10 best high streets
Scotland is renowned for its historic towns and villages, many of which boast some of the country’s best high streets writes Jamie Mckenzie
In West Lothian there is LINLITHGOW, a favourite of the Stewart kings of the 15th and 16th centuries.
The high street has a blend of old and new buildings packed with independent shops and cafes and the nearby Linlithgow Palace and loch are a must visit.
KIRKWALL in Orkney was last year named Scotland’s most beautiful high street after topping a public poll.
The town was recognised for its historic centre and the efforts of local volunteers and public bodies to make it a great place to live, work and socialise.
Among the prettiest Borders towns is MELROSE, built around the ancient marketplace and cross and surrounded by important sites such as Melrose Abbey, the burial site of many Kings of Scotland.
From the high street you can also see the Eildon Hills to the south and the Greenyards rugby pitches, which stage the world’s oldest annual rugby sevens tournament.
MILNGAVIE, a leafy Glasgow suburb that marks the start of the West Highland Way, not only has a visually beautiful high street, but offers a ‘gift card’ scheme with more than 50 businesses in the town participating.
AYR has been applauded for turning its high street around, having been hit by shop closures and a lack of investment.
Community groups have pushed to bring in environmentally friendly waste collections, tidy up the street with regular litter picks and the council helped revamp a Georgian building called the ‘grain exchange’, which holds events like art expos, craft selling and offers bespoke market spaces.
Market Street in ST ANDREWS is known for its mix of shops and bars which cater for locals, tourists and students. It connects to North and South Street on either side by more streets and lanes boasting an array of independent businesses and eateries.
In the North-east, BALLATER is a quaint village separated by green spaces and Bridge Street offers a variety of pubs, restaurants and cafes along with a deli, butcher,
outdoor store and a bookshop. The village is popular with tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the royals, given its close proximity to Balmoral.
On the eastern outskirts of Dundee, BROUGHTY FERRY is a bustling town overlooking the Tay estuary. One of its main runs, Brook Street, boasts high street names like Costa, Greggs and Boots as well as an array of independent shops – and you will find a high concentration of bars and restaurants, such as Forgans, dotted around nearby.
CRIEFF in Perthshire is another scenic part of the country and offers a range of local shops like The Crieff Food Company or whisky shop
J L Gill. If you’re heading north up the A9, stop off at picturesque PITLOCHRY for a browse of the shops in Atholl Road.