Arbroath Abbey

Arbroath Abbey stands as one of Scotland's most important historical monuments, its soaring red sandstone walls bearing witness to a moment that defined a nation. It was here, in April 1320, that Scotland's nobles gathered to seal the Declaration of Arbroath—a letter to the Pope that proclaimed Scotland's independence with words still quoted today: 'For as long as a hundred of us remain alive, we shall never submit to English dominion.'

The abbey was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion, dedicated to Thomas Becket just eight years after the archbishop's murder at Canterbury. At its height, it was one of the richest monasteries in Scotland, its abbot wielding enormous power. Though ruined since the Reformation, the abbey retains an undeniable majesty: the great west doorway, the distinctive round window known as the 'O of Arbroath', and walls that still rise to their original height in places.

The abbey is also forever linked to the Stone of Destiny. On Christmas Day 1950, Scottish nationalists removed the ancient coronation stone from Westminster Abbey; four months later, it was discovered at Arbroath, laid symbolically before the high altar where the Declaration was signed. The abbey sits in a pleasant coastal town famous for its smokies—haddock smoked over hardwood in the traditional manner. History, atmosphere, and Scotland's finest smoked fish: Arbroath delivers all three.