The National Trust for Scotland is a conservation charity which manages around 130 properties and 76,000 hectares of land across Scotland from castles to gardens, historic houses to battlefields, to footpaths, mountains and glens Here are my favourite NTS places to visit from Glen Affric to Craigievar, from Glencoe to Inveresk.
My favourite National Trust of Scotland places to visit
Looking for the best of the NTS 130 properties? Here are my favourites:
1. West Affric, The Highlands
Free entry (no NTS card required)
Walking through Glen Affric, along the 11-mile circular path around Loch Affric must be one of Scotland’s most awe-inspiring walks. Amongst the remnants of Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Scots Pine forest, the walk takes you alongside the River Affric, past Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhain amongst huge surrounding mountains. Now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, West Affric was once Clan Chisholm and Clan Fraser of Lovat country – and also once hid Bonnie Prince Charlie. Glen Affric is also now one of 48 National Nature Reserves in Scotland.
> Read more – how to visit Glen Affric.
2. Craigievar Castle, Aberdeenshire
Free with NTS card, otherwise £5.50 for adults, £4.00 per child
Said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle, Craigievar Castle is the star of many an instagram shot due to its bright pink exterior. Built in the Scottish Baronial style around 1576, the towerhouse of Craigievar was actually a family home until the 1960s and has cosy interiors! The castle has recently been restored to its vibrant ‘Craigievar Pink’ famous pink exterior, which was introduced in 1824 by Sir John Forbes. One of the best National Trust for Scotland castles!
> Read more: things to do in Aberdeenshire
3. Ben Lomond, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Free entry (no NTS card required)
Scotland’s most southerly Munro (mountains over 300ft/913m) has stunning views of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park from even halfway up. Under an hour’s drive from Glasgow, you can see why Ben Lomond is one of Scotland’s most popular and easiest Munros for beginners with over 30,000 people climbing to the top of this 974m high mountain every year.
> Read more – A beginners guide to climbing Ben Lomond.
4. Glencoe, The Highlands
Free entry (no NTS card required)
The ‘Glen of Weeping’ is one of the Scottish Highlands most famous natural attractions, with towering mountains and a grim and tragic past – including the infamous 1692 massacre of MacDonalds by the Campbell clan. Whilst driving through the glen to take a selfie with the Three Sisters and that snap of the wee white hoose might top the list of things to do in Glencoe, however, there is a lot more to this glen beyond the famous views.
> Here is what to do in Glencoe.
5. Glenfinnan and the Glenfinnan Monument, The Highlands
Free with NTS card, otherwise £5.50 for adults, £4.00 per child
The gathering point for the start of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s campaign to reclaim Scotland, climb up the Glenfinnan Monument to the fallen who fought in support of the Jacobites for a 360-degree view of the loch and learn about the loch’s connection to the ill-fated rebellion by visiting the National Trust for Scotland centre.
> Behind the viaduct, the Glenfinnan Viaduct Trail gives great views of the loch and if you time it right, the famous Jacobite steam train.
6. Dollar Glen, Clackmannanshire
Free entry (no NTS card required)
Just north of the Firth of Forth lie the Ochils hills which stretch across the country from Stirling to Perth. Deep in the hills is Dollar Glen, and the imposing Castle Campbell. Beneath the castle are two chasms, carrying two burns, the Burn of Sorrows and the Burn of Care, worn out of granite rock. The glen is laid out with a serious of bridges and raised walkways which dip you down into crevices, revealing the tumbling Hempy Falls, and glimpses of the castle. The castle is managed by Historic Scotland.
> Read more: how to visit Dollar Glen.
7. The Linn of Tummel, Highland Perthshire
Free entry (no NTS card required)
Meaning ‘deep pool’, the rivers of Garry and Tummel meet in the Linn of Tummel, a crashing gorge in this lovely woodland outside of Pitlochry in Highland Perthshire, ne of my favourite walks in the Tay Forest Park is to stroll alongside the beautiful river from Killiecrankie up to Garry Bridge along the Linn of Tummel. The walk is best in Autumn, as the river is lined with beautiful colours but is wonderful all year round. Look out for the obelisk, which commemorates a visit by Queen Victoria in 1844.
> How to visit Perthshire
8. St Abbs Head, Berwickshire
Free entry (no NTS card required, but will get you free parking)
St Abbs is one of Scotland’s prettiest villages to visit, but on its doorstep is the St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve where paths run along dramatic cliffs formed by volcanic eruptions. Head up above White Heugh Bay for views of the St Abbs harbour through rock turrets and then follow the circular route through the dunes, spotting seals, seabirds and diving boats along the way. After your walk make sure you pop down into the village for a crab sandwich – perfect!
> Read more: how to visit St Abbs.
9. The Hermitage, Highland Perthshire
Free entry (no NTS card required, but will get you free parking)
The Hermitage is an 18th-century pleasure garden for the Dukes of Atholl filled with giant Douglas Fir trees. Explore the woodlands of Craigvinean Forest to find the River Braan and Ossian’s Hall which was designed to showcase the Black Linn Falls. There are various walks in the Hermitage, but if you have a short time it is around 1/2 a mile to Ossian’s Hall from the main carpark. Look out for red squirrels in the trees and spectacular autumn colours.
10. Torridon, The West Highlands
Free entry (no NTS card required)
On Scotland’s wild west coast, underneath imposing mountains, is the tiny village of Torridon. The village is a stopping point on Scotland’s famous North Coast 500 and a mecca for those wishing to climb the famous munros of Liathach, Beinn Alligin and Beinn Eighe. Visit the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve home to 350-year-old Scots Pines remnant of the ancient Caledonian forest, or explore the village of Torridon along one of three low-level walks.
11. Culloden, Inverness
Free with NTS card, otherwise £12.00 for adults, £7.50 per child
The site of the most famous and final battle of the 1745 Rising where the Jacobite army took to the battlefield against the British in a final attempt to succeed in the Jacobite case. The battle was a disaster and saw 2,000 Jacobite men slain in only 50 minutes, mercilessly gunned down by government muskets whilst only armed with swords. Walk the battlefield to experience its historical significance. Now managed by the National Trust for Scotland, a visit to Culloden is sobering and stark.
12. Culross, Fife
Visiting the village is free, Entry to the Palace is free with NTS card, otherwise £13.50 for adults, £8 per child
Located on the Firth of Forth, 12 miles west of the Forth Rail Bridge in the south-west of Fife, Culross was built in the 16th and 17th century to house workers in the mining and later salt panning industries stretching along the Fife coast. Culross (actually pronounced ‘coo-ris’, not ‘cull-ross’) is one of Scotland’s best-preserved and prettiest 17th-century villages and famous for its role in the TV series Outlander. Parts of the village, including the Palace, are now owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland.
> Read more: How to visit Culross.
13. Culzean Castle, Ayrshire
Visiting the Culzean Estate is free, entry to the Castle is free with NTS card, otherwise £7 for adults, £4 per child
Perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the Firth of Clyde, Culzean Castle was designed by Robert Adam. The name “Culzean” is derived from the Gaelic “Cùilfhionn,” meaning “nook of the white dog,” which is believed to refer to the castle’s location on a rocky headland. Culzean Castle’s Swan Pond, designed to resemble a ship’s hull, is a tribute to the Ailsa Craig granite, which was used to make curling stones for the sport of curling. The castle is surrounded by a 260-hectare country park including its own beaches.
14. Falkland Palace and Maspie Den, Falkland, Fife
Entry to the Palace is free with NTS card, otherwise £18 for adults, £9.50 per child
Located in the charming village of Falkland, this palace was once a hunting lodge used by Mary, Queen of Scots. The palace has lovely gardens and a real tennis court, built in 1539, which is one of the oldest in the world. Make sure that you visit the Falkland Estate, a hunting park for Stuart Kings and Queens, and climb up to Maspie Den, a waterfall reached through a deep and hidden river valley.
15. Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire
Entry to the Castle is free with NTS card, otherwise £16.50 for adults, £9.50 per child
Managed by the National Trust for Scotland, the 800 year old Fyvie Castle has a stunning pink exterior and a beautiful interior with a huge portrait collection – including works by Gainsborough and Sir Henry Raeburn and the £22 million life-size Pompeo Batoni portrait of Colonel William Gordon. Entry to Fyvie Castle is free for National Trust for Scotland members or £16.50 for adults.
16. Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Ayrshire
Entry to the museum is free with NTS card, otherwise £12 for adults, £7 per child
The pretty town of Alloway is home to the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and the house in which he grew up. The museum is run by the National Trust for Scotland and makes for a fascinating visit. Inside the museum are more than 5,000 Burns artefacts including his handwritten manuscripts and interactive displays. Outside the museum there there is a monument to Robert Burns and the famous Brig o’Doon over the river. Over in the village is the house where Robert Burns was born and lived until he was 7.
17. Preston Mill
Entry to the mill is free with NTS card, otherwise £11 for adults, £6.50 per child
One of the best reasons to buy a National Trust for Scotland pass is to support buildings at risk and one of my favourites is Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot near East Linton which is suffering from dereliction. The mill was used commercially until 1959 but you might recognise Preston Mill from season 1 of Outlander, where Jamie goes for a swim, Mr Darcy style. Entry to Preston Mill costs £11.00 for adults (with an hourly tour) or free for NTS members.
18. Branklyn Garden, Perth
Entry is free with NTS card, otherwise £8.50 for adults, £5 per child
Created in the 1920s, Branklyn Gardens is a 2-acre hillside garden to the south of Perth city centre. Now managed by the National Trust for Scotland (free for NTS members) the garden is full of alpine plants and Japanese Maples. Built as a garden for John and Dorothy Renton Arts & Crafts-inspired house, Branklyn has a lovely cafe on site serving up tea and homemade cakes. Branklyn Gardens is dog friendly.
> Visit Branklyn Gardens.
18. Broughton House and Garden
Entry is free with NTS card, otherwise £8.50 for adults, £4.50 per child
Artists have long been attracted to D&G due to the incredible light and a must-do in Kirkcudbright is a visit to the National Trust for Scotland’s Broughton House home of one of the Glasgow Boys and a stunning Japanese inspired garden – a lovely oasis in the middle of this bustling wee town. Make sure you tour the house – the gallery is quite something! Broughton House is free entry for members of the National Trust for Scotland or £8 for adults.
19. Inveresk Lodge Garden
Entry is free with NTS card, otherwise £3.50 for adults
Inveresk Lodge Garden is located in the tiny village of Inveresk, 30 minutes east of Edinburgh. With a restored Edwardian glasshouse, colourful floral borders and cute birds in the aviary Inveresk Lodge Garden is a designed garden complete with vistas, garden rooms and constantly changing perspectives. One of my favourite wee spots in Scotland and a hidden gem of NTS properties.
20. The Pineapple, Forth Valley
Free entry (no NTS card required)
Possibly the quirkiest building in Scotland, the Dunmore Pineapple at the heart of the Dunmore Estate, a stunning remnant 19th century designed landscape. Sitting in the Estate’s walled garden, the pineapple building once had heated glasshouses along its length. The pineapple was added to the hothouses by the Earl of Dunmore as a summerhouse to enjoy the walled garden, probably in around 1776 Home in the 18th and 19th century to the Earls of Dunmore, the park was split up in the 1960s with the Pineapple now gifted to the National Trust for Scotland.
How do I get National Trust of Scotland membership?
You can become a member at any of the NTS shops or buy your membership online. NTS offer a variety of packages including
- Adults – 1 person – £6.95 / month or joint adult – £10.95 / month
- Senior – 1 person – £5.55 / month or joint senior – £8.70 / month
- Two Adult Family – 2 adults + up to 6 children (aged under 18) £12.05 / month
I think of my NTS membership as a monthly charity donation to support the upkeep of some of Scotland’s best landscapes and buildings.
Is there a National Trust Scotland map?
Yes, the NTS have a map of all of their properties online
Do you have a favourite National Trust for Scotland property?
Love from Scotland x