The Scottish Highlands are brimming with activities, whether you wish to camp in remote locations, tour historic castles, go to small towns and villages, sample local cuisine, or learn about intriguing histories and cultures. Here are a few suggestions for your upcoming Highland vacation.
1. Looking for Nessie
Freshwater lake Loch Ness is recognized across the world as the purported home of the fabled, dinosaur-like Loch Ness Monster, more commonly referred to as Nessie.
The Scottish Highlands’ largest lake, Loch Ness, spans over 23 miles and reaches depths of more than 650 feet. It is located south of Inverness and is a popular destination for tourists that travel to Scotland. In a few days, you could traverse Loch Ness on foot or by bicycle, but if time is of the essence, you may take a boat excursion to go Nessie-hunting on your own.
2. Cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct using the West Highland Line
Train travel in the Scottish Highlands is a fantastic opportunity to experience the area’s many breathtaking vistas. Glasgow is connected to Fort William, the town, and the ports of Oban and Mallaig by the lovely West Highland Railway Line. The landscape alone is worth the trip, and because there are no roads whatsoever, you’ll get plenty of views that are just only accessible by rail.
Harry Potter fans will be thrilled with the opportunity to cross the renowned Glenfinnan Viaduct, just as the Hogwarts Express has so many times, and the route also travels through some of the quietest and most remote train stations in the UK.
3. Eilean Donan Castle should be seen
Although not everyone is familiar with it by name, Eilean Donan Castle is unquestionably a symbol of Scotland. The setting of this privately owned 13th-century castle, which is situated on a small island, is incredibly attractive; it is encircled by lochs and mountains and even offers views of the Island of Skye.
Since it was established as a monastery cell, the Eilean Donan Castle, also known as the Island of Donnán after a Celtic saint, has a lengthy history. The Jacobite uprisings of the 18th century finally led to its destruction, and what you see now is actually a 1930s restoration of the ruins.
4. The Highlands’ capital offers both shopping and architecture
The historic capital city of Inverness is just as deserving of a visit as any of the Scottish Highlands’ other attractions, proving that it’s not all wildness in this part of the world. Inverness Cathedral, the first structure constructed in the UK following the English Reformation, is among the city’s cultural highlights. It was completed in the 19th century. The more contemporary Inverness Museum and Art Gallery are another option.
A fantastic place to browse around is the sizable indoor-outdoor Inverness Botanic Gardens, and the Victorian Market’s 19th-century shopping arcade is a great place to buy gifts and trinkets.
5. Ben Nevis hike
When it comes to serious British mountain climbing, Ben Nevis is the place to be. After all, it is the highest peak in the entire United Kingdom. This enormous peak, which rises 4,412 feet above sea level, is a component of the Three Peaks Challenge, which entails ascending Nevis, England’s Scafell Pike, and Wales’ Snowdon, all in the course of a single 24-hour period.
The two primary routes up Ben Nevis are appropriate for different levels of walkers and climbers. The peak was ascended for the first time in 1771 and is a member of the Grampian range. Some 125,000 individuals still do climb annually in modern times.
6. Photograph the River Lochy Waterfall
The River Lochy Falls is a beautiful cascade that may be reached through Strone Hill, a location that has long been used as a resting place. Although it would be simple to walk straight past the falls, you would be disappointed.
The River Lochy and the road connecting the settlement of Tyndrum with the port of Oban are separated by Strone Hill. The short Waterfall Woods Trail, one of two that run beside the An Darach Ruadh Trail, leads to a breathtaking vantage point from which you may take in the full force of the falls.
7. The Isle of Skye is a must-see
The Isle of Skye, the largest island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago despite having only 10,000 residents, is known for its rugged, fantastical scenery. A bridge over Loch Alsh to Eilean Bàn connects Skye, which is located off the northwest coast of Scotland, to the mainland. The inland region of the Isle of Skye is dominated by mountains, although there are also many lochs and stunning coastal scenery.
A fantastic option to see animals on Loch Coriusk or adjacent smaller islands like Raasay and Rona is to take a boat ride from the town of Elgol. Back on solid ground, Portree’s town and de facto capital boasts a number of gift shops.
8. Go to Glencoe
Although though Glencoe is a small community with fewer than 400 residents, the surrounding valley and its breathtaking scenery continue to draw large crowds. Take a cruise on the triangular Lake Leven, which borders the Glencoe Valley and features a castle that formerly housed Mary, Queen of Scots, on one of its islands, or does the strenuous Lost Valley hiking trek.
Make time to visit the Glencoe Folk Museum while you are back in the hamlet, which is located in a charming row of white-stone and thatch-roofed houses.
9. Check out Fort William
Fort William, which is located on the bank of Loch Linnhe, is best known as the starting place for thrill-seekers who want to climb Ben Nevis, but there is certainly more to see and do there. The town is usually mentioned as the UK’s “outdoor capital” and serves as the end of one branch of the picturesque West Highland Railway Line.
Although Fort William makes an excellent base for exploring the rest of the Scottish Highlands, no one would blame you if all you wanted to do was settle in at a local bar and sip on some of the best whisky in the world.
10. Explore the beautiful beaches of the Scottish Highlands
It would be understandable if you thought you were somewhere else, far away, if you washed up on one of the gorgeous beaches in the Scottish Highlands. They really are the kind of landscapes you’d typically connect with the Caribbean or areas of Southeast Asia, and that is the essence of these windswept lengths of sand.
In particular, the inaccessible but fabulously broad Strathy Bay, the dune-fringed Sinclairs Bay with its breathtakingly gorgeous white sand, and the difficult-to-reach but equally gratifying Sandwood Bay should be sought out.
