Scotland is home to some seriously stunning places, but not all of them have names you would expect to find on a road sign. From villages and streets to mountains and remote settlements, the country has plenty of unusual place names that can raise a few eyebrows.
While some sound funny for obvious reasons, many actually have fascinating histories behind them, with names dating back centuries and often rooted in Gaelic, Norse or Scots.
And while you might get a few laughs while telling someone you've visited Dull or walked down Butts Wynd, these places are often surrounded by some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery.
The Bastard and Dull
The Bastard is a mountain summit in the Knapdale and Kintyre region of Argyll and Bute near Campbeltown. Standing at 188 metres high, it isn't one of Scotland's most challenging climbs, but the surrounding scenery makes it a popular spot for those exploring the area. While it isn't that high, reaching the summit means you can tell everyone you've climbed The Bastard.
Dull is an unfortunately named village in Perth and Kinross, made up of a single street of houses along the north of the valley of the River Tay. Despite its name, there is nothing particularly boring about the area. The name is believed to be Pictish in origin and may come from the word 'dol', meaning 'water valley' or the Gaelic word 'dail', meaning 'meadow'.
Nearby Highland Safaris also offers a range of outdoor activities, making it a far cry from the dull destination its name might suggest. Fittingly, the village is paired with Boring in Oregon in the US and the two established the League of Extraordinary Communities in 2013, alongside Bland in New South Wales, Australia.
Butts Wynd and Dick Place
Butts Wynd is a small street in the Fife town of St Andrews, situated between North Street and the Scores. Its name has become something of a joke among students and visitors, with the street often photographed by those passing through. However, the name has a much more innocent history. 'Butts' is thought to refer to a place where archery was once practised, while a 'wynd' traditionally means a narrow street or alley.
Dick Place can be found in Edinburgh's affluent Grange area and, despite its cheeky sounding name, is one of the Capital's most desirable addresses. The area has historically been home to some very expensive properties and was previously named among Scotland's most costly residential streets. According to Rightmove, properties on Dick Place had an overall average price of around £3 million over the last year, based on 2025 figures. So while the name might prompt a few giggles, buying a home there certainly isn't a laughing matter.
Hell, Purgatory and Twatt
Orkney is home to two particularly dramatic names - Hell and Purgatory. The names were given to harsh, hard-to-work historic farmsteads and stone crofts on the islands of Sanday and Birsay. Hell was originally thought to have been called Helye, before a local family living there experienced a series of unfortunate events and the name was changed. Legend has it that Purgatory was later named by the son of the owner of Hell, who decided to continue the theme. Another local story claims the two places were built by shipwrecked sailors who clearly weren't impressed with their stay on the island.
Twatt is another Orcadian place name that can raise a few eyebrows. The settlement in Orkney was previously home to Royal Naval Air Station Twatt and remains a popular destination for visitors amused by its unusual name. Despite its modern-day associations, the name has a much older origin. It comes from the Old Norse word 'þveit', meaning a small parcel of land, suggesting the area was among the first places to be settled.
