Surrounded by the North Sea to its east and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, Scotland makes up the northern third of the British Isles. Packed with tradition, heritage and stunning scenery, it makes a great backpacking destination yet is often overlooked by travelers exploring the U.K.

Edinburgh

With a population of approximately 450,000 people, the Scottish capital combines tradition with modernity to create a truly unique atmosphere. In the city, medieval relics, Georgian grandeur and modern life come to life through art and culture.

Both the medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town were named UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995 and the architecture is fascinating, with even many Edinburgh hostels housed in grand and unusual buildings.

Inverness

In the heart of the beautiful Scottish Highlands lies Inverness, which was established as a settlement as early as the 6th century. Scottish Gaelic appears on the majority of road signs around Inverness and around 3,500 people still speak the language.

The famous Loch Ness is located around 37 kilometers (23 miles) from the city, and visitors here can easily make a day trip to seek out the Loch Ness monster!

This is just one of the country’s intriguing myths and hostels in Scotland will often have a collection of books and information on such things for travelers who find their interest piqued by the Loch.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is Scotland’s third-largest metropolis and has been nicknamed Granite City because of the locally quarried grey granite which was incorporated into much of its modern construction.

However, there is still a wealth of history to be observed here and the current site of Aberdeen has been settled for more than 8,000 years. During the wars of Scottish Independence, Aberdeen was under English rule but today the city bustles with national culture.

Aberdeen is renowned for its shopping in Scotland, with a mix of traditional streets like Union Street and George Street and contemporary shopping centers such as the Bon Accord-St Nicholas Center and The Mall Trinity.