Highlands

Inverness makes a lively base for exploring the Highlands, with Fort William serving as the outdoor capital under Ben Nevis. Aviemore suits those keen on the Cairngorms, with skiing and forest trails close at hand, while Drumnadrochit sits beside Loch Ness and offers easy access to its famous waters. Glencoe remains one of Scotland's most dramatic glens, ideal for walkers and photographers seeking mountain scenery in a compact area.

Along the coast, Ullapool and Lochinver are quiet fishing towns in the far north-west, well placed for exploring wild beaches and the peaks of Assynt. Applecross rewards those willing to cross its remote pass with sweeping views over to Skye. On the Moray Firth, Nairn and Avoch offer gentler seaside charm, while Brora and Wick further north provide a slower pace, sandy shores and a real sense of remoteness.

The Highlands cover a vast stretch of country, so where you base yourself shapes the trip. Inverness offers the widest choice of hotels and guesthouses and makes a practical hub for exploring Loch Ness and the Moray coast, while Fort William, with the Ben and Glen Nevis on its doorstep, suits walkers and climbers wanting an early start on the hills.

Further afield, Dornoch and Wick bring a quieter east-coast pace with golf and beaches nearby, Strathpeffer retains its old spa-town character, and Lairg and Fort Augustus work well as stopovers on longer routes north or along the Great Glen. Spean Bridge suits those heading into the wilder ground towards Ardgour and Knoydart.

Properties range from simple, welcoming B&Bs such as The Willows or Inverness House to lodges and guesthouses like Balvraid Lodge and Lochview Guesthouse offering a bit more comfort after a day outdoors. Booking ahead matters in summer, when the smaller towns fill quickly.

The Highlands cover such a stretch of ground that days out here rarely mean sitting still. Drumnadrochit and the Loch Ness shoreline draw the crowds chasing monster lore at The Loch Ness Centre, while Aviemore and the Cairngorms lean towards adrenaline, with quad biking, segway treks and archery filling out an activity-packed base for the national park.

Further afield, the coast and islands offer a quieter pace: seal trips from Plockton, wildlife watching at Handa Island near Scourie, or a walk on Portmahomack's beach. Inverness makes a practical hub for indoor options like virtual reality and laser games on wet days, while Ballachulish and Kingussie suit those combining glen walks with paddleboarding or a spot of target shooting.

Choosing between them depends largely on whether you want scenery or activity to lead the day, and how far you're willing to travel between the two.

Eating out across the Highlands ranges from harbourside chip shops to warm little cafes tucked beside a loch or a lock. Inverness holds the biggest concentration of restaurants and pubs, useful for an evening out or a stop between drives, while Fort William and Aviemore serve the walking and skiing crowds with hearty, informal places suited to muddy boots. Smaller towns such as Nairn, Dingwall and Grantown-on-Spey tend towards local pubs and daytime cafes rather than late-night dining.

Further out, in Acharacle, Strathcarron, Spean Bridge and Newtonmore, choice thins but quality holds up, often a single well-loved spot doing good coffee, fresh fish or a proper Highland breakfast. Places like the Laggan Coffee Bothy & Gallery or Laggan Locks Cafe reward those happy to travel a little for their meal. Deciding where to eat here is really about matching pace to place: quick and central in Inverness, slower and scenic the further you head into the glens.

The Highlands reward a slow approach, and camping or glamping is often the best way to take them at that pace. Around Aviemore, pitches and pods sit close to the Cairngorms for walkers and skiers, while Drumnadrochit and Beauly make sensible bases for exploring Loch Ness and the glens without the crowds staying overnight in busier spots.

Further north and west the landscape gets wilder, and so does the choice of stays: shepherd huts and bothies around Lochinver and Ullapool put you within reach of empty beaches and mountain routes, while Nairn and Strathpeffer offer gentler, coastal or spa-town settings for those wanting less rugged surroundings.

Options range from simple certificated locations for tourers to fully-equipped shepherd huts and glamping pods, such as those at Cawdor Hideaways or Highland Shepherd Huts, so it's worth deciding whether you want a working croft setting, riverside quiet, or easy access to a town before booking.