All United Kingdom Scotland

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Scotland

715 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Scotland

Updated September 20, 2024

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Aberdeen
  2. Aberdeenshire
  3. Anstruther
  4. Argyll And Bute
  5. Ayr
  6. Beauly
  7. Birnam
  8. Blantyre
  9. Bowmore
  10. Broxburn
  11. Comrie
  12. Crail
  13. Crieff
  14. Dailly
  15. Dalmally
  16. Dumfries And Galloway
  17. Dunbar
  18. Dundee
  19. Dunfermline
  20. Dunmore
  21. Dunure
  22. East Ayrshire
  23. East Lothian
  24. Edinburgh
  25. Elgin
  26. Eyemouth
  27. Falkirk
  28. Fraserburgh
  29. Glasgow
  30. Glencoe
  31. Glenfinnan
  32. Glentrool
  33. Highland
  34. Holywood
  35. Inverkeithing
  36. Inverness
  37. Isle Of Islay
  38. Isle Of Skye
  39. Johnstone
  40. Kilmartin
  41. Kirriemuir
  42. Lendalfoot
  43. Lerwick
  44. Linlithgow
  45. Melrose
  46. Millport
  47. Moffat
  48. Musselburgh
  49. Nairn
  50. North Berwick
  51. Orkney
  52. Outer Hebrides
  53. Paisley
  54. Peebles
  55. Perth
  56. Perth And Kinross
  57. Port Charlotte
  58. Prestonpans
  59. Renfrewshire
  60. Rosehearty
  61. Saddell
  62. Saint Andrews
  63. Scottish Borders
  64. Shetland Islands
  65. Stirling
  66. Stonehaven
  67. Strichen
  68. Wallyford
  69. Wanlockhead
  70. West Dunbartonshire
  71. Wigtown

Unusual Attractions in Scotland

See All 715 Things To Do in Scotland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Scotland

See all 18 Places to Eat in Scotland
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Hidden Edinburgh

Crowds clog Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the main artery between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The road is dotted with stores selling Nessie trinkets and lined with bagpipers and street performers pulling off dazzling tricks. But look beyond the tartan tourist traps, and you’ll discover tucked-away gardens, remnants of the city’s medieval past, and much more.

View Itinerary

Explore Scotland

History & Culture 157
Architecture 104
Art 63
Ruins 59
History 58
Castles 45
Monuments 45
Statues 44

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Recent Scotland Activity

Stories About Scotland

For some 4,500 years, Stonehenge has attracted and fascinated humans—now it turns out the Altar Stone, at its center, is from Scotland.

Stonehenge Has a Scottish Heart

Long thought to be from Wales, the monument's Altar Stone is from northern Scotland, nearly 500 miles away.
by Roxanne Hoorn

Podcast: Stone of Destiny

An unassuming rock in a Scottish bar may have quite a royal history.
by The Podcast Team

Imbolc, Groundhog Day, and Brigantia All Celebrate the Coming Spring

Whatever you call it, early February's cross-quarter day reconnects us with ancient astronomical timekeeping traditions.
by Rebecca Boyle
The Tomnaverie Stone Circle is a dramatic megalithic monument devoted to the Moon. A large recumbent stone, arranged between two smaller, upright stones, is visible just to the left of the image's center.

Scotland's Ancient Stone Circles Mark Our Deep Connection to the Moon

Unlike Sun-focused Stonehenge and other megalithic monuments, Tomnaverie and similar stone circles hint at the Moon's importance to ancient people.
by Rebecca Boyle
Stretching between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Scottish witch trials were among Europe’s longest and most deadly.

Isobel Gowdie and the Untold History of the Scottish Witch Trials

Some experts estimate as many as 3,000 people were accused and executed for witchcraft in Scotland.
by Sarah Durn
There are so many reasons to take stone skimming seriously.

Stone Skimming Is a World Champion Sport—And a Model for Spaceships

What to know if you want to skip a rock over 200 feet. Or fly to space.
by Ella Benson Easton
The Cailleach shrine can determine if locals have a good year or not.

Moving Stones Has a Magical Effect at This Secret Shrine in Scotland

Don't let the Cailleach curse your autumn.
by Daniela Castillo Gómez
Modern-day versions of the Atholl Brose often contain cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

The Oat-Milk Cocktail That Took Down an Army

Amanda Schuster explores the origins of the Atholl Brose in “Signature Cocktails.”
by Diana Hubbell

Lists Featuring Scotland

Callanish Standing Stones.
A close up photo of several stones in one of the larger circles.
Lundin Links Standing Stones.
Ring of Brodgar

7 of Scotland’s Most Enchanting Standing Stones

These ancient monuments have captivated the imagination for thousands of years.

7

Including Callanish Stones, Machrie Moor Standing Stones, and Lundin Links Standing Stones

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Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
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Little Spotted Kiwi

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Bolivia's Witch Market
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The Statue of St. Anthony's Pig
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