a henge monument, numerous cists, and a ‘linear cemetery’ comprising five burial cairns. Several of these, as well as many natural rocks, are decorated with cup-and-ring marks.
Among the most famous monuments in Kilmartin Glen are the Kilmartin Standing Stones, which date back to the 900s and 1600s. You can see the sculptured stones at Kilmartin Glen at three separate displays: one inside the church and the other two in the graveyard. Another important historic site is Dunadd Fort, which rises proudly from Moine Mhor – the ‘great moss’ – an expanse of bog that carpets the southern end of Kilmartin Glen. It was home to a fort 2,000 years ago and a royal power centre of Gaelic kings in the 5th to 8th centuries AD.
While exploring Kilmartin Glen, visit Kilmartin Museum, which displays and tells the story of fascinating ancient artefacts close to the sites where they were discovered.
2. Mount Stuart
This historic house of Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute is amongst the top visitor attractions in Scotland. From the heavenly 19th-century mansion to the 300 acres of gloriously maintained grounds and gardens to the award-winning visitor centre, it’s the highlight of any visit to Bute. The 3rd Marquess of Bute built Mount Stuart in 1716, a man who was, at the time, considered to be one of the richest in the world. And when money is no object, imagination and technology are the only limiting factors.
Most of Mount Stuart’s magnificent design and craftsmanship are inspired by astrology, art and mythology. As you explore the inside of the house, you’ll discover the majestic marble hall with its world-famous vaulted ceiling, an awe-inspiring white marble chapel, sumptuous accommodations, a luxurious library, and utterly opulent reception rooms. Mount Stuart is a house of innovations. It was the first home in the world to feature a heated indoor swimming pool and the first in Scotland to be purpose-built with electric lighting, central heating, a telephone system, and a Victorian passenger lift. Most of these are, quite remarkably, still in use today.
3. Inveraray Jail
Inveraray Jail is a fascinating example of a Scottish Victorian prison. Step back in time to experience what life was like for the men, women and children who were locked up here. Life in Inveraray Jail’s Old Prison was full of hardship. It was cold, damp and dark, and disease, violence, and hunger were rife. This all changed with the Prison Reform Act of 1839. Built in 1848, the New Prison was a model prison of its day, featuring twelve individual cells, a water closet on every floor, a washroom, and heating and lighting. Female prisoners were given their own cells for the first time, away from men. Food was provided free of charge, and all physically fit prisoners were required to work in their cells for up to ten hours a day. Inveraray Jail tells an absorbing story of a vital reform period in Scotland.
There's plenty to discover in Inveraray! Discover more things to see & do in Inveraray here.
4. Iona Abbey
The beautiful Hebridean island of Iona may be small, but it has played a significant role in Scotland’s history. It’s home to Iona Abbey, one of Scotland’s most historic and sacred sites. The abbey was founded by St. Columba and his Irish followers in AD 563 and became the cradle of Christianity in Scotland. Iona is also the final resting place of many Scottish kings. Reilig Odhráin, the cemetery located next to the Abbey, was a royal burial ground between the 9th and 11th centuries, and it is believed that over sixty kings were interred there. This was a time of struggle between the Picts, Gaels, and Vikings, a period that saw the formation of the Kingdom of Scotland.
Other significant historic sites on Iona include MacLean's Cross, a finely carved stone cross dating back to the 1400s, situated beside Iona’s ancient ‘street of the dead’. Pilgrims filing up from the boats would have stopped here to pray on their way to Iona Abbey and St. Columba’s Shrine.
5. Dunoon Castle House Museum
Just a scenic ferry ride from Glasgow, Dunoon offers a delightful day trip with its rich history and charming atmosphere. At its heart lies the Castle House Museum, an exquisite 19th-century mansion nestled within picturesque gardens. Built in 1824 as a holiday home for Glasgow's Lord Provost, the museum now invites visitors to journey through Dunoon's rich past, from Neolithic settlers to the era of the Clyde steamers. The museum's realistic Victorian room reconstructions and extensive photo archives provide an immersive experience, while the panoramic views over the Firth of Clyde are simply breathtaking.
6. Kilchurn Castle & St Conan’s Kirk
Look out over Loch Awe from the power base of the Campbells of Glenorchy, one of the most photographed castles in Scotland. Built in the mid-1400s, Kilchrun Castle was the base of the mighty Campbells of Glenorchy for 150 years. After the first Jacobite Rising of 1689, Kilchurn was converted into a garrison stronghold before being abandoned by the end of the 1700s. Despite falling into ruin, the impressive complex still dominates the landscapes surrounding Loch Awe, Scotland’s longest loch.
You can get a fantastic view of Kilchurn Castle from St Conan’s Kirk, located in the small village of Loch Awe. But the quirky, still active church is well worth a visit, having been voted one of the top 10 buildings in Scotland in the last 100 years. It was built in the late 19th century and features many quirky architectural details, blending different church styles, from ancient Roman to Norman. Kirk also claims to have housed a section of bone from Robert Bruce.
7. Dunollie Museum and Castle
Dunollie Castle is superbly situated, standing guard over Oban Bay and enjoying spectacular views towards the island of Kerrera. Initially built for the powerful Clan MacDougall in the 12th and 15th centuries, traces of human activity on the castle grounds go back as far as 8,000 years. For more than 1,000 years, the Clan Chiefs and Lords of the Clan MacDougall ruled large areas of Argyll and the Isles from Dunollie, and to this day, it remains in their hands. In 1746, the MacDougalls abandoned the castle as their ancestral home and built Dunollie House just downhill from the castle ruins.
Today, it remains the seat and ancestral home of Clan MacDougall. The museum, castle, and grounds are great fun to explore. Due to its stunningly scenic location, it is popular among history and nature lovers alike. Don’t miss the wonderful Willow Hall. Be sure to visit Dunollie Castle’s website for information on upcoming events and family-friendly activities.
8. Castle Stalker
This privately owned medieval castle is one of the most romantic sights in Scotland, situated on an island in Loch Laich near Port Appin, Argyll. Castle Stalker is perhaps best known for being one of the filming locations for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. ‘Stalker’ comes from the Gaelic' Stalcaire, meaning ‘hunter’ or ‘falconer. ’
Initially built by the Clan MacDougall around 1320 and completed by the Stewarts around 1388, this historic site in Argyll changed hands many times until it was abandoned in 1840. In 1965, Castle Stalker was fully restored and remains in private ownership to this day. You can visit it during selected summer months via private tours.
9. Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace
Step back in time and imagine the heat and noise of Bonawe, Britain's most complete charcoal-fuelled ironworks. Founded in 1753, this historic site in Argyll ceased firing only in the 1870s. Located at the head of Loch Etive, Bonawe’s stunning setting seems at odds with its industrial past. However, in its heyday, the furnace produced up to 700 tons of pig iron a year and employed more than 600 people. Today, displays showcase every stage of how pig iron was made, as well as cannonballs used in the Napoleonic Wars.
10. Dunstaffanage Castle
Dunstaffnage Castle is located on a giant rock overlooking the Firth of Lorn near Oban and remains one of Scotland’s oldest stone castles. Built in 1220 by Duncan MacDougall, the self-styled ‘King of the Isles’ played an important role during these stirring times in Argyll and the struggle between the Kingdom of Scotland and Norway for control of the Hebrides. The historic site remained an important stronghold of the MacDougalls until it was famously captured by Robert the Bruce in 1308 during the Wars of Independence. Dunstaffnage remained a royal castle until it passed to the Campbell earls of Argyll in the 1460s. Late in 1746, Dunstaffnage welcomed one of its more famous guests, Flora MacDonald, who was kept prisoner for helping Bonnie Prince Charlie evade capture from the Redcoats.
Today, you can explore the remarkable remains, including a stone curtain and the ancient Dunstaffnage Abbey, hidden on the grounds, and step inside the three-storey gatehouse. Dunstaffnage Castle offers a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year. Head to Historic Environment Scotland’s website for more information.
