3 Best Sights in Scotland

Opened in 1890, when it was hailed as the eighth wonder of the world, this iconic red cantilevered rail bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The extraordinary, 1½-mile-long crossing expands by another yard or so on a hot summer's day. The famous 19th-century bridge has since been joined by two neighbors; the 20th-century Forth Road Bridge (opened 1964) and the 21st-century Queensferry Crossing (opened 2017).

Here's a curiosity—a bridge that most of its users don't ever realize is a bridge. With buildings closely packed on both sides, George IV Bridge can feel to many like a regular Edinburgh street, but for those forewarned, the truth is plain to see. At one corner of the bridge stands one of the most photographed sculptures in Scotland, Greyfriars Bobby. This statue pays tribute to the legendarily loyal Skye terrier who kept vigil beside his master's grave for 14 years after he died in 1858. The 1961 Walt Disney film Greyfriars Bobby tells a version of the heartrending tale.

The 1,248-foot-long Glenfinnan Viaduct was a genuine wonder when it was built in 1897, and it remains so today. The railway's contractor, Robert MacAlpine (known among locals as "Concrete Bob"), pioneered the use of concrete for bridges when his company built the Mallaig extension, which opened in 1901. In more recent times the viaduct has become famous for its appearance as the route of the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films. The viaduct can be seen on foot; about ½ mile west of the railway station in Glenfinnan, on the A380 road, is an increasingly large parking lot. Take the footpath from here; you'll reach the viaduct in about ½ mile. If you time it right, usually at around 11 am, 1:30 pm, 3:15 pm, and 6 pm (confirm times at  westcoastrailways.co.uk), you'll see the iconic Jacobite Steam Train crossing the bridge.