Scotland offers plenty of places where visitors can trade busy city streets for beautiful scenery, quiet walks and a slower pace of life. From picturesque seaside villages to historic towns with charming streets, there are many spots across the country to enjoy a more relaxed break, according to a new list from World Atlas.
Top spot goes to Tobermory
Taking the first position on the list is Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull. The town is best known for its row of brightly coloured buildings overlooking the harbour, which has made it one of Scotland's most recognisable seaside destinations. Often associated with the children's TV show Balamory, Tobermory has plenty to offer beyond its colourful houses.
One attraction highlighted by World Atlas is Aros Park, which is just a short walk from the town centre and offers a mix of woodland trails and waterfalls. The site also includes Aros Waterfall.
Plockton and Dunkeld among the highlights
The second destination on the list is Plockton, often referred to as the Jewel of the Highlands. The coastal village sits beside Loch Carron and offers plenty of opportunities for visitors to enjoy the water. One of the biggest draws to Plockton, according to World Atlas, is Calum's Seal Trips, a family-run boat tour that allows those on the trip to spot common and grey seals, otters, porpoises and seabirds.
Elsewhere, Dunkeld in Perth and Kinross also earned a place on the list. The town is known for its historic architecture and picturesque setting beside the River Tay, with one of its main attractions being Dunkeld Cathedral. Visitors can explore the building, which is an active parish church with remains of a medieval cathedral, as well as the tomb of Alexander Stewart.
Literary history and the full list
World Atlas also highlighted Dunkeld's literary history, with The Birnam Oak being home to the last surviving relic of the Birnam Wood from William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The website noted that patrons can spend the day walking along the river sides, spotting the local wildlife, and standing under the shade of the tree where the witches' prophecy in Shakespeare's play was fulfilled.
The full list of ten most laid-back towns in Scotland, as listed by the World Atlas website, is: Tobermory, Plockton, Dunkeld, Wigtown, Stromness, Melrose, Culross, Dornoch, Killin and Fort Augustus.
