Explore Scotland: Your Ultimate Guide to The Scottish Highlands

Rugged Mountains, Clear Blue Waters, the freshest of seafood and some Celtic charm is what to expect if you take a trip to the stunning Scottish highlands. A playground for hikers and bikers - there is so much to do and see, please don't try and pack it all into one long weekend, you would be doing yourself and the area a disservice. The land is so vast, has so many little pockets of wonder, it takes quite a bit of time getting from A to B in a car. Heads up - you will want to hire a car for this trip so you can roam freely and venture off the beaten track. You can break your holiday into little mini breaks if you don't have the annual leave to take or spend the best part of 10 days up in the mountains. The Scottish Highlands are a great retreat - somewhere to go with friends and rent a cottage or Air B & B or somewhere to go just to get a way from it all. It is also a great place for a romantic, secluded getaway. I wanted to share my Highlands itinerary with you in the hope you can make the most of your time in the highlands without having to do too much forward planning. Don't forget your walking boots!

How to get there

You can access the Scottish Highlands by multiple routes but I would suggest either of the following (depending on how much time you have of course):

1. Fly to Glasgow Airport and rent a car then head towards Fort William (Home of Ben Nevis) then from Fort William you can head on towards the Isle of Skye (and beyond)

2. Fly to Inverness Airport and rent a car - Inverness is known as 'the Gateway to the Scottish Highlands', from here you are pretty much in the thick of it but I would recommend heading in the general direction of Ullapool. A quaint little fishing village, this is a great base for touring around the Highlands.

3. Drive - we drove from London and it was a 13 hour trip which took the entire day, just because we wanted to bring our own car and our own bikes but only do this method if you are prepared to surrender two days of your trip to travelling. We drove up via Glasgow to Fort William, then onto Skye.

The Best Activities and Area's to Explore in the Highlands:

Take the North Coast 500 Route

Possibly one of the best road trips in Europe and dubbed as 'the ultimate roadtrip' the North Coast 500 Route (although not a continuous loop) takes you around 500 miles of unspoiled scenery in the Scottish Highlands. It is recommended you dedicate at least 5 days to the trip so you can capture the very best of the highlands on your route. More information can be found here.

Go Glamping near Glencoe

I am the biggest fan of Glamping - I think it is one of the most comfortable and hygienic ways to explore the thrill of camping and the great outdoors, but with the little pleasures of a hotel stay. Far from luxury - but comfortable. Clean and Comfortable that's it! Anyway, as part of our trip we decided to spend a couple of days off grid in little wooden glamping pods in Ballachulish in West Laroch at the edge of Loch Leven. I would highly recommend this - very romantic with the big bath tub. It rained the whole time during our two night stay but that just added to the atmosphere as we could hear the river running behind the huts. Cosy.

Eat Lobster at Loch Leven Seafood Centre Cafe

For more information in dining in the Highlands check out my other blog post on The Best Restaurants in the Scottish Highlands.

Watch the Sunsets from the Bay of Glencoe

I don't know how we stumbled across Glencoe, but I am so glad we did as it has the most amazing sunsets, where you can watch the sun go down between the Glens quite literally. I tried to capture this a few times on camera but the pictures don't do it justice. Park up with a fish supper and watch the sun go down in the wilderness. It really is quite something.

Go Sea Kayaking in Arisaig

White sandy beaches, clear blue waters and sheltered sea lochs - is what to expect when you go sea-kayaking in Arisaig. Or so the brochure said - the realty was really quite different.. not the beautiful blue seas - that part was true - but it was quite choppy on the day we went out and we seemed to venture quite far into the open loch, there were lots of waves and I was paddling like Billeo crashing through the waves getting splashed with seaweed as I went. It was thrilling, and certainly not the leisurely experience I was expecting but I loved every minute of it. I would highly recommend this activity for your itinerary. Curious little seals even swam close to our Kayaks. It was a real authentic experience to say the least. Try the Arisaig Sea Kayak Centre for more information.

Search for the Loch Ness Monster

We couldn't go all the way to the Scottish Highlands and not try and catch a glimpse of the infamous Loch Ness Monster 'Nessie' on out travels. Access Loch Ness from Inverness.

Cruise up the scenic waters of Lochs Glendhu and Glencoul

We took an informative Boat Trip via the Kylesku Boat Tours when we stopped off at the KyleSku hotel for its famous seafood lunch. I much prefer exploring places from the water personally, and it was a great opportunity to experience the heart of the Scottish Wilderness and Wildlife first hand.

Have a BBQ on the stunning Mellon Udrigie Beach

If you go to one beach in the Scottish Highlands - go to this one! Who knew that Scotland had some of the most beautiful beaches with crystal clear seas and white sand - Mellon Udrigie beach could be mistaken for the Maldives. We had a picnic in the afternoon, swam in the (freezing) sea and then warmed up with a bottle of red and a BBQ for supper. Just brilliant.

Cycle Around Achnahaird Bay

Achnahaird Bay in Wester Ross is located on the Coigach peninsula. We drove here with the bikes and parked up and did a circular loop around the bay. It was a beautiful spring day - we were so lucky with the weather - I actually got a little sunburn but was such a wonderful opportunity to see the sights as there wasn't a cloud in the sky - we had uninterrupted views of the mountains.

Have a picnic on Beinn a Chlaidheim

We drove here from Ullapool, parked the car and started walking - we must have walked for a bout 5 hours before finally resting on a big slab of rock overlooking onto the valley below. This was a much needed rest stop with a spectacular backdrop and a challenging hike.

Stay in the picturesque Village of Ullapool

Ullapool is a quaint little fishing village in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and a great place to base yourself for your Highland retreat. We stayed in the newly renovated Harbor House hotel, just at the edge of the town. It was perfect and B&B included a great big Scottish breakfast each morning which was ideal for setting off hiking and biking. We lined our stomachs as they say. Ps - don't be put off by the exterior of the building, it is much nicer inside. (Don't judge a book by its cover).

Find a Secluded Beach and Take 5

The Highlands, especially the North West Coast of Scotland have some beautiful beaches tucked away in coves of the rugged landscape. Go exploring, you can stumble across some stunning gems hidden along the coastline.

Take a Ride on the Jacobite Steam Train

Described as the greatest train journey in the world - this 84 mile trip runs from Fort William (home to Ben Nevis) to Mallaig, a busy fishing port with lost of little shops and restaurants to explore when you arrive. Book far in advance to avoid disappointment as trains are typically fully booked during peak summer season, May - September.

Climb Ben Nevis

It would be rude to go all the way to Scotland and not attempt to climb the country's Highest Mountain, and the tallest mountain on the British Isles. Big Ben is located in the Lochbar region of the Highlands and you start your accent from Fort William. There are a number of routes you can take, some more challenging than others. We took the Mountain Track - otherwise known as the 'Tourist' route. Allow approx 7 hours for the round trip and make a day of it.

Explore the Isle of Skye

To go to the Scottish Highlands and not take a trip to the Isle of Skye would be like going to Egypt and skipping the Pyramids (well not quite but you see the point). Skye is the largest island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago with an abundance of rugged landscapes, picturesque fishing villages and medieval castles to explore. For more inspiration for your Highlands Itinerary check out my other blog post on my Top Travel Tips for Visiting the Isle of Skye.

Stay in a Whisky Distillery on the Isle of Rassay

The only way to access the Isle of Rassay via boat from the Isle of Skye so make sure to check the ferry timetables before you travel. I would recommend an overnight stay on the island so you can properly explore all the little nukes and crannies and secluded beaches. There are only two places to stay on the island - either the House of Raasay or in the Rasaay Distillery. The Distillery is cosy & clean with a modern feel about with a breathtaking backdrop of the Cuillins to the West and Torridon to the East.

Top Tips and Advice for Travelling in the Highlands

The Weather is unpredictable and temperatures vary a lot and can range from being at risk of sunburn to at risk of hypothermia. (Slight extreme but you get the idea) Don't get caught out and pack these essentials for your trip:

• Water Bottle

• Drinking Flask (for tea / coffee / hot drinks / soup if planning on hiking

• Walking Boots

• Rain Coat / Waterproof Coat

• Multiple changes of footwear

• Good Socks

• Plasters

• Swimwear

• Beach Towel

• Picnic Blanket

• Back Pack

• A Whistle

• Wet Wipes / Hand Sanitiser

• Toilet Roll (in case of emergency in the wilderness)

• Sun glasses

• Sun Cap

• Warm Fleece

• Plenty of Layers

• Active wear

• Comfy Clothes

• A Lighter or Matches (for a BBQ or wild camping)

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