The best small towns in Scotland will leave you swooning. With their lochside settings, honeycomb-hued stone homes, weathered clan castles, and cozy pubs serving first-class scran, Scotland’s handsome hamlets are truly the stuff of fairy tales.
From Fort Augustus’ Loch Ness legends to Linlithgow’s stories of Mary, Queen of Scots, all of Scotland’s small towns are crammed with heritage, history, and cute-as-a-button corners. These are some of the dreamiest, detour-worthy towns and villages in Scotland to visit, whether you’re roaming the highlands or the islands.
Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick, the coastal capital of the Shetland Islands—the northernmost archipelago of the UK—has an almost mythical atmosphere.
Growing from a makeshift fishing village in the 17th century, Lerwick has evolved into one of the most enchanting small towns in Scotland today, with a population of around 7,000.
Amble the lanes lined with Victorian and Scottish Baronial buildings, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Scottish Baronial is a local, neo-Gothic architectural style based on revived late medieval features, such as turrets and castle-like designs.
Lodberries, Lerwick
Maritime traditions, harking back to the days of Dutch fishing fleets, are still strong in Lerwick. Take a peek at the waterfront lodberries, old stone warehouses and piers, and you’ll still see bobbing fishing boats and sheds where the catch is dried. Seals are another common sight around the harbor.
Yet it’s Shetland’s way of life that makes Lerwick so unforgettable. A pub lunch accompanied by typical fiddle music. A windswept afternoon stroll soundtracked by scores of seabirds. Or visiting the surrounding Viking or Iron Age ruins, such as the Broch of Clickimin. All are firm reminders of just how remote and wild Scotland’s far north is.
Culross
Culross
An easy day trip from Edinburgh, Culross feels like a time capsule. Surveying the Firth of Forth coastal inlet, it’s one of Scotland’s most authentic towns, and the best-preserved sample of a 17th- and 18th-century burgh.
With quaint, whitewashed stone houses, a mustard-hued palace, and wending cobbled streets leading to homely cafés—the scones and marshmallow-loaded hot chocolate from Bessie’s are a Culross rite of passage—your camera will be put to good use.
Culross Palace is a fine spot to while away a couple of hours. While technically a merchant’s home, rather than a palace, there’s plenty of grandeur to appreciate across the 17th-century complex. The original hand-painted wooden ceilings and panels are a highlight.
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus
Few locations conjure up as much folklore as Loch Ness, one of the lochs that Scotland is famous for. The domain of Nessie, the legendary deep-water-dwelling monster, is also home to one of the most fascinating highland villages in Scotland, Fort Augustus.
Set at the loch’s southern tip, the tiny hamlet has splendid views and is a great jumping-off point to head out in search of the Loch Ness Monster. Yet its most intriguing water attraction is the handful of locks where the Caledonian Canal joins Loch Ness.
Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus
An impressive feat of 19th-century engineering, the five locks flanked by the town allow canal boats to navigate the elevation change between the waterway and the loch. If no boats are descending when you arrive, walk the leafy towpath; it shouldn’t be long until a vessel arrives and sets the system into action.
To learn more about Nessie’s legend, drive the 30-minute, loch-hugging road to Drumnadrochit, one of the most famous villages in Scotland, to visit the Loch Ness Centre.
Melrose
Melrose
Melrose, an hour southeast of Edinburgh, is one of the Scottish Borders’ most photogenic towns. Hemmed in by rolling green hills, including the volcanic Eildon Hills, the setting in the aptly-named Tweed Valley is enviable.
This is the birthplace of Rugby Sevens, and the former home of prolific Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott, the town’s diminutive size outweighed by its historical importance.
Melrose Abbey
Nowhere is this more apparent than when you step into the cloister of Melrose Abbey’s ruins. Constructed in the 12th century, on the site of Scotland’s first Cistercian monastery, the vast protected site is one of the nation’s most impressive.
It’s said the heart of Robert the Bruce, the king who led the First War of Scottish Independence, is buried in the Chapter House.
Read: Scotland vs. Ireland: Which Should You Visit?
North Berwick
North Berwick
Fronted by sandy shorelines, bookended by two ruined castles—Dirleton and Tantallon—and anchored around a pretty high street of wholesome cafés and boutiques, North Berwick is a firm contender for the best coastal small town in Scotland.
For the best view of the town, tackle the trail to the top of North Berwick Law, a low-slung, solitary volcanic plug that promises panoramic views across the Firth of Forth.
Just off land, Bass Rock protrudes from the cerulean sea, providing a home to the world’s largest colony of gannets. Stop by the Scottish Seabird Centre to learn more about these mighty seabirds, or join a boat trip for an up-close inspection, soundtracked by raucous squawking.
Anstruther
Anstruther
Directly across from North Berwick, on the northern side of the Firth of Forth, you’ll find Anstruther, one of Scotland’s most authentic harbor towns.
A fishing village for centuries, Anstruther continues to cling to its roots. Amble along the waterfront and you’ll pass pastel-colored fishing cottages, bobbing boats, and piles of nets and baskets still in use today.
Anstruther
For a deeper dive into the area’s maritime heritage, visit the Scottish Fisheries Museum.
Spread across a few heritage buildings overlooking the port, the exhibitions showcase how Scotland’s fishing communities thrived on herring and developed over the decades, through paintings, artifacts, and traditional vessels moored out front.
Afterwards, pop into Anstruther Fish Bar—awarded Best Sea Fish in Scotland more than once—for a dressed crab or fish supper.
Inveraray
Inveraray
Pristine air and even prettier views await in Inveraray, a highland town around 90 minutes northwest of Glasgow.
The Campbell clan couldn’t have picked a finer spot, pushed right up against the shores of Loch Fyne, to oversee the construction of their castle and the whitewashed Georgian town.
Inveraray Castle
Inveraray Castle, a hulking, four-turreted castle near Glasgow, is still the home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll. However, during the summer season, the family opens the doors, affording fascinating insight into multiple generations of furniture and decor.
For a more sinister experience, visit the old Inveraray Jail on the waterfront, where the stories of Victorian incarceration are recounted through life-sized models and an unexpected escape room game, set in the 1850s.
Luss
Luss
Luss is one of the prettiest villages in Scotland and a highlight of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. It’s the type of village befitting of any countryside postcard, with weathered stone houses and whitewashed cottages fronted by rose bushes rising from colorful window boxes.
It’s incredibly peaceful thanks to the ban on visitors driving down the old, narrow streets. Leave the car on the outskirts and you’ll soon be charmed by the serene atmosphere, lochside pathway, and idyllic steepled church.
Luss
Not that all of Luss’ appeal is old-school. It’s home to perhaps Scotland’s newest distillery, Luss Distillery, which opened its doors for whisky and gin tastings and tours in October 2025.
Bring your swimwear, too, and be sure to book a session at the Hot Tottie Sauna in advance. This adorable, cabin-like sauna is perched on the edge of the loch, with blissful views no matter the weather.
Kirkwall
Kirkwall
In 2019, Kirkwall’s high street was voted the “most beautiful” in Scotland, making the capital of Orkney a shoo-in as one of the best small towns in Scotland.
The town is anchored around St. Magnus Cathedral, built under the watchful eye of Viking Earl Rognvald in 1137, when Orkney was part of the Kingdom of Norway. The red-and-yellow sandstone church is striking inside and out.
St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
Join a guided tour to the roof of the cathedral, and you’ll be in awe, not only of the sweeping coastal views, but also of the chance to peer down on the ruins of the nearby Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces, built in the 12th and 16th centuries.
Kirkwall is an excellent jumping-off point to continue your history tour across Mainland, the archipelago’s largest isle. The UNESCO-listed Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a cluster of four outstanding prehistoric sites, is just a short drive away.
St. Andrews
St. Andrews
St. Andrews, an easy trip from Edinburgh, is one of the most famous small towns in Scotland for two reasons: golf and academia.
Home to Scotland’s oldest university, founded in 1413, and considered the “Home of Golf,” as it was here that the modern game was invented, St. Andrews is both wonderfully youthful and seriously historic.
If you’d like to play on the oldest course, affectionately known as the “Old Lady”, be sure to book your tee time well in advance. Still, with seven public golf courses around the town, there’s no shortage of birdies and beautiful views to be had.
St. Andrews Cathedral
Away from the green, storied St. Andrews continues to shine. The ruins of 14th-century St. Andrews Cathedral and the weathered St. Andrews Castle are two of Scotland’s most haunting medieval landmarks.
Whether you prefer a bracing swim on the town’s golden beaches, studying up on the history of St. Andrews University at the Wardlaw Museum, or relaxing in the pretty botanical gardens, you can easily fill a whole day exploring St. Andrews.
Linlithgow
Linlithgow
The royal burgh of Linlithgow was the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots, who famously ascended to the throne at just six days old.
The outer walls of her home, 15th-century Linlithgow Palace, remain relatively well-preserved today, and thousands flock to the small town annually. Be sure to walk atop the towering walls for excellent photography vantage points, peering into the courtyard and across to Linlithgow Loch.
FAQs
What are the most beautiful small towns in Scotland?
Lerwick
The most beautiful small towns in Scotland include Lerwick, for its Shetland sandstone homes; Melrose, for its abbey and countryside setting; and Anstruther, a quaint coastal town with pretty villages on either side.
Are there small towns in the Scottish Highlands?
Fort Augustus
There are numerous small towns spread across the Scottish Highlands. Two of the most striking are Fort Augustus on Loch Ness and Inveraray, a historic, clan-founded town on Loch Fyne.
Which are the best towns for coastal views?
North Berwick
North Berwick and St. Andrews are two of the best small towns for coastal views near Edinburgh. Kirkwall, on the Orkney archipelago, is another beautiful small town overlooking its namesake bay.
What towns are best for photographers?
Linlithgow
The most photographer-friendly small towns in Scotland include Linlithgow, thanks to its lake-reflecting palace; Fort Augustus, for its Loch Ness panoramas; and Pitlochry, a highland town with a particularly photogenic distillery, clad in creepers.
Lerwick
Enjoy the best of the islands and highlands’ small town heritage on Celebrity’s cruises to Scotland. Browse itineraries today to plan your perfect vacation.
