Scotland has been named one of the top countries in the world to visit in 2014 by travel guide Lonely Planet.
It was voted third best country to head to, behind Brazil which took the top spot and Antarctica which came second.
Lonely Planet said Scotland’s “jam-packed schedule of world-class events” made it “the place to be” in 2014.
The Commonwealth Games take place in Glasgow next summer. The Ryder Cup will be held at Gleneagles and next year is also Scotland’s Year of Homecoming.
The book also cited Highland Games and the Edinburgh festivals as events that will draw travellers to Scotland next year, and it said the country’s cities were well worth a visit.
The guide described Edinburgh as “the most gothic city outside Transylvania” and encouraged travellers to “take the high road to Loch Lomond, Loch Ness and Cairngorms National Park and fall in love with the landscape that inspired poet Robert Burns”.
TOP 10 COUNTRIES
- Brazil
- Antarctica
- Scotland
- Sweden
- Malawi
- Mexico
- Seychelles
- Belgium
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
