The Scottish Highlands.

EUROPE/UNITED KINGDOM/57.3229° N, 4.4244° W

Peat smoke cuts through the damp air before you even spot the distillery kiln. Drive north of the Highland Boundary Fault and ancient granite plateaus collapse abruptly into sea lochs and wind-scoured moorland. You come for the scale of Glen Coe, the cold Atlantic langoustines landed at working piers, and the sheer quiet of a single-track road across Sutherland. Keep a dry pair of boots in the boot of the car.

Last updated 2 Sept 2026

Field notes

Photographs · Wikimedia Commons
Europe / United Kingdom57.32°N 4.42°W
The Scottish Highlands — View southwest from Ben Lawers, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
View southwest from Ben Lawers, Scottish Highlands, Scotland · Wikimedia Commons
The Scottish Highlands — A Stile on the Coast Path in Caithness, Scottish Highlands
A Stile on the Coast Path in Caithness, Scottish Highlands · Wikimedia Commons
The Scottish Highlands — Lairg Village in the Scottish Highlands (geograph 4295210)
Lairg Village in the Scottish Highlands (geograph 4295210) · Wikimedia Commons

What The Scottish Highlands is about

Twelve ways to read the region. Pick a town below and you can turn any of these into a timed 1, 2 or 3 day plan.

SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Tour peat-fired stills in Speyside and Dalwhinnie, where cold mountain water meets charred oak casks.

MOUNTAIN WALKING

Scramble the knife-edge ridge of the Aonach Eagach or hike the granite corries of the Cairngorms.

LOCAL SEAFOOD

Crack freshly boiled langoustines, brown crab, and cold-smoked kippers on the quayside in Mallaig.

CLAN HISTORY

Stand in the silence of Culloden battlefield and explore the ruined 13th-century walls of Castle Urquhart.

COASTAL FERRIES

Board CalMac car ferries from Oban and Ullapool crossing the choppy waters of the Minch to remote isles.

REMOTE DRIVING

Navigate the single-track tarmac and passing places along the 516-mile North Coast 500 circuit.

CASTLE RUINS

Explore weather-battered stone strongholds like Eilean Donan and the 16th-century tower of Kilchurn.

LOCH CRUISING

Take small timber motorboats across Loch Maree or trace the deep freshwater trench of Loch Ness.

LOCAL PRODUCE

Try venison sausages, black pudding from Stornoway, and crumbly raw-milk cheeses at farm shops.

WILDLIFE WATCHING

Spot red deer stags in autumn glens, golden eagles over Torridon, and grey seals on Atlantic reefs.

FOLK MUSIC & PUBS

Catch unamplified fiddle and accordion sessions beside peat fires in Plockton and Fort William.

GEOLOGICAL WONDERS

Walk the prehistoric volcanic slips of the Quiraing and the towering sea-stacks at Duncansby Head.

Where to go in The Scottish Highlands

The bases worth booking. Each one has its own field guide with 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries.

  1. 01
    Inverness

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    Base yourself near the rail hub for easy day trips to Culloden and Loch Ness.

  2. 02
    Fort William

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    A practical outdoor hub under the shadow of Ben Nevis, ideal for hikers.

  3. 03
    Portree

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    Coloured harbour cottages make a dependable base for exploring the Isle of Skye.

  4. 04
    Ullapool

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    A whitewashed fishing port on Loch Broom with great haddock and ferry links.

  5. 05
    Oban

    ARGYLL AND BUTE / UNITED KINGDOM

    The ferry gateway to the Hebrides with exceptional seafood shacks on the pier.

  6. 06
    Aviemore

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    Your centre for pine forests, reindeer herds, and winter Cairngorm trails.

  7. 07
    Glencoe

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    A brooding mountain pass steeped in tragic clan history and rugged hiking.

  8. 08
    Plockton

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    Sheltered bay cottages with palm trees and fresh langoustines by the water.

  9. 09
    Durness

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    Far-north sandy beaches, limestone sea caves, and wild coastal isolation.

  10. 10
    Braemar

    ABERDEENSHIRE / UNITED KINGDOM

    High mountain village famous for the Highland Games and royal deeside walks.

  11. 11
    Dornie

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    A tiny lochside village sitting directly opposite iconic Eilean Donan Castle.

  12. 12
    Gairloch

    HIGHLAND / UNITED KINGDOM

    Quiet coastal base on Loch Gairloch with sheltered beaches and marine boat tours.

What to do in The Scottish Highlands

The Highlands cover the northern half of Scotland, defined by ancient mountain massifs, deep freshwater lochs, and jagged Atlantic sea lochs. Days revolve around changing weather, long hill walks, distillery visits, and quiet dinners of local shellfish or venison stew. It suits independent road trippers, walkers with proper waterproofs, and anyone who appreciates raw geography over manicured tourism.

When to go to The Scottish Highlands

May and June offer the longest daylight and lowest midges. July and August bring warm days but heavy traffic along the A82 and thick clouds of midges near water. September brings golden bracken, stag rutting in the glens, and crisp walking weather, while winter closes high mountain passes with snow.

Getting around The Scottish Highlands

A car gives you freedom on single-track roads like the Bealach na Bà, though the West Highland Line train from Glasgow to Mallaig is unforgettable. Inverness to Fort William takes under two hours by car, while driving the full northern loop requires steady pacing and patience at passing places.