Posted by Maris on 17th Oct 2023

6 Marvelous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland

Hidden beaches, world-class treks, quaint villages, fantastic road trips, and some of the world's top outdoor experiences are just a few of the things to do in Scotland. Yet, Scotland also boasts a number of noteworthy UNESCO sites. Next up, we've covered everything mentioned above, as well as some unexpected bonus material.

1. The Antonine Wall

The remains of this expansive borderland, which formerly stretched across central Scotland between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde, resemble Scotland's equivalent of Hadrian's Wall. The wall's length totaled about 36.5 miles (58.5 km) at one time, making it the last Roman boundary.

Together with museums, trails, and displays that honor its history, there are still a few minor portions of the wall in existence. The Antonine Wall is a fascinating look into the Roman heritage and history of the UK and is surprisingly underappreciated.

2. Heart of Neolithic Orkney

Many Neolithic artifacts and ruins can be found throughout Scotland, but the remote northeastern islands of Orkney hold the greatest concentration of high-quality Neolithic antiquities. The so-called "heart of Neolithic Orkney" consists of four separate locations: Skara Brae, Maeshowe, the Stones of Stenness, and the Ring of Brodgar.

Combined, they make up one of Scotland's UNESCO sites and the largest collection of Neolithic artifacts on earth. Below is a brief description of each one:

Skara Brae: The best-preserved Neolithic village in western Europe is Skara Brae, a bustling community from more than 5,000 years ago. Several of its ruins and artifacts are still visible today.
Maeshowe: From the outside, Maeshowe only appears to be an uninteresting grassy hill. Yet, that hill conceals a huge Neolithic tomb with a sizable stone chamber inside.
The Stones of Stenness: a group of four enormous standing stones that were formerly the location of an additional eight stones, are thought by some to be the earliest standing stones in the British Isles. Regardless of their age, they are incredibly amazing.
The Ring of Brodgar: Just 36 of the original 60 stones make up the circle known as the Ring of Brodgar. The Ring of Brodgar site contains some prehistoric burial mounds in addition to the large circular.

3. New Lanark

Scotland has a significant industrial history… And one of the most significant, fascinating, and historically significant industrial locations in the entire country is New Lanark.

New Lanark, a revitalized cotton mill community from the 18th century, is situated on the River Clyde in the deep boundaries of a small valley. One of the nicest communities in all of Scotland, the village is still home to about 130 people.

4. Edinburgh's Old and New Towns

Edinburgh, like any large city, has a number of unique districts and neighborhoods. Nonetheless, the "old town" and "new town," which comprise the city's heart, are two of its UNESCO-designated neighborhoods.

There's a lot to see and do in this part of town, which has old architecture, cobblestone alleys, and twisting alleyways. And the massive (and infamous!) Edinburgh Castle rises over it all.

5. St. Kilda

Even if the name may have misled you. Saint. Kilda is not a holy person. St. Kilda is actually a group of extremely remote islands off the coast of Scotland.

Imagine traveling to Skye from mainland Scotland in the west. From Skye, continue traveling west until you reach the islands of Lewis and Harris. As you go another 45 miles (72 km) to the west, you will reach little St. Kilda.

The area hasn't had a permanent population since 1930. St. Kilda was evacuated in 1930 for a variety of reasons, including a declining population, an increase in local illness, rising tourism, and the effects of the First World War on the islanders.

Although there are no permanent residents in St. Kilda, it is the largest seabird colony in Europe.

6. The Forth Bridge

Usually, bridges aren't as stunning.

The Forth Bridge, which spans the Firth of Forth for 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers), is located immediately west of Edinburgh. You'll probably enjoy this place if you're interested in amazing industrial accomplishments.

Although it doesn't have that name officially, some people also refer to this location as the Forth Rail Bridge.