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Original poster

Hidden gems in west or central Scotland

59 replies

Summerspring12 · 25/02/2025 20:28

Inspiration pls- have done all the main touristy things eg the castles.
Are there any interesting or picturesque hidden gems in central or west of Scotland?
Indoor or outdoor sights- suggestions welcome. Thanks!

OP posts:
readingmakesmehappy · 25/02/2025 20:31

How about the islands?

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 25/02/2025 20:39

Too cold, wet and dreich fir us to get inspired today sorry. Maybe ask on a sunny day - one due in the best 6 months apparently..........

Scirocco · 25/02/2025 21:06

Have you been to Kelburn Castle yet? (It's near Largs) Or New Lanark? Or Balmaha?

abracabarbara · 25/02/2025 21:22

Have you been to Mount Stuart House?
https://www.mountstuart.com/
You also get to see the glorious Wemyss Bay station:)

Kilmartin House Museum
https://www.kilmartin.org/

Logan Botanic gardens ( maybe a bit of a trek)

tillytoodles1 · 25/02/2025 21:24

My in-laws lived in Scotland, first Aberdeen, then Castle Douglas. No matter when we went to visit it was bloody freezing.

Belindabelle · 25/02/2025 23:31

Hardly a hidden gem but I love Culross. Also the Three Lochs Drive near Aberfoyle is a family favorite. Alloway, again not a secret!

MyFlightWasAwfulThanksForAsking · 25/02/2025 23:34

tillytoodles1 · 25/02/2025 21:24

My in-laws lived in Scotland, first Aberdeen, then Castle Douglas. No matter when we went to visit it was bloody freezing.

You do realise you're on Scotsnet? No need to be rude. It's not that cold.

Original poster
Summerspring12 · 26/02/2025 00:06

Thanks so far…..some great suggestions here! Culross and Logan Botanics catching my eye!
Any more welcome!

OP posts:
Meeplemakeglasgow · 26/02/2025 08:44

Culzean Castle.

Great walks/scenery, beaches, adventure park and even a second-hand bookshop.

Aaron95 · 26/02/2025 13:48

Rumbling Bridge. It's a beautiful spot with waterfalls and a spectacular gorge. I'm always amazed it isn't more popular.

LuvelyBunchOfBeetroot · 26/02/2025 15:25

Hardly hidden but the Kelpies are awesome and I think you can now do tours of the inside of them.

Original poster
Summerspring12 · 26/02/2025 18:40

Rumbling Bridge also catching my eye!
All these are great! Any more also welcome….

OP posts:
IamMummyhearmeROAR · 26/02/2025 18:44

Plockton never fails to fill my heart with joy.

redlightgreenlight123 · 26/02/2025 19:14

skyeferry.co.uk

readingmakesmehappy · 26/02/2025 20:18

abracabarbara · 25/02/2025 21:22

Have you been to Mount Stuart House?
https://www.mountstuart.com/
You also get to see the glorious Wemyss Bay station:)

Kilmartin House Museum
https://www.kilmartin.org/

Logan Botanic gardens ( maybe a bit of a trek)

Mount Stuart is fab. It's open after Easter I think.

QwestSprout · 26/02/2025 21:52

If you're interested in history there are some genuinely quite well hidden cup and ring marks just south of Mauchline, at Ballochmyle.

By done all the main touristy things, does that include Alloway and the Burns Museum? Other Burns museums are available but this one is probably the biggest, plus there's the cottage and the church.

longtompot · 26/02/2025 23:04

We stayed in Glenelg and got the ferry across to Skye and then got the bridge back across to the mainland.

Down the road from Glenelg is Sandaig where the author of Ring of Bright Water lived and wrote about the otters there, and his house is still there. We almost got to the beach but I was quite poorly when we went and my anxiety due to it made my vertigo go crazy so we had to go back to the car. Hopefully next time we will walk on the sand

MiddleAgedDread · 27/02/2025 09:15

another vote for Kelburn castle
Mount Stewart on Bute

Malbecmoron · 27/02/2025 09:19

longtompot · 26/02/2025 23:04

We stayed in Glenelg and got the ferry across to Skye and then got the bridge back across to the mainland.

Down the road from Glenelg is Sandaig where the author of Ring of Bright Water lived and wrote about the otters there, and his house is still there. We almost got to the beach but I was quite poorly when we went and my anxiety due to it made my vertigo go crazy so we had to go back to the car. Hopefully next time we will walk on the sand

Glenelg is a hidden gem. It also has two amazingly preserved brochs, and a third up the glen.

dancerdog · 27/02/2025 19:28

Check in advance for Mount Stuart on Bute - the whole estate was closed last week when we were there, due to storm damage from a few weeks ago. It is definitely worth a visit though, the House is amazing. NB, you can only go inside on a tour.

snoopyfanaccountant · 27/02/2025 22:40

Cambo Gardens in Fife. At this time of year there are lots of snowdrops but the gardens are spectacular through the year.

wholettheturnipsburn · 27/02/2025 23:01

tillytoodles1 · 25/02/2025 21:24

My in-laws lived in Scotland, first Aberdeen, then Castle Douglas. No matter when we went to visit it was bloody freezing.

Helpful

wholettheturnipsburn · 27/02/2025 23:03

Chatelheraut next to
Hamilton is a real gem

Seen it signposted for years and one day we headed there

Lovely walks

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