Scotland is home to plenty of natural beauty with pretty villages and towns to be found from the Borders to the north.
But despite the Highlands regularly being included among the top tourist destinations in the UK, Fort William, the country’s outdoor capital, found itself being ranked as one of the worst places to visit in the UK.
Consumer magazine Which? asked almost 4,000 people about their experiences in different towns and cities around the country. Tourists ranked each location based on criteria including food and drink, ease of access, value for money, accommodation and more. While Fort William performed poorly in the survey, Edinburgh was ranked among the best places to visit in the UK.
With the Highland town’s reputation as a hub for activities such as mountain biking, hillwalking and more, we decided to ask Scotsman readers to share which towns they thought visitors should see.
Whether it’s because of beautiful scenery or historic sights, here are 26 of the best Scottish towns to visit as chosen by our readers.
9. Dunbar
In East Lothian, Dunbar is also known for having plenty of sunshine as well as a rugged coastline and beautiful countryside. The town was once one of the most important fortresses in Scottish history, with the ruins of Dunbar Castle – where Mary Queen of Scots fled following the murder of Rizzio – standing over its harbours. | juanma pelegrÃn - stock.adobe.com
10. Dunkeld
Not only recommended as a place to visit by Scotsman readers, Dunkeld was also ranked one of the best places to live in Scotland by the Sunday Times for 2024. Tucked between the River Tay and Douglas fir forests, there are plenty of unique businesses to be enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. | Adobe Stock
11. Elie
Another popular town in the East Neuk of Fife, Elie is home to two celebrated golf courses, a harbour, which was established in the 16th century, and several interesting historic buildings. Elie is also known for its award winning bar and restaurant, The Ship Inn. | Adobe Stock
12. Falkland
Another location which was used in American TV show Outlander, Falkland is a picturesque town in Fife famous for its palace. | Nicola - stock.adobe.com