History lovers will enjoy visiting the ruined abbeys that once ruled over agricultural communities that dot the southern border. They were frequently ransacked before their destruction in the Reformation and now many are linked by cycling and walking paths and are some of Scotland’s most atmospheric historic sites.
Outdoor enthusiasts can take in the region’s attractive landscapes created by its geological past of colliding continents and erupting volcanoes. With extensive forest cover between the bustling market towns and hills leading down to stretches of coastline and some of Scotland’s sunniest weather, it will be easy to get outside and explore. Along the coast, you can also find spectacular wildlife such as white-tailed sea eagles to minke whales and basking sharks cruising along the coast.
Visitors to the region will be welcomed with an array of activities and sights to see from serene forest walks, beachcombing along the stunning coastline, exploring castle ruins, or getting out on the links at one of the many golf courses – all finished off with an evening of getting to know the locals by joining in on a festival or heading to a pub.
Whether you’re visiting for a weekend, a week, or longer, here are eight great places to visit in southwest Scotland to experience the best this region has to offer as recommended by fellow travel bloggers.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
8 GREAT PLACES TO VISIT IN SOUTHWEST SCOTLAND
Prepare to be seduced by Oban, a Victorian harbour town in the heart of Scotland’s Western Highlands. Blessed with a majestic setting, Oban’s stately Victorian buildings flank a horseshoe-shaped bay, framed by the backdrop of the majestic Ben More. It even has its own version of Rome’s Colosseum, called McCaig’s Folly, which keeps watch over the town from its hillside vantage point.
Oban’s broad seafront promenade is perfect for strolling and dreaming, whilst breathing in a restorative lungful of salty air. Look to the horizon, and on a clear day, you can make out the mountains of Mull, shrouded in mist.
MUST DO IN OBAN:
- Oban Distillery: In the centre of the town, is one of Scotland’s oldest and smallest, whisky distilleries. Find out what you didn’t know about the amber nectar by taking a guided tour of Oban Distillery (and don’t miss the chance to sample a dram or two!).
- Day Trip to Mull: As the gateway to the romance of the Hebridean islands, it’s easy to visit Mull or Iona on an easy day trip from Oban. Or why not take a journey to a more far-flung island?
- Feast on Subline Seafood: One of the best reasons to visit Oban is to eat some of the freshest seafood that you will find anywhere. The self-proclaimed ‘Seafood Capital of Scotland’, Oban has a wide range of eating options for a town of its size, from MacGillivray’s Seafood, operating out of a harbour-side van, to excellent fish and chip shops and more upscale restaurants.
Contribution and Photo from Bridget of The Flashpacker
Reviews of Oban Distillery | Reviews of Isle of Mull | Reviews of MacGillivray’s Seafood
The town of Ayr in Scotland is all about its famous homegrown son, Scottish poet Robert Burns. It also has a fantastic location on the coast of southwest Scotland which makes it popular for seaside and golf vacations as well.
MUST DO IN AYR:
- Learn about Robert Burns: Start your visit to Ayr at the Robert Burns Museum. This modern museum cleverly brings Robert Burns’ life and works to life using interactive digital techniques. Across the road from the museum is the graveyard where Robert Burns’ father was buried. Walk down the street known as “Poet’s Corner” to visit Burns Cottage.
- Enjoy Plants and Bridges: After visiting the museum head back to stroll through the beautiful Robert Burns’ gardens and see the Burns Monument. Once finished at the gardens, walk down to the iconic Brig O Doon. This lovely bridge featured in the Burns poem Tam O’Shanter and even appears on the Scottish £5 note! Brig O Doon is next to a lovely pub called the Brig O Doon House Hotel. Not only is this a lovely cozy pub it also has a beautiful garden. And if you have time pop into nearby Rozelle Park and its lovely duck pond.
- Walk along the Ayrshire Coastal Path to Troon: The west coast of Scotland is a real hidden gem. It is absolutely beautiful and tends to be considerably warmer than the rest of Scotland. The path runs for 100 miles along the coast and offers clear views of Arran island as well wildlife on occasion. The path between Ayr and Troon is just over 7 miles and should take about 2 ½ hours. Troon is a lovely seaside town with a very long sandy beach. In summer it is busy with sun lovers and activities.
Contribution and Photo from Amanda of The Boutique Adventurer
Reviews of Robert Burns Museum | Reviews of Robert Burns Monument and Gardens | Reviews of Ayrshire Coast Path
Kirkcudbright is a pretty town on the banks of the River Dee in southwestern Scotland, at the point where the wide estuary narrows to become a real river. The area has been settled since at least the 12th century and became a Royal Burgh in 1455.
This part of Scotland has a soft, rolling, green landscape with big open skies, and Kirkcudbright sits beautifully within it.
MUST DO IN KIRKCUDBRIGHT:
- Visit Galleries: Kirkcudbright’s lovely setting, the feeling of slight remoteness and beautiful light has attracted many artists to the town. Between the 1880s and early 1900s, artists from Glasgow based themselves in the town, forming the Kirkcudbright Artists’ Colony. Today Kirkcudbright is still known as the “artists’ town” and is still home to a community of artists and several interesting galleries where you can see (and buy) local artists’ work.
- Explore MacLellan’s Castle: The ruins of MacLellan’s Castle in the centre of Kirkcudbright are dramatic and unmissable. Built in 1581-2 by Sir Thomas MacLellan, the “castle” isn’t really a castle at all, but a fortified house made to look like a castle to show off how powerful and wealthy Sir Thomas was. Visitors to Kirkcudbright can go inside MacLellan’s Castle; don’t miss the “laird’s lug” – a secret spy hole that the master of the house could use to eavesdrop on guests.
- See Locations from “The Wicker Man”: The cult horror film which starred Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward was filmed in and around Kirkcudbright in the early 1970s. The film follows a righteous policeman who travels to a mysterious island and the strange events that follow. Fans of the film will recognise a number of Wicker Man locations in the town, notably May Morrison’s sweet shop, which is now a gallery.
Contribution and Photo from Helen of Helen on Her Holidays
Reviews of MacLellan’s Castle | Reviews of Kirkcudbright Galleries
READ MORE: Looking for more great places to visit in Scotland? Check out these 8 great places to visit in Southeast Scotland!
The Isle of Arran is the 7th largest in Scotland and is famously known as “Scotland in Miniature”, thanks to its low-lying grasslands in the south and the more mountainous terrain in the north. There are two ferry crossings to Arran from the mainland – Claonaig in Kintyre to Lochranza for 30 minutes and Ardrossan to Brodick for 55 minutes, making it one of the most accessible islands in Scotland.
With a rich history dating back to prehistoric times as well as stunning scenery, including beaches ad plenty of walking tracks, the Isle of Arran is a must-visit in Scotland.
MUST DO ON ISLE OF ARRAN:
- Lochranza: Located on the edge of Loch Ranza, hence its name, this is one of the most picturesque villages on Arran. The fortified tower house of Lochranza Castle is a focal point of the village and one of the most visited attractions, as well the Arran Distillery which opened in 1995.
- Machrie Moor: Home to six stone circles as well as burial cairns and cists, Machrie Moor is a must-stop on your travels around Arran. Stone circles were used for ceremonial or religious activities, but no one quite knows exactly how or why. While only some of the stones remain standing, it’s still an impressive and interesting site.
- Brodick Castle: The present Brodick Castle was built in 1844, although the presence of a building on this site dates back much further. The inside of the castle has been decorated as it would have been in Victorian times, while the surrounding country gardens include woodlands and waterfalls too.
Contribution and Photo from Sonja of Migrating Miss
Reviews of Lochranza | Reviews of Machrie Moor | Reviews of Brodick Castle
READ MORE: Looking for more Scottish castles to explore? Check out these 12 castles to visit in Scotland!
Glentrool is a tiny village in the heart of the Galloway Forest Park – the only village inside the park actually! It offers the perfect glimpse into a welcoming community in rural Scotland and is a great home base for activities in the park. Glentrool is also a Biosphere community, one of four villages in the Southern Ayrshire & Galloway UNESCO Biosphere, which are fully devoted to sustainable eco-tourism in Scotland.
The village was built by the Forestry Commission in the 1950s to create housing for forest workers and their families. Many people lived and worked here during that time, but the decline of the workforce required in the logging industry meant that many families moved away eventually and houses stood empty.
Today, the village is thriving once again though. As the forest workers left, new arrivals bought the houses from Forestry Commission and turned them into a close-knit community. A great example of this is the Gletrool Kindness Path, a footpath lined with hand-painted stones with beautiful artwork and kind words. Many of the activities offered in the park, from hiking and kayaking to heritage walks and Dark Sky gazing, start right here in the village.
MUST DO IN GLENTROOL:
- Loch Trool & Bruce’s Stone: The stunning and narrow freshwater Loch Trool stretches for 1.5 miles at the foot of Merrick, the tallest mountain in the Galloway Hills. It is lined with pinewoods and offers stunning mountain views – especially for kayakers who venture into the middle of the loch. In 1307, Robert the Bruce fought and won a significant battle at the shores of the loch. Bruce’s Stone, a large boulder high above Loch Trool commemorates the victory.
- Dark Sky Park: Due to the lack of light pollution, the area around Glentrool is a designated Dark Sky Park. Local Dark Sky Rangers like Elizabeth Tindal offer activities to experience the darkest nights in Scotland: dark sky walks, stargazing and starlight picnics.
- Glentrool Community Centre: The village centre in the heart of Glentrool offers a warm welcome to visitors and locals alike. It plays host to workshops and entertainment nights and houses the Glentrool Gallery & Craft Shop. Someone is usually around to tell you more about Glentrool’s history, tell stories of the smugglers who once came through here, or simply offer a steaming cup of tea!
Contribution and Photo from Kathi of Watch Me See
Port Ellen is the 2nd largest settlement on the island of Islay found in the remote and scattered Argyll region on Scotland’s rugged west coast. It is also a relatively small town, second to the larger Bowmore, However Port Ellen serves as Islay’s main Harbour with daily ferry crossings travelling from the mainland port of Kennacraig (the boat to Islay here).
Port Ellen also marks the start of whisky exploration on Islay, and island foremost famous and world-renowned for its tasty peat-smoked single malt scotch whiskys and most tourism on the island follows similarly. And while it is simple to take a car across to Islay on the ferry, the main attractions of the island are found within walking distance of Port Ellen.
MUST DO IN PORT ELLEN:
- The 3 Distilleries Walk: This newish walking route starts out from arrivals at Port Ellen to follow the near coast past three of the islands more famous working distilleries (Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg). The route is linear with a cycle track, and at around four miles it is easy to complete on a day trip to Port Ellen and Islay.
- Laphroaig Distillery: The nearest distillery is the Laphroaig Distillery located around 1.5 miles along the coastline from the seafront stretch of Port Ellen. The distillery offers daily tours, whisky tasting sets, and the area is just stunning. ‘Friends of Laphroaig’ is also a great pilgrimage for those who have joined their online community.
- Port Ellen Seafront: Just next to arrivals at Port Ellen is a sandy beachfront as well as a marina for yachtsmen passing through the Sound of Jura. The seafront is also the mainstay for most visitors with hotels, restaurants and just the necessary conveniences for a stay on Islay
Contribution and Photo from Allan of It’s Sometimes Sunny in Bangor
Reviews of 3 Distilleries Walk | Reviews of Laphroaig Distillery
READ MORE: Looking for more great places to visit in Scotland? Check out these 8 great places to visit in Northern Scotland!
Inveraray is a quaint town in Argyll and Bute which is located on the shores of beautiful Loch Fynn. The town itself was completely rebuilt in the 18th century and is considered one of the best examples of a new town in this period. There are many wonderful things to see and do in Inveraray.
MUST DO ON THE INVERARAY:
- Inveraray Castle: Inveraray Castle is a marvellous castle with lovely gardens! The castle closes for winter at the end of October but it is still worth a visit. You can stroll up to the front of the castle for free and admire the neo-gothic architecture. There is a beautiful old stone bridge closeby which is very Instagrammable!
- Hike to Dun Na Cuaiche: Dun Na Cuaiche is a watchtower on a hill that overlooks Inveraray Castle and the town of Inveraray itself. The hike is not too difficult and takes you through enchanting woodland full of moss and silver birch trees. When you do make it to the top, you will be rewarded with one of the best views in Scotland! This is a great easy hike in Scotland with amazing views!
- Wonder around Inveraray: Make sure you have a stroll around the pretty fishing town of Inveraray during your visit. There are plenty of lovely independent shops as well as little cafes to explore. The views across the loch towards Inveraray bridge and the surrounding mountains are marvellous. There is also a beautiful Celtic cross to admire by the harbour.
Contribution from Anna of My Travel Scrapbook
Reviews of Inveraray Castle | Reviews of Dun Na Cuaiche Woodland Walk
As one of the most underrated cities in Scotland, Glasgow is a real hidden gem. While many travellers to Scotland spend their time solely in Edinburgh, it would be a shame to miss this vibrant, edgy city with fantastic food, street art, architecture and green open spaces. While Glasgow was once an industrial city without the best safety record, all that’s changed in recent years. Glasgow has become cool and gentrified with lots of exciting projects and local businesses to visit during your trip.
Two days in Glasgow is a great amount of time to spend because you’ll be able to see the highlights of the city centre as well as the up-and-coming outer neighbourhoods.
MUST DO IN GLASGOW:
- The Lighthouse: This modern art museum in the heart of Glasgow is a must for fans of art and architecture. As well as quirky interactive modern art, there are exhibitions that change regularly. You can also climb the symmetrical, curving metal staircase to the roof where you’ll get spectacular views out over Glasgow.
- Southside: A must-visit area of Glasgow is the Southside, known for its cafes and brunches. Eat at Gnom for Asian fusion food (the oozy short rib and egg bao buns are excellent!), Potluck or Cafe Strangebrew. This area of Glasgow was once run-down and sketchy but now ut’s a lovely sunny part of Glasgow with lots of open spaces.
- Pollok Country Park: With 146 hectares of land to explore, there are many reasons to visit Pollok Country Park located southwest of the city. One of these reasons is the herds of Highland cattle only found in Scotland. In the park, you can also explore the Burrel Collection, an impressive collection of art donated by Sir William Burrel.
Contribution and Photo from Rose of Where Goes Rose
Looking for more information to plan your visit to Scotland? You may find these articles helpful.
RESOURCES | PLAN YOUR TRIP TO SCOTLAND
To book flights, rental cars, accommodations, and activities for your trip, please check out our recommended travel providers, favourite apps and websites.
- Want to visit castles in Scotland? Check out The Complete Illustrated Guide to Castles, Palaces, and Stately House of Britain and Ireland and you’re sure to find plenty to explore!
- The Most Amazing Royal Places in Britain brings British heritage to life with hundreds of ideas for days out to discover castles, grand estates, and the secret hideaways of kings and queens.
- For all things Scotland, you can’t go wrong with Rick Steves! Check out his Scotland travel guide, full episodes of his TV show, or download his app for excellent audio tours.
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