Drummohr Lodges - Fun Days Out

Britannia was the royal yacht of the British monarchy from 1954 to 1997, travelling more than a million nautical miles to ports in 135 countries. Now retired, she is permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, Edinburgh, and you tour her five decks at your own pace with an audio guide available in 36 languages, plus BSL/ASL and Braille options.

Highlights include the Bridge, the State Apartments and Queen Elizabeth II's favourite room aboard. Below decks you can see the Crew's Quarters and the gleaming Engine Room, and there is a Royal Sailing Exhibition too. Finish with a stop at the Royal Deck Tearoom. Most of the visit is sheltered, so it works in wet weather, and lifts serve the decks to make the tour highly accessible.

Tip: Book tickets online in advance to save money, and allow about 2 hours; the tour starts on the second floor of Ocean Terminal, which has a free multi-storey car park.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland, standing at the bottom of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, opposite Edinburgh Castle. It is closely tied to Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the tour takes in the State Apartments, the Great Gallery, the Throne Room and Mary's 16th-century rooms. A multimedia guide is available, including a version with British Sign Language and subtitles.

Beside the palace are the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, founded in 1128, and the palace gardens, which are still used for royal events. There is a café and a shop on site, and the café can be visited without a ticket. Children can follow drawing activities and trails. It suits history fans, families and anyone who wants a proper look at royal Scotland. The tour is mostly indoors, with some small rooms and access to outdoor areas.

Tip: Free coach parking is next to the palace via Abbeyhill, and accessible spaces are on Horse Wynd, first come, first served.

Edinburgh Castle stands on Castle Rock, the plug of an extinct volcano, and has been a royal castle since the 11th century. It has served as a royal residence, prison, arsenal and military fortress, and is now cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. Research has counted 26 sieges in its 1,100-year history.

Highlights include the Royal Palace, the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish regalia), the giant cannon Mons Meg and the Scottish National War Memorial. St Margaret's Chapel, from the early 12th century, is regarded as the oldest building in Edinburgh. You can also visit the National War Museum and the regimental museums, and there are cafés and shops on site. An audio guide is available in many languages, and official guided tours can be booked. The One o'Clock Gun is fired most days.

Tip: Book tickets online in advance, as they often sell out and none are sold at the castle once online tickets are gone. Allow at least 2 hours.

Rosslyn Chapel is a 15th-century chapel in the village of Roslin, Midlothian, founded by Sir William St Clair. It is still a place of worship and remains in the ownership of the family who founded it. The ornate stonework and its symbolism have drawn writers, artists and visitors for generations, and the chapel featured in Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code and its 2006 film.

You can explore the inside and outside of the chapel and look round the visitor centre. Head for the richly adorned pillars, each one unique, including the Apprentice Pillar. There is a gift shop and coffee shop on site, and free online exhibitions of photographs of Roslin and the chapel. It is a good choice for history fans and anyone curious about the chapel's carvings and its Da Vinci Code link, whatever the weather.

Tip: Check the official website before you go and book your visit in advance.

The National Museum of Scotland stands on Chambers Street in central Edinburgh. It is made up of two connected buildings: the modern Museum of Scotland, which opened in 1998, and the former Royal Museum, with its Victorian façade and a grand cast-iron central hall. Entry is free, though some special exhibitions are charged for.

Inside, the collections cover Scottish archaeology and history, natural history, geology, science and technology, art and fashion, and world cultures. Highlights include Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, the Ancient Egyptian displays, the Millennium Clock and the Scottish Maiden, an early beheading machine. The Scotland galleries run from Pictish stones to the Industrial Revolution. There are cafés, a space for eating your own food, lifts and ramps to the galleries, and assistance dogs are welcome.

Tip: Self-service lockers in the Entrance Hall can store luggage, and the Lunch Space there is available if you bring your own food.

The Scott Monument is a Victorian Gothic tower in Princes Street Gardens, built in honour of Sir Walter Scott. It is one of the largest monuments to a writer anywhere in the world. At its base sits a carved Carrara marble statue of Scott with his dog Maida, and the stonework carries dozens of figures from his novels.

Inside, a museum room tells the story of Scott's life and legacy, and of the monument built for him. Spiral staircases lead up to viewing platforms with panoramic views of central Edinburgh, including the Old Town. Guided tours explain who Scott was and why the monument was built. The Writers' Museum, a short walk away, has original artefacts that belonged to him.

Tip: The highest platform is reached by 287 steps up spiral staircases, so be ready for a climb.

St Giles' Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, sits on the Royal Mile in the heart of the Old Town. A church has stood here since the 12th century, and the present building dates mainly from the 14th to early 16th centuries. It is closely linked with John Knox, who was minister here after the Scottish Reformation, and it has hosted nationally important events and services ever since.

Inside, you can walk the cathedral floor and see the Thistle Chapel, designed by Robert Lorimer and added between 1909 and 1911. Guided tours explain the building's history and architecture, and there is also a 25-minute audio tour you can follow on your phone. It is still a working church with an active congregation, so it works as a place for quiet reflection as well as sightseeing. It is one of Scotland's most popular visitor sites.

Tip: Book your ticket in advance for fast-track access on arrival, and check the website for opening hours, as Sundays differ.

Craigmillar Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scotland, standing on a low hill about three miles south-east of Edinburgh city centre. The Preston family began building it in the late 14th century, and Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here in 1566. It's now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.

You can climb the tower house, one of Scotland's oldest, and see the great hall and a prison. From the top there are views over Edinburgh, taking in Holyrood Park and Edinburgh Castle. Wander the courtyard walls, chapel and doocot, and look for the remains of the fishpond in the grounds, laid out in the shape of a P for Preston. Outlander and Outlaw King were both filmed here, so fans can follow in the characters' footsteps.

Tip: Book your visit online in advance; entry is by date and time slot.