The Scottish Highlands
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Lochan Urr in Glen Etive
See the striking mountains of Buachaille Etive Beag and Buachaille Etive Mor.
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The Highlands

The Scottish Highlands is really the Scotland of your imagination. With welcoming people, a unique culture, dramatic landscapes, romantic castles and a fascinating history, this is the perfect backdrop for your next Scottish adventure. So head north for a weekend break or longer holiday in the Highlands!

With such a vast area, it's difficult to know where to go in the Scottish Highlands, from its lively capital Inverness to its stunning countryside.

There are plenty of things to do in the Highlands. Explore the mysterious Loch Ness, pass through the Cairngorms National Park, marvel at iconic castles on the Isle of Skye, witness dolphins frolicking off the Moray Speyside coast, walk up Britain's highest peak, Ben Nevis, in Lochaber, or explore the rugged coastline of Caithness.

Start planning your perfect Scottish Highlands holidays now!

Please look after the Scottish countryside as you explore and refer to our Outdoor Access Guidelines.

Popular Destinations in the Highlands

Fort William

Known as the 'Outdoor Capital of the UK', Fort William also boasts Ben Nevis, traditional pubs, Lochaber Geopark, and more.

Aviemore

Aviemore is surrounded by lush Highland scenery in the north west corner of the majestic Cairngorms National Park.

Glencoe

Located within awe-inspiring Lochaber Geopark in the Highlands, the village of Glencoe sits at the deep valley and towering mountains of this glen.

Inverness

Explore the Highland capital of Inverness, a compact city with the Highlands all around it.

Loch Ness

The beautiful and world-famous loch is shrouded in mystery, thanks to the Loch Ness Monster.

Isle of Skye

The largest of the Inner Hebrides, Skye is home to many iconic landscapes and is always on the must-visit list.

Cairngorms National Park

You'll never run out of surprises in Britain's biggest National Park.

Visiting the Highlands of Scotland

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VisitScotland Brilliant Moments cyclist embarks on a tour of Scotland. On Route on the A861 at Moidart © Ian Rutherford
Cyclist rides the A861 at Moidart © Ian Rutherford

ARDNAMURCHAN & THE WEST HIGHLAND PENINSULAS

Join one of Scotland's favourite travel bloggers, The Chaotic Scot, as she explores this romantic coastal part of the Highlands. On the way she uncovers the area's many gems including revitalising wellness activities, secluded beaches, whisky distilleries and a very famous lighthouse. 

Follow Kay's latest adventures on Instagram and Facebook

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Glenfinnan musicians Iain MacFarlane & Ingrid Henderson

Scottish traditional music

Traditional songs and Gaelic music have been at the heart of Scottish culture for centuries and it has never been more important to support our many creative talents. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready for some foot-stomping tunes as you travel through Scotland to the sounds of the most exciting contemporary folk musicians and singers.

Listen to trad music
Sally Dowden, who owns Speyside Wildlife
Sally Dowden, who owns Speyside Wildlife

Plan a 3-day trip to the Highlands with Sally's recommendations

These suggestions are provided by local business owner, Sally Dowden, who owns Speyside Wildlife based in Grantown-on-Spey in the north of the Cairngorms National Park. Meet Sally, and plan a trip to the Highlands.

See Sally in our video!

Plan a trip now
Dancers taking part in the Aboyne Highland Games to the sounds of bagpipes
Aboyne Highland Games, Deeside. Pic: Rob McDougall

Highland games

Held in communities across the country, Highland games are thrilling spectacles of tradition, colour and passion. See heavy athletes toss the caber, graceful Highland dancers, and pipe band marches. Maybe you'll even join in a tug-of-war? It's a day-out that'll definitely put a smile on your face.
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Kingussie v Fort William, Camanachd Cup semi final played at An Aird, Fort William

Shinty

A sport which is at the heart of many communities across the Highlands, shinty is played with wooden sticks and a ball and has been compared with field hockey. This ancient sport runs in the blood and often you'll find different generations of the same family in teams.
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Insh Shinty Team (1892) - Image: Highland Folk Museum, High Life Highland
(c) Highland Folk Museum, High Life Highland

Follow the Shinty Trail

Follow the Shinty Trail, a fantastic interactive storytelling guide to the shinty heritage of Badenoch, in the Cairngorms National Park. Through this online journey, you will discover the history of the sport and its ties with the heritage and culture of Badenoch!

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The Torridon Hills at Upper Loch Torridon
The Torridon Hills at Upper Loch Torridon

Highlands and Islands named in Lonely Planet's 'Best in Travel' 2019

Scotland's Highlands and Islands, which includes the Outer Hebrides, Moray Speyside and Aberdeenshire, have been named a top 10 region in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2019. The prestigious global accolade encapsulates the areas' fantastic natural scenery, attractions and experiences. Discover scenic road trips, island hopping, city life and more.
Read the blog

Explore Highlands by area

The Highlands stretches from Fort William in the west, right up the coast by Skye, around the North Coast 500 to Durness and John O' Groats in the far north. It also runs up to Inverness and east out to Elgin, taking in Aviemore and some of the Cairngorms National Park. Get to know the smaller areas better by exploring these external sites for things to do, travel information and more.

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Moray Speyside Opens a new window

Inverness & Loch Ness  Opens a new window

West Highland Peninsulas Opens a new window

Easter Ross Peninsula Opens a new window

Fort William & Lochaber Opens a new window

Aviemore & The Cairngorms National Park Opens a new window

Nairn Opens a new window

Skye & Lochalsh Opens a new window

Wester Ross Opens a new window

Caithness & Sutherland Opens a new window

Scottish Highlands Map

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Armadale

Towns & Villages
The hamlet of Armadale is on the Sleat Peninsula, at the south end of the Isle of Skye, and boasts a very attractive sheltered beach.
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Aviemore

Towns & Villages
Located on the doorstep of the Cairngorms National Park, Aviemore is a major holiday resort surrounded by stunning scenery.
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Beauly

Towns & Villages
Beauly's name is thought to come from the words of Mary Queen of Scots when she visited in 1564 and commented 'C'est un beau lieu' (what a beautiful place).
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Black Isle

Sub-region
The Black Isle is a peninsula in the Highlands of Scotland, located north of Inverness.
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Broadford

Towns & Villages
The village of Broadford is the second largest on Skye and makes a good base for exploring the Cuillins and the island.
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Brora

Towns & Villages
Placed perfectly on the magnificent east coast of Sutherland, the small village of Brora boasts a prime golf location.
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Caithness And North Coast Sutherland Area

Sub-region
Caithness and North Coast Sutherland is a large area of unspoilt, dramatic scenery in the far north of Scotland, indeed, on the extreme edge of Europe.
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Dornoch

Towns & Villages
Sitting on the edge of the Dornoch Firth, the small historic town of Dornoch boasts a tranquil location, stunning scenery and sunny climate.
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Drumnadrochit

Towns & Villages
Located at the head of Urquhart Bay on the northern shore of Loch Ness, the lovely village of Drumnadrochit is popular with Loch Ness monster hunters!
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Dufftown

Towns & Villages
The vibrant and thriving Highland village of Dufftown is the ‘malt whisky capital of the world!
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Dunvegan

Towns & Villages
The small town of Dunvegan on the west coast of the Isle of Skye is best known for Dunvegan Castle.
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Durness

Towns & Villages
Durness is a thriving village surrounded by the dramatic landscape of Sutherland.
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Elgin

Towns & Villages
Nestled in the world-famous whisky region, Elgin lies on the south coast of the Moray Firth roughly midway between Inverness and Aberdeen and straddles the River Lossie.
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Forres

Towns & Villages
The attractive town of Forres is one of Scotland’s oldest small towns.
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Fort William

Towns & Villages
Lying in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Fort William is the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ and the main town in Lochaber.
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Gairloch

Towns & Villages
Gairloch is a fantastic place to visit and of course for exploring Wester Ross and the north west Highlands.
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Grantown-on-Spey

Towns & Villages
The small town of Grantown-on-Spey on the edge of the spectacular Cairngorms National Park is a great base for exploring the Strathspey area.
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Helmsdale

Towns & Villages
Helmsdale, on the east coast of Sutherland, was built on golf, herrings and salmon!
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Invergarry

Towns & Villages
Invergarry is a village at the foot of Glengarry, on the main route between Fort William and Inverness through the Great Glen.
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Inverness

City
Inverness is one of Scotland's seven cities and sits in the south of the Highlands, on the banks of the River Ness.
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John O' Groats

Towns & Villages
This Highland village combines dramatic, unspoilt scenery and fascinating wildlife.
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Kingussie

Towns & Villages
Kingussie is the capital of Badenoch in the Highlands. It’s a lovely lively town beside the River Spey in the midst of the beautiful Cairngorms National Park.
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Lochcarron

Towns & Villages
Lochcarron is a pretty village of white-washed cottages on the shore of Loch Carron in the Wester Ross region of Scotland.
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Lochinver

Towns & Villages
The small fishing port and resort of Lochinver on the west coast of Scotland offers the very best views back across to Suilven.
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Mallaig

Towns & Villages
The bustling and thriving port of Mallaig is situated on the north west coast along the famous Road to the Isles.
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Nairn

Towns & Villages
Visit Scotland’s Highland Playground. Nairn is a relaxing and friendly seaside resort in the Scottish Highlands, blessed with three beautiful beaches, stunning scenery and two championship golf courses.
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Newtonmore

Towns & Villages
Newtonmore is a lovely village nestling in the upper reached of the Spey valley within the Cairngorms National Park.
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Portree

Towns & Villages
Portree, the main town on the Isle of Skye, is a bustling port and a thriving cultural centre.
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Spean Bridge

Towns & Villages
The small and attractive village of Spean Bridge is located at the southern end of the Great Glen and is best known for its iconic Commando Memorial.
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Tain

Towns & Villages
The small but thriving town of Tain, situated on the south shore of Dornoch Firth, is Scotland’s oldest royal burgh.
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Thurso

Towns & Villages
The most northerly town in mainland Scotland, Thurso is a great base for exploring the surrounding countryside.
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Tomintoul

Towns & Villages
Nestled at a height of 1164 ft on the northern slopes of the Cairngorm Mountains, Tomintoul is the highest village in the Highlands.
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Uig - Skye

Towns & Villages
Set in a sheltered horseshoe-shaped bay on Skye, Uig is a ferry port to the Western Isles and a good base for a walking holiday.
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Ullapool

Towns & Villages
The picturesque fishing town of Ullapool, nestled on the shores of Lochbroom, is a great holiday destination and a gateway to the Northern Highlands.
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Wick

Towns & Villages
The former Viking settlement of Wick is the principal town in the far north of the mainland.
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Aviemore iCentre

VisitScotland iCentres
Aviemore iCentre is located in the centre of the village only 200 yards from the rail station and bus stop. Refurbished with a bright and open design in 2021, we pride ourselves on being the perfect starting point for your time in the Cairngorm National Park - or a convenient stop as part of your trip around Scotland and the Highlands. We offer Information, Gifts, Books and Maps as well as helping with your Accommodation, Transport and Travel enquiries. We also offer a Booking Service on behalf of Scottish Citylink Coaches. In addition to our in-person service, we are also happy to answer queries by telephone call and e-mail.
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Fort William iCentre

VisitScotland iCentres
Fort William iCentre is centrally and conveniently located on the High Street, close to all major amenities including Rail and Bus links as well as public Car Parking. Situated within the Outdoor Capital of the UK, we are ideally placed to provide information and inspiration whether you are passing through or having an extended stay within Fort William, Lochaber and the surrounding area. We offer Information, Gifts, Books and Maps as well as helping with your Accommodation, Transport and Travel enquiries. We also offer a Booking Service on behalf of Scottish Citylink Coaches. In addition to our in-person service, we are also happy to answer queries by telephone call and e-mail.
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Inverness iCentre

VisitScotland iCentres
Inverness iCentre is located halfway along the pedestrianised High Street in the centre of Inverness, a 5-10 minute walk from both the bus and railway stations as well as most major public car parks. We can help you with inspiring places to visit, not to be missed local events, the best places to eat, the most scenic routes, detailed maps, guidebooks and much more. With Inverness being the capital of the Highlands, we’re well equipped to help you with your onward journey or indeed to help you make the most of your journey home through the rest of Scotland. In addition to our in-person service, we are also happy to answer queries by telephone call and e-mail.
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Loch Ness Hub Ltd

VisitScotland iCentres
Loch Ness Hub and Travel is a community owned Visitor Information Centre based in Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness, providing tourist information, baggage and luggage transfers for the Great Glen Way and other long distance trails in the area.
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Portree iCentre

VisitScotland iCentres
You’ll find the Portree iCentre on Bayfield Road, making it conveniently located for all public car parks and the main bus stops located in the Village Square. In addition to information on what to see and do, we are also here to help with tour and activity bookings, accommodation and public transport queries as well as offering a booking service for Scottish Citylink coaches. There is a large selection of gifts, books and maps on sale within the centre and we also provide free Wi-Fi for customers. In addition to our in-person service, we are also happy to answer queries by telephone call and e-mail to help you plan your trip to the Misty Isle from the comfort of your own home.
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Ullapool iCentre

VisitScotland iCentres
Situated on Argyle Street just one street up from the harbour and ferry port, Ullapool iCentre is conveniently located for anyone exploring the town or further afield. In addition to maps and information on the local area, the team are also on hand to assist with queries on the North Coast 500 and the Outer Hebrides. We also offer retail products including Gifts, Books and Maps and can also help with your Accommodation, Transport and Travel enquiries. We also offer a Booking Service on behalf of Scottish Citylink Coaches. In addition to our in-person service, we are also happy to answer queries by telephone call and e-mail.
Find out more

Ideas and Inspiration

Highland games

From tug o'war to the caber toss, Scotland's Highland games are not to be missed.

Filmed in the region Opens a new window

Test your knowledge of Highlands’ cinematic triumphs!

Outlander

Step into the world of Claire and Jamie and discover standing stones, castles, kilts and more.

Shinty Opens a new window

Amazing wildlife Opens a new window

Discover the region’s wild residents.

Free things to see

Find free attractions and must-visit sights in the Highlands that won't cost you a penny.

The Highlands for Kids

Check out our 7-day itinerary for families in the Highlands and plan a break that the kids will remember!

Highland castles itinerary

See some of Scotland's most amazing castles as you tour the Highlands over four great days.

Nessie

More information on the monster's background and potential whereabouts.

Local Walks in the Highlands

The Scottish Highlands offers miles of stunning landscapes and glorious wilderness to explore on foot. There are hundreds of wonderful walks and trails, but here are just a few to get you started:

Find more walks in the Scottish Highlands

Discover the Highlands on video

Only in Scotland - The Highlands0:30

Magical landscapes, glistening lochs, centuries of eventful history and hundreds of hidden spots...

Winter in Caithness and Sutherland2:51

Discover the appeal of the winter months in the North Highlands, from wild waves and wildlife watching to cosy evenings and Northern lights.

Loch Ness 360 Trail2:30

Lochaber's Coasts & Mountains0:31

Explore Lochaber's coastline, stunning landscapes and mountain ranges

Accommodation

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The Torridon Hotel, Wester Ross, Highlands
The Torridon Hotel, Wester Ross, Highlands

Find a place to stay

From luxury spa resorts, stunning 5-star castles, country house hotels, cosy self-catering cottages and welcoming B&Bs to friendly budget hostels, great value campsites, comfortable wigwams and campervan parks, there are plenty accommodation options for your Scottish Highlands holiday.

Book accommodation

Meet the Influencers

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The clifftop ruins of Urquhart Castle, overlooking Loch Ness
Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness

Team SuperTramp

Carter Hogan and Tyson Henderson from Team SuperTramp wanted to see as many different sides of Scotland as they could on their trip.

Follow their journey which takes them to the Highlands where they take in iconic locations and landscapes including Urquhart Castle, the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Glencoe.

Discover more

Travel in the Highlands

Getting here and around

You can easily get to and around the Highlands using the extensive network of public transport and roads. The region may appear remote, but this beautiful part of Scotland is very accessible and is certainly worth the journey.

To work out your travel plans, decide which area of the Highlands you want to visit, and you can then find information on travelling by car, bus, train or even flying to Inverness in our handy online brochures.
They will even help you work out how to get around the area, so you can really start planning that Highland adventure.

Travel to Inverness, Nairn & Loch Ness

Travel to Moray Speyside

Travel to Skye

Travel to North Highlands

Travel to Fort William & Lochaber

Travel to the Cairngorms National Park

Travel to Ullapool and Wester Ross

Help and advice

Other things you might like

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Iconic places to visit in Scotland 

Scottish Landscapes, Scenery & Nature Spots 

Outdoor Activities 

Scottish Islands & Island Hopping 

Scenic Driving Routes