Rachel Laidler explores the lesser-visited side of this spectacular country

Everyone knows about Edinburgh’s iconic castle and Skye’s famous Fairy Pools, but there’s a lot more to Scotland than these much-touted sights. Escape the crowds and discover a different side to the country by visiting these lesser-known Scottish spots, from charming seaside villages to murky peat bogs.

Think of a Scottish castle and it’s probably an imposing, austere stone structure that springs to mind. Not Dunrobin. This sumptuous French-style chateau – complete with soaring conical spires – looks like it’s been plucked straight from the Loire Valley. Head inside to admire the grand staircase (decorated with stags heads) and the opulent rooms filled with period furniture and imperious family portraits, before taking a stroll around the flower-filled formal gardens.

Notched into the south coast of the uninhabited Isle of Staffa, this stunning cave is made up of countless hexagonal columns of basalt rock – the same as the world-famous Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. In fact, folklore tells that these spots were once linked by a bridge, built by an Irish giant named Finn McCool as a way to reach Scotland to battle his foe Benandonner, another giant. Boat trips run from Oban, Mull or Iona to Staffa, from where you can walk directly into the sea cave (tides allowing). Once inside, admire the blue-green water as it laps magically against the symmetrical columns and casts reflections on the vaulted ceiling.

Scotland’s soaring mountains, inky blue lochs and heather-strewn moors are world famous, but few realise the far north of the country is also home to one of the planet’s most unique habitats – a blanket bog. Around 10,000 years in the making, this rare type of peatland is an important defence against climate change thanks to the incredible amount of trapped carbon it contains – over three times of that locked away by Britain’s woodlands.

At the RSPB-run Forsinard Flows, you can discover a pocket of this boggy paradise by strolling along the boardwalks that cross the delicate mossy habitat, watching out for wildlife like skylarks, dragonflies and frogs. There’s even an observation tower that provides a striking bird’s-eye view across the golden-green pond-dotted landscape.

Cute-as-a-button Crail has got to be one of Scotland’s most beautiful seaside villages. Cobbled streets wind past step-gabled houses, heading towards a picture-perfect harbour that’s dotted with tiny boats and lined by well-used lobster pots. With such an inspiring setting, it’s no wonder that the village is home to a couple of arty spots, including family-run Crail Pottery, a workshop selling beautifully made stoneware and ceramics. Don’t miss the Crail Harbour Gallery and Tearoom either: housed in the cellar of an old fisher’s cottage, this charming spot showcases the work of a local artist, as well as offering delicious coffee, cakes and amazing sea views from its small garden-patio.

Groves of eucalyptus, rows of palm trees and pockets of pineapples – not exactly the sort of plants that normally thrive in wet-and-windy Scotland. Yet that’s just what you’ll find at this oasis of green that’s tucked away on the southwestern tip of Scotland. Thanks to the gulf stream, the garden enjoys an almost subtropical climate, making it the perfect place for plants from places like Central America, southern Africa and Australia to flourish. Take a stroll around the Walled Garden, complete with a lily-strewn fish pond, or wander through the Victorian-style Logan Conservatory, home to a number of beautiful plants from South Africa. Want to learn more? Guided walks are offered by the garden’s horticultural experts roughly once a month between March and November.

Many road trippers on the North Coast 500 zoom through Torridon, but it pays to slow down and explore it a little further. After all, this West Coast spot is home to some of the most dramatic scenery in the country: here, ancient hulking mountains stand sentry over golden grassy valleys, which are cut through by gurgling streams. It’s a dream for walkers, whether you want to bag one of the area’s five munros (mountains higher than 3,000 ft (914 m)) or enjoy a more gentle ramble along valley paths. Plus, once you’re done, the tiny village of Torridon, perched on the banks of a vast sea loch, has a couple of cute cafes and restaurants where you can refuel with tasty local grub.

This diminutive pocket of water might not have the sweeping vastness of Loch Lomond or the dramatic grandeur of Loch Ness, but that doesn’t mean it can’t hold its own against its more famous siblings. In fact, little Loch an Eilean feels like a perfect Scottish loch in miniature: it's surrounded by rugged mountains, its banks are carpeted with deep-green Scots pine and it’s even home to a tiny island on which stands a ruined castle. To best explore it, go for a stroll along the wooded path that encircles the loch or – if you’re feeling brave – take a dip in its chilly waters.

The North Coast 500 might be on everyone’s bucket lists, but it's not the only amazing road trip that Scotland has to offer. The Kintyre 66 – inspired by the USA’s famous Route 66 – winds its way around the beautiful Kintyre peninsula in the south west of the country. On the way, it passes by dramatic ruined castles, ancient standing stones and stunning sandy beaches, as well as bustling harbour towns where you can refuel on fresh seafood and sip on whiskeys from the likes of Islay and Jura (you’ll get great views of both islands from the route, too). Best of all, Kintyre is a bit of a hidden gem, so you’ll feel like you have this pretty peninsula all to yourself.

Back in 2021, the old textile town of Galashiels in the Borders became home to one of the world’s largest community arts projects: a huge 160-panel tapestry. Crafted by a team of over 1,000 stitchers from across Scotland, the visually compelling piece charts Scotland’s history, heritage and culture from 8500 BCE to the present day. The likes of Mary Queen of Scots and Robert Burns are included, of course, but so are the everyday stories of ordinary people, from herring girls to mill workers; there are even panels dedicated to things like rugby, music and movies.

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