The best National Trust places to visit in Scotland

Scotland, the most northerly country in the UK, is a beautiful place full of dramatic contrasts. Many of Scotland’s castles, country houses, stately homes and battlegrounds are owned and/or managed by National Trust for Scotland (NTS). The organisation is also the custodian of vast swathes of open country as well as country estates that include mountains and miles of the Scottish coastline.

NTS performs an equivalent role to National Trust (UK) but it is a separate entity entirely. First established in 1931 to preserve Scottish heritage, places of historical interest, and areas of natural beauty, NTS has gone from strength to strength.

We have many self-catering holiday properties all across the country, within driving distance of many of NTS’s heritage buildings and beauty spots. Read our guide to some of our favourite family-friendly, dog-friendly, and historic properties to get some inspiration for your next adventure across the border.

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• Family-friendly places in Scotland
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The best family-friendly National Trust places to visit in Scotland

Photo credit: @nationaltrustforscotland

J M Barrie’s Birthplace, Angus

An all-weather favourite for the whole gang, this National Trust for Scotland property is a family-friendly delight. Visit the birthplace of J M Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. Born in Kirriemuir, just a few miles from Forfar in 1860, J M Barrie was one of ten children born of a handloom weaver. Next door to the house is the wash house which doubled for his first theatre. 

Photo credit: @visitscotland

Nowadays, the house next door is a museum, home to an excellent exhibition of items from J M Barrie’s life. Look out for the living-willow crocodile in the adjoining garden. See an early manuscript of Peter Pan, the author’s writing desk, and a family christening gown. For fun, check out the film Finding Neverland to see a broad depiction of J M Barrie (as portrayed by Johnny Depp) and his antics as a playwright in London.

St Abb’s Head Nature Reserve, Berwickshire

If your family are budding birdwatchers, St Abb's Head is a superb place to develop your ornithological skills. This nature reserve near Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders is a large site where you can observe cliff-nesting seabirds between May and August.

Photo credit: @visitscotland

Watch the hordes of birds going about their lives high above the waves of the North Sea. See the colonies of guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills, shags, fulmars, puffins and herring gulls which nest on the narrow ledges of the 90-metre-high cliffs. Book ahead for ranger-led walks from the visitor centre.

Photo credit: @mystylerow

The Pineapple, Stirlingshire

This National Trust for Scotland property is bound to appeal to a kid’s sense of humour and affection for random architecture. As the name suggests, The Pineapple is a large structure on top of the roof of a house in the shape of a piece of tropical fruit. Pineapples have been grown in Scotland since the early 1700s and they were grown, along with other unusual fruit and vegetables, in the pits and greenhouses at The Pineapple.

This bizarre structure of The Pineapple was built in 1761 for the Earl of Dunmore as a summerhouse. The folly itself is not open to the public but you are very welcome to take a walk in the lovely walled garden or enjoy a peaceful wander around the pond and through the surrounding woodland. It’s a relaxing short stroll for those of you with a pram or toddlers, who can enjoy the gentle surroundings.

Family-friendly cottages in Scotland

The best dog-friendly National Trust places to visit in Scotland

The Pass of Killiecrankie, Perthshire

Visit the Pass of Killiecrankie with your dog on your trip to Scotland. This National Trust for Scotland land-managed woodland gorge with the River Garry winding through it is a wonderful choice for a day out with the dog at heel. Highlights include Soldier’s Leap – an 18-foot drop where (as the name suggests) a Redcoat soldier jumped into the river to escape the Jacobites, and wildlife that includes the lesser-spotted red squirrel. Rare fungi grow in the gorge too along with unusual species of ferns.

The name Killiecrankie is derived from Gaelic as ‘place of the woodpecker’. This is just one fact you can learn about the Pass at the visitor centre on-site. For adrenalin addicts, there are some cool outdoor sports providers at Killiecrankie too offering activities like bungee jumping.

Photo credit: @mjgorton1989

Rockcliffe, Dumfries & Galloway

Rockliffe is home to a lovely coastal trail managed by the National Trust for Scotland. It stretches along the Solway Firth on the southern edge of the south-westerly county of Dumfries and Galloway. This beautiful nature reserve is doggy heaven, with miles of wildflower meadows and quaint sailing villages to visit. Rich with woodland copses full of colourful butterflies and birds, it’s a fantastic choice for a long walk with your dog.

One of Rockcliffe’s most famous beauty spots is the ancient trading post of Mote of Mark. Dating back to the 6^th century, you can see ramparts from the period close to the summit. The views from the top are stunning from here. Head to Kippford or Rockliffe (village) to pick up either end of the main trail, including Jubilee Path and The Muckle. Put your dog on a lead if you want to visit the bird reserve at Rough Island which opens all year round (except for May and June during the ground-nesting period of some species).

Photo credit: @theoldmanseofblair

Linn of Tummel, Perth & Kinross

Linn of Tummel is a delightful prospect for a dog-friendly day out on a National Trust for Scotland property. Visit the confluence of two rivers, the Garry and Tummel, at this 19-hectare property. It’s a natural delight which is characteristic of ‘Big Tree Country’, the local nickname for the Highland Perthshire countryside.

Highlights of a visit would include the extraordinary fish ladder, which was built to aid the passage of salmon upstream on their way to the spawning ground, and an obelisk that was installed to commemorate a visit to Linn of Tummel by Queen Victoria in 1844. The views are incredible and the wildlife prolific. Look out for pine martens, red squirrels and otters. It’s a great place for a wonderful waterside walk in the woods with the pooch.

Dog-friendly cottages in Scotland

The best National Trust attractions of historical interest in Scotland

Photo credit: @battleofbannockburn

The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre, Stirlingshire

Stand in the footsteps of Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn, for it was here in 1314 that his forces rallied against Edward II’s army to win the fight for independence from England. History buffs will get a kick out of such a visit to a very important place in Scotland’s war-torn history.

Today, National Trust for Scotland hosts a Heritage Centre where visitors can learn more about the Battle of Bannockburn through a series of interactive displays, audio-visual shows, and a riveting exhibition. The 3D Battle Experience is not to be missed and is fun and educational for older children.

Photo credit: @culzean

Culzean Castle and Country Park, Ayrshire

In a land defined by its castles and stately homes, Scotland’s Culzean Castle is one of its finest. Visit the castle to admire the period objects, take in the panoramic view of the Clyde from the Round Drawing Room and investigate one of the world’s largest collections of swords and pistols in the armoury. There are around 40 historical buildings and follies hidden throughout the estate as well as formal gardens, a woodland trail to the Swan Pond, and 3 miles of shoreline to explore.

Photo credit: @culzean

Built for Robert Adams in the 18^th century, its location high on a cliff above the waters of the Firth of Clyde gives it an enviable position. However, everybody can share the views on a visit and it makes for a stunning diversion for garden lovers and historians alike on a holiday to Scotland.

Photo credit: @robertburnsnts  

Robert Burns' Birthplace Museum, Ayrshire

Robert Burns is one of Scotland’s most famous verse writers, so fans of Tam O’Shanter can devote a full day to visiting the place of his birth and other local associated landmarks. The museum is made up of the Burns Cottage, an elegant monument and some landscaped gardens created in his honour. There’s also a modern museum housing the world’s most important collection of his life and works.  

Photo credit: @robertburnsnts  

Take lunch or dinner at Brig o’ Doon House, overlooking the actual Brig o’ Doon that features at the climax of Tam O’ Shanter. The restaurant is loved for its traditional Scottish dishes. The Brig and the Burns Memorial Gardens are very close by for a post-meal stroll too.

Cottages in Scotland for history lovers

Map of National Trust for Scotland’s best places to visit

Stay with us in Scotland

We have some lovely self-catering holiday cottages throughout Scotland, close to many National Trust for Scotland properties and areas of beauty to inspire your visit. Where will you stay on your holiday in Scotland?

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