Slip away from the bustling cities of London or Edinburgh and you'll enter the gorgeous countryside of the United Kingdom. Here you'll find castles, verdant green valleys, and coastal cliffs. While there are many parts of the UK that draw admiration, Scotland's landscapes are the stuff of dreams. Here are 9 photos of Scotland that will make you want to go now.
Old Man of Storr
The Old Man of Storr stands impressively on the Isle of Skye, seven miles north of the town of Portree. With a 164-foot-tall petrified lava pinnacle, the Old Man of Storr seems otherworldly and offers a panoramic view of the Sound of Raasay including Loch Leathan, the sea, and stunning green glass slopes.
Mealt Falls
The waterfalls in Niagara, Venezuela, and Yosemite sure are impressive, but Mealt Falls on the Isle of Skye in Scotland is a spectacular sight to see. Water from the nearby Mealt Loch cascades over the cliffside to the rocky coast below — which makes for a dramatic
landscape shot many don't get to witness when they visit the U.K.
Hermaness National Nature Reserve
The jagged coastline cliffs of Hermaness National Nature Reserve are beautifully covered in emerald green grass. Located on the island of Unst, part of Scotland's Shetland Islands, Hermaness is a refuge for thousands of seabirds including puffins, which is why it was declared a national nature reserve.
Kilchurn Castle
You'll find many castle ruins in Scotland, but Kilchurn Castle mirrored in Loch Awe, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland is a perfect scene that will stun you with its beauty. Gaze on the still structure that remains from a time long ago and you'll be convinced to take a Scottish getaway.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
If you're a Harry Potter fanatic, you probably know that Hogwarts Castle is supposedly mysteriously hidden in the Scottish Highlands (unable to be seen by muggles), but did you know you can visit the Hogwarts Express in Scotland? The Jacobite Steam Train passes over Glenfinnan Viaduct, and was shown in the movies. The landscape you'll pass along the way aboard the Jacobite will allow you to fulfill your childhood fantasies.
Glenfinnan Monument
The Glennfinnan Monument is a historical landmark on Loch Shiel honoring the fallen Jacobite clansmen. Also located in the Highlands near the Glennfinan Viaduct, this monument erected in 1815 is a pivotal point of remembrance for those who lost their lives. The views from the top aren't too shabby either.
Arrochar Mountains
It's not everyday you get to see a true highland cow. You'll find these shaggy friends across the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the Trossachs, a nature reserve backed by the Arrochar Alps.
Mountains of Skye
A Scottish sunset is more magical than a sunset in the Caribbean with swaying palm trees. Don't believe us? This photo of the mountains on the Isle of Skye will convince you otherwise. The golden hour over the green cliffs and rocky coastline is enough to make anyone empty their savings.
Neist Point Lighthouse
Neist Point Lighthouse on the westerly tip of the Isel of Skye is a popular sunset spot for tourists. But no matter what time of day you visit, you'll find this beautiful site surrounded by rocky cliffs and stunning views each way you turn.