With the weather turning colder it becomes harder to explore all the monuments and attractions that our country has to offer. But if you are still looking for your fill of history then visiting churches is a good option: they are (usually) warm to walk around in and provide plenty of information and beauty. Here are a few of our favourites

1. Italian Chapel, Orkney

Lambholm, Orkney

Open 7 days a week, times vary

www.visitorkney.com/things/history/the-italian-chapel

01856 781580

One of Orkney’s most visited attractions, this unique small white chapel is delicate and boasts a fascinating story. When wartime leader Winston Churchill approved the construction of causeways to link the south isles to mainland Orkney in 1940, a shortage of local labour meant Italian prisoners of war were shipped in to work on the project. Their POW status changed in 1943 when Italy capitulated to the allies, and the workers were given more freedom and requested a proper place of worship. They were given two Nissen huts to convert – and the beautiful Italian Chapel was born.

2. Glasgow University Chapel

West Quadrangle, University Avenue, Glasgow

www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/chaplaincy

0141 330 5419

It might look older, but the Glasgow University Memorial Chapel has in fact only been around since 1929 – having been dedicated to the memory of 755 men connected to the university who were killed in the First World War. Its Gothic style was designed to blend in with Sir George Gilbert Scott's main building, and the grade-A listed church boasts its own full organ and dedicated choir. It is used for a remembrance service every year and can also host weddings, as one of the few locations in Scotland where marriages can be celebrated in both the Protestant or Roman Catholic faith.

3. Paisley Abbey

Abbey Close, Paisley, Renfrewshire

Open Monday- Saturday, 10am-3.30pm (Guided tours Tuesday and Thursday at 2pm)

www.paisleyabbey.org.uk

0141 889 7654

With origins dating to the 12th century, this huge, imposing structure is one of the key buildings in Paisley. The town's importance as a commercial and educational centre dates from that time, and it's believed that Sir William Wallace was taught by the monks there. The abbey can also lay claim to be the cradle of the Royal House of Stewart and there are several monuments dedicated to the Stewarts around the abbey, as well as beautiful stained-glass windows. To let you see the intricate ceilings in their full glory without straining your neck, there are helpful mirror on wheels.

4. St Andrews Cathedral

The Pends, St Andrews, Fife

Open every day, 10am-4pm

www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/st-andrews-cathedral

01334 472563

It might be a ruin today, but St Andrews Cathedral was once the largest and most impressive cathedral in Scotland. Even visiting its remains gives you a sense of its imposing grandeur, with the nearby museum hosting a collection of medieval sculptures and relics found on the site. St Rule's Tower, in the precinct, is part of the first church of the Augustinian canons at St Andrews built in the early 12th century. Visitors can climb to the top of the 33m high tower for spectacular views across St Andrews and Fife.

5. St Giles’ Cathedral Edinburgh

High Street, Edinburgh

Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm

www.stgilescathedral.org.uk

0131 226 0674

One of the best-known churches in Edinburgh, St Giles’ has had a colourful history since being founded in 1124. It was twice destroyed by English armies, changed from Catholicism to Protestantism after John Knox was appointed as minister, and then had to be extensively refurbished in the 19th century after falling into a state of disrepair. Today it is an imposing and impressive building with plenty to see inside, including the neo-gothic Thistle Chapel and stained-glass window dedicated to Robert Burns. Visitors can also climb the cathedral’s clock tower and enjoy a rooftop tour that offers panoramic views across the Old Town. Tours run on Saturdays and Sundays, for £6 per person.

6. Cille Choirill Church, Roybridge

Roybridge, Highlands

01397 712238

It might be one of the smallest churches on our list, but what Cille Choirill doesn’t have in size it more than makes up for in atmosphere. On a hill above a glen, with the Grampian mountains as a backdrop, the church oozes atmosphere and looks incredibly strike, whether in the sun, rain or snow. You can wander around the gravestones to get a sense of the local history, or get a key for the church from the Glenspean Lodge Hotel. And for any fans of Monarch of the Glen, Cille Choirill was used as the Glenbogle Parish Church in the show.

7. Cathedral of the Isles

College Street, Millport, Cumbrae

Open every day, 8.30am- 6pm.

www.cathedraloftheisles.org

01475 530353

Millport might be known for many people as a destination to cycle round in the summertime, but it also has this real gem of an attraction for all-weather visitors. The Cathedral of the Isles is the smallest working cathedral in Britain, and provides a quiet and peaceful retreat for any visitor. The grounds are tranquil to walk around, and there is plenty of information provided for tourists to the church, with an emphasis on being welcoming to all. There is a strong musical tradition in the cathedral which is explained in detail inside, with an interesting collection of instruments to admire.

8. Rosslyn Chapel

Chapel Loan, Roslin, Midlothian

Open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5pm

www.rosslynchapel.com

0131 440 2159

Founded in 1446 as the Collegiate Church of St Matthew, Rosslyn Chapel came to international prominence when it was featured in the climax of the Dan Brown mystery novel the Da Vinci Code. The mystical interior of the church was used in the film of the same name and visitor numbers soared, so it now has a state-of-the-art visitor centre that tells its story through the ages. Walking around the church is enough of an attraction in itself, with almost every surface boasting intricate carved stonework, many of which have Biblical stories or moral messages. Make sure you give yourself long enough to take it all in, and don’t forget to look up at the ceilings for some of the most impressive artwork.

9. Jedburgh Abbey

Abbey Bridgend, Jedburgh, Scottish Borders

Open every day, 10am-4pm

www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/jedburgh-abbey

01835 863925

One of four impressive abbeys in the Scottish Borders, the Romanesque, early Gothic-style of Jedburgh is quite a sight to behold. Its sheer size is striking in the first place, but there are also remains of the refectory, dormitories, kitchens and cellars to admire from a bird’s eye viewpoint. Jedburgh Abbey was founded for Augustinian canons in 1138, but it was frequently targeted by invading armies due to its close proximity to the English border. You can learn more about this history in the abbey’s visitor centre, which also hosts some early Christian artefacts that pre-date the abbey by several centuries.

10. Elgin Cathedral

Elgin, Moray

Open every day, 10am-4pm

www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/elgin/cathedral/index.html

01343 547171

Elgin Cathedral hasn’t exactly had a smooth history. It was burned down in 1390, it lost its central tower to collapse (twice), and its choir roof blew down in a gale in 1637. Much of the interior contents were subsequently robbed, and the rood screen was destroyed to provide firewood. But the cathedral’s fortunes turned around in 1807, when a local drouthy cobbler was appointed keeper of the cathedral and single-handedly cleared the collapsed masonry and worked to stabilise the ruin. There is still plenty for modern visitors to admire within the site: including the building’s impressive west front, the intact chapter house, and the north-west tower, which you can climb up to get a great view. There are also tombs, gravestones and statues to look at – including one dedicated John Shanks, the drouthy cobbler who worked so hard to restore the cathedral in the 19th century.