Loch Fyne is, "a combination of the incredible scenery, the seafood and the beer plus the lovely people in the community - it' s a really special place." A destination ideally positioned to bring together elements of country living with the attractions of an historic small city. Perth is a focal point for food and drink producers in the surrounding area, with a purpose-built business park dedicated to the industry. This Neolithic village – which, at 5000 years, is older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids of Giza – lay buried in coastal sand dunes for centuries. Even today, it can feel as though the inhabitants have just slipped out to go fishing and could return at any moment. 10. Walk through the dramatic scenery of Glen Coe Best place for clan history Visit Craigievar Castle - this beautifully pre­served pink castle is reputed to have inspired Walt Disney. For opulence and contemporary art, stay at The Fife Arms, recently refurbished and redesigned by international art dealers lwan and Manuela Wirth.

Scout new ways to explore the planet's wildest places with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. When exploring the town, look out for independent local shops like Concorde Music, the family run record shop that was established in 1967, or the vintage shops of George Street. You can stop for a coffee at Provender Brown deli. The Fergusson Gallery in the old Watertower, which displays the works of John Duncan Fergusson, the Scottish colourist, and his wife Margaret Morris (it reopens late spring 2022). Queen Victoria fell in love with this area, and perhaps you will too? Situated on the eastern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, between the pretty towns of Banchory and Braemar and following the River Dee, it's a beautiful part of the country well worth exploring. Hillwalking is a big draw with easy access to the Cairngorms, but there's plenty at a lower level too - explore Linn O'Dee in the Mar Lodge Estate (near Braemar) for well-marked trails or wander among the Scots Pine trees and spot red squirrels at Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve near Aboyne. Travel:Travelling by car is the best way to see Aberfeldy in all its glory and is served by an extensive number of road networks across Scotland’s cities. You can use a combination of both train and bus by getting the train to Perth or Pitlochry. Travel:Linlithgow is well served by rail routes connecting with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk, Stirling and Cumbernauld.St Kilda is a small group of islands some 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides off the northwest coast of Scotland (Photo: Jim Richardson) Fyne Ales has a strong environmental ethos. As Smith explains: "The envi­ronment, the land, the estate, is really important to us. Whatever activities we do, we always try to keep it neutral, either not taking from the land and if we can, trying to enhance it. All our brewing water is rainwater that collects on the hills." Spent grain is fed to the estate's herds of red deer and highland cattle. Local shareholders, hundreds of Crowdfunder supporters and a signific ant pay-out from the Scottish Land Fund are all helping make this a reality. The community aims to take ownership in 2022, so this year may be the perfect time to visit for a congratulatory pint.

The Glencoe Mountain Ski Resort has excellent snow runs that often remain open into April each year. Things to do:Visit Balmoral Castle, the Scottish residence of the British Royal family. From April until August, the grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the public. A trip to Scotland wouldn’t be complete without some whisky tasting. Enjoy a distillery tour at Royal Lochnagar Distillerywhere you’ll learn the history behind one of Scotland’s most exclusive whiskies. They say west is best and Linlithgow steps up to the mark. Once known as West Lothian’s county town, this historical gem lies between Edinburgh and Falkirk. With a coastal outlook and train connections to Edinburgh, you can enjoy this seaside town and hop on the train to the capital too. This area of the country deserves a pilgrimage in 2022. The landscape is nothing short of remarkable. The mountains of Glen Coe are built from some of the oldest volcanic strata in the world, dramatically moulded by fire and ice 380 million years ago.

The best way to really get inside Scotland's landscapes is to walk them. Here, peaks tower over lochs and sea cliffs gaze over the wind-whipped sea, but there are short woodland trails and charming strolls through valleys dusted with purple heather too. Top of the wish list for many hikers is the 96-mile West Highland Way from Milngavie (near Glasgow) to Fort William, a weeklong walk through some of the country's finest scenery, finishing in the shadow of its highest peak, Ben Nevis. The imposing Gothic Revival spire of Lansdowne Parish Church, designed by John Honeyman, presides over the skyline. It’s 218ft tall and one of the slimmest in Europe. The building is now home to Websters Theatre with a bar and two outside seating areas. A 4.5-mile round-trip walk takes you past craggy sea cliffs where skuas dive-bomb, puffins comically skitter about, and gannets, fulmars and guillemots squabble noisily for nesting space. When you’ve had your fill of birdlife, drop by Bobby’s Bus Shelter, converted by locals into a cozy bower, with chairs, novels, chintzy decor and its own visitors’ book. Find a greener way of living on Eigg From museums and art galleries to urban beaches and open-top tour buses, the city offers lots of inspiration for your next trip. Did you know it’s also a UNESCO City of Design ?

In a country famous for stunning scenery, the Isle of Skye takes the top prize. From the craggy peaks of the Cuillins and the bizarre pinnacles of the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing to the spectacular sea cliffs of Neist Point, there's a photo opportunity awaiting you at almost every turn. Things to do:Head to Floors Castleand marvel at its incredible interior and exterior design work. Just a short walk away, you’ll find the Victorian Walled Gardens and plenty of waymarked woodland and riverside walks to enjoy. Meet some new four-legged friends at Beirhope Alpacas. Choose between a leisurely stroll or if your legs are feeling up to the challenge, take on the Alpaca Trek where you’ll climb the hills of Beirhope and be treated to the stunning views of The Cheviots and Eildon Hills. Remember to bring your camera and smile with your new trekking buddy too! Berriedale Wood can be found in amongst the towering hills of Hoy, a unique and special place to visit at all times of the year. Head into this hidden gully to find various species including downy birch, rowan, aspen and willow, and all kinds of wildlife too. The dramatic summits of Ward Hill and the Cuilags stand in stark contrast to the rest of Orkney, and can be seen from almost anywhere on the Orcadian mainland. It’s not only the big islands that are covered. Wee isles like Easdale (which once supplied the world its slate) appears to maintain a precarious truce with the sea, judging from the epic drone picture by Iain Masterton. The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse has views of Isle of Man and Cumbria, with porpoises and dolphins to spot close to the nearby beaches. It sits within an RSPB nature reserve. Three former lighthouse keepers’ cottages on the peninsula are now self-catering holiday accommodation. Enjoy lunch with a view at Gallie Craig, a beautifully constructed modern coffee house with a turf roof to blend into its surroundings that was featured on the television program Grand Designs.Trusted for over 20 years, this fully comprehensive and independent guide to Scotland gives you only the very best recommendations, whatever your budget. Dark and moody, Jura broods off the west coast of Scotland, reached by a summertime ferry from Tayvallich on the mainland, or year-round boats from nearby Islay. Amongst left-leaning folks and literature buffs, the island is best known as the spot where George Orwell came in 1948 to write the manuscript of 1984.

In the summer, The Dundee Summer (Bash) Street Festival takes over the city as part of the Year of Stories. Dundee will be renamed BEANOTOWN and host a comic museum, film screenings, street performances and world-record attempts.

GLEN COE 

In recent years food and drink producers have added a new industry to the local community. Isle of Arran Brewery makes craft beer with Arran Blonde sold in some of Scotland’s top gastropubs. Arran Whisky has two distilleries on the island, making limited edition whiskies, single malts, and blends. Arran Blue cheese is made using cow’s milk from the island’s dairy herd and has won international awards. Isle of Arran Ice Cream offers flavours including Scottish tablet, toffee fudge and cranachan.