Day 1 - Edinburgh

Begin your ancestral trip through Scotland in the capital city, Edinburgh, which is home to the country’s biggest archive store, the ScotlandsPeople Centre. This is a great place to start your search for your ancestors or to delve further into their background with birth, death and marriage records and much more. You can also visit the National Library of Scotland, the world’s leading centre for the study of Scotland and the Scots.

While in Edinburgh, learn about the history of the country in popular attractions such as Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland, and St Giles Cathedral.

Day 2 - Perth- Inverness

Head north from Edinburgh until you reach Perth, which sits by the banks of the River Tay. Visit the turreted Balhousie Castle, where you can learn more about the world’s oldest and most elite military regiments at the Black Watch Museum. Leave Perthshire on the A9, heading north towards Inverness, and visit the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore en

route, a free mile-long ‘living’ history site, reflecting social and rural life in the Highlands. Travel north up the road to Inverness and spend a night in one of the city’s many hotels or guest houses.

Day 3 - Inverness - Isle of Skye

Start your day in Scotland’s most northern city, Inverness, with a visit to the fantastic Highland Archive Centre which has historical records that date back to the 14th century. Continue to the award-winning visitor centre at Culloden Battlefield, where you can discover whether your clan took part in the last battle to be fought on British soil. Before the day is over, head to Kyle of Lochalsh and cross the Skye Bridge to spend a night on the breathtaking Isle of Skye.

Day 4 - Isle of Skye - Fort William

On Skye, Scotland’s second largest island, take the road north west to reach Dunvegan Castle, the seat of Clan MacLeod for over 800 years. You will find another fascinating castle in the far south, sometimes known as the ‘garden of Skye’. Clan Donald Skye is a 20,000 acre Highland estate which is home to a

variety of nature trails and the partially restored Armadale Castle. Amongst the Armadale Castle Gardens is the Museum of the Isles, dedicated to the history of Clan Donald.

Day 5 - Glen Coe - Stirling

Take the ferry over to Mallaig, follow the Road to the Isles, and continue east to Fort William. Drive half an hour south to Glen Coe, one of the most scenic landscapes in the country. Explore the visitor centre to learn more about the infamous massacre which took place here. Head south east next, through Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, to Stirling. Just outside of the city, lies the battlefield of Bannockburn, the site of one of the greatest and most important battles to take place in Britain.

Day 6 - Stirling - Gretna Green

Still in Stirling, visit the National Wallace Monument and climb up the steps to learn the story of national hero Sir William Wallace. In the heart of the city, visit Stirling Castle, once the home of Mary Queen of Scots. In the afternoon,

take the M80 and A74 (M) south from Stirling to the southern border of Scotland, and Gretna Green. One of Scotland’s border villages, Gretna Green is known worldwide for the weddings that have taken place there. Visit the Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop to find out more.

Day 7 - Scottish Borders - Edinburgh

Travel north east to the Scottish Borders town of Hawick. Uncover your Scottish Borders ancestry by consulting the archives in the Heritage Hub in the Heart of Hawick, one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the UK. With archives that date back 750 years, you can trace your family tree and learn about the evolution of the Scottish Borders communities, industries and people. Travel back to Edinburgh where you can visit some more of the city’s top attractions including the National Galleries, Royal Yacht Britannia, and Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Extend your trip

If you’ve got time to explore more of your ancestry, visit the North Highlands after you arrive in Inverness on day two. Visit the

Struie Viewpoint, over the Dornoch Firth, Croick Church in Strathcarron, which offers a sad reminder of the Highlands’ turbulent past, and Dunrobin Castle at Golspie, associated with the Sutherland clearances in the area.

Before travelling to Fort William on day four, you can visit the Glenfinnan Monument, an iconic memorial to the Jacobites that sits at the head of Loch Shiel. In the visitor centre, you can view displays and an audio programme which tell of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s campaign from Glenfinnan to Derby and back to the final defeat at Culloden in 1746.

Your Detailed Itinerary

For information, inspiration and more itineraries online check out: www.visitscotland.com

The information contained in this publication is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best of VisitScotland’s knowledge is correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. April 2015.

VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our natural environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.

Cover: Dating back from 13th Century Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye is the seat of the Chiefs of Clan Macleod

© MacLeod Estate

Walk in the footsteps of your ancestors

Walk in the footsteps of your ancestors

Walk in the footsteps

of your ancestors

1

SCOTLANDSPEOPLE CENTRESearch millions of digital records at Scotland’s largest family history centre, based in the centre of Edinburgh.

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GLEN COEAn area which is home to world-famous scenery and is a paradise for walkers, climbers, skiers and snowboarders.

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BLACK WATCH MUSEUMThis recently reopened museum offers an insight into one of the British Army’s most famous fighting units.

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CULLODENThe impressive visitor centre and exciting interactive exhibition bring this bloody battle to life.

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HIGHLAND GAMES ACROSS SCOTLANDThese events take place in towns and villages across the country during the summer with heavy events, Highland dancing, music and much more.

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Loch Tay

LochAwe

Loch Earn

Loch LomondLoch Lomond

LochShiel

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E N G L A N D

N O R T H E R NI R E L A N D

SPEY VALLEY

StromnessKirkwall

John o’ GroatsGills Bay

Scrabster

ThursoMelvichBettyhill

Tongue

Durness

Scourie

Altnaharra

Lochinver

Wick

Dunbeath

Helmsdale

BroraGolspie

Dornoch

Tain

Lairg

Ullapool

Gairloch

Torridon

Stornoway

Arnol

Port of Ness

Callanish

Tarbert

Leverburgh

Otternish

Dingwall Nairn Elgin

CromartyBanff Fraserburgh

Peterhead

Turriff

Huntly

Grantown-on-Spey

Aviemore

Boat ofGarten

KingussieRalia

Muir of Ord

CullenMacduff

GardenstownForres

Dufftown

Craigellachie

AchnasheenStrathpeffer

Portree

Elgol

Uig

Dunvegan

SconserLochcarron

Kyle ofLochalsh

Broadford

Carbost

Armadale

Mallaig

Glenelg Shiel Bridge

Kylerhea

Lochmaddy

Lochboisdale

Isle of Eriskay

Castlebay

Drumnadrochit UrquhartCastle

Fort Augustus

Invergarry

Spean Bridge

Newtonmore

Braemar

Glenshee

BallaterCrathie

Aboyne

Edzell

Alford Inverurie

Ellon

Banchory

Stonehaven

Forfar

Kirriemuir

Glamis

Arbroath

Montrose

Crieff

Carnoustie

BrechinPitlochry

Blairgowrie

Aberfeldy

Killin

Dunkeld

Scone

KinlochRannoch

BlairAtholl

Bruar

Fort William

Oban

Corran

Strontian GlencoeBallachulish

LochalineFishnish

Craignure

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Fionnphort

Feolin Port Askaig

Bowmore

Port Ellen

Crinan

Lochgilphead

Tarbert

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Carradale

Dunoon

Rothesay Largs

Irvine

DumbartonBalloch

Drymen

Dunblane

Helensburgh

Wemyss Bay

Crianlarich

Tyndrum

Tarbet

Inveraray

Lochearnhead

Callander

AberfoyleArdgartan

GourockGreenock

ColintraiveRhubodach

PortavadieKennacraig

Claonaig

Lochranza

Brodick

Campbeltown

Ardrossan

Troon

Prestwick

Kilmarnock

Millport

Ayr

Maybole

Lanark

Peebles

Penicuik

Biggar

Abington

Newton Stewart

Girvan

Stranraer

Whithorn

WigtownPortpatrick

Port Logan

Cairnryan CastleDouglas

Gatehouseof Fleet

Kirkcudbright

DalbeattieNewAbbey

Langholm

Gretna

LockerbieDumfries

Thornhill

GretnaGreen

Carlisle

Moffat

Haddington

Galashiels

St Andrews

North BerwickDunbar

Cupar

GlenrothesKinross

Dunfermline

LinlithgowFalkirk

SelkirkJedburgh

Hawick

Poolewe

Tomintoul

Daviot

Spittal ofGlenshee

Arisaig

Kirkcaldy

Eyemouth

CrailAnstruther

SanquharWanlockhead

New Galloway

Melrose KelsoColdstream

Burwick

St Margaret’s Hope

Aultbea

Mellon Udrigle

Buckie

KeithFochabers

Lossiemouth

Carrbridge

Kincraig

Hamilton

Coatbridge

Motherwell

Paisley

Larne

Alva

Bo'nessRosyth

Auchterarder

Burntisland

RoslinNewtongrangeDalkeithOld Craighall

Leven

Mauchline

NorthKessock

Drimnin

Laga

Ballycastle

Beauly

GLASGOW

ABERDEEN

INVERNESS

DUNDEEPERTH

NEWCASTLEUPON TYNE

EDINBURGH

BELFAST

STIRLING

Cairngorms

National Park

Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park

Cairngorms

National Park

Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park

LEWIS

HARRIS

BARRA

Canna

Rum

Eigg

Muck

Coll

Tiree

Colonsay

Iona

GighaBute

Seil

Lismore

Ardnamurchan

Luing

RAASAY

NORTHUIST

SOUTHUIST

MULL

JURA

ISLAY

ARRAN

Mull OfGalloway

SKYE

SCALPAY

BERNERAY

ORKNEY

SANDAY

STRONSAYEday

ROUSAY

HOYSOUTH RONALDSAY

BENBECULA

Hawick Heritage Hub

Culloden Battlefield

Highland Gamesacross Scotland

Highland Archive Centre

ScotlandsPeople Centre

Battle of BannockburnVisitor Centre

Gretna GreenFamous

Blacksmith’sShop

Black Watch Museum

Glen Coe

Clan Donald Skye Visitor Centre

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© MFAtech Mapswww.digital-map.orginfo@digital-map.org+44 (0) 207 871 1332Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011

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22a-ANCESTRAL_SCOTLAND_MAP_FINAL.pdf 1 3/17/2015 11:37:26 AM

There are 50 million people across the world able to lay claim to ancestral ties to Scotland, but not everyone has uncovered their connection yet. Why not find out if you are in good company, joining millions of others with Scottish ancestry, at www.visitscotland.com/ancestry.

There has never been a better time to explore the country of your ancestors. Follow this handy seven day itinerary around Scotland and visit some of Scotland’s ancestral attractions.

6

MUSEUM OF THE ISLESFollow the history of the powerful Clan Donald back 1,500 years in six themed galleries.

9

GRETNA GREEN FAMOUS BLACKSMITHS SHOP The cottage and workshop have remained virtually untouched since they were last in use, and contain a fascinating collection of memorabilia and artefacts.

10

HAWICK HERITAGE HUBThe archive material illustrates how the region developed over the centuries and contains collections that illuminate the lives of famous locals.

8

BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN VISITOR CENTRE A brand new state-of-the-art Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre is due to open in March 2014, offering detailed knowledge of the battle and the armies with a state-of-the-art 3D battle simulation.

HIGHLAND ARCHIVE CENTREThis new £10.5 million state-of-the-art facility hosts a searchroom, archive conservation unit, a dedicated family history centre and repository facilities.

3