A guide to Scotland's UNESCO Trail

Reaching Scotland's Northern Isles is easy, with both train and buses going to Aberdeen and Scotland's north coast. From there, both Orkney and Shetland are a simple and scenic ferry away.

The Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage site is a collage of prehistoric marvels spread across Orkney’s mainland. Delve back 5,000 years and wander around the prehistoric village of Skara Brae, eke down the tunnel into the Maeshowe tomb, walk around the mysterious Ring of Brodgar and marvel at the vaulting Stones of Stenness.

Base yourself in Kirkwall, Orkney and enjoy excellent seafood, whiskies from two distilleries and local beer too. Between refuelling on the excellent local produce, there's much nature to explore. Don’t miss the puffins as well as the gulls, gannets and many other birds that have made these islands their home. And look out for otters and seals, too. 

From Orkney, you can take a ferry and in less than eight hours, you’ll anchor in Shetland. Here, the UNESCO Shetland Global Geopark sheds light on the intriguing geological puzzle that has been ‘three billion years in the making’ with 100 ‘geosites’ to uncover.

The Shetland Museum and Archives whets your appetite in Lerwick, before local buses and ferries open up the wildlife-kissed Eshaness cliffs and the rare Shetland ophiolite on the unique isle of Unst. The Hoswick Visitor Centre and Café weaves together the human story of Shetland and how it fits into the landscape.

This deeply scenic, eco-diverse corner of Scotland is home to two glorious UNESCO oases. Both are a sustainable joy to explore on two feet, two wheels or a kayak. The Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere is a wildscape where man plays second fiddle to nature with only 8,000 people living in the 5,000 square kilometre area. Beinn Eighe was the UK’s first National Nature Reserve and it offers a rare marked trail into the mountains, as well as a lower option. Make the remote village of Mellon Charles your base to head out for paddling adventures with Conor at Ewe Canoe and stay in the village of Ullapool to easily reach McKenzie Mountaineering which safely takes you into the hills. Wester Ross’ Good Food Trail awaits after a day exploring the Biosphere.

The North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark spreads its green tentacles across 2,000 square kilometres with just 2,000 people. The epic local scenery is underpinned by rocks three billion years old! The Rock Stop Visitor Centre and Café in Unapool is the Geopark’s hub, which burrows you deep into the local geology. Durness Deep Time meanwhile delves into those ancient rocks.

Then there is the UK’s highest waterfall, Eas a' Chual Aluinn, and the earliest evidence of life anywhere in Europe - stromatolites in the Torridonian sandstone. You can discuss them with other walkers, cyclists and explorers in cosy pubs like the Applecross Inn, Applecross and the Ferry Boat Inn in Ullapool.

How about easing your way around a trio of UNESCO attractions within a compact area with superb public transport? Glasgow was named the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music with good reason. Take in a gig at legendary venues such as the OVO Hydro, the Barrowland Ballroom or King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. A Glasgow Music City Tour is a brilliant way to get under the city’s musical skin with an expert local guide. Don’t miss great record shops like Some Great Reward, a night at a local club and a folk ‘session’ in a cosy pub.

Delving back in time the New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site takes you deep into the Industrial Revolution and a pioneering attempt to ensure workers had decent, healthy conditions surrounded by nature here by the River Clyde. This 18^th century cotton mill is a time capsule, a tantalising window into a time that had a seismic effect across the globe. Learn about Glasgow entrepreneur David Dal and his son-in-law, who became known as a philanthropist and social reformer: Robert Owen.

Step further back in time we meet the Romans manning the UNESCO recognised Antonine Wall, the most northerly bulwark of their mighty empire, built by Emperor Antoninus Pius in 142AD as a 60 km coast to coast barrier. You can walk the route of the wall, stopping off at sculptures and information boards. Handily the wall interweaves with the long distance John Muir Way, so your Roman experience is a sustainable and responsible one. Join a guided walking tour to learn even more and don’t miss the replica Roman distance stone at Bo’ness or the fascinating Kinneil Museum.

In Scotland’s east you can immerse yourself in four sites on one longer trip, or ease back to make multiple forays to slowly savour them. Sustainably travel to Edinburgh overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper and you awake in UNESCO’s first ever City of Literature. The city of Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Walter Scott, Muriel Spark and JK Rowling overflows with literary connections. They come alive at the soaring Scott Monument, Scottish Storytelling Centre and the city’s swathe of over 50 independent bookshops. The free trio of the National Library of Scotland, Scottish Poetry Library and Central Library tempt too.

UNESCO have also designated Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns on their World Heritage list. This historic core is bigger than you might imagine, stretching for over 4.5 square kilometres, with 4,500 buildings, from castles to ancient monuments, designed landscapes to conservation areas. It’s a unique voyage through time walking down the Royal Mile surrounded by a riot of medieval buildings, cobbles and wee closes that beg exploration. Across the green lung of Princes Street Gardens lies the New Town, with stately, wide streets, grand sandstone townhouses and a wealth of neoclassical beauty. These two wildly different sides demand slow discovery.

To the northwest in the picture-postcard suburb of South Queensferry rises the Forth Bridge. There can be few more striking UNESCO World Heritage sites on the planet, this iron leviathan bursting towards the heavens from the deep waters of the Firth of Forth in all its triple cantilever glory. It’s hard to imagine how an army of 4,600 workers strove to build it in 1890 and the sturdiness of this well used railway artery is a lasting legacy. Take a boat cruise under with Maid of the Forth, or admire the view from the volley of waterfront cafes, pubs and restaurants. It lies on the John Muir Way so if you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can walk here from central Edinburgh.

To the north across the Tay lies Dundee, designated a City of Design by UNESCO, the UK’s first. Once a textile and shipbuilding powerhouse, today Dundee has emerged as a multidisciplinary design hub with global clout, the perfect location for the first V&A design museum outside London. Design pulses through Dundee’s grand streets; innovation too in medical research, comic books, fashion, the gaming industry and technology. Visit the RRS Discovery, Wasps Studios and Verdant Works to deep dive into design. Women have always been at the heart of Dundee design and history – learn more on the Dundee Women’s Trail.