Coming up: Fort William, Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, a load of spectacular scenery, some underrated adventures, much more space than you’d expect, and the 16 best places to visit in the Scottish Highlands.
Scotland is the prettiest country I’ve ever visited.
… and the Scottish Highlands is the prettiest part of the nation (by a very long way).
So, in this guide, I’ve helped you explore the place… and I’ve brought you the 16 best places to visit in the Scottish Highlands.
Pack your kilt and come join the party!
The Scottish Highlands: A Quick Intro
The Scottish Highlands is a massive area.
Much more massive than most people realize – it’s the biggest region of Scotland, and includes over 10,000 square miles (26,000 square km) of space. Including all the major Scottish islands.
Here’s a map.
So… knowing where to go on your Scottish Highlands holiday is tough.
… and because we didn’t want to make you read one article for five hours, we haven’t been able to include all our favorites.
But we’ve made sure to squeeze in as many stunning places as we can… and we’ve added a few more in the notable mentions section.
16 Best Places to Visit in the Scottish Highlands: The Full List
1. Loch Ness
Loch Ness is (by far!) the most famous place in the Scottish Highlands.
So, obviously, most tourists visit Loch Ness. And even though it’s not the one of the nation’s prettiest lochs (controversial!) you should too.
By volume, Loch Ness is the biggest loch in Scotland (it holds more water than every other lake, river and reservoir in England and Wales COMBINED!), and some people reckon it’s home to a big monster (although, obviously, it definitely isn’t).
It has loads of fun dotted around its shores. Check out the town of Fort Augustus (with all its barge-helping locks), the quieter parts of its southern shores, the iconic Urquhart Castle, the road trip (or hike or bike ride!) around the perimeter of the lake, and the Loch Ness Center (where you can learn all about the Loch Ness monster).
For more on Loch Ness, here are 21 strange facts about the place.
2. Fort William
A popular choice for a Scottish Highlands holiday, Fort William is the best-known town in the region.
It only has a population of around 10,000 people, but it feels a lot more bustling.
Perks of staying in Fort William include:
- All the conveniences you could need
- Boat trips on Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil
- Visiting the super-charming Highland Bookshop
- Hopping on the West Highland Line (more on that soon)
- Lots of places to eat and drink (including family-friendly spots)
- … and decent public transport links to other parts of the Scottish Highlands
Fort William is also one of the most populated and accessible hiking hubs in Scotland. If you want a busy town to hike from, Fort William is for you.
3. West Highland Way
Scotland is home to almost 30 official waymarked long-distance hiking and cycling trails.
Of them all, this is the most famous. Around 35,000 people walk the entire route every year (and loads more walk smaller sections of it).
Measuring 96 miles (154 km), it starts (or ends) at Fort William… and runs all the way to Milngavie, a town close to Glasgow.
Aside from Fort William, the hike also serves up sections close to Ben Nevis, parts of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, and parts of Glencoe (more on all three of those soon). Here’s our full guide to the hike.
- Distance: 96 miles (154 km)
- Where to where? The town of Fort William to the town of Milngavie
- How many days for the trip? 5-8 days
- Total elevation: around 3,155 meters (10,350 feet)
- When to do it? Mid-spring, or early fall
4. Ben Nevis
The highest peak in Scotland, Ben Nevis measures in at 1,345 meters (4,410 feet).
Though there are many routes to the peak, this is the most popular. It includes 10.5 miles (17 km) of hiking, and usually takes 7-9 hours.
If you want to hike up Ben Nevis, you can stay in Fort William (like most of its hikers do).
… or if you just want nice views of it, you can get them from the West Highland Way (and parts of Glencoe).
- Best time to do the hike: anytime between May and September
- Tips for the hike: don’t do it in or after heavy rain—and take some midge spray and sunscreen
5. Cairngorms National Park
The biggest national park in the UK, Cairngorms National Park is packed with stuff.
It’s mainly known as a hiking hub—and, yep, it has loads of great hikes.
But other highlights include:
- Distilleries
- Rafting and canoeing
- Skiing and snowboarding
- Waymarked bike rides and road trips
- Pretty towns (like Aviemore and Pitlochry)
- Watersports (at Loch Insh Outdoor Center)
- Loads of kid-friendly fun (with ziplining, go-karts, and play parks)
- And animals (including lots of wildlife, Highland Wildlife Park, and tours at Cairngorm Reindeer Herd)
If you want a combo of rural fun and busy towns, the Cairngorms is ideal… and it’s a massively underrated part of the Scottish Highlands.
6. West Highland Line
The most famous train ride in Scotland (and one of the most scenic train rides in the world).
Running 164 miles (264 km) from Glasgow to Mallaig (another Highland place you should visit, by the way), it takes riders over loads of stunning scenery… including forests, mountains, lochs, and seaside views.
The whole ride takes around 5.5 hours.
Famously, it heads over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the big super-scenic railway bridge made famous by the Harry Potter movies.
This is an especially good adventure for families and older people… you see loads of beautiful Scottish Highlands scenery without having to do anything active or challenging.
Here’s much more information on the entire ride. And you can book your tickets here.
Oh, and for more wizarding stuff, here’s our guide to 12 mysterious Harry Potter locations you should visit in Scotland.
7. Eilean Donan Castle
Probably the most famous castle in Scotland (and one of the prettiest castles in Scotland), Eilean Donan Castle sits on a tiny island where three lochs meet.
Lots of people (understandably) just look at Eilean Donan Castle from the outside…
… but if you’re interested in history, go inside for a tour. You’ll learn about monks, cannons, soldiers, royalty, wildlife, and more.
For more big Scottish buildings, get yourself over to our guide on the 18 best castles in Scotland.
- Address: Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh, IV40 8DX
- Official website
- Opening hours: opens between 9am and 10am, and closes between 4pm and 6pm (depending on the season). It’s closed in the middle of winter. More detail here.
- Entrance fees: £12 for adults, £11 for concessions, £6.50 for kids. Under-5s go free
8. The Isle of Skye
We’ve already written loads of guides on the Isle of Skye:
… so I won’t go into too much detail here.
But you need to visit the Isle of Skye. A surprisingly-massive collection of peninsulas, beaches, tiny villages, remote hikes, and weird landscapes, you’ve never seen anywhere like it.
Must-visit places on the Isle of Skye include:
- Fairy Pools: a bunch of rock pools separated by mini waterfalls, the Fairy Pools are perfect for hiking and picnicking. Probably the most famous sight on the island.
- The Quiraing: a bizarre lumpy marshland, this alien-like landscape is unlike anything else. Great for driving and aimless wandering.
- The Old Man of Storr: a bunch of weird jagged rocks, this is the most famous hiking spot on the island. Another unusual landscape.
9. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is the nation’s most famous outdoor area.
Obviously, it’s home to Loch Lomond (which has the largest surface area of all the lochs in Scotland)…
… but it’s also home to way more. Highlights include:
- Boat trips
- Lots of little islands
- Cute towns and villages (Balloch and Tarbet are two popular overnight options)
- Long and short hikes (Conic Hill is a great choice if you want easy but view-packed)
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is especially good for families: it’s accessible, it’s surrounded by conveniences, there are many no-fuss places to eat and drink, and you get loads of family fun.
Kid-friendly highlights include Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre, and the Loch Lomond Sea Life Aquarium.
10. Loch Katrine
Just northeast of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Loch Katrine is a good option if you want a fun-packed loch that isn’t quite as busy as its nearby neighbors.
Here, you can:
- Take a boat trip (info here)
- Hike up Ben A’an for views of the loch
- Cycle around the entire perimeter of the loch
- … and tackle loads more nearby hikes
Great for outdoor adventures, great for family fun, just a great loch. And an excellent Loch Ness alternative.
For more watery funfests, here are the 17 best lochs in Scotland.
11. Glencoe
Sitting just south of Fort William, Glencoe is both a village and a region.
The most well-known hiking area in the Scottish Highlands, my favorite hike here is the Pap of Glencoe…
… but other walks and wanders include:
Other things to do include:
Glencoe Folk Museum (which sits inside some old homes) driving along the main A82 road, and driving on the Skyfall Road (made famous cos of its appearance in the Bond movie of the same name—you can find it by plugging ‘James Bond Skyfall Road’ into Google Maps).
12. Duncansby Head
The most northeastern part of mainland Scotland, Duncansby Head is an iconic lighthouse.
Looking like something from a Wes Anderson movie, it’s surrounded by pretty cliffs, and it’s popular with photographers and sunrise-chasers.
Close-by, you’ll find Duncansby Stacks, a bunch of cliffy sea stacks just off the coast. Walk between the two of them for a gentle but pretty hike.
13. Oban
Ridiculously scenic, this west-coast harbor town is super popular with tourists. It’s one of the prettiest places in Scotland… and you’ll fall in love with it, like everyone else does.
Shaped in an arc and topped by a colosseum-like building, Oban’s highlights include:
- Eating the best seafood in Scotland (visit the iconic Oban Seafood Hut)
- Following Ganavan Road north, for a pretty drive and nice beaches
- Walking to the hill above the town, for views of Oban
- Heading to nearby Castle Stalker
- Kayaking, canoeing, and diving
… and just wander around and get lost for a while. Oban is one of the best places in Scotland for an aimless wander.
And as a nice bonus: from Oban, you can reach loads of islands.
14. Durness
Sitting on the western side of Scotland’s northern coast, this is about as far north as you can get in the mainland Scottish Highlands.
A tiny village, it feels like the place has more guesthouses than *actual* houses.
Anyway, it’s close to great beaches (including Durness Beach and Ceannabeinne Beach), while other highlights include:
Great for couples and great for families!
15. The Area Between Shiel Bridge and Ullapool
If you want to get all technical, this is the western part of Ross and Cromarty…
… and it’s the area of—and surrounding—Torridon.
(although I’m sure someone who understands the geography better than me will want to correct me),
Anyway, I’ll describe the area I’m talking about, in case you’re confused:
Find Shiel Bridge on a map. Find Ullapool on that same map. The west-coast area between them: that’s the most scenic part of the Scottish Highlands. And anyone who disagrees is wrong.
Drive around it, hike around it, find the beaches, find the little towns and villages. I could spend weeks here.
Highlights include:
- Plockton: one of the prettiest seaside villages you’ve ever seen, reached via one of the prettiest drives you’ve ever seen
- Lochcarron: the name of both a town and a loch. Both are super-scenic
- The Bealach na Bà: Scotland’s most famous (and most frightening) mountain pass
- A huge number of dramatic hikes
- Gairloch: a pretty seaside village with brilliant beaches, a great campsite, and an iconic coffee shop (called The Mountain Coffee Co, it’s also a bookshop… and they make their coffee from the beans of Bob Marley’s son)
- Ullapool itself: great seafood, friendly people, a lovely base for a few days, and busier than most people expect
- Stac Pollaidh: my favorite hike in Scotland
16. The North Coast 500
This official road trip runs in a big loop, starting and ending in Inverness.
It hits the west coast, the north coast and the east coast, and some of the highlights we’ve brought you (like the area between Shiel Bridge and Ullapool).
It’s the best road trip I’ve ever been on, and the prettiest road trip I’ve ever been on. Basically, it’s a lazy way to see some of the most scenic places in the Scottish Highlands without having to plan a specific route.
… and it gives you a load of underrated and lesser-known stuff.
I honestly can’t recommend it enough.
Notable mentions
What is the Best time to Visit the Scottish Highlands?
The best time to take your Scottish Highlands holiday is between May and September, when the weather is warmer and drier, and the days are longer.
That said, if you want to avoid the hyper-busy tourist period, you should avoid traveling in August and late July.
Another consideration is the indescribable horror of Scottish midges: between May and September (and especially between June and August) these tiny insects terrorize the people of Scotland.
But if you plan properly, they don’t need to spoil your vacation – here are more details about Scottish midges.
How to Get Around the Scottish Highlands
If you want to get the most from your Scottish Highlands holiday, it’s absolutely best to have a car.
Bus travel is pretty sparse here, especially in the most remote places.
And although train travel is possible (places that have train stations include: Inverness, Thurso, Wick, Aviemore, and Kyle of Lochalsh), it’s still pretty limited. For example, there are no west-coast trains north of Kyle of Lochalsh, and no north-coast trains west of Thurso.
Hitchhiking is also a good option. Yep, I know people are terrified of hitchhiking, but I’ve thumbed my way across Scotland many times. And I’m still alive.
Where to Stay in the Scottish Highlands
Where you should overnight on your Scottish Highlands holiday totally depends on what you’re looking for.
So I could give you ten million answers to this.
But:
If you want a city, stay in Inverness. The Marriott AC Hotel is great. And here are the city’s 7 best hostels.
For couples, I recommend heading to an island. Head to Portree (The Portree Hotel is excellent for couples) or Brodick (the Auchrannie Resort is great if you want something fancy).
Other good choices for couples are small coastal towns, like Oban (where you should stay in The Perle Oban Hotel & Spa), or Ullapool (where you’ll want to stay in The Arch Inn).
If you’re traveling with kids, head to… Durness (and stay in Wallaby’s self-catering cottage), the Cairngorms (Aviemore Youth Hostel is great for families), Loch Lomond (head to the laid-back but lovely Queen of the Loch Hotel), or Loch Ness (and stay at Loch Ness Bunk Inn).
For groups of friends, hit the North Coast 500.
And for a solo trip, I recommend moving between different places, and staying in hostels.
Before You Go
In summary, the two most popular tourist spots in the Scottish Highlands are Fort William and Loch Ness (Loch Ness is especially popular!).
But my personal favorites are… Glencoe, Cairngorms National Park, and the area between Shiel Bridge and Ullapool.
For more Scottish adventures, head to our guides on:
Thanks for reading, thanks for choosing Travelness, and thanks for being you. Enjoy the Scottish Highlands!
IMPORTANT: Feel free to explore our other travel guides while you’re here – you might discover some delightful surprises! Plus, every visit helps support our small business. We truly appreciate it.
