The most beautiful military monuments Scotland

King George II started the construction of this gigantic fort to quell any future uprising. The buildings of its garrisons, its artillery and its weapons plunge into an extraordinary martial atmosphere, on this splendid citadel inspired by Vauban. Still occupied by the army to this day, the 1km long rampart surrounding the fortifications, the historic barracks, one of the only two dog military cemeteries in the country, and the Highlanders Museum, one of the oldest regiments in Scotland, are all worth a visit.

Built in 1665 to defend the bay of Bressay, the fort was rebuilt in 1781 and then modified during the Victorian era. Unfortunately, only the ramparts remain today. In good weather, take a walk along the small cliffs of the Knab, at the southern tip of the town, or to the loch of Clickimin, just west of the town. On a small island in this small lake, connected to the shore by a dyke, is a perfectly preserved circular brooch dating back to the Iron Age. The lake is frequented in particular by tufted ducks.

Situated on the coast south of Stromness, this battery is a precious witness to Orkney's military history. It was in service during both World Wars and was part of the Scapa Flow defences, as the main base of the Royal Navy fleet. The command post, mess, gun room, murals, and the lives of the soldiers are all told during 75-minute tours, which take place several times a week at varying times of the year, depending on the season.

Hidden beneath a perfectly innocuous Scottish farmhouse, this military bunker has been hiding in the bowels of the Kingdom of Fife for over 40 years. It was dug out during the Cold War to be one of the command posts of the United Kingdom and the refuge of the Scottish authorities in the event of a nuclear attack. It never served and fortunately became useless enough to become an attraction. It plunges underground into 2,230 square metres of tunnels, war room and accommodation, on two levels the size of two football pitches on top of each other.

In what is one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in the city, the Tolbooth Museum, a well-preserved seventeenth-century prison, presents exhibits on local history. It tells the story of Aberdeen through crime, police, law, order and punishment of the time. The prison world is portrayed over the centuries and the old gloomy cells, through which many convicts passed, including 50 Jacobites after the Battle of Culloden, are explored.