12 Must-Visit Historic Towns in Scotland

Officially classified as a town, this Perthshire gem set on the banks of the flowing River Tay retains a distinctly "village" atmosphere. Boasting a cathedral and the remnants of the ancient wood depicted in Shakespeare's Macbeth; artists, writers and even royalty have long been drawn to the town's rich heritage, natural beauty, salmon fishing, and Shakespearian connections. 

Admire the beautifully restored houses on a walk down Cathedral Street and around The Mercat Cross, then walk over Dunkeld Bridge to the Birnam Oak, or what about a local history and ghost tour? 

The Declaration of Arbroath is an important document in Scottish history which declared Scotland's status as an independent sovereign state. Its name is derived from the abbey where it was written in 1320. The red sandstone ruins of Arbroath Abbey, with its distinctive "Round O" window, is the town's main attraction, but there is plenty more to see. 

Wander the pretty harbour, explore inside the Georgian Signal Tower Museum, and try an Arbroath smokie - a delicious smoked haddock and a local delicacy. 

The delightful fishing town of Pittenweem must be one of the most unspoiled spots in Scotland. Located on the east coast in the East Neuk of Fife, its name is said to be derived from the ancient language of the Picts and means "Place of the Caves". Over the centuries it became an important trading port for ships carrying cargo from the Low Countries, and in 1541 James V granted the town the status of royal burgh in recognition of this. 

Admire the pretty buildings where you can still find traces of European influence, with plenty of red and white architectural details and charming crow-stepped gables reminiscent of Holland and Belgium. 

Fort Augustus has both history and scenery making it a popular stop for visitors to the Loch Ness area. A trip to nearby Urquhart Castle is a must, and walkers and cyclists should check out the Great Glen Way which runs through the town. History enthusiasts will enjoy a trip to the Caledonian Canal Centre in the town, where you can find out more about this ambitious 19th century engineering project. 

The canal was built to provide safe passage for ships, avoiding the more dangerous route around the north of Scotland. Its construction also provided vital employment after the Highland Clearances. Travel to Fort Augustus to find out more about this lesser-known slice of Scottish history. 

Wigtown is Scotland’s National Book Town and has a variety of independent bookshops and an annual book festival. The Wigtown Book Festival is one of the UK’s best-loved literary events with a ten-day festival in addition to a year-round programme of events in the area. 

Near Wigtown is the Martyrs' Stake which marks the spot where two women covenanters were sadly drowned in May 1685. A marked walk through the town will take you there via the County Buildings, which used to be the local courtroom and now houses the town library and the remains of an 18th century prison cell. The walk has views over Wigtown Bay and the Galloway Hills. 

Set on the shores of Loch Fyne, Inveraray is what is known as a "planned" town which was designed and built by the Duke of Argyll in the 18th century. Consequently, Inveraray possesses a grandeur that makes it unique among Scotland's small historic towns. The town's Front Street and harbourside are remarkably pretty while the Georgian Inveraray Jail is now an intriguing museum. 

Other notable landmarks include All Saints Church, the 38 metre-high Duke's Tower which you can climb to the top of, and the Inveraray Cross at the harbourside, an ornately carved stone pillar dating from the 12th or 13th century. 

The small town of Dunvegan on the west coast of the Isle of Skye is best known for Dunvegan Castle. The castle sprawls on top of a rocky outcrop, sandwiched between the sea and several acres of beautifully maintained gardens. It has been the seat of the Clan MacLeod since the 13th century, but the present fortress dates from the 1840s. 

Generations of MacLeods have lived here over the last 800 years, and the castle has endured centuries of building, demolition and rebuilding which gives it a rich architectural history. This place is well worth a visit if you are travelling to Skye, especially if you have ancestral connections to the area. 

The picturesque town of Falkland in Fife is home to Falkland Palace. This royal dwelling was once the country residence of the Stewart kings and queens as they hunted deer and wild boar in the forests of Fife. Built between 1501 and 1541 by James IV and James V, the palace has some of the most exceptional architecture of its time in Britain. You will be amazed by the tapestries! The palace is also home to one of only two 16th century tennis courts in Britain.  

If you are an Outlander fan, you might recognise Falkland which was used to portray Inverness in the hit TV series. 

Scalloway was once the capital of the Shetland Islands and it has a fascinating maritime history. The town is built around a large, natural harbour so there are many connections to sea. During wartime the town was a base of operations for transporting troops and weapons to mainland Europe. 

The town is home to ancient Scalloway Castle, completed in 1600, which was a residence of Earl Patrick – one of Scotland’s most notorious villains. A visit to the Shetland Islands is a chance to explore fascinating historical and natural sites like this. 

This Perthshire town is situated on Scotland's longest river, the River Tay. Surrounded by ancient woodland, Aberfeldy is home to The Birks of Aberfeldy, made famous by our national bard Robert Burns. Burns wrote a poem about The Birks in 1787 and you can follow the footpaths for two miles up to the Falls of Moness, where you will discover spectacular views. 

The town is also home to Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery, which is open throughout the year. Why not pop in and take a tour and a dram? The heritage exhibition is well worth a visit where you can learn more about John Dewar & Sons. You can also enjoy the unique experience of Aberfeldy Watermill, a bookshop, café and gallery housed in a listed former watermill. Nearby Castle Menzies is also well worth a visit! 

The seaside resort of Rothesay is the main town on the Isle of Bute. The town has a traditional feel with many signs of its Victorian heritage including a splendid Victorian frontage cradling the romantic Rothesay Bay. Dominating the shoreline amongst a series of glorious esplanade gardens is the refurbished Isle of Bute Discovery Centre. This unique 1920s circular structure of cast iron and glass houses a cinema, theatre and many interactive displays as well as showcasing the best of Bute. 

Visitors can also explore the impressive Rothesay Castle, its dungeons, thick outer walls and grand hall which are all now fully restored. Just behind it sits the fascinating Bute Museum.

Today, Helmsdale is a name synonymous with salmon fishing, but the town and its picturesque harbour originally prospered because of the herring boom of the 19th century. The Timespan Heritage Centre uses an award-winning combination of life-size displays and audio-visual exhibits to tell the story of the area from earlier times. 

From Helmsdale, a short drive up the Strath of Kildonan will take you to Baille an Or and Suisgill - sites of the 'great Sutherland gold rush' of 1869. The first finds were by Robert Gilchrist, a local man who returned home after 17 years in the Australian gold fields. His success brought others rushing to Kildonan and soon there was a shanty town of hundreds of prospectors. Within a year the gold rush was over, but small amounts are still found today. 

Located approximately 19 miles from Edinburgh, Linlithgow is what is known in Scotland as a "royal burgh", a special title granted by King David I in 1130 which endowed the town with certain rights and privileges. The magnificent shell of Linlithgow Palace overlooking the loch harks back to its regal past when the Stewart kings and queens resided here during the 15th and 16th centuries.

The south side of its High Street survives mostly intact with some buildings, including independent shops, pubs and cafés, dating as far back as the 17th century. You can discover more at the new Linlithgow Museum in the town’s High Street.

It may not be as well-known as its grander neighbour, North Berwick, but this seaside town with its natural red sandstone harbour and the remains of what was the mighty fortified Dunbar Castle is worth a day trip. The High Street is pleasingly well-preserved with colourful painted buildings and an eclectic array of local businesses, some of which have been trading for generations.

Pay a visit to the old Town House or Tolbooth, now John Muir's Birthplace, a museum which celebrates the life and legacy of the world-renowned naturalist. Wander the windswept Belhaven Bay with its iconic landmark, a beautiful cast-iron bridge, named "The Bridge to Nowhere" by locals.

Melrose is a historic town in Scotland steeped in beauty and legend. A short walk from its bustling medieval marketplace, with its unicorn-topped mercat cross, stands the serene ruins of one of the great Borders' Abbeys, Melrose. Built by Cistercian monks in the 12th century, it is believed that a lead casket unearthed by archaeologists here contains the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce.

You can learn about the abbey at the Commendator's House Museum, home to the largest collection of medieval artefacts on display in Britain. Melrose is also located near to Abbotsford House, the beloved home of the great romantic novelist Sir Walter Scott, and the remains of the Roman settlement of Trimontium.

Castle Douglas is an ideal base for visitors exploring south west Scotland. It is also a designated Food Town, with around 50 businesses serving and selling delicious locally grown produce.

Just to the south west of the town is Threave Garden, run by the National Trust for Scotland, and just over a mile to the west is Threave Castle, spectacularly located on an island in the River Dee.

Nestled in the lowland region of Dumfries and Galloway, nearby Castle Douglas on the banks of the River Dee, Kirkcudbright was a former site of pilgrimage and became a royal burgh in the 15th century. Today, this country town has grown into a thriving artists' colony which encircles the ruined MacLellan's Castle.

Many of the Scottish Colourists spent time working in Kirkcudbright, including Samuel Peploe and Francis Cadell. Visit Broughton House, the former home of Scots impressionist artist Edward Atkinson Hornel, now a museum dedicated to his life and work. The Tolbooth is now an arts centre, while the newly opened Kirkcudbright Galleries is situated in the former Town Hall.

Elgin is one of the most picturesque old towns in northern Scotland. In the 14th century, Scottish royals would holiday here on account of its dry and balmy - by Scottish standards - climate. It remains a popular place for visitors exploring Moray who come wander its genteel Victorian streets lines with elegant houses of grey stone, browse an array of independent shops, and stop for lunch or a coffee in one of the cosy pubs and cafés.

Highlights include the cathedral known locally as "The Lantern of the North" which boast stunning views from the top of its tower, and old-fashioned independent bookshop Yeadons Bookseller and Stationers.

As you leave the East Neuk and head towards Fife's south-western tip of Fife, you will arrive at Culross which you might recognise from Outlander. Lovingly maintained by the National Trust for Scotland, a visit to this cobbled town is like travelling back in time.

There is a 13th century abbey, a 16th century mustard-yellow palace which was a favourite of Mary Queen of Scots with a flourishing kitchen garden, and a 17th century town house; all open to the public. Once you've finished exploring, visit the Biscuit Café at Culross Pottery and Gallery for delicious organic pies and cakes and fragrant speciality teas.

The gateway to Royal Deeside, the wee town of Banchory is usually somewhere visitors stop on their journey through Aberdeenshire. There are plenty of castles to explore and unique golf courses to play in the area, but make sure you allow enough time to immerse yourself in this delightful historic town.

Perched on slopes above the banks of the River Dee, outstanding restaurants which serve dishes prepared using the region's exceptional local produce, while beautifully maintained streets and buildings stand practically unchanged since the Victorian era. It also boasts one of the region's best-kept secrets: the spectacular Falls of Feugh where salmon return each year to battle their way up against the rushing water of the rivers Dee and Don. 

Blessed with some beautiful natural landscapes in the world, Fort William allows access to many scenic Highland walks and makes an excellent base for visiting landmarks such as historic landmarks Old Inverlochy Castle and the Commando Monument, or for Harry Potter fans to hop aboard the Jacobite steam train.

Set against the towering backdrop of Ben Nevis with its elegant Victorian townhouses and villas overlooking Loch Linnhe, the town of Fort William is home to historic hotels, traditional pubs and restaurants, charming churches, and the West Highland Museum filled with Jacobite artefacts and other treasures.