While much of Europe and England increasingly has been experiencing hot summers, traveling to the Scottish Highlands offers a captivating cool escape all year round. Enjoy breathtaking vistas where rolling hills meet rugged mountains and where serene lochs (or lakes to us Americans) reflect the ever-changing skies. As the sun lingers long into summer evenings, visitors have ample time to hike through ancient glens, discover hidden waterfalls or simply bask in the majestic beauty that surrounds them.
Get the Lowdown on the Highlands
If you’ve met friends along the way who have traveled to Scotland only once or twice, they are likely to have visited Edinburgh, Glasgow or the golf courses along the southeast coast near Aberdeen. That’s the area known as the Lowlands with gentle, rolling hills, fertile farmlands and urban centers in the south and eastern part of the country. By contrast, the Highlands are mostly north and west with sparsely-populated, rugged, mountainous terrain, including the highest peak in the British Isles, Ben Nevi, part of the ancient Caledonian Forest. The area is dotted with ancient castles and monuments, providing a glimpse into Scotland’s storied past, and is renowned for its whisky production.
Choose Your Route
Given its sparse population, lack of major roads and train service, most people visit the Scottish Highlands either driving themselves or joining an escorted tour of sorts. In a recent visit to the Highlands, we saw organized people climbing on motor coaches and engaging in hiking trips and biking tours.
People who love traveling on the water can either rent a boat for several nights or take a week-long canal barge on the Caledonian Canal from Inverness to Fort Williams. European Waterways offers two canal barge experiences from early April to late October. The all-inclusive luxury boats sail smoothly on small canals and across lakes, stopping at many of the major attractions detailed in this story. With typically no more than a dozen passengers, cruising in a canal barge such as the Spirit of Scotland is an opportunity to share the experience with strangers who quickly become friends over the course of a week.
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Start in Inverness
With an international airport, decent train service and a key stopping point on the A9 highway, the so-called “spine of Scotland”, Inverness is the city where most trips to the Scottish Highlands either start or end. The majestic Inverness Castle – reopening as a tourist destination in 2025 – looms over the River Ness, where people stroll leisurely for miles. Visit the charming Victorian Market downtown where local artisans showcase their crafts and cozy cafés offer warm Scottish treats. For shoppers, this is the best place to pick up essential items from pharmacies or department stores or to buy souvenir Scottish kilts or woolen sweaters.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Weekdays and Saturday, be sure to stop at Leakey’s Bookshop, a charming second-hand bookshop housed in a former Gaelic church with over 100,000 volumes, antique maps and prints.
See Dolphins and Seals in the Firth
Inverness is the gateway to the North Sea, safely tucked along the Moray Firth – what we Americans call a bay. For an opportunity to get out on the water, the Dolphin Spirit Inverness offers two popular excursions into the bay and out to the Chanonry Lighthouse and Fort George. On the two-hour wildlife trip, it’s possible to spot seals, sharks, whales and porpoises as well as local seabirds. For the adventuresome, the company offers the Mischief Wildlife Experience on a speedy boat, providing all passengers with splashproof, windproof suits, a lifejacket, goggles and binoculars.
Visit Culloden to Understand the Scots
On trips to Philadelphia and Boston, visitors are quickly immersed in the American Revolution and its impact on and growth of the United States. Likewise, it is absolutely essential to start exploring the Scottish Highlands by first visiting the site of the Battle of Culloden in 1746. As a pivotal moment in Scottish and British history, it marked the decisive end of the Jacobite rising of 1745, effectively crushing the Jacobite cause and their attempt to restore the Catholic Stuart dynasty to the British throne over the objections to the Protestant British government. The battle’s aftermath led to significant changes in Highland culture, as the British government implemented harsh measures to dismantle the clan system and evict tenants from their small farms (crofts) in the Scottish Highlands and Islands to convert the land from small-scale farming to large-scale sheep grazing. This led to an out-migration of Scotlanders to Ireland, Canada and America and seems to have left an emotional scar even today in the lives of Highlanders.
Time and time again visiting sites in the Highlands, there is repeated reference to the Jacobite risings and the British government’s destruction of castles and property.
The Culloden Battlefield is a restored site where guests can walk the grounds to better understand the swift and decisive victory of the British over the Jacobites and their leader, Bonnie Prince Charlie, known as The Young Pretender to the English throne. The excellent visitor center provides a comprehensive exhibition with interactive displays, artifacts and a 360-degree battle immersion theater that vividly brings the conflict to life.
SheBuysTravel Tip: In the Welcome Center, there is an interesting visual display across several rooms where visitors follow in the footsteps of either the British army or the Jacobite forces.
Chase “Nessie” on Loch Ness
There’s little doubt that the Loch Ness Monster or “Nessie” as many people call it is a mere fabrication. Yet, the visitors flock to Loch Ness, the largest freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands and the deepest lake in Scotland. Fortunately, most things to do with “Nessie” are confined to the gift shops at Fort Augustus, but the monster’s fame has helped spur tours out into this beautiful lake from Dochgarroch Lock near Inverness or Fort Augustus on the south and west.
On the land, visitors have the best view of Loch Ness from the ruins of Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland’s largest castles, sitting on a dramatic promontory overlooking the lake. During the 500 years it was fully occupied, the control of the castle passed back and forth between the Scots and English. In 1690, the English government forces blew up the castle as part of their effort to quash the embers forever of the Jacobite Rebellion. It was never restored. For more than 100 years, the site of the castle ruins has been a tourist attraction.
Visit a Lived-in Castle
Open from April to October, Cawdor Castle in Nairn near Inverness provides a perfect blend of Scottish history, architecture and natural beauty. While the Cawdor name may sound familiar to playgoers from Shakespeare’s Macbeth: the title character reigned as Thane of Cawdor well before this castle was built in 1454. Cawdor Castle is the current home of the Dowager of Cawdor, who lives in another building on the grounds during tourist season and then moves back into the castle for the winter. Visitors can explore 11 meticulously preserved rooms, each brimming with historical artifacts and family portraits. The castle’s unique features include an off-center fireplace, irregular windows, and even a mysterious trap door leading to a dungeon.
The grounds are equally impressive, boasting three stunning gardens: a walled garden with a playful maze, a vibrant flower garden and a wild garden.
Jump Aboard the Hogwarts Express
Harry Potter fans swarm to the town of Fort Williams to ride on the Jacobite Steamer, the train that was featured in the iconic series as the Hogwarts Express. Whether you are familiar with the series or not, the Jacobite Steam Train offers visitors a captivating journey through some of Scotland’s most breathtaking landscapes, crossing the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct and offering spectacular views of Loch Shiel and the surrounding mountains. The train’s vintage carriages, including first-class options, enhance the experience with their classic charm.
The regular daily service departs in the morning from Fort William, arriving around noon in Mallaig and returning after lunch to arrive back at Fort William by late afternoon. During the 84-mile round trip visit Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station in Arisaig.
Act Like a Highlander
Along with Loch Ness and Inverness, almost every tour of the Highlands includes a visit to the Eilean Donan Castle, which sits on a small island at the confluence of three lakes: Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Scottish Highlands. Originally built in the 13th century to defend against Viking invasions, the castle has a storied past, including its involvement in the Jacobite risings. It was partially destroyed in 1719 but was meticulously restored in the early 20th century to showcase intricate stonework and period furnishings that transport visitors back in time, so much that Hollywood as often used featured it in films such Highlander and the James Bond adventure, The World is Not Enough.
Journey to the Skye
Known for its dramatic scenery, the Isle of Skye features the majestic Cuillin Hills, the iconic Old Man of Storr and the enchanting Fairy Pools, making it a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Wildlife enthusiasts flock to Skye to spot red deer, sea eagles and the famous Highland cattle. The island’s medieval castles, such as Dunvegan Castle, offer a glimpse into its storied past, including connections to the Jacobite risings. Skye is also a popular filming location, with its stunning backdrops appearing in movies and series, including Outlander.
Explore Lots and Lots of Locks
The primary purpose of building the Caledonian Canal was to provide a safe passage for ships, especially the British Royal Navy vessels, to avoid the dangerous route around the northern coast of Scotland. In 1822, for the first time, ships could sail via the canals and a series of lakes from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. There are not not many British Navy ships plying the canal today, there are plenty of pleasure crafts and tour boats using this waterway. The lochs of the canals are still in place some 200 years later and make for a popular stop for photos. In addition to the first loch in Inverness, the most popular spots to watch the boats traverse the locks is Fort August with five locks and Fort William, with the famous Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight locks that raise boats approximately 64 feet over a distance of 500 yards.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Along almost every canal, there are well maintained, hard-packed dirt roadways or asphalt roads that are a favorite of hikers, bikers, walkers and runners. This is a great place to get in a workout.
Sip a Scottish Whisky
People flock to Scotland to sample whisky for its rich heritage, diverse flavors and the opportunity to experience the craftsmanship behind this iconic spirit. Scotland is home to numerous whisky regions, each offering unique characteristics influenced by local ingredients and traditions. Visitors can explore over 70 distilleries, learning about the whisky-making process and enjoying tastings.
Talisker Distillery located on the Isle of Skye is the oldest working distillery on the island and is known for producing a distinctive single malt whisky with a maritime character. In the shadow of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain of the British Isles, the Ben Nevis Distillery uses water from the Allt a’ Mhuilinn River to make rich, fruity whiskies. Both distilleries offer guided tours and tastings, attracting whisky enthusiasts worldwide.
Discover Thousand-Year-Old Burial Sites
Dating back about 4,000 years, Clava Cairns near Inverness features well-preserved burial cairns, standing stones and ring cairns. The cairns are aligned with the midwinter sunset, suggesting astronomical significance. The complex includes passage graves, a kerb ring cairn and a central ring cairn surrounded by standing stones. The site is free to visit year-round and has gained popularity among Outlander fans due to its similarity to fictional locations in the series.
Getting There
People often start a trip to the Highlands by first exploring the more famous Scottish Lowlands’ cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and then journeying by rental car or train to Inverness. For those wanting to connect directly to Inverness, the easiest transport mode from the U.S. and other European destinations is flying directly to Inverness either via London or Amsterdam. The only direct flights from the U.S. to Scotland are to Edinburgh, but those flights are considerably more expensive, and there are no direct flights from Edinburgh to Inverness.
Where to Stay in the Scottish Highlands
Most people who stay overnight wind up spending at least one night in Inverness which has the most and most diverse hotels in the region. In Inverness, three standout choices are:
- The four-star Kingsmills Hotel bustles with families, adventure travel groups and individual travelers looking for an upscale property in the Scottish Highlands. The comfortable rooms are spread out across several wings and feature views of the 4-acre property. Plunge into the large swimming pool with a hot tub gym or enjoy a treatment at the full-service spa. In the evening, the restaurant and lobby host a hub of activity with a piano player in the corner, a bustling bar and guests playing cards at tables.
- Ness Walk Hotel is a luxurious 5-star retreat nestled on the banks of the River Ness. Originally a 19th-century house, the building has been lovingly restored, blending period features with modern design. The hotel offers 47 spacious and stylish rooms and suites, each uniquely designed with views of the river or gardens.
- The River Ness Hotel is a contemporary boutique hotel located in the heart of Inverness, overlooking the River Ness. The hotel features comfortable rooms equipped with amenities for both leisure and business travelers. Guests can dine at the on-site restaurant, which serves locally-sourced Scottish cuisine, or enjoy drinks at the bar with river views.
Beyond Inverse, The Highland Club is a unique accommodation set in a converted Benedictine monastery in Fort Augustus, at the southern tip of Loch Ness. This historic property offers luxurious self-catering apartments and cottages within its 20-acre estate. Guests can enjoy amenities such as an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and tennis courts.
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