People often fall in love with Scotland, be that in person or through seeing it on TV shows like Outlander.
And it's no wonder, the whole country is filled with magical spots and romantic locations with breath-taking scenery to be found around every corner.
And a rich history of fairies, monsters, witches and ghouls, as well as a deep love for storytelling, makes for a heady mix of magic that seems to give Scotland an otherwordly quality.
With that in mind, we take a look across every mountain glen and loch and in every nook and cranny to bring you the nation's most enchanting spots, which prove Scotland is definitely where the magic happens.
Iona
A site of much spiritual significance, Iona, found in the Inner Hebrides, was where St Columba settled in the sixth century and converted much of the British Isles to Christianity.
It is a place of pilgrimage, not just for Christians, but Druids, Pagans and New Agers too.
Tales of human sacrifice, fairy apparitions and ghostly re-enactments of Viking rampages have done nothing to dampen the mystery of the place that has been considered a sacred spot throughout the annals of history.
The Fairy Pools
Skye, a romantic island with whipped mountain peaks and scenic landscape can well be imagined to be populated by otherworldly creatures, and the Fairy Pools, a series of interconnected waterfalls with crystal clear water, are regarded as a place of spiritual healing.
Skye’s fairy lore is abundant and it is thought these pools are where the island's fae population would bathe and looking at their beautiful clear waters we can certainly believe it.
Rosslyn Chapel
Conspiracy theories abound in connection to the venerated 15th century chapel just outside of Edinburgh. Rosslyn Chapel has divided historians and has been fodder for novelists and filmmakers who imagined it to be imbued with mystical energies.
Symbols and signs tattoo its interior and mystery is housed between every slab and stone, including carvings that are said to relate to the masons, pagans, early Christianity and the Knights Templar.
There are tales of hauntings in and around the chapel and the eerie Apprentice Pillar, believed to have been carved by a lowly apprentice stonemason who was then murdered by his master in a fit of jealousy, might just give you the shivers.
Finnich Glen
Within the moss-lined walls of Finnich Glen can be found the ominously named Devil’s Pulpit.
A dramatic natural gorge with vertical drops and slippery entrance steps, its spooky history of druidic rituals and sheltering covenanters appears to be well deserved.
It is an isolated spot of natural beauty that conjures up images of Scotland’s bloody history and probably should be avoided as the night draws in.
The pulpit itself was said to have been used for pagan rituals in the past and was even used in Outlander for a similar scene.
Glencoe
The mountainous Glencoe has a heavy history of murder and betrayal yet it is one of Scotland’s most scenic and traversed landscapes. The organised massacre of the Clan MacDonald by the Campbells for failing to swear fealty to the newly anointed King in 1691 was a tragedy whose energy still lies heavy over the glen.
Unsurprisingly, the spirits of the slain are said to roam, causing some walkers, campers and climbers to catch glimpses of ghostly clansmen hiding from their fate and even hear the call of phantom pipes echoing through the valley.
Callanish Stones
The Callanish Stones form an imposing stone circle on the Isle of Lewis that have earned the nickname ‘the Stonehenge of Scotland’, believed to have been placed by giants who refused to be converted to Christianity.
Legend has it that a mysterious figure known as ‘The Shining One’ strides down the avenue of the monument at dawn break every Midsummer’s Day.
The stones are said to have specific astrological alignments and may have been used as markers for ancient moon rituals.
Arthur’s Seat
The dormant volcano that rests at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh is said by some to have been the original site of Camelot, the romanticised kingdom of noble Arthur and his legendary Knights.
Another legend has it that the hill is in fact a dragon who ate so much during his tenure that he was slowed by his weight and lay down for so long that he eventually turned into the local landmark.
Corryvreckan whirlpool
Just off the Isle of Jura, the bubbling cauldron of Corryvreckan Whirlpool, one of the largest natural whirlpools in the world, is said to be heard from ten miles away. Legend has it that the pool was stirred by the Queen of Winter, Beira, who lived high in the peak of Schiehallion to maintain winter during the closing and opening months of the year.
Another myth holds that a Scandinavian prince was tested by the father of a beautiful noble girl to anchor his boat there for three nights to win her hand in marriage.
He was not triumphant, although the blame was laid on the young woman’s lack of virtue, and plunged to his death in the watery depths.
The Fairy Bridge
One of Scotland's best-kept secrets, the mystical Fairy Bridge of Glen Creran, has been spell-binding Scots for generations.
The magical stone footbridge, which can be found at the end of a short hike close to the hills at the head of Loch Creran, has an ethereal quality to it, and many who have crossed it say they have become a different person.
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