Top Things to do in Scottish Highlands
Top Hotels in Scottish Highlands
- 1. The Onich Hotel
- 2. Premier Inn Inverness Centre River Ness
- 3. Travelodge Inverness Fairways
- 4. The Garrison Hotel
- 5. Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa
- 6. Ness Walk Hotel
- 7. The Morar Hotel
- 8. Craigmonie Hotel Inverness by Compass Hospitality
- 9. Premier Inn Inverness East hotel
- 10. Premier Inn Thurso hotel
Countries
The 10 Best Things to do in Scottish Highlands, Scotland
The moody, romantic Scottish Highlands start at Loch Lomond just north of Glasgow. Comprising a slew of mountain ranges, this sparsely populated land is best seen by train on the West Highland Line. Mountains, lochs, bright heather and rhododendrons give way to white sand beaches and rugged coves as the train nears Mallaig. For a more active take on the region, hike the West Highland Way or visit the Trossachs National Park. Ben Nevis, a popular climbing spot, looms over the town of Fort William.
Restaurants in Scottish Highlands
1. Steall Waterfall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,434 reviews
Reviewed By I4996RBjoannap - Brough, United Kingdom
Drive down a single track road until it comes to an end which is a small free car park so arrive early; there was another car park at beginningof road however it charged for parking and would be quite a walk to get there. We arrived at 9am and had no issues with parking. A great walk along the river with mini waterfalls coming over the path which then opens up to see Steall Waterfall. There is a wire bridge to get closer to see it however there is a great view without crossing. We were lucky enough not to have midges even though it was warm and dry.
2. West Highland Way
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 418 reviews
Well-marked walking path stretching from Glasgow to Fort William.
Reviewed By Dom682014 - Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
I did the whole thing 10 Yeats ago, this time I just did half if it. Drive to Tyndrum and stay st 'By the Way'. Leave car there. Day one - 11 mikes to Inberoran. Lovely hotel. Day Two - 11 miles to Kings House Day Three - 11 miles to Kinlochleven. Day Four - 17 grueling miles (700m assent) to F William. Get train back to Tyndrum! As others have said, last two miles into F William is on the road and not great. Plus they have moved the official finish line to the other side of town - seems harsh. But nothing can take away from an amazing walk. Just remember, as you leave Tyndrum, the Green Welly shop is the last shop of any kind until Kinlochleven and the ONLY shop directly on the route.
3. Clava Cairns
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 680 reviews
Mysterious ancient ruins and burial chambers similar to Stonehenge.
Reviewed By I3351YCmaryg
I learned about this place by chance, from a taxi driver the night before. It is a hidden gem at the back of Culloden Moor battlefield - you can walk to it (about 30mins) or a few minutes drive. We were there in late autumn and the glorious colours added to the beauty. There were only 3 other people there, so very quiet which added to the almost mystical aura. There's 3 large stone structures, thought to be ancient burial sites and one smaller one so you can see it all and read the very informative boards in about 30 mins. Well worth a visit. It's free of charge with a donation for upkeep box.
4. Jacobite Steam Train
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,963 reviews
Described as the greatest railway journey in the world, this 84 mile round trip takes you past a list of impressive extremes. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig; passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and the shortest river in Britain, River Morar, finally arriving next to the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis!
5. Ben Nevis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,460 reviews
Fondly called "Ben" by the locals, Britain's highest mountain towers 4,406 feet above the town of Fort William.
Reviewed By Scotlandmac - Glasgow, United Kingdom
5 stars for the brilliant path, nice and wide,which takes even the least experienced of walkers safely to the top. Best path I've ever used on any Scottish mountain and we climb these regularly.Also, as Scotland is my home, I cannot bring myself to demote Ben Nevis to less than 5 stars.It has my respect.Unfortunately most people on this route never see its true grandeur , it's North Face, where it's then obvious that this is the remains of an ancient volcano once twice as high.Climbing Carn Mor Dearg or the Aonachs nearby, give the best views of The Ben's real grandeur. It's certainly not a wilderness experience as such, this route - in August there must have been 3,000 other people plodding up the mountain! Good views , not fabulous but nice, until we got part way up and entered the mist. It's a strenuous walk though - anything is that is 1345m high and with a sea level start.But it wasn't anywhere near as hard as we thought it might be.Just LONG. We are in our 60s and it took us 3hr 10 min to the top, including a 10 min break beyond the Red Burn.But we are regular hillwalkers and reasonably fit. The climb can divided into 4 sections IMO.I found this helped pace out the day/progress.Our time is given for each stage but it is approximate.Younger people who are fit passed us. 1st Stage: Visitor Car Park to The Corner - 45 mins. The path climbs steadily above Glen Nevis, then over a bridge where it turns sharply left.I call this The Corner as the climb is now more open with the open hillside and the burn to your right and below. We were now 390m above the glen. 2nd Stage: The Corner to the Red Burn crossing. 40mins. This section passes the lovely Lochan which is NOT the halfway stage despite its name in some publications.Nice flat section for a short bit. The lochan is only at around 560m and the mountain summit is 1345m. 3rd Stage: The Red Burn to the End of the Zig Zags: 1hr 15mins including a 10 min stop. Now the path turned much more rough and bouldery in places but still excellent.This upper part of the mountain is a boulderfield and turns quarry like nearer the top.The zig zags go up at a very pleasant angle of ascent, though still feel VERY long.At the end of this section , we were now at 1190m - less than 200m to go with the back of the climb broken. Final Stage: End of zig zags to Summit Cairn:30 mins. This bit seemed to go on forever too mainly because we were now in thick cloud/mizzly rain and couldn't see that far ahead.I thought this was a flattish bit but the path is still climbing. The appearance of large marker cairns on the right confirm the end is in sight.They are set well away from the various gullies on the left which the path is fairly close to.These have been the scene of fatalities in the past, in whiteout conditions, with the path under snow or not clear due to very poor visibility. We then had a 10 min wait in a queue to climb the summit cairn for a photo! Crazy! We only had views from the zig zags downwards.But it was still well worth the climb. The crowds are nuts - I've never seen anything like it on any other Scottish mountain(which often have much better, more dramatic views too.) A lot of people couldn't stay long at the top because they had barely more than t-shirt and shorts on.Their clothes looked sweaty and very damp from the effort and mist.You cool down mega quickly at that height and in those conditions and in damp clothes. It's a LONG strenuous hike made much easier by the great path but if someone is not very fit - well, I saw some young women crying on the 1st stage of the path. We arrived at the visitor centre car park before 9am on a Sunday in August and could hardly get parked.It costs £6 to park - machines were not working so paid in the Visitor Centre.Toilets were (unhelpfully) closed when we returned at 4.45pm. No toilet facilities on the hill as you would expect and it's not easy to find a place to go without other people being around. The summit is swarming with people and it would be difficult to find a spot even in the various ruined buildings as people are EVERYWHERE. Fantastic sense of achievement once we were down (it felt VERY long coming down - it took us slightly longer to do so as the path was very busy with lots of people still going up and also us catching up with people going down and having to wait or give way.) Everyone was very polite on the hill and were - mostly - smiling and seemed happy. Always great to climb the highest mountain of any country you visit, if safe to do so that is for the 'ordinary walker' and to be honest, even on the kind of low mist day we had too.
6. Loch an Eilein
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,348 reviews
Hidden in the forest of Rothiemurchus, this beautiful place is one of the most loved in the UK. Loch an Eilein (loch of the island) with its 13th century island castle, was voted Britain's Best Picnic Spot. Step back in time and retrace the steps of the Highland cattle raiders as you enjoy views of the dramatic and mysterious Highland castle and enjoy the exceptional wildlife of this forest particularly the Red Squirrels and Scottish Crossbills. You can enjoy some of the best low level walking in Scotland. Sheltered by ancient pine trees with views of the mountains, the path around the loch is suitable for motorised wheel chairs, off road buggies and is part of the Rothiemurchus way marked network of paths.
Reviewed By njani2017 - Liberec, Czech Republic
I have visited Loch an Eilein duering visit Highland and stay days in Aviemore. And I was been realy exciting. Beautiful romantic walk round Loch an Eilein is in the centrum of the Rothiemurchus Forest with the view of a ruined castle on a little island in the loch. I’ll never forget time spent there.
7. Fort George
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,709 reviews
Fort George is now open and we are delighted to welcome you back. Booking in advance is essential. Find out more and book at restarthistory.scot. Fort George is the mightiest artillery fortification in Britain. Following the 1746 defeat at Culloden of Bonnie Prince Charlie, George II created the ultimate defence against further Jacobite unrest. The result, Fort George, is the mightiest artillery fortification in Britain, if not Europe. Its garrison buildings, artillery defences bristling with cannon, and superb collection of arms - including bayoneted muskets, pikes, swords and ammunition pouches - provide a fascinating insight into 18th century military life.
Reviewed By LJH_Worcs - Worcester, United Kingdom
If you want to see the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, then this is it! Built after the '45 with the intention of being able to crush any further rebellions on their own ground, Fort George offers a wonderful chance to go around a major historical site which is still in use as a working barracks today, and that adds its own atmosphere to the place. The fort is built to the classic plan which would remain in use throughout the Napoleonic Wars and beyond, so great for history lovers, but also for children as there's a lot to explore.
8. Cairngorm Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,527 reviews
Cairngorm Mountain not only offers phenomenal panoramic views at over 2000 feet, we also have a cafe, mountain shop, snowsports in the winter time and in the summer we offer free family activities. There is also the chance to join our ranger every Thursday for a guided walk. Family Free Activities We have 7 geocaches in our ski area to be found, Angus the Yeti is keen to direct you to the lower cas loop (about a kilometer long), pick up Cairngorm Wild Things Quiz & find Torquil the Ptarmigan + more in our mountain garden. Cairngorm Cafe & Cas Bar offer mouth-watering treats at the foot of the mountain whilst taking in the phenomenal views down to Loch Morlich from over 2,000ft. Our cafe also boasts a variety of home-made dishes, daily specials and freshly made cakes and pastries made in our in-house bakery. The Cairngorm Mountain Shop Home to a wide selection of fantastic mountain clothing & accessories,
Reviewed By 50cab50 - Bracknell, United Kingdom
We wanted to take our teens to the tubing run, but not being familiar with the area, had no idea where to find it, other than the Cairngorm Ski Area which our sat nav refused to find. For the benefit of other non-locals, follow the Old Logging Way past Loch Morlich and the Reindeer Centre, beyond the Sugar Bowl car park and on a short distance to Coire Cas car park. This is the base station of the ski area and we found that putting Cairngorm Mountain Railway in the sat nav (even though it’s not been running a while) got us there. Tubing is in the base station area, opposite the Ranger Station. It is open from 10am and costs £6 per tube for a 45 minute session. It is £20 for a family of four - buy your tickets in the shop. What fantastic fun. The two guys pushing you off at the top were so nice - they must have been exhausted giving everyone a push off and all the time with such enthusiasm. It really came over that they wanted every single rider to have a fantastic and memorable time. Our 16,14 and 9 year olds loved it (9 year old moaned a bit about having to lug her tube up a few flights of steps back to the top each time). We were all pretty tired after 45 minutes. Up to the cafe for a nice lunch (mac n cheese, burger, chilli beef wrap and fish pie), open fire, and live ceilidh music. Can’t beat it! To check that things are running, keep up to speed with the Cairngorm Mountain Facebook page.
9. Tomatin Distillery Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 931 reviews
We are a 4 star visitor attraction: a Highland Distillery Visitor Centre with a range of tours and award winning whiskies available. We have a shop in which you can purchase Tomatin merchandise and various expressions of Tomatin, including filling your own bottle from one of our cask strength distillery exclusive whiskies. The Tomatin Distillery lies just 16 miles south of Inverness and 15 miles north of Aviemore on the A9 - extremely convenient for anyone travelling to or from the Highlands! We are open 7 days all year round! April-September 9.30am-5.30pm October-March 10.30am-4.30pm Please contact us or visit our website for more information or to book your tour. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Reviewed By campervan2
We had a wonderful experience here, Frazer our tour guide was pleasant and knowledgeable and widened our knowledge of the whiskey manufacturing process, the distillery is lovely and the history of the area is amazing, thank you everyone.
10. North Coast 500
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 706 reviews
The North Coast 500 is Scotland's biggest road trip measuring over 500 miles. The route begins in Inverness and flows along the stunning coastal edges of the North Highlands in one round trip. Bringing together the best of the Highlands from glistening beaches, haunting castles, monumental munros and hundreds more scenic stop-offs, you will be spoilt for choice on this road trip!
Reviewed By highlands2hammocks
Arguably one of the best road trips in the world! If you are looking for stunning landscapes, fascinating history, endless horizons, ancient castles, golden beaches and crystal-clear water, all wrapped up in a 500-mile road trip, then the NC500 is for you. We toured this route in just 7-days and this is the perfect amount of time to do it again. Here is a run down of our 7 day itinerary - Day One - Inverness to Dornoch Day Two - Dornoch to John O'Groats Day Three - John O'Groats to Thurso Day Four - Thurso to Durness Day Five - Durness to Scourie Day Six - Scourie to Ullapool Day Seven - Ullapool to Applecross And here are the best sights that you simply cannot miss out on - - Falls of Shin - Dunrobin Castle - Dornoch Beach - Whaligoe Steps - Castle Sinclair and Girnigoe - Duncansby Lighthouse and Stacks - John O'Groats Signpost - Strathy Point Lighthouse - Skerray Bay - Coldbackie Beach - Smoo Cave - Handa Island - Kylesku Bridge - Ullapool Harbour - Falls of Measach - Sheildaig - Bealach na Ba Pass - Applecross - Ceannabeine Village Trail
