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.
13. Fort William
While it may have been ranked as the worst town in the UK to visit, many Scotsman readers disagreed with this. With the Nevis Range Mountain Resort nearby, there’s plenty on offer in the town from skiing and mountain biking to walks and historic spots. | UAV4 - stock.adobe.com
14. Inveraray
Overlooking Loch Fyne, Argyll’s Inverarayis home to many historic buildings, award winning museums and Inveraray Castle with its extensive grounds. | Maciej Olszewski - stock.adobe.com
15. Kelso
This picturesque town in the Scottish Borders is also ideal for visitors. With many areas of historic interest, the town is also home to Floors Castle – Scotland’s largest inhabited house – and is known for its agricultural community. | Pecold - stock.adobe.com
16. North Berwick
Ranked the best place to live in the UK for 2024 by the Sunday Times, Scotsman readers also agree that North Berwick is worth a visit. | Dansker Digital - stock.adobe.com