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East Lothian

Travelling east along the coast from Edinburgh, East Lothian is a mixture of golden sandy beaches, picturesque villages and sublime golf courses. East Lothian is also home to the famous Bass Rock, an internationally significant Gannet nesting site. Further inland the countryside is littered with splendid castles and stately homes that provide an insight into the historical background of the region.

East Fortune Flight Museum: Home of the National Flight Museum of Scotland, East Fortune is a popular attraction for visitors to Scotland. Not only does the museum house over 50 complete aircraft but houses one of the most famous aircrafts ever to grace the air, Concorde. Visiting the museum would be a unique opportunity to see inside the famous plane and learn more about her extraordinary life.

St Mary's Church: A short walk from the bustle of Haddington's Market Street, is Scotland's largest parish church, St. Mary's. Located on the banks of the River Tyne, St Mary's lives in tranquil surroundings that add to her beauty. After being badly damaged during the Seige of Haddington (1548-9), the church was restored to its original glory in the 1970's.

Today the church maintains a tradition of ecumenicalism, exemplified by the Lauderdale Aisle, an Episcopal chapel within the church, with strong Roman Catholic and Orthodox influences. The exquisite stained glass windows and Lammermuir pipe organ make St. Mary's church an ideal location to visit as part of a tour.

Glenkinchie Distillery: Home of "The Edinburgh Malt", Glenkinchie Distillery is a perfect location to indulge in Scotch Whisky. Located in the farmland of East Lothian, Glenkinchie Distillery offers an insight into Scotch Whisky making and the processes undertaken to produce a single malt. With the visitor centre open all year round, clients have the option of exploring a successful Scotch Whisky distillery and learning about the intriguing process anytime of the year.

Myreton Motor Museum: Being one of the oldest motor museums in the UK, Myreton Motor Museum is a fascinating attraction for anyone interested in touring Scotland. The museum houses over 50 vehicles that include classics such as the 1919 Ford Model TT, 1961 Morris Minor Deluxe Saloon and the oldest car on display, a 1899 General Electric.Anyone with an ounce of nostalgia will find this museum absolutely fascinating and should be a must see attraction in any tour of East Lothian.

The largest area of fresh water in Britain, Loch Lomond's waters pass through West Dunbartonshire to the mighty Firth of Clyde at Dumbarton, with elegant helensburgh a little downstream. Aberfoyle is the gateway to the deep glens and tiny villages of The Trossachs, a walkers paradise. Loch Lomond and The Trossachs offer both breathtaking views and historical landmarks that make this region of Scotland ideal for tours.

Loch Lomond: To the west of Glasgow lies one of the world's most famous stretches of water. Romanticised in song and poem, Loch Lomond remains a beautiful area for the visitor to explore. Since July 2002 the loch has been a part of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Ben Lomond is on the eastern shore of the loch. It is 974 meters in height and is the most of the Scottish Munro peaks. Today the loch is also well known for the Loch Lomond Golf Club, which lies next to the loch. The loch has hosted many international events.

Anyone interested in seeing the most spectacular that Scotland has to offer should visit the Loch

Linlithgow Palace: One of the most magnificent of Scotland's ancient monuments, Linlithgow Palace stands on a promontory jutting into Linlithgow Loch. It is likely that this promontory was originally an island, as past water levels are estimated to have been some 12m (40 feet) above present levels. The Palace, which was a royal residence from the 12th to the late 16th century, was occupied in 1298 by King Edward I of England on his way to the Battle of Falkirk. Among those born at the Palace were King James V (1512) and Mary Queen of Scots (1542)

Linlithgow palace is an attraction that carries tremendous historical importance to many Scots and encompasses the beauty that is synonymous with Scotland.

Bannockburn: This atmospheric spot is the site of Robert the Bruce's famous victory over the English. Here, in 1314, Bruce gathered his men to take on the army of King Edward II. Despite facing a greater number of professional troops, Bruce's men routed the English forces - a victory that meant freedom for Scotland from oppressive English rule. The sense of history here is tangible and Bannockburn is still a focus for Scottish pride today. You can find out what inspired this great Scottish victory at the Bannockburn Heritage Centre and walk the battlefield under the gaze of Robert the Bruce himself, immortalised in a statue by Pilkington Jackson.

This famous site encapsulates the history of the Scottish nation and is a must see attraction for all visitors.

Wallace National Monument: The Wallace National Monument (generally known as the Wallace Monument) is a tower standing on the summit of Abbey Craig, a hilltop near Stirling in Scotland. It commemorates William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish hero portrayed so movingly in the 1995 blockbuster movie Braveheart starring Mel Gibson.

The monument is open to the general public. Visitors climb the 246 step spiral staircase to the viewing gallery inside the monument's crown, which provides expansive views of the Ochil Hills and the Forth Valley. A number of artifacts believed to belong to Wallace are on display inside the monument, including a 5 foot 4 inch-long claymore.

The Wallace National Monument in conjunction with Bannockburn offer ideal attractions that help understand the unique history of our special country. If interested in visiting Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, the Wallace National Monument is an attraction that should be viewed.

The gentle landscape of the Scottish Borders is dotted with quiet towns and villages and man magnificent stately homes. Rugby, rather than golf, is the sport of the Borders. The famous Galashiels, Melrose and Hawick clubs have supplied the national team with many of Scotland's all-time greats.

Rosslyn Chapel: Rosslyn Chapel is touted as being one of the most mysterious places in Scotland, especially with the current gloat of books purporting to show how hidden secrets lurk within every crack of stone at this venerated place. The most famous of these books is Dan Brown's best selling novel 'The Da Vinci Code'.

Rosslyn Chapel, or the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew as it was to have been, was founded in 1446 by Sir William St Clair, third and last St Clair Prince of Orkney. It is in fact only part of the choir of what was intended to be a larger cruciform building with a tower at its centre.

With all the mystery and controversy surrounding recent books, Rosslyn Chapel is a must see attraction when touring Scotland.

Abbotsford House: Abbotsford is the house built and lived in by Sir Walter Scott, the 19th century novelist, and author of timeless classics such as Waverley, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe and The Lady of the Lake. Situated on the banks of the River Tweed, west of Melrose, the house contains an impressive collection of historic relics, weapons and armour including Rob Roy's gun and Montrose's Sword. There is also a library containing over 9,000 rare volumes.

The landscape and historical background makes Abbotsford House a tranquil location to enjoy during a tour around Scotland.

Scott's View: Scott's View refers to a viewpoint in the Scottish Borders, overlooking the valley of the River Tweed, which is reputed to be one of the favourite views of Sir Walter Scott. The viewpoint is located on a minor road on the slope of Bemersyde Hill, to the north of St Boswells, and around 3 miles east of Melrose. The view is to the west, and is dominated by the three peaks of Eildon Hill. To the south west the view is extensive and open, taking in rolling farmland beyond the village of Newtown St Boswells. Immediately below the viewer is a meander of the Tweed itself. Often a fly fisherman can be seen fishing the river. To the north west the viewer looks along the Tweed valley to Melrose.

The views from Scott's point make this attraction an ideal part of any tour of The Borders region.

Neidpath Castle: An authentic 14th century castle converted to a tower house (17th century), the erstwhile home of Fraser, Hay and Douglas families, set in a wooded gorge of the River Tweed. This romantic medieval castle with 11 foot thick walls, contains a pit prison, a draw well and Queen Mary's room. The Great Hall has stunningly beautiful Batiks depicting the 'Life of Mary, Queen of Scots'. Sir Walter Scott and William Wordsworth visited the castle in 1803. More recently, it has been used in the filming of movies such as The Bruce, Merlin, and filming Joan of Arc. Fine views are obtained from the parapets and the grounds provide a scenic picnic area.

The splendid views and historical past of the attraction, makes Neidpath Castle a popular venue for visitors to Scotland.

This region of Scotland is central to our nation's history. For three centuries Scottish monarchs ruled from here and the nearby Wallace Monument towers over the countryside in recognition of one of Scotland's greatest heroes - Sir William Wallace, remembered recently in the film Braveheart. The historic Battle of Bannockburn, immortalised by the tale of Robert the Bruce and the doughty spider, is brought to life at the Bannockburn Heritage Centre. This historic setting still bustles with activity today, against the backdrop of rolling countryside and the Ochil Hills.

Stirling Castle: Stirling Castle is the grandest of Scotland's castles and one of the most popular visitor attractions in the country.250 feet above the plain on an extinct volcano, Stirling became the strategic military key to the kingdom during the 13th and 14th century Wars of Independence. Stirling Castle played an important role in the life of Mary Queen of Scots. She spent her childhood in the castle and Mary's coronation took place in the Chapel Royal in 1543. Architecturally, the castle offers an array of riches: the vast Great Hall dating from the end of the Middle Ages, the early Renaissance splendours of the Palace with its carved heads, and the Chapel Royal built for the baptism of Prince Henry in 1594. New interpretive displays and a new restaurant with four specially-designed hangings have added to the enjoyment of visiting this, the grandest of Scottish castles.

Forth Rail Bridge: The Forth Rail Bridge, opened in 1890, and was the biggest manmade construction of its time. It was also the first bridge to be constructed purely of steel. The engineers for the design and execution of the bridge were Sir John Fowler and (Sir) Benjamin Baker, not forgetting the many other engineers who assisted them over the years. The bridge took a staggering seven years to build and cost £3 million. A total of 5000 workers were employed to follow through this lengthy but spectacular task.

In 1907, 29,675 passenger trains crossed the bridge with a gross weight of 14,674,750 tons. This usage contrasts with the present day - when during 2000 the bridge carried 54,080 passenger and 6,240 freight trains with a gross weight of 10,500,000 tons.

Forth Road Bridge: The Forth Road Bridge when opened, on 4th September 1964 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was the largest suspension bridge in Europe, and, together with the approach viaducts is over 2 1/2 km. (Over 1 1/2 miles) long.

The bridge has a spectacular central span of over 1 km (3300 ft) between its two main towers. The side spans, which carry the deck to the side towers, are each 408m (1340 ft) long and are flanked by approach viaducts.

This world famous structure was designed with slenderness and elegance in mind, combined with strength.

Both the bridges demonstrate the high level of architectural and engineering excellence needed to deliver such extraordinary bridges. Any tour of the east coast of Scotland should include passing the Forth Bridges.

The Kingdom of Fife is rich in both history and spectacular scenery. From Dunfermline, the seat of Scotland's early Celtic kings and St Andrews University, one of the oldest in Britain, to the breathtaking seascapes of the Firths of the Forth and the Tay, and a string of picturesque fishing villages.

St Andrews is quite literally the "Home of Golf". The Royal and Ancient clubhouse looks out over one of the world's most challenging golf courses.

Kellie Castle: The earliest records of Kellie go back to 1150 where it is mentioned in a charter issued by King David I. The first known owner was Robert of London, the illegitimate son of King William the Lion. By 1266 Kellie had passed to the Siward family, who had hailed from Northumbria and had assisted King colm Canmore to overthrow Macbeth. The estate was signed over to a Siward relative, Walter Oliphant, in 1360 and the castle remained in the ownership of the Oliphant family until 1613. It was purchased by Sir Thomas Erskine, Earl of Mar, who had saved the life of King James VI during the Gowrie Conspiracy by killing Sir Alexander Ruthven. The King stayed at Kellie in 1617 during his only visit to Scotland after the Union of the Crowns, and he appointed Erskine as Earl of Kellie in 1619.