In a high profile list, which includes Canada, Uganda and Taiwan, scotland takes second place, behind India, in Rough Guide's 'must see' destinations for 2017. Featuring as the highest placed European country on the list, above Portugal and Finland, Scotland's spectacular scenery is among the many reasons quoted for visiting.

North Coast 500

The five hundred and sixteen mile stretch of coastal road, known as the North Coast 500, is rated as one of the new developments attracting visitors to the country's highland region. The road, which starts and ends at Inverness Castle, and showcases some of the finest scenery in Scotland, leads tourists up Wester Ross' infamous Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle), an 11-mile twisting ribbon of road that reaches a peak of more than 2,000ft and does not permit the passage of trucks, caravans or learner drivers after the first mile.

Other stops on the 500 include Lochinver, Durness, Tongue and John O'Groats before the road snakes its descent back to Inverness.

Harry Potter's 20th birthday

2017 also marks the 20th anniversary of JK Rowling's iconic Harry Potter series, and gives Scotland's tourists the opportunity to celebrate the fictional wizard by visiting the inspiration for Hogwarts Express, the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Inverness-shire; the school on which Hogwarts was based, 400 year-old George Heriot's, and The Elephant House Cafe, in Edinburgh, where Rowling penned the novels. Potter fans who visit the Scottish capital city can also pop into the exclusive, 5-star, Balmoral Hotel to see where the writer scrawled her autograph on a statue in Suite 552, which she had been renting at the time she completed the final chapter of The Deathly Hallows.

Glasgow's food scene

The Rough Guide also highlights the warm welcome received by visitors to #Scotland, as well as the wildlife and, obviously, the whisky. The nation's second city, Glasgow, is also noted for its food and drink experience, which has also been hailed by 'Wanderlust' magazine for its 'impressive gastronomic scene'. Glasgow also, notably, has an array of high quality microbreweries which can be road-tested by thirsty tourists.