The Scottish Highlands are incredibly beautiful and home to far more than mountains, wilderness areas and lochs (although these do comprise some of their more stunning attractions).
A recent article for Travel Awaits picked up some of the must-see sights in this part of Scotland, and we think they’re certainly worth exploring, especially if this is the first time you’ve been to this region.
Loch Ness is arguably one of the area’s most famous attractions, predominantly because of the legend of Nessie. Going on a boat trip on the loch is a must, and a great way to appreciate the stunning scenery, even if you don’t manage to spot the famous monster.
Urquhart Castle is also found on Loch Ness and certainly worth a visit. The medieval ruins have the mountains and loch as a backdrop, making it particularly spectacular.
Another castle worthy of your time is Eilean Donan Castle, located in the western highlands. It’s situated on an island in the midst of mountains and lochs, and really is picture perfect.
Of course, the natural scenery is really the main reason to visit and there’s no better way to appreciate this than on walking tours of Scotland’s Highlands.
The route up Glen Coe is one of the most famous in the region, but there are countless trails that you can follow both here and elsewhere in the Highlands. There’s something for every level of walker, so make sure you dedicate at least a couple of days of your stay to exploring on foot.
The Independent recently named the West Highland Way as one of the top walking routes in the UK. This trail covers some 96 miles and takes around one week to complete in its entirety, although you could always pick one or two sections to tackle if you don’t have that much time for hiking.