If you want to travel to a place where you can find peace, merge with nature and delight yourself in long past times, the Highlands are just what you are looking for. Here is the true icon of Scotland, where you will find amazing landscapes and places that will make you fall in love at first sight. A unique experience awaits you among freshwater lakes, lush forests, majestic mountains, wild territories and lonely valleys, where you will witness the history and battles of legendary heroes and ancestral legends. In short, a magical journey in which you will not cease to be amazed with every step you take. Don’t you know what to see in the Highlands? Here is our The Highlands Guide with the essential, unmissable places in the Scottish Highlands.
Inverness: the Highlands capital
Inverness is the capital of the Highlands. This city is a reference in terms of leisure, culture and commerce, as well as the bridge between the Highlands and Eastern Scotland. It is very well linked in terms of transport and it can serve as a transfer place to other destinations that you want to visit. In Inverness, we advise you to visit the castle, the cathedral and the city museum. Although even in recent times the castle could not be visited, nowadays its North tower has become the Inverness Castle Viewpoint. From there the views of the city are spectacular. The cathedral will surprise you with its majesty, but, above all, by the absence of needles at the top of the towers. For its part, the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery offers you the possibility of being immersed in the history of the Highlands and enjoying interesting art exhibitions.
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
Of course, you already know Lake Ness, perhaps because of the legend of Nessie, the monster that lives in its waters. Loch Ness is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe and, by mean depth, one of the deepest in the world. The combination of its dark depth, its rough weather and its frequent fog, the mysterious, bare mountains surrounding it, and the spectacular beauty of its forests, will not leave you indifferent.
At the edge of the lake the ruins of Urquhart Castle are erected, witnesses of the bloodshed between Scottish clans in various old battles. From its tower, rebuilt by clan Grant in the 16th century, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the area and the murky waters of the lake. Perhaps it is the best location to find Nessie, if it bothers to appear. 😉
What is the best route to explore Loch Ness?
We have two options of tours to enjoy Loch Ness and its surroundings: our Loch Ness tour (one day tour), and our tour to the Isle of Skye.
Glencoe: The Three Sisters
Here is an environment in which to feel in complete union and harmony with nature, among landscapes of velvety greens, mountains, streams and impetuous waterfalls. This valley will be familiar to you for appearing in scenes from Harry Potter and for having witnessed the Glencoe massacre, the MacDonald clan massacre. We invite you to observe its unique mountains. One of them is Bidean nam Bian, the home of the Three Sisters, the guardians of the valley: Beinn Fhada, Aonach Dubh and Son Gearr Aonach. All three constitute pointed ridges located next to each other. Also noteworthy is Buachaille Etive Mòr, which seems to welcome you with its pyramid shape.
Glencoe, the valley of river Coe, is an environment where to experiment a complete union and harmony with nature, among landscapes of velvety green, mountains, torrents and impetuous waterfalls. This valley will be familiar to you for appearing in Harry Potter scenes or in James Bond films, but you may have also heard about the terrible Glencoe massacre, where the local MacDonald clan was slaughtered by clan Campbell. We will invite you to observe its unique mountains. One of them is Bidean nam Bian, the home of the Three Sisters, the guardians of the valley: Beinn Fhada, Aonach Dubh and Son Gearr Aonach. All three are sharp peaks located next to each other. Also noteworthy is Buachaille Etive Mòr, which seems to welcome you with its pyramid shape.
What is the best route to discover the Glencoe secrets?
Our advice for your best experience in Glencoe is any of our Highlands tours: our Loch Ness tour (one day tour), and our tour to the Isle of Skye.
Eilean Donan: the most instagrammed castle in Scotland
Just before entering the amazing Isle of Skye this impressive fortification, surrounded by a cozy landscape of green mountains and gentle waters: Eilean Donan Castle. Today, the castle belongs to the clan MacRae and they still consider it their residence. Therefore, not the entire castle is open to visit, but the main and more spectacular rooms are: in them you will find weaponry and furniture of the time of its siege, in the first years of the 18th century. Its exterior is amazing and shows a nearly perfect reconstruction after being bombed and demolished by the British Army. As you may expect being in Scotland, the castle also hosts a very special guest: the ghost of a Spanish soldier.
What tour visits Eilean Donan Castle?
If you want to know the full history of this castle, our advice is to buy our tour to the Isle of Skye.
The Isle of Skye
In the Highlands, besides amazing valleys and castles, you can also find islands full of beauty and mystery. One of them is the isle of Skye, the largest of the Inner Hebrides. Castles, stone bridges, waterfalls, colorful houses, cliffs, lakes and mountains, among many other mesmerising landscapes, are waiting for you in this wonderful place.
What is the best option to visit the isle of Skye?
The Isle of Skye requires a proper visit of at least one full day of actiuon inside the island. Our advice is our 3-day tour to the Isle of Skye and the Highlands.
Now that you know all these spectacular places, where do you want to start? 😉
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