DK Travel : Scotland

Scotland has an overwhelming abundance of natural beauty, hundreds of castles stand proud from its long and turbulent past, and an innate flair for enterprise and travel has endowed the nation with artistic treasures from around the world. The culture remains vibrant today, and there’s much to celebrate. Here’s a distillation of Scotland’s best.

Gallery of Modern Art

Or, more correctly, a “Gallery of Astonishment”. Some works are awesome and immediately grab your attention, others are deviously clever and quite a few are outrageously funny. A modern collection, then, that positively begs for mass appeal. Exhibits change frequently, but the ethos remains essentially the same. Look out for Laurence Stephen Lowry’s Seascape , which although does not feature Lowry’s trademark “matchstick” people, it does symbolize his sense of complete despair and isolation.
Galletly & Tubbs

A stylish gift shop that offers a variety of contemporary art, jewellry, interior decoration & homewares as well as handbags and cards. A treasure trove of gifts for those with taste.
Galloway Forest Park

Area of superb loch, forest and hill scenery. Take a picnic to the Bruce’s Stone or have a day out on foot or on bikes.
Gig on the Green

All-day rock concert on Glasgow Green with a star-studded line up (mid/late-Aug).
Gigha

Exceptionally fertile island (“Isle of God”), which produces gourmet cheeses and a remarkable abundance of tender plants and flowers, especially in the much-acclaimed Achamore Garden.
Gigha Hotel, Isle of Gigha

Even though it’s only 7 miles (11 km) long by 2 miles (3 km) wide, the Vikings liked this island so much they stayed for 400 years. As well as tranquillity and sandy bays, the island is celebrated for Achamore House and its semi-tropical garden.
Glamis Castle

This 17th-century fairytale castle is best known for its literary associations: Duncan’s Hall provided the setting for the King’s murder in Shakespeare’s Macbeth . It also has a famous secret chamber and was the childhood home of the late Queen Mother. Rooms represent different periods of history and contain fine collections of armour, furnishings and tapestries. There’s said to be a ghost about, too. The gardens were laid out by the great 18th-century landscape gardener “Capability” Brown.
Glamis Castle

A royal residence since 1372, this is a magical castle (see Glamis Castle) . A mass of towers and turrets, ancient treasures and a link with Shakespeare’s Macbeth – could you ask for any more in a castle?
Glasgay

One of the UK’s largest gay and lesbian festivals (1–14 Nov approx, Glasgow).
Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis

Immense and ancient, this cathedral was ranked by the Pope in 1451 as equal in merit to Rome as a place of pilgrimage. Founded around 1250 and completed a century later, it has been in continuous use since then and can boast original roof timbers. The choir screen is unique in Scotland, and the stained glass exceptional. On a hill to the cathedral’s east looms the Necropolis, an extravagance of tombstones, crowned by a monument to John Knox (see John Knox’s House) .

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