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Conwy Suspension Bridge
Conwy Suspension Bridge
The blue spruce on the right symbolizes the spirit of John Denver.
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Inside Sacré-Coeur Hospital lies an unassuming lab that peers into the mysteries of our sleeping minds.
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Team Kwe's 2024 sculpture “Wenabozho and Dadibaajimad Journey on the River of Souls,” illustrating a traditional Ojibwe story of two figures—Wenabozho and his brother Dadibaajimad—on an otherworldly journey.
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The sophisticated club sandwich combines ham, pineapple, bacon, peanut butter, and avocado.
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All United Kingdom Scotland

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Scotland

719 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Scotland

Updated November 8, 2024

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Cities

Top Cities
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Gearrannan Blackhouse Village.
Outer Hebrides
The south face of Ben Nevis
Highland
A misty day at Mousa Broch
Shetland Islands
Fairy Pools.
Isle Of Skye
All Cities
  1. Aberdeen
  2. Aberdeenshire
  3. Anstruther
  4. Argyll And Bute
  5. Ayr
  6. Beauly
  7. Birnam
  8. Blantyre
  9. Bowmore
  10. Broxburn
  11. Comrie
  12. Crail
  13. Crieff
  14. Dailly
  15. Dalmally
  16. Dumfries And Galloway
  17. Dunbar
  18. Dundee
  19. Dunfermline
  20. Dunmore
  21. Dunure
  22. East Ayrshire
  23. East Lothian
  24. Edinburgh
  25. Elgin
  26. Eyemouth
  27. Falkirk
  28. Fraserburgh
  29. Glasgow
  30. Glencoe
  31. Glenfinnan
  32. Glentrool
  33. Highland
  34. Holywood
  35. Inverkeithing
  36. Inverness
  37. Isle Of Islay
  38. Isle Of Skye
  39. Johnstone
  40. Kilmartin
  41. Kirriemuir
  42. Lendalfoot
  43. Lerwick
  44. Linlithgow
  45. Melrose
  46. Millport
  47. Moffat
  48. Musselburgh
  49. Nairn
  50. North Berwick
  51. Orkney
  52. Outer Hebrides
  53. Paisley
  54. Peebles
  55. Perth
  56. Perth And Kinross
  57. Port Charlotte
  58. Prestonpans
  59. Renfrewshire
  60. Rosehearty
  61. Saddell
  62. Saint Andrews
  63. Scottish Borders
  64. Shetland Islands
  65. Stirling
  66. Stonehaven
  67. Strichen
  68. Wallyford
  69. Wanlockhead
  70. West Dunbartonshire
  71. Wigtown
Attractions
Food & Drink
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Map
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Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in Scotland

Fingal's Cave

Isle of Staffa, Scotland

Fingal's Cave

This astonishingly geometric cave has inspired everyone from Jules Verne to Pink Floyd.
Fairy Pools.

Isle of Skye, Scotland

Fairy Pools

These fantastically named natural pools look like something out of a Scottish myth.
Fairy Glen, as viewed from Castle Ewan.

Isle of Skye, Scotland

Fairy Glen

This dramatic landscape hidden on the Isle of Skye looks as though you've stepped into the magical realm.
A street in the close.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Mary King's Close

17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death.
The fountain.

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witches' Well

The fountain marks the area where hundreds of accused witches were burned at the stake.
Eilean Donan

Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland

Eilean Donan

The most iconic structure in Scotland has been home to bishops, colonels, and Sean Connery characters.
(Flickr/Wojtek Gurak)

Edinburgh, Scotland

Holyrood Abbey Ruins

Ruined 11th century abbey built by King David I in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Black Hole terrace.

Holywood, Scotland

Garden of Cosmic Speculation

A 30-acre garden inspired by the principles of modern physics.
See All 719 Things To Do in Scotland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Scotland

The Witchery

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witchery

Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.
The bar, with the window to the snug.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Bennets Bar

This historic pub has maintained much of its 1906 decor, including a small sequestered room for women, where orders were slipped through a tiny window.
The stained glass over the restaurant's bar.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Cafe Royal

Come for the oysters, stay for the priceless art honoring inventors across history and Scotland's favorite outdoor sports.
Tolbooth Tavern

Edinburgh, Scotland

Tolbooth Tavern

Now home to a drinking establishment, this building has a macabre history.
See all 18 Places to Eat in Scotland
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Hidden Edinburgh

Crowds clog Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the main artery between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The road is dotted with stores selling Nessie trinkets and lined with bagpipers and street performers pulling off dazzling tricks. But look beyond the tartan tourist traps, and you’ll discover tucked-away gardens, remnants of the city’s medieval past, and much more.

View Itinerary
Look closely and wander widely: Parliament Square is full of charm.

Explore Scotland

History & Culture 157
Architecture 104
Art 63
Ruins 60
History 58
Castles 45
Monuments 45
Statues 44
Memorials 43
Sculptures 42
Museums 41
Churches 38
Places To Stay 9
Unique Restaurants & Bars 8

Scotland Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for SEANETTA
    SEANETTA
    162
  2. Avatar image for katielou106
    katielou106
    72
  3. Avatar image for linkogecko
    linkogecko
    69
  4. Avatar image for ssm67alba
    ssm67alba
    49
  5. Avatar image for grahamstewartwalker
    grahamstewartwalker
    22

Places Edited

  1. Avatar image for SEANETTA
    SEANETTA
    388
  2. Avatar image for rbenn250
    rbenn250
    177
  3. Avatar image for linkogecko
    linkogecko
    139
  4. Avatar image for katielou106
    katielou106
    92
  5. Avatar image for Jaszmina Szendrey
    Jaszmina Szendrey
    69

Places Visited

  1. Avatar image for grahamstewartwalker
    grahamstewartwalker
    585
  2. K
    kiert
    492
  3. Avatar image for SEANETTA
    SEANETTA
    417
  4. Avatar image for linkogecko
    linkogecko
    326
  5. Avatar image for hrnick
    hrnick
    300

Recent Scotland Activity

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to Arthur's Seat

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to The Meadows Mural

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to Craigentinny Marbles

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to Coade Stone Columns

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to War Poets' Collection

Stories About Scotland

The Cù Sith, an otherworldly hound of Scottish folklore, and its Irish counterpart the Cù Sidhe are sometimes described as green, the color associated with magic—and misfortune.

Death as a Dog: The Cù Sith of Scotland

The spectral, terrifying dog of Scottish folklore has inspired many a nightmare for centuries—and likely for millennia.
by Emma Cieslik
October 9, 2024
For some 4,500 years, Stonehenge has attracted and fascinated humans—now it turns out the Altar Stone, at its center, is from Scotland.

Stonehenge Has a Scottish Heart

Long thought to be from Wales, the monument's Altar Stone is from northern Scotland, nearly 500 miles away.
by Roxanne Hoorn
August 14, 2024

Podcast: Stone of Destiny

An unassuming rock in a Scottish bar may have quite a royal history.
by The Podcast Team
February 21, 2024

Imbolc, Groundhog Day, and Brigantia All Celebrate the Coming Spring

Whatever you call it, early February's cross-quarter day reconnects us with ancient astronomical timekeeping traditions.
by Rebecca Boyle
January 30, 2024
The Tomnaverie Stone Circle is a dramatic megalithic monument devoted to the Moon. A large recumbent stone, arranged between two smaller, upright stones, is visible just to the left of the image's center.

Scotland's Ancient Stone Circles Mark Our Deep Connection to the Moon

Unlike Sun-focused Stonehenge and other megalithic monuments, Tomnaverie and similar stone circles hint at the Moon's importance to ancient people.
by Rebecca Boyle
January 17, 2024
Stretching between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Scottish witch trials were among Europe’s longest and most deadly.

Isobel Gowdie and the Untold History of the Scottish Witch Trials

Some experts estimate as many as 3,000 people were accused and executed for witchcraft in Scotland.
by Sarah Durn
October 31, 2023
There are so many reasons to take stone skimming seriously.

Stone Skimming Is a World Champion Sport—And a Model for Spaceships

What to know if you want to skip a rock over 200 feet. Or fly to space.
by Ella Benson Easton
October 19, 2023
The Cailleach shrine can determine if locals have a good year or not.

Moving Stones Has a Magical Effect at This Secret Shrine in Scotland

Don't let the Cailleach curse your autumn.
by Daniela Castillo Gómez
October 17, 2023

Lists Featuring Scotland

Callanish Standing Stones.
A close up photo of several stones in one of the larger circles.
Lundin Links Standing Stones.
Ring of Brodgar

7 of Scotland’s Most Enchanting Standing Stones

These ancient monuments have captivated the imagination for thousands of years.

7

Including Callanish Stones, Machrie Moor Standing Stones, and Lundin Links Standing Stones

Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

Bolivia's Witch Market
Dubrovnik Maskeron
The Statue of St. Anthony's Pig
The Guardhouse Monkey

15 Unlikely Places to Re-Up Your Luck

Luck be a... llama fetus?

15

Including Bolivia's Witch Market, Dubrovnik Maskeron, and Statue of St. Anthony's Pig

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