Stirling in top five of awesome sights lists
Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument have been named as some of the most awe-inspiring city sights in Scotland.
The iconic landmarks came in the top five of a poll VisitScotland created to find out what Scots feel in awe of when visiting the country’s seven cities.
The National Wallace Monument, Edinburgh Castle, the SSE Hydro in Glasgow lit up at night, Stirling Castle and the view from Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh all made the top five.
The Scottish public were asked to vote for what they considered to be the most awesome sight in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, Inverness, Dundee, Stirling, and Aberdeen with Edinburgh Castle bagging the top spot with over a quarter (26 per cent) of votes.
This was followed by the view from Arthur’s Seat in the capital (18 per cent) and the National Wallace Monument in Stirling (16 per cent).
Voters picked seeing the SSE Hydro aglow as the fourth most awe-inspiring sight (10 per cent). And rounding out the top five was Stirling Castle (eight percent).
The poll was commissioned after a recent research paper by the national tourism organisation highlighted upcoming tourism trends in the wake of COVID-19. One of these was the opportunities for ‘awe trend’ which sees visitors inspired to travel to places or take part in activities that invoke awe.
According to a study published in the journal Emotion, awe is a positive emotion triggered by an awareness of something much larger than the self. This can be in the form of nature, art or a collective act from concerts and festivals and can enhance feelings of generosity, wellbeing and humility.
The results of the survey varied in different locations. Voters in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, South West Ayrshire, the Highlands and
Islands and Aberdeen selected Edinburgh Castle in top place whereas the view from Arthur’s Seat was top for those living in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders.
And the National Wallace Monument was number one for those in the Perth, Dundee, and Fife areas.
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “Our cities are brimming with awesome sights, making it difficult to choose between them but the public has spoken.
“Each of these attractions offer something for everyone as restrictions ease and are all worth a visit – especially when research shows that gazing upon aweinspiring places helps to improve wellbeing.
“This poll shows just some of the many special spots we can enjoy in our cities across Scotland, as
well as the well-known rural sights.
“As we recover from the impacts of the pandemic, there will be a focus on protecting mental health and going on holiday or attending an event will prove popular ways to do that.
“We know that rural experiences and destinations are proving popular with visitors. With this in mind, it is our urban areas that may face challenges and we would encourage visitors to explore our urban destinations. With many incredible historical sights, new innovations, wide-open green spaces and country parks found in and around our cities, visitors don’t have to head exclusively to the countryside for that aweinspiring experience.
“Tourism is a force for good – creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing the well-being of everyone who experiences it. We all deserve a holiday, and Scotland, and all it offers, will be the perfect antidote after a challenging year.”
Stephen Duncan, Director of Commercial and Tourism at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said: “We are absolutely delighted that not one but two of our properties in care have made the top of this prestigious list.
“Stirling Castle made the list as one of Scotland’s most inspiring sights with its stunning backdrop against the Ochils the scene for some of the most famous events in Scotland’s history.
“We are very proud of this accolade voted by the people that live in Scotland and would encourage everyone to explore why these iconic castles remain the most recognised landmarks in Scotland.”