All United Kingdom Scotland

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Scotland

674 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Scotland

Updated December 6, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Aberdeen
  2. Aberdeenshire
  3. Anstruther
  4. Argyll And Bute
  5. Ayr
  6. Beauly
  7. Birnam
  8. Blantyre
  9. Comrie
  10. Crail
  11. Crieff
  12. Dalmally
  13. Dumfries And Galloway
  14. Dunbar
  15. Dundee
  16. Dunfermline
  17. Dunmore
  18. Dunure
  19. East Ayrshire
  20. East Lothian
  21. Edinburgh
  22. Eyemouth
  23. Falkirk
  24. Fraserburgh
  25. Glasgow
  26. Glencoe
  27. Glenfinnan
  28. Glentrool
  29. Highland
  30. Inverkeithing
  31. Inverness
  32. Isle Of Skye
  33. Johnstone
  34. Kilmartin
  35. Lendalfoot
  36. Lerwick
  37. Melrose
  38. Millport
  39. Musselburgh
  40. North Berwick
  41. Orkney
  42. Outer Hebrides
  43. Paisley
  44. Peebles
  45. Perth
  46. Perth And Kinross
  47. Port Charlotte
  48. Prestonpans
  49. Renfrewshire
  50. Saddell
  51. Saint Andrews
  52. Scottish Borders
  53. Shetland Islands
  54. Stirling
  55. Stonehaven
  56. Wallyford
  57. Wanlockhead
  58. West Dunbartonshire
  59. Wigtown

Unusual Attractions in Scotland

See All 674 Things To Do in Scotland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Scotland

See all 10 Places to Eat in Scotland
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Trips

Scotland : Highland Clans and the Trail of Tartan

Culture, history, and scenery with a globe-trotting bagpiper.

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Hidden Edinburgh

Crowds clog Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the main artery between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The road is dotted with stores selling Nessie trinkets and lined with bagpipers and street performers pulling off dazzling tricks. But look beyond the tartan tourist traps, and you’ll discover tucked-away gardens, remnants of the city’s medieval past, and much more.

View Itinerary

Explore Scotland

History & Culture 147
Art 63
Ruins 58
History 56
Monuments 43
Statues 43
Castles 41
Memorials 39

Scotland Leaderboard

Recent Scotland Activity

Stories About Scotland

Stretching between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Scottish witch trials were among Europe’s longest and most deadly.

Isobel Gowdie and the Untold History of the Scottish Witch Trials

Some experts estimate as many as 3,000 people were accused and executed for witchcraft in Scotland.
by Sarah Durn
There are so many reasons to take stone skimming seriously.

Stone Skimming Is a World Champion Sport—And a Model for Spaceships

What to know if you want to skip a rock over 200 feet. Or fly to space.
by Ella Benson Easton
The Cailleach shrine can determine if locals have a good year or not.

Moving Stones Has a Magical Effect at This Secret Shrine in Scotland

Don't let the Cailleach curse your autumn.
by Daniela Castillo Gómez
Modern-day versions of the Atholl Brose often contain cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

The Oat-Milk Cocktail That Took Down an Army

Amanda Schuster explores the origins of the Atholl Brose in “Signature Cocktails.”
by Diana Hubbell
There were many hotspots of alleged witch activity in Central Scotland.

Explore This Map of More Than 3,000 Scottish Witches

An Edinburgh University project uses data to track the victims of Scottish "witch-prickers" in the 16th and 17th centuries.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think
Bonfires and revelry dominate modern Beltane celebrations, but the origins of the event are more mundane.

Beltane Is About More Than Fire and Fertility

The ancient “Celtic” start of summer is rooted in animal husbandry—and it’s not on May 1.
by Gemma Tarlach
A performer, deep in his feels, reciting "Address to a Haggis" at a Burns Supper.

Celebrating Scotland's Bard? Break Out the Haggis.

Every January 25, Scotland pays tribute to its most famous poet and an offal-y delicious dish.
by Sam O'Brien
Can garlic help you win a soccer match?

5 Must-Read Football (or Soccer) Stories

Who needs the World Cup when we have so many con men, trendsetters, superstitions, and architectural rivalries?
by April White

Lists Featuring Scotland

Callanish Standing Stones.
A close up photo of several stones in one of the larger circles.
Lundin Links Standing Stones.
Ring of Brodgar

7 of Scotland’s Most Enchanting Standing Stones

These ancient monuments have captivated the imagination for thousands of years.

7

Including Callanish Stones, Machrie Moor Standing Stones, and Lundin Links Standing Stones

Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

Bolivia's Witch Market
Dubrovnik Maskeron
The Statue of St. Anthony's Pig
The Guardhouse Monkey

15 Unlikely Places to Re-Up Your Luck

Luck be a... llama fetus?

15

Including Bolivia's Witch Market, Dubrovnik Maskeron, and Statue of St. Anthony's Pig

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