Scotland
Highlands
The land of wild landscapes and countless castles
Highlands Travel Guide
Description
Rolling hills, rocky cliffs and long valleys dotted with a myriad of colors, crystalline lakes sparkling even on the coldest days, and castles scattered across the countryside make you wonder what it would be like to go back in time.
Legend and tradition are deeply rooted in the Highlands. Ruined forts and monastic cells were once home to Irish Gaelic chiefs and saints; deserted beaches and mountain passes once echoed in clashing clan battles; and empty valleys are still haunted by the ghosts of the Clearances.
Essentials
The Highlands are probably one of the most iconic places to visit in Europe. As such, they have a lot of things to see and places to visit. With that in mind we suggest at least 5 days for your visit. Assuming you will take 5 days on your trip, prepare to least spend 2 days for the Isle of Skye. If you have more time for this wonderful adventure, you can easily extend your visit to 8 or 9 days to enjoy the entire north of the country with the calm that nature deserves.
As in the rest of the country the high season in during the warm months. The tourists peak is during the summer, so we recommend you avoid this period. We suggest to visit this part of the country from late April to early June or late Septemberto October. The temperatures are still good and you will have more space for yourself.
In our opinion freedom of movement brings a lot of benefits on the Highlands. Although you can get a guided tour and visit the main spots, you will not have the same chances to see everything you want and at your pace. So, the best way to move around the Highlands is definitely by car. Although driving is on the opposite side to the “normal” side of the road, you will quickly get used to it and you will realize the enormous advantages of being able to go to all places in your bucket list. We recommend Celtic Legend since we have had a good experience with them.
Although it is not a risky adventure, not that far from civilization or with difficult routes, there are always some important things to consider for this trip. Even though the mobile network is almost always good, you should download offline maps from the area since there will be some place where you may lose your mobile wireless network. Alternatively, in the good traditional style, take some paper maps (making the trip only with access to these maps will certainly be interesting and an adventure that you will remember). It may be important if the GPS fails.
In addition, a small first aid kit, water and some food are always essential goods in case of any unforeseen event along the way. And of course, comfortable clothes and shoes to trek and visit most of the many fantastic trails in the area. In addition, you will not regret bringing a good camera with you, you'll take great photographs.
All the Highlands are pretty safe and we didn't had any kind of trouble during our trip. Just be careful driving on remote areas and tiny streets, because help could take some time to arrive.
1
2
3
4
5
Itinerary
As previously mentioned, 5 days is the bare minimum to enjoy most of the wonders that this land has to offer. For this, we recommend that you rent a car on the first day very early, to start the day full of energy. Next, we will present a suggested guide which we believe covers the most well-known and popular places. We will present the Edinburgh-Glasgow route, however it can be done in the opposite order if it is more practical for you.
Day 1
East Coast and Road to Inverness
The first stop will be Glamis Castle, considered the most beautiful castle in all of Scotland. The full tour costs around £11, but you can wander around outside if you want for free. The next stop will be Dunnotar Castle. We recommend you visit inside, but before that take a few minutes to marvel at the fantastic landscape of the castle on the hillside. The rest of the way to Inverness you can stop at a distillery if you still have time. In the evening, enjoy dinner in the city and take a walk through the picturesque streets of Inverness and along the bank of the Ness River.
| Restaurant Suggestions: | The Kitchen Brasserie ($$), Great place in the center of Inverness. |
| Where To Stay: |
The King's Highway Wetherspoon |
Praised for its location at the centre of Inverness, close to everything.
Highland Apartments by Mansley |
Luxurious apartments located at the banks of river Ness, right in the center of Inverness.
Day 2
Loch Ness & Eilean Donan
After spending some time enjoying the area, continue on your way to Eilean Donan Castle. Being the setting for several films known as the Highlander and Made of Honor, this is the most photographed castle in all of Scotland. You will surely understand why when you arrive at the site. On the journey to the Isle of Skye make a stop at the Sligachan Bridge as it also has an incredible view. For the night, you can choose to stay in Kyle of Lochalsh or Portree. Both cities are interesting for a short walk at night, although Portree is bigger.
| Restaurant Suggestions: | Urquhart's Restaurant ($$), Good restaurant serving local cuisine. McBains Restaurant By The River ($$), Offers good food at a selective range of prices. |
| Where To Stay: |
Portree Independent Hostel |
A cheap option for those traveling on a budget. Facilities include a shared kitchen, a shared lounge and free WiFi in all areas.
Portree Youth Hostel |
Hostel with a shared dining area and a common lounge. All rooms are heated and very comfortable, with option for a private bathroom.
Cuillin Hills Hotel |
This luxurious and very expensive hotel has spectacular views over Portree Bay and the Cuillin Mountain Range. It features an award-winning restaurant and serves a variety of whiskeys.
Raasay House Hotel |
Located at Isle of Raasay, this is a magnificent award-winning hotel. It offers rooms at a very large selection of prices. It is necessary to use the ferry to reach the island.
Day 3
Isle of Skye & Trotternish Loop
However, we will also present here the recommended route. For the 5-day visit to the Highlands we recommend that at least 1.5 / 2 days should be dedicated to this area. So, if you stayed the night before in Kyle of Lochalsh, we will start our journey with a visit to the Fairy Pools. If it is in Portree we will save this stop for the end and start our route in the Fairy Glen, which will provide you with a short walk along the place. Continuing the route, your next spot will be Quiraing, where you will find some amazing trails, up to 6km. After, move forward to the Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, where you will be able to appreciate a giant waterfall and amazing views of the surrounding cliffs.
Continuing your journey, we suggest that you visit a hidden gem of the island, certainly very worthwhile, the Brother’s Point. The Old Man of Storr is the next stop and be prepared for a long way up to get to the top. If you have time, enjoy the sunset at the Neist Point. Since you have a lot of activities for this day, we recommend that you grab a quick lunch to optimize time.
| Restaurant Suggestions: | The Red Brick Cafe ($), Quite famous for providing good breakfasts Pizza in the Skye ($), Fantastic pizza for take away. |
Day 4
Isle of Skye & Glenfinan
In the middle of the afternoon, take the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig in order to optimize your route and make better use of the landscapes of one of the lesser-known areas of the island. From Mallaig follow the road to Glenfinnan, where the famous viaduct featured in the Harry Potter films is located. Take the opportunity to watch the sunset next to Loch Shiel, next to the Glenfinnan Monument, while the sun hides behind the majestic mountains. To end the day, proceed to Fort William where you will spend the night.
You can catch the famous Harry Potter movie train from Fort William to Mallaig and back. However, it will occupy a large part of your day and hence is not part of our suggested itinerary. But if you are a fan, take a look at the schedules and consider joining this on your route.
| Where To Stay: |
Glen Nevis Youth Hostel |
Located at the base of Ben Nevies, this hostel has access to a multitude of hiking trails.
Moorings Hotel |
Situated at the banks of the Caledonian Canal, a 10 min drive to Fort Williams. The rooms offer panoramic views over Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor.
Day 5
Glencoe & Loch Lomond
Take a lunch in the area and continue on your way to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, where you can spend the rest of the day exploring the area. This is one of the favourite places between the locals to rest. We recommend you to do some particular stops in the area. Namely, go look for the Falls of Falloch and do a short walk to the Kilchurn Castle. Finally, go to enjoy dinner in Luss, a little village at the shores of the lake, considered one of the most beautiful villages in the country.
Despite being 5 days, with so much to see, you will feel that all the time will fly really fast. So, if you have the opportunity to spend a few more days in the area and see everything much more calmly, we certainly recommend it!
| Restaurant Suggestions: | The Village Rest ($), Good food at cheap prices. The Pier Cafe ($$), Great location at the shore of Loch Katrine |