Highland capital · City
Inverness
A compact city on the River Ness and a practical base for Loch Ness, the Black Isle and northern routes.
Explore Inverness →Mountains, lochs and roads that turn the journey into the experience
Explore Inverness, Loch Ness, Glencoe, Fort William, Aviemore and the western Highlands — then decide how far north or west you want the road to take you.
Big landscapes, slower journeys
The Highlands work best when distance stops being the goal
Choose a strong base, follow one route, and leave room for weather, viewpoints and unexpected stops.
Explore the Highlands
Choose somewhere to begin
Use the map to explore Highland towns, glens, lochs, west-coast villages and the routes that connect them.
Featured places
Where to go in the Scottish Highlands
The Highlands are too large for one checklist. Pick a part of the region, stay long enough to enjoy it, and let the road between places become part of the trip.
Western Highlands · Landscape
Glencoe
A dramatic Highland glen of steep mountain walls, waterfalls, walking routes and unforgettable road views.
Explore Glencoe →
Great Glen · Lake
Loch Ness
A long Highland loch between Inverness and Fort Augustus, with castles, viewpoints and waterside stops.
Explore Loch Ness →
Lochaber · Town
Fort William
A busy Highland town beneath Ben Nevis and a useful base for Glen Nevis, Lochaber and west-coast routes.
Explore Fort William →
Cairngorms · Town
Aviemore
A lively base for forests, lochs and mountain routes on the western side of the Cairngorms.
Explore Aviemore →
North West Highlands · Coast
Ullapool
A whitewashed harbour town surrounded by mountains and one of the best bases for north-west Highland journeys.
Explore Ullapool →
West Highlands · Village
Applecross
A remote coastal settlement reached by spectacular roads, with sea views and a strong sense of distance from everything else.
Explore Applecross →
Great Glen · Heritage
Fort Augustus
A village at the southern end of Loch Ness where the Caledonian Canal meets the loch.
Explore Fort Augustus →
West Coast · Village
Plockton
A sheltered west-coast village of white houses, sea views and easy access towards Kyle and Skye.
Explore Plockton →
Choose your kind of day
What are the Scottish Highlands best for?
Glens, ridges & mountain roads
Big Landscapes
Lochs, rivers & waterside stops
Water & Scenery
Harbours, sea lochs & remote roads
West Coast
Castles, canals & Highland stories
History & Heritage
Easy combinations
Places that work well together
The Highlands reward focused routes. Three well-connected stops usually make a better day than chasing a long list across the map.
Inverness, Loch Ness & Fort Augustus
A classic Great Glen route with city, loch and canal-side stops.
- Inverness for the base
- Loch Ness for viewpoints and castle country
- Fort Augustus for locks and waterside walking
Fort William, Glen Nevis & Glencoe
A strong western Highlands combination built around mountains and dramatic glens.
- Fort William for the practical base
- Glen Nevis for close mountain scenery
- Glencoe for one of Scotland's most memorable landscapes
Ullapool, Assynt & the north-west coast
A slower road trip through some of the Highlands' most distinctive scenery.
- Ullapool for harbour-town character
- Head north for lochs and isolated peaks
- Leave plenty of time for viewpoints and single-track roads
Do less distance and see more
The Highlands look manageable on a map, but roads, weather and scenery slow everything down. Pick a route, stay flexible and build in more time than the mileage suggests.
For a day
Choose one glen, one loch or one coast section.
For a weekend
Base yourself in Inverness, Fort William, Aviemore or Ullapool and explore outward.
By rail
Useful on selected routes, especially to Inverness, Aviemore and Fort William.
By car
Essential for many remote glens, coast roads and multi-stop Highland routes.
When you know where you are going
Stay · Do · Explore
Once you have chosen a Highland route or base, the local guide will help you turn it into a complete trip.
Keep exploring
Continue towards Skye, Moray or the far north
Isle of Skye & the Inner Hebrides, Moray & Speyside and the northern Highlands are natural next steps from the wider Highland region.