Scottish Highlands

The Highlands cover such a vast and varied stretch of Scotland that where you base yourself matters as much as what you book. Inverness makes a practical hub, with Rocpool Reserve and Kingsmills Hotel offering comfortable town stays close to the Ness, while Ness Walk sits right by the river. Further out, places like Loch Ness Inn put you within easy reach of the loch itself.

For something more remote, Applecross Inn and The Torridon reward the drive west with dramatic scenery on the doorstep, and Inverlochy Castle Hotel near Fort William suits a grander stay. Aviemore's Cairngorm Hotel and The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool cater well to walkers and climbers heading into the hills, while smaller guesthouses such as Hillview Guesthouse offer a simpler, more personal base for touring the region.

The region rewards a mix of set-piece attractions and long, unhurried days outdoors.

• Glencoe — a glacial valley walled by the Three Sisters and the Aonach Eagach ridge, with walks ranging from the short Signal Rock loop to serious mountain days, and a National Trust for Scotland visitor centre explaining the 1692 massacre.
• Ben Nevis — at 1,345m the highest mountain in Britain, climbed by thousands each year via the Mountain Track from Glen Nevis, a demanding seven to nine hour round trip that needs proper boots and a weather forecast.
• Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle — a 23-mile freshwater loch running the length of the Great Glen, with cruise boats from Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus and the ruined lochside castle above them.
• Cairngorms National Park — over 4,500 square kilometres of plateau, pine forest and river, with the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd at Glenmore, the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig and some of the darkest skies in Britain.
• The Jacobite steam train — the seasonal service from Fort William to Mallaig crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, bookable well ahead and busy through summer.
• The North Coast 500 — a 500-mile circular driving route from Inverness around the northern mainland, taking in Applecross, Durness and the far north-west; allow a week rather than a long weekend.
• Bealach na Bà — the hairpinned pass over to Applecross, climbing to 626m with gradients around one in five, closed or unpleasant in bad weather and unsuitable for large caravans.
• Eilean Donan Castle — the much-photographed island castle at Dornie where three sea lochs meet, on the road between Inverness and the Skye bridge.

Eating out across the Highlands means covering a lot of ground, and the choice reflects that. Harbour towns like Ullapool have long-standing hotel dining rooms such as the Argyll Hotel, while smaller settlements often rely on a single café or inn to double as the social hub, as with the Lochailort Inn on the road west.

Away from the main routes, expect an increasing spread of casual spots doing good, honest food: burger vans, bakeries and takeaways sit alongside the more traditional pub kitchens. Places like Coyote Burger and Cafe Artysans show how varied the newer openings have become, while village cafés keep things simple for walkers and passing trade.

Booking ahead matters more in remoter areas, where opening hours can be tied to the season, and where a pub such as Nethy House or a café like Yiayias Little Kitchen may be the only option for miles.

The Highlands reward those willing to sleep close to the landscape, and the choice here runs from loch-side glamping to more traditional pitches beneath the mountains. Loch Lomond Glamping offers a soft-edged introduction to the region, with warm accommodation and water views close at hand, while Rothiemurchus Camp and Caravan Park sits deep in Cairngorms forest, useful for walkers and families wanting easy access to trails and wildlife.

Further west, Applecross Campsite trades convenience for scenery, reached via the twisting Bealach na Ba road and rewarding the journey with views over to Skye. Choosing between them often comes down to how remote you want to feel: Rothiemurchus suits a settled base with facilities nearby, Applecross suits those chasing coastal drama, and Loch Lomond works well as a gentler stop for those new to camping in the Highlands.

The Highlands hold a huge range of self-catering options, from crofts and shepherds' huts to stone cottages and larger family houses. Places like Culbokie Cottages near Dingwall offer a cluster of options in one setting, while others such as Drummuie House or Moonshine Cottage sit alone on their own ground, better suited to those wanting privacy and space rather than neighbouring properties.

Location matters more here than almost anywhere else in Scotland, given the distances involved. A base near Inverness gives easy reach into the glens and coast, while cottages further west or on the Black Isle, such as Sunrise Summerhouse or Seashell Lodge, put you closer to beaches and quieter roads. Huts and pods, including those at Woodside Croft or the Hebridean Views collection, tend to suit shorter stays or couples, while the larger houses work better for groups wanting a longer week exploring the region.