17 spectacular photos show why Scotland has been named one of 2017's 'must see' destinations

There aren't many places like Scotland, where the ruins of ancient castles and extinct volcanoes lie only miles from a cosmopolitan capital city.

With this in mind, it's easy to see why it was named a "must see" destination in Rough Guides' list of the "Top 10 countries" you need to visit in 2017.

With publications covering more than 200 countries worldwide, Rough Guides sifted through its catalogue of destinations to pick out the places you need to visit this year.

Scotland was pipped to the post by India, but was lauded for its rapidly evolving food and drink scene, its unrivalled scenery, and "rugged" road trips through the Highlands.

Scroll down to see what makes Scotland so special.