Scotland's top 10 most picturesque winter destinations ranked in new list

The 10 most picturesque winter travel destinations in Scotland have been revealed in a new study.

With December just about here, many people will be looking ahead to winter and deciding how to spend their Christmas. There are plenty of places across Scotland where you can soak up the festive atmosphere, whether you're headed on a scenic winter walk or to find a bustling Christmas market.

To help people choose where to head for a cosy break, radiator specialists Stelrad have compiled a list of the top 10 most picturesque Scottish destinations to visit this winter. To do this, it created a list of 50 picturesque wintry villages and towns in the UK, and made a defined ranking based on the total number of Instagram posts about them using hashtag data.

It found that Newburgh is the best place in Scotland to head this winter if you're looking for picturesque scenery. According to the data, there are over 260,000 posts on Instagram relating to the royal burgh and parish in Fife.

Located at the south shore of the Firth of Tay, Newburgh has a population of around 2,000. Lindores Abbey, situated in the town, is said to be the birthplace of Scotch Whisky, the overgrown ruins of which remain standing.

There is plenty else to see and do in the burgh, from MacDuff's Cross—the remains of an ancient white sandstone monument—to the stunning waterfront that offers one-of-a-kind views of the River Tay. A particular highlight if you're headed to Newburgh over the festive season is its charming Christmas lights, which are designed by local children.

Following in second place on the list is Portree, the capital of the Isle of Skye, which was found to have nearly 140,000 hashtags on Instagram. Anyone who has visited the charming harbour town will know that it is bursting with stunning scenery.

Perhaps Portree's most photogenic spot is the colourful row of houses that sits on its coastline (Thanan / Getty Images)

Among the most recognisable sights in Portree is its row of colourful houses on the shoreline. It even has its own dedicated viewpoint, so you'll be sure to snap a gorgeous photo.

In third place, with just under 56,000 hashtags on Instagram, is the village of Ullapool in Ross and Cromarty. A popular tourist destination, the local landscape is dominated by rugged mountains that are particularly breathtaking in the winter when they are topped with snow.

Rounding out the top five are the town of Callander in Stirling, and Forres in Moray, which according to the research were found to have 43,252 and 33,199 corresponding hashtags respectively. Read on for a full summary of the top 10.

Scotland's top 10 most picturesque winter destinations

1. Newburgh, Fife - 261,248 Instagram hashtags
2. Portree, Isle of Skye - 137,987 Instagram hashtags
   
3. Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty - 55,955 Instagram hashtags
   
4. Callander, Stirling - 43,252 Instagram hashtags
   
5. Forres, Moray - 33,199 Instagram hashtags
   
6. Stromness, Orkney - 20,473 Instagram hashtags
   
7. Castlebay, Isle of Barra - 4,858 Instagram hashtags
   
8. Portnahaven, Islay - 2,175 Instagram hashtags
   
9. Montrose, Angus - 1,735 Instagram hashtags
   
10. Ceres, Fife - 111 Instagram hashtags
    

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