The Most Beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland

Scotland has 13 UNESCO sites. Yes, we will admit not all 13 are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but 6 are, and the rest are other types of UNESCO sites like geoparks. And who said World Heritage status mattered (other than UNESCO)?

These sites are the sort of places you don’t even believe are real when you’re standing in front of them. The natural beauty will absolutely blow you away.

Read on for our opinion of four of the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns

Edinburgh is something to marvel at. The historical wonders of the old and new towns are like nothing else. Clearly, UNESCO agreed and made them a World Heritage Site. The mediaeval streets and narrow roads of the Old Town are like stepping into a time machine. You’ve got the Royal Mile, which links the ancient Edinburgh Castle with the Holyrood Palace, which is the oldest building in the area. There are also countless sculptures and carvings around the area depicting centuries worth of tales.

The new town is different with its Georgian setting. The admirable architecture around Princes Street and George Street shows the sophisticated culture of the city in an unending creative expression. Because it’s Edinburgh and every tourist wants to be here, the old and new towns are Scotland’s most visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Heart of Neolithic Orkney

If you want to see more than one, we’d recommend one of our Scottish motorhomes and going to Orkney for the most stunning, untouched Neolithic sites in Europe. The Heart of Neolithic Orkney is not just a singular site but a collection of ancient marvels. The archaeological region of Skara Brae, called the “Scottish Pompeii,” is a remarkably preserved 5,000-year-old village where you can see the furniture. You can’t help but look at the furniture and think how we went from that to shops like we have now—like IKEA?! But seriously, it’s 100% one we think anyone would love to see.

You’ve also got Maeshowe—a tomb aligned with the sun during the winter solstice. There are different theories about why it aligns with the sun during the winter solstice, with some saying it helps people cope with the long, dark, winter days.

This is just a fraction of what there is to offer; the Ring of Brodgar will leave you speechless. This stone circle is older than Stonehenge and has kept its mystique. What was the purpose of these stone circles? Were they used for masquerade parties, stargazing, or rituals? Alas, we shall never know. You could spend a day in Orkney looking at all the historical sites.

The Forth Bridge

Not all UNESCO sites are ancient. For any engineering geeks reading, this one’s for you.

The Forth Bridge is an incredible demonstration of 19th-century engineering. This functional and aesthetic cantilever bridge was built over the Firth of Forth to withstand Scottish climate unpredictability and has stood strong since 1890. It’s crazy to think how they managed to build it in 1890.

The bridge is an engineering feat for its epoch, but it remains functional today. When you travel through it on the train, you get to see some breathtaking views of the surrounding area and the water beneath. This is much more than a bridge, and UNESCO thought so too. It’s Scotland’s engineering history.

St. Kilda

For anyone wanting to see a UNESCO heritage site that appears to be the end of the world, St Kilda is just the place.

This archipelago happens to be the most faraway region of the British Isles. Some people think it’s more challenging to reach, but it’s just the fact that it’s at the literal end of Britain, so for most people, it’s far.

But once you do, the arduous journey will all make sense. St. Kilda is not just seabird colonies and stunning cliffs—though they do stand out. It illustrates the existence of a civilisation that was situated here and cut off from the rest of civilisation for so long until they were evacuated because of food shortage and disease.

Nowadays, the stunning yet eerie contour of the evacuated village shows human fragility.

Other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland

There are six recognised UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland. In addition to the four above, the two others are the Antonine Wall and New Lanark.

Often eclipsed by Hadrian’s Wall, the Antonine Wall was the northern border of the Roman Empire, which provides a very engaging insight into the role Scotland played in the history of the Romans while in Britain.

New Lanark is an 18th-century picturesque village with Robert Owen—a one-of-a-kind mill owner and social reformer—who pioneered a community that correlated progressive ideas with industrial innovation—top-tier wages and education.

Both of them are also worth a visit; it’s simply that they didn’t make our top four. If you wanted to, you could make a trip by travelling around Scotland to see all six!

Scotland’s, or any other places, UNESCO World Heritage Sites are always worth visiting. These specially selected sports have earned the title of World Heritage Site for a reason. Do you have one in mind you’d like to visit during your next trip to Scotland?