2-Bedroom Hot Tub Cottage in Abernyte

V&A Dundee is Scotland's design museum, set on Dundee's waterfront. It was the first building in the UK designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, whose idea was a "living room for the city", and its outer wing reaches out over the River Tay. It is also the only V&A museum outside London.

Tip: Parking is in the nearby Dundee City Council car parks, and the free Smartify app audio tours let you explore at your own pace.

Scone Palace is a Category A-listed historic house near the village of Scone and the city of Perth. Built in red sandstone with a castellated roof, it is a fine example of Gothic Revival style. For centuries the site held the Stone of Scone, on which early Scottish kings were crowned, and Robert the Bruce was crowned here in 1306.

Tip: To follow the Stone of Destiny story further, Perth Museum displays it; tickets for that are booked through the museum's own website.

RRS Discovery is the wooden three-masted ship built in Dundee in 1901 for Antarctic research. She carried Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton on the Discovery Expedition, and she was the last traditional wooden three-masted ship built in the United Kingdom.

Perth Museum sits in the former Perth City Hall, an Edwardian building that once hosted markets, concerts and political conferences. At its heart is the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, used to crown Scottish monarchs and still used in coronations of the UK's kings and queens. It has returned to Perthshire after more than 700 years.

Tip: The Stone of Destiny experience needs a timed ticket, which you book at the front desk, so sort this out early in your visit.

The McManus is Dundee's art gallery and museum, housed in a Category A listed Gothic Revival building designed by George Gilbert Scott. Eight galleries across two floors follow the story of the city, from a small settlement to the Dundee of today, taking in 400 million years of history along the way.

Tip: The nearest public car parks are Bell Street, Overgate and Wellgate, each a 5-10 minute walk away.

Glamis Castle stands beside the village of Glamis in Angus and is open to the public. It has been the home of the Lyon family since the 14th century, though the present building dates largely from the 17th century. It was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret was born here in 1930.

Tip: Leave time for the grounds as well as the castle: the daffodil avenue and the arboretum overlooking Glamis Burn are part of the estate.

Verdant Works is a former jute mill in Dundee, now a museum telling the story of the textile industry that once dominated the city. It is the only dedicated jute museum in the UK, and the Category A listed courtyard mill still keeps its original layout and many original features.

Tip: Allow at least 1.5 hours, and enter your car registration in the café area if you park on site, as parking is enforced by a private company. Booking ahead saves 10%.

Huntingtower Castle sits about 5 km north-west of the centre of Perth, beside the A85, and is in the care of Historic Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in 1565 while on honeymoon with Lord Darnley, and the castle has seen plenty of other dramatic episodes, including the Raid of Ruthven in 1582, when the young James VI was seized here.

Tip: Tickets can be booked online for a set date and time, so book ahead before you go.