Scotland has topped a list of “must-visit” travel experiences in the UK this summer -- after a surge in the popularity of historical and heritage tours.

TripAdviser’s Seasonal Experiences Trend Index, announced yesterday [THURS], put a visit to the Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Loch Ness at

the top of its list.

In second place is a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle, described as “one of Scotland’s most recognisable monuments”.

An excursion to the historic town of Windsor was third, followed by Buckingham Palace and sunset sightseeing on the River Thames.

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The list reveals the “must-visit attractions for summer, based on year-over-year booking activity on the site between 2017-2018.

Every experience on the list was given at least four out of five rating bubbles on TripAdviser.

The “Loch Ness, Highlands and Whisky Distillery Day Tour from Edinburgh”, topped the list after a 479% increase in year-on-year bookings.

In reviews, visitors described the experience as “amazing”, and hailed “some of the best scenery you will ever see”.

The “skip-the-line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour”, in which a guide “brings the fortress’ history to life with secrets and hidden details, has seen a 260% surge in bookings.

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Scotland also features in eighth place, with an underground tour of Mary King’s Close, just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, following a 200% increase in bookings.

Other UK Travel experiences on the list include a tour of Oxford, Stratford Upon Avon and the Cotswolds and the Churchill war Rooms at London’s Imperial War Museum; a bike tour of London’s Royal Parks; and a Game of Thrones-themed tour including a visit to the Giant’s Causeway from Belfast.

TripAdviser said: “Experiences seeing the greatest increase in traveller bookings over last year are two in Scotland -- a Loch Ness, Highlands and

Whisky Distillery Tour and a Skip the Line Ticket for Edinburgh Castle which have seen an increase of 479% and 260% respectively.”

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The bookable tours and activities provider also noted royal attractions had seen a huge surge in interest year-over-year, following “global excitement” around the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.