The Top Six Best Places to Visit in the Scottish Highlands

The scenic splendour of Loch Lomond, Skye’s stunning coastline, the ominous beauty of the Grampians, ancient and barren peaks… experiencing the best places to visit in the Scottish Highlands makes for a trip like no other. And that’s because this vast corner of Scotland has landscapes like no other. Here, you can look forward to hiking across heathered foothills and sweeping mountainsides, exploring countless historic ruins and taking in lungfuls of invigorating air. 

So for inspiration, here are six of the best things to do in the Scottish Highlands… And don’t forget this is just the tip of the iceberg – there’s so much to see and do in the north of Scotland so it’s a good idea to give yourself at least a long weekend to discover the region’s many secrets. Get yourself booked into a Highlands and Islands campsite and you can enjoy all that bracing air first hand; Pitchup has many options for families, solo travellers and friends, and at many price points too.  

Good to know: Two of the best – and very different in architecture and history – castles to visit in the Highlands and Islands are Dunrobin and Eileen Donan. 

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1. Loch Ness

Undoubtedly Scotland’s – and probably the world’s – most famous lake, Loch Ness is a wonderland for walkers, hikers and cyclists as well as being a popular spot for boaters and anglers alike. At an impressive 23 miles in length, it also plummets to around 750 feet at its deepest, and has the largest volume of fresh water in the UK. 

Its size may explain how its other claim to fame – the Loch Ness monster – has proven so elusive. Thankfully, the intrigued (and obsessed) visitor can share in the mystery at the lake’s interactive exhibition centres, the Loch Ness Experience and family-friendly Nessieland. 

For a flavour of Highland history, check out splendid Urquhart Castle on the northwestern shore and explore the ruins of this former royal abode and fiercely contested hotspot in the Jacobite Rebellion. Climb up Grant Tower for sweeping views across glittering Loch Ness, then tour the weaponry displays in the visitor centre.

Fancy a proper look around the loch? Jump on the Loch Ness 360° Trail, which loops for 80 scenic miles around the lake and links with the Great Glen Way and South Loch Ness Trail. For shorter walks, hop on any of the trail’s six shorter sections: one passes through Farigaig Forest on the loch’s southeastern shore before winding up to a rocky outcrop and views across two Iron Age forts at Dun Dearduil (there’s a fort of the same name near Fort William). Alternatively, take a stroll down to the Falls of Foyers, which tumbles 50 metres into a steep ravine. 

2. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

When it comes to world-renowned lochs, you could say Loch Lomond is neck and neck with Loch Ness – both are among the best places to visit in Scotland. Not only the inspiration for a famous love song, it’s also the biggest freshwater lake by surface area in the British Isles, and the backdrop for open landscapes, sprawling glens, rocky peaks and pretty stone villages. 

And there’s much more, too: Loch Lomond has many islands for day trips by boat, some of which will take you to spectacular views of Ben Lomond (the country’s more southerly munro – meaning a hill over 3,000 feet) and grand vistas of the Arrochar Alps. For the more watersporting types, there’s also kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing and jetskiing aplenty. 

Or are you up for a full day among the trees? As you’ll also be in the middle of the hills and glens of the Trossachs, endless square miles of forest and nature reserves await. So tie up your boots and hit the Great Trossachs Path for 30 miles of loch shoreline, mature woodland, undulating hillsides, wildlife and historic sites. If you need more inspo to get active, check out our detailed guide to hiking in the national park.

3. Isle of Skye

After invigorating days in and around the Highland’s pristine freshwater lochs and rivers, a good dose of rugged, rocky coastline and salty spray is just the ticket. 

Come to the Isle of Skye for the dramatic seascapes and coastal vistas, but also for hiking adventures into the Cuillin Range and Trotternish Ridge: world-class destinations for walkers and climbers with some peaks topping 3,000 feet. 

Wildlife enthusiasts will love the island’s great natural abundance. With otters, seals, whales, dolphins and red deer among its residents, Skye is also home to puffin, razorbill, guillemot, kittiwake, gannet, Arctic tern and shag – if you’re on the lookout for rare birds, check our our Highlands birdwatching guide.

And after a day out among the feathered, the furred and finned, be sure to explore some islanders’ habitations among Skye’s scenic villages such as Dunvegan – which also has a dramatic castle sitting on the water’s edge – Edinbane, Uig (a ferry port for the Outer Hebrides) and Kyleakin. There’s plenty of pub grub and local ale to go around… 

Other unmissable attractions include the jagged Quiraing rock formations, Kilt Rock sea cliffs, Mealt Falls and Coral Beach. Head to Sconser for day trips over to the nearby island of Raasay off Skye’s west coast, where you can go whisky tasting, climbing and kayaking. Sporting types may like to time their visit for August, when the island is host to the Highland Games in Portree.

4. Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms National Park is the Highlands in a nutshell: lochs, rivers, ancient forest, abundant wildlife (including golden eagles), tumbling waterfalls, abundant wildlife, fortresses, ruins, friendly villages, distilleries, looming mountains… in fact, conjure any iconic image of Scotland and you will see it in the park.

With an area twice the size of the Lake District National Park and a quarter of the country’s native forest, hiking opportunities are boundless. Get out your treads for community paths and strolls through the Cairngorms’ towns and villages, or walk a wilder side on a hill trail through more rugged uninhabited areas (don’t forget the compass). Those itching for a longer stretch can choose from the park’s four long-distance routes, and the historians among you can hit one of the park’s many heritage trails. 

But for maximum exhilaration, it has to be munro bagging. With the UK’s most extensive mountain range in the park, you’ll have lots of peaks to choose from. Climbing these hills is no easy feat, but the rewards are plentiful as you ascend through ancient pinewoods and valleys to the highest and most inspiring vistas in the British Isles. 

And the astronomical views don’t end there. The Cairngorms Dark Sky Park is not only the world’s most northerly but also the UK’s darkest. Pitch up around there and see the Highland stars shine their brightest. 

5. Ben Nevis

If hitting the peaks is what you love to do, then head for the Grampians and the ultimate munro-bag atop Ben Nevis. Commonly referred to as ‘bagging the Ben’, this feat involves climbing 4,400 feet to Scotland’s highest point. Once at the summit, you’ll be richly rewarded with 360 unforgettable degrees of exhilarating vistas stretching to Ben Lomond, Torridon and as far as Northern Ireland on very clear days.  

However, summiting Ben Nevis is no small challenge, and one for which fitness, hillwalking experience and navigation skills are definitely required. Consider the season too, given the extreme conditions this area is subject to, and always dress in waterproof gear and climbing boots to protect against the weather. Climbing Ben Nevis between June and September will likely give you the best chance of optimum hiking conditions. 

First William (see below) is the nearest town Ben Nevis, and has climbing shops galore if you need to get properly kitted out.

6. Fort William

Before setting out to Ben Nevis, you’ll need to check in at Fort William, often described as the UK’s ‘outdoor capital’. Situated in Lochaber in the West Highlands, it’s a popular base for active outdoor holidays and its streets are lined with stores selling outdoors gear as well as a multitude of pubs, cafés and fast-food stops.

For a family-friendly and steam-powered journey through regional history around Fort William’s, grab a ticket on The Jacobite Steam Train to tour the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig on Scotland’s west coast. The 84-mile return journey takes you past Harry Potter’s soaring Glenfinnan Viaduct, the Glenfinnan Monument, marking the spot where Bonnie Prince Charlie stepped ashore in 1745, through Arisaig and alongside Loch Morar. 

And there’s so much else to experience near Fort William. Take a cruise of Loch Linnhe to see the grey and harbour seal colonies, mug up on Jacobite history at the West Highland Museum and have a tasting session at the Ben Nervis Distillery. Further afield, discover spectacular mountain landscapes like Glencoe and Ben Nevis, both part of Lochaber Geopark, or tour the wilds of the Ardnamurchan and Morvern peninsulas.

 

Now you can see why it’s hard to beat the Scottish Highlands and Islands for things to see and do for the whole family. If you fancy getting active in the fresh air, check out the best hiking spots in the Highlands, and our Ultimate Scottish Camping Guide can help you decide how long and where to stay in the region. Pitchup also has a fine selection of places to stay, from peaceful sites with mountain views to well-equipped lochside holiday parks.

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