Things to See in Scotland

Owned by the National Trust for Scotland, uninhabited Staffa Island is one of Scotland's - and perhaps the world's - truly awesome natural phenomenons. Immense hexagonal basalt pillars loom out of the sea to form a series of cathedralesque caverns, the most notable of which is the stunning Fingal's Cave, which pushes up out of the sea like a grand pipe organ.

Close to Skara Brae stands the Ring of Brodgar, a wide circle of standing stones raised skyward some 4500 years ago. Tweny-two of the original 60 stones are still standing among the heather, and some of them are more than 5m (16ft) tall. These mysterious and curiously shaped giants fire the imagination - what were they for?

Glasgow Cathedral, a shining example of pre-Reformation Gothic architecture, is the only mainland Scottish cathedral to have survived the Reformation. Most of the current building dates from the 15th century, and only the western towers were destroyed in the turmoil. This has been hallowed ground for over 1500 years.

Built in 1570, Huntly House is home to the Museum of Edinburgh, which covers the city's history from prehistory to the present. Exhibits of national importance include an original copy of the National Covenant of 1638, but the big crowd-pleaser is the dog collar and feeding bowl that once belonged to Greyfriars Bobby, the city's most famous canine citizen.

Loch Ness is Britain's largest body of fresh water, holding more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. Its rugged hills climb steeply from the loch's dark, bitterly cold 330m-deep waters. However, most visitors here are interested in one thing: Nessie-spotting. See if you can see the famous long-necked beastie for yourself.