Scotland’s UNESCO World Heritage sites
Did you know that there are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland? Each is recognised for its important place in Scottish and world history.
The latest to be recognised as a World Heritage Site is the Forth Bridge, which opened in 1890.
A groundbreaking design, the iconic railway bridge still draws the eye with its famous red colour, and was joined by the Forth Road Bridge in 1964.
We now have a second road bridge, the Queensferry Crossing – perhaps it’s a heritage site of the future?
The six sites are:
• St Kilda
• The Old Town and New Town in Edinburgh
• The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
• The Antonine Wall
• The Forth Bridge
If you are visiting Edinburgh, the Old and New Towns are a living, working part of the capital city, and you can choose to wander around, discovering the building sand streets for yourself, or choose from one of the many walking tours available (including ghost tours!).
St Kilda is a bit harder to get to, and weather dependant. The uninhabited island is remote and can only be reached by boat. But definitely one for the bucket list!
Find out more here.
Archaeological riches
Scotland is blessed with many fascinating archaeological sites where you can take in the evidence of how life was long ago. In a world so different to now, people like us were in the same place, and seeing where they lived thousands of years ago and standing in the same locations is a powerful experience.
At Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement in Shetland you can visit a site where people lived for over 4,000 years, from 2700 BC.
The impressive remains of an Iron Age broch and wheelhouses can be seen, which have stood strong against storms over the centuries.
The Ness of Brodgar, which lies between the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar in Orkney.
This site was inhabited over 5,000 years ago and so far digs have turned up monumental stone buildings and unusual painted stones.
It’s not only on land that Scotland has rich archaeology either – at the Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay you can enter a recreation of a crannog, a wooden dwelling which stands on stilts above the water.
These dwellings are believed to have been used to house people and animals, and have been found during underwater investigations in various lochs across Scotland.