Scotland Off the Beaten Track

Glasgow | Clyde Waterfront | Museum | ★★★★

Glasgow has no shortage of excellent indoor attractions. But how many are big enough to hold your attention for an entire day? As long as you're interested in science, Glasgow Science Centre is large enough to spend several hours in - we were there from open til close. This huge, titanium and glass-clad cavern is at the heart of Glasgow's Digital Media Quarter on the up-and-coming Clyde Waterfront; the attraction is multi-faceted, including three interactive floors of themed zones, large planetarium, IMAX cinema and 417-foot Glasgow Tower. You definitely don't have to be a child to have fun here, though with some of the zones it helps a little if you're young at heart! We imagine it must get quite busy in the holidays, but we pretty much had the place to ourselves on a June weekday after a couple of early school groups had left. As for the tower: it's the world's only structure capable of rotating into the prevailing wi…

East Lothian | Innerwick | Short walk | ★★★

Thornton Glen is the steep-sided gorge through which the Thornton Burn flows, a couple of miles before meeting the sea at Thorntonloch Beach. The valley is a designated nature reserve due to its rich flora and fauna, with broadleaved woodland, dense carpets of wild garlic and plentiful bird life. But the most exciting part of this short circuit is actually of human construction. Innerwick Castle lies towards the south end of the reserve, built in the 15th or 16th century on a sandstone bluff overlooking the ravine. Signs warn visitors to keep out, but if you do venture (carefully) beyond the warnings you'll discover a fascinatingly complex ruin where nature and brickwork have long since intertwined, creating a magical maze of hidden corners, passageways and viewpoints. While the steep terrain creates some unprotected sheer drops, it also enables the visitor to view the castle from all angles: in front, behind, above, below, and within.


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East Lothian | Cockburnspath | Church | ★★

Dunglass Collegiate Church was established by the Home family in the 1440s, employing priests to pray for the family and ensure their safe passage to heaven. Unlike many similar old buildings, Dunglass has kept its roof, helping to save a number of ornate carvings inside which survived the Reformation. The church stopped being used for religious purposes in the 18th century when it was crudely converted into a barn - this done by unceremoniously bashing a hole in the east end to act as a larger doorway! In a recent upturn in fortunes though, the current estate owners now appear to be using the chapel as an occasional wedding venue, with pews ready for use in a large marquee next door.


Location & info

📌 Dunglass Collegiate Church★★
Off minor road 1 mi north of Cockburnspath, G.R.: NT 767719 ///slowly.pythons.melons
Open daily | Free

Scottish Borders | Cove | Harbour | ★★★

Cars, crowds, modern technology... these are all things you're unlikely to find at Cove Harbour, one of the most charming, secret spots on Scotland's southeast coast. Cove has been a haven for fisherman since the 17th century, first as a natural harbour and then with stone-built improvements, and is still in use today by a couple of small vessels. There's not much to do here and that's half the charm of the place; instead, it's the perfect location from which to just sit and admire the coastal scenery, listen to the waves lap at the breakwaters, or watch the boats bob on the tide. Access to the south side of the harbour (with a sandy beach at low water) is through a long tunnel through the headland. Side chambers in the depths of the passage used to store the day's fresh catch as well as smuggled contraband, though they're now blocked off.


Location & info

📌 Cove Harbour ★★★
Off minor road a 10-min walk east of Cove…