Editing Tourism in Scotland (section)

==Tourist destinations==
* [[Edinburgh]] is the capital city. The [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old]] and [[New Town, Edinburgh|New Towns]] of the city constitute a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]. Edinburgh is the largest tourist destination in Scotland, and the second largest in the United Kingdom after [[London]].  The cities' major tourist attractions include [[Edinburgh Castle]], [[Edinburgh Zoo]], the [[Palace of Holyroodhouse]], [[Our Dynamic Earth]] and the [[Royal Mile]]. It has four universities including the [[University of Edinburgh]] founded in 1583.
* [[Glasgow]] is the largest city in the country, and the second largest tourist destination after [[Edinburgh]]. Its attractions include the [[Burrell Collection]], [[Glasgow Cathedral]], the [[Glasgow Science Centre]] and the [[Kelvingrove Museum]]. In addition tourists come to Glasgow for its renowned [[Victorian architecture]] and [[Gothic architecture]] as well as its shopping. The city has three universities, including the University of Glasgow founded in 1451, and is a UNESCO City of Music which hosts the world renowned Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
* [[Stirling]] is a historic city in central Scotland, 30 miles to the north-west of Edinburgh, and is generally known as the "Gateway to the Highlands", due to its geographical position between [[Scottish Highlands|highland]] and [[Scottish Lowlands|lowland]] Scotland. Amongst its attractions are [[Stirling Castle]], the [[Wallace Monument|Wallace National Monument]] and the [[Thistles Centre|Thieves Pot/Thistles Centre]].
* [[Aberdeen]] is known as the "[[Granite]] City" and is renowned for its gothic architecture. It is a city of approximately 210,000 people and serves as the main administrative centre for the north-east of Scotland. With its large port and harbour, Aberdeen serves as the departure point for the ferries that connect the Scottish mainland with the Northern Isles of [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]]. Aberdeen has two universities, and a large student population.
* [[St Andrews]] is a small, but busy town in north-east [[Fife]]. The [[royal burgh]]'s economy is centred on the [[golf]] industry, with [[St Andrews]] being regarded as the home of the modern game. The [[University of St Andrews]] (the oldest in Scotland) has colleges located throughout the town and a small [[Museum of the University of St Andrews|museum]] on the history of the University which is open to the public free of charge.
* [[Dundee]] is known as the "City of Discovery" and is the home of [[V&A Dundee]], Scotland's first and only design museum. Dundee is home to Scott of the [[Antarctic]]'s ship the [[RRS Discovery|RRS ''Discovery'']]. Dundee has two universities. It has a Jute museum called [[Verdant Works]], an Anchor Point of ERIH – The [[European Route of Industrial Heritage]].
* [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] is a small but historic city on the east coast, which stands on the [[River Tay]]. Perth is known for its abundant parkland. Close by is the village of [[Scone, Perth and Kinross|Scone]], ancient capital of Scotland and former home to [[Scottish kings]].
* [[Inverness]] is the administrative centre for the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]], close to [[Loch Ness]] and serves as a transport hub for much of the Highlands, with rail and bus services departing here to much of the northern and west Highlands. It is a popular destination for tourists wishing to explore the north of Scotland.
* [[Ayrshire]] offers wonderful scenery, outdoor activities, enthralling history with links to William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Scotland's best known poet, Robert Burns. Ayrshire offers some of the finest golf courses in the world (32 in total). North Ayrshire hosts [http://www.kelburnestate.com Kelburn Castle] which is famous for its Graffiti Project.

Other areas which are popular for tourists include the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]] and the [[Hebrides]], such as the [[Isle of Skye]]. [[Perthshire]], the [[Scottish Borders]] and [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]] are popular tourism destinations.

[[Ben Nevis]] is the highest mountain in the United Kingdom, but there are many other significant mountains in Scotland, albeit relatively small by international standards. The [[Cuillin Hills|Cuillin]] on the Isle of Skye offer challenging climbs such as the [[Inaccessible Pinnacle]].

Scotland has amusement parks such as [[M&D's]] in the town of [[Motherwell]], [[North Lanarkshire]].

Scotland has many [[loch]]s, including [[Loch Lomond]], and [[Loch Ness]], home of the mythical [[Loch Ness monster]]. Rivers such as the [[River Spey|Spey]], [[River Tay|Tay]], [[River Tweed|Tweed]], and [[River Dee, Aberdeenshire|Aberdeenshire Dee]] are famous for [[salmon]] and [[fly fishing]]. Scotland is a popular destination for [[hunting]], especially [[deer]] and [[grouse]].

Scotland's best known export is [[Scotch Whisky]] and numerous visitors a year enjoy a tour around its Whisky distilleries. The Highlands is by far the largest region in Scotland both in area and in whisky production. This massive area has over 30 distilleries on the mainland. When the Islands sub-region is included, the total number of distilleries is 47. 
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/food-drink/whisky/distilleries/highland/ |title=TWHISKY DISTILLERIES IN THE HIGHLANDS |date=11 July 2017 |publisher=Visit Scotland |access-date=12 January 2020 }}</ref> The nearby Speyside area has the largest number of distilleries including [[Aberlour distillery|Aberlour]], [[Balvenie]], [[Cardhu]], [[Cragganmore]], [[Dalwhinnie distillery|Dalwhinnie]],{{sfn|Scotch Whisky Association|2009}} [[Glenfarclas]], [[Glenglassaugh distillery|Glenglassaugh]], [[Glenfiddich]], [[Speyburn]], [[The Macallan]], [[The Glenlivet]], and [[The Glenrothes]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/food-drink/whisky/distilleries/speyside/|title=Speyside Distilleries – Whisky Tours, Tastings & Map|website=VisitScotland}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://visitcairngorms.com/brewery-distillery |title=Breweries/Distilleries |date=11 July 2017 |publisher=Visit Cairngorns |access-date=8 December 2019 }}</ref> Distilleries are the third most visited attractions in Scotland; roughly 2 million visits were recorded in 2018. 68 distilleries operate visitors' centres in Scotland and another eight accept visits by appointment. The tourism has had an especially visible impact on the economy in some remote rural areas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insidethecask.com/2019/06/21/9348/|title=Record numbers of visitors for Scotch Whisky Distilleries|date=21 June 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/latest-news/26192/scotch-whisky-tourism-at-all-time-high/ Scotch Whisky Tourism at All-Time High]</ref>

Scotland is the [[home of golf]], with historic and famous courses including [[St Andrews]], [[Gleneagles, Scotland|Gleneagles]], [[Royal Troon]], [[Carnoustie]], and [[Muirfield (Scotland)|Muirfield]]. There are hundreds of other courses in the country.