Scotland, United Kingdom: Towns to Explore on Foot

Scotland is a country of mountains, lochs, islands, historic cities and distinctive cultural traditions within the United Kingdom. The best things to do in Scotland range from exploring its separate history and institutions to discovering glaciated landscapes, Gaelic heritage and the country’s many coastal regions. Neywo offers free audio guides for 11 cities in Scotland, with 1,822 narrated places in total.

What to see and do in Scotland

Understand Scotland’s distinct history

Scotland’s story is shaped by the relationship between its long separate history and its place within the United Kingdom. The Kingdom of Scotland emerged as a sovereign state in the ninth century and maintained independence from England in part through an alliance with France.

In the early seventeenth century, James the Sixth inherited the thrones of England and Ireland, linking the three kingdoms through one monarch. About a century later, Scotland and England combined to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. Scotland’s own Parliament was absorbed into the new Parliament of Great Britain, although separate institutions continued to matter.

Scotland kept its distinct legal system, education system and religious history. In 1999, a Scottish Parliament was re-established with authority over many areas of domestic policy. Today, Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom, while its Government is led by a first minister. This mixture of shared statehood and enduring institutions helps explain the strength of Scottish culture and national identity.

For a wider look at the country in its political setting, you can also read about the United Kingdom.

Explore the Highlands and the lochs

The Highlands lie across northern and north-western Scotland. They are mountainous and marked by lochs, a word used not only for lakes but also for many saltwater inlets. Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles, is in this region.

Scotland’s western coastline is deeply indented, and the country’s landscape changes quickly from mountains to sea. The Central Lowlands form a flatter belt across the middle of the mainland, while the Southern Uplands rise in hills along the southern border.

For a base among mountain scenery and places connected with the Highlands, explore Fort William and Inverness. The city guides include narrated places such as Glenfinnan Viaduct, Cawdor Castle and Carrbridge Packhorse Bridge.

Discover the Scottish islands

Beyond the mainland, Scotland has an estimated 900 islands, including Shetland, Orkney, the Inner Hebrides and the Outer Hebrides. Their scenery is varied rather than uniform: Mull and Skye are known for mountainous terrain, while Tiree and Coll are flatter.

Skye is one of the country’s most recognisable island destinations, with narrated places including Sligachan Old Bridge, Dunvegan Castle, Armadale Castle and Duntulm Castle. You can explore the Skye guide to discover more of the island’s history and landscapes.

Scotland’s climate is temperate and oceanic, with changeable conditions, milder winters and cooler, wetter summers than many places at similar latitudes. Ice sheets once covered the country, leaving a landscape strongly affected by glaciation. The Atlantic and North Sea define its edges, from island shores to deeply cut western inlets.

Visit Edinburgh, the capital

Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital and one of the clearest places to encounter the country’s civic and cultural life. The city is home to narrated places including St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and St Giles’ Cathedral.

A visit to Edinburgh can connect the history of the Scottish monarchy, religious institutions and the modern capital. It is also a useful starting point for understanding how Scotland operates within the wider United Kingdom while retaining its own Parliament and many domestic institutions.

Spend time in Glasgow

Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, and Greater Glasgow is home to nearly a quarter of the country’s population. It is also one of the main places to experience modern Scottish culture, museums and urban history.

The Glasgow audio guide includes 296 narrated places. Among them are Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Cathcart Castle, Glasgow Cathedral and the Riverside Museum. Glasgow is also associated with Celtic Connections, one of the music festivals that reflect Scotland’s traditional and modern influences.

Discover Stirling and the surrounding towns

Stirling offers a way to explore some of the historic places associated with Scotland’s central region. The city guide includes 102 narrated places, with Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, Inchmahome Priory and the Wallace Monument among its highlights.

Nearby, Callander and Dunblane each have 89 and 88 narrated places respectively. Their Neywo guides also include major historical sites such as Doune Castle, Stirling Castle, Inchmahome Priory and the Wallace Monument.

Other Scottish destinations offer different perspectives on the country. Aberdeen includes St Machar’s Cathedral, Mercat Cross, Castle Street, His Majesty’s Theatre and Provost Skene’s House. On the coast, Largs includes Kerelaw Castle, Law Castle, Hunterston Castle and Kelburn Castle.

Listen for Scotland’s languages and music

Scotland has four indigenous languages: English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic and British Sign Language. Scottish Standard English and Scots exist on a continuum, and everyday speech can shift along that range.

The Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland is Alba. Gaelic speakers live across the country, although the language is largely spoken natively in communities in the Hebrides. Fewer than 2 percent of the population are Gaelic speakers, while state-supported revitalisation has helped create a growing community of people learning it as a second language.

Scotland also presents itself as one of the Celtic nations. Its cultural life includes inter-Celtic events at home and abroad, as well as music festivals such as Celtic Connections in Glasgow and the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway. Scottish literature reaches back to the early Middle Ages, while Scottish music combines traditional and modern influences.

See Scotland as a modern country

Scotland has about 5.4 million people. Its economy is open and mixed, with tourism and major international events playing important roles. Edinburgh is the country’s centre for financial services, while Scottish clearing banks issue Sterling banknotes alongside the central role of the Bank of England for the United Kingdom.

Energy is another part of modern Scotland’s story. Renewable sources provide most of its energy generation, with nuclear and fossil fuels also contributing. Tidal power is emerging as a source of energy, and Whitelee Wind Farm is the largest onshore wind farm in the United Kingdom.

Across the country, separate legal and education systems remain part of Scotland’s character. Health care is mainly provided through NHS Scotland, while the Scottish Parliament and Government handle many domestic matters.

Explore Scotland with Neywo’s free audio guide

Neywo has free audio guides for 11 cities in Scotland, with 28 walking tours, 1,822 narrated places in total and narration available in 11 languages. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule.

Download Neywo and explore Scotland while walking through its cities, historic sites, coasts and landscapes.