May 19, 2019 I Heart Britain Scotland, Scottish Highlands 2. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. People planning a Scottish Highlands itinerary generally plan to spend some time walking, hiking, or climbing on at least part of their holiday. Of course in good old Scottish fashion, it poured on us so we hit the pub and had a couple drinks and lunch before heading back to Inverness to drop off our vehicle! Follow the road past Dunvegan Castle and you will find a great view of this medieval castle and you may even spot a seal or two in the bay! The Scottish Highlands are a mixture of history, culture and mind-blowing landscapes. Glenfinnan is a small town just north of Fort William, and this is where you will find the famous bridge from Harry Potter, also known as the Glenfinnan Viaduct! In the winter, some activities, particularly castles and other estates, are closed for visitors, so if you’re planning a trip in the colder months, plan ahead for what you want to see and be sure to double check what will be open to visit. Here are four suggestions to help you get started planning your trip to the Scottish Highlands. These are the world’s best, Download the This point is where you will find a pod of dolphins that come in every time the tide rises. It’s worth getting up early on day 3 of our Scottish Highlands itinerary to make the most of this beautiful trip to the Isle of Skye. There might not be a ton to do on these far-flung isles, but the landscape is out of this world, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve ventured pretty much as far north as you can go in Scotland. This also gives you more practice on the Scottish roads before being thrown into narrow single lane roads through mountains passes like Applecross! Scotland was such a mystery to us. When you’ve had your fill of rugged adventure, the coastal town of Inverness is just an hour’s drive north. These crystal clear pools at the foot of the Black Cuillins mountain range are famous for their mini-waterfalls and magical aesthetic. As we left Ullapool, we came upon Corrieshalloch Gorge, we knew nothing about this spot and it was a crazy cool hidden gem! Our day on Skye started with bright beautiful sunny weather, so we drove to the Old Man of Storr for a hike! Among the most impressive castles are Braemar and Blair. In some cases, we earn commissions from affiliate links in our posts. The North Coast 500 road trip, created in 2015, has opened up the Highlands to a new breed of visitor, with their motorbikes, campervans and convertible cars. Pin this 4 Days in the Scottish Highlands itinerary to help plan your trip! Here’s how to plan a truly unforgettable road trip through the Scottish Highlands. Who: Couples, Families, Groups and Solo Travellers. Glencoe is one of the Highlands’ most beautiful regions, particularly famous for a group of three massive peaks called “The Three Sisters.” There are several turn-offs where you’ll be able to park and photograph the stunning landscape. Wandering Bajans uses cookies to improve your experience. Believe me; it’s worth it. Before setting out from Edinburgh, explore everything the city has to offer. Our top tip would be to get there super early, we arrived around 8.30am. Comprising a slew of mountain ranges, this sparsely populated land is best seen by train on the West Highland Line. We started with some breakfast and then a walk to Duncansby Head, the most north easterly part of the British mainland! As with most other destinations, a trip to the Scottish Highlands can be as expensive or – well, not cheap but – as doable as you are willing to make it. Our top tip would be to make sure you fill up with gas at Thurso as some gas stations further along may not be open depending on the time of year! It’s whisky without an ‘e’ and meeting some of the friendliest people. If you get the chance to take one road trip in the United Kingdom, this is definitely it. As we made our way along Scotland’s infamous single lane roads we noticed a tea shop and decided to grab a coffee! Just an hour and a half north from Edinburgh you’ll find Cairngorms National Park. After lunch we decided to drive over to the Isle of Skye and explore a bit so we found a great camping spot just outside of Portree and we decided to spend the next day exploring a bit of Skye! Corrieshalloch gorge is basically a gorge about 1.5km long and 60m deep! Accommodations in the Scottish Highlands range from private bed and breakfasts, budget hotels, to luxury lodges. Oban on the western seaboard is a great journey by road or rail and, as an important ferry gateway, could tempt you out to the Scottish islands. Inquire Now Add to Ideas + The Highlands of Scotland. When you’re done exploring the lake, it’s time to return to civilization. In the Scottish Highlands, you’ll inevitably come across a few mountain ranges. You can start your trip pretty much anywhere, but Scotland’s capital city is a natural launching point. and seals! Whether you decide to hike the mountain or just stop for a few photos, continue south through Glencoe, a glen full of striking mountains and waterfalls. Planning Your Loch Ness Visit. There was a little camp site located close to the point so we opted to stay there for warm showers and some sort of shelter from the crazy winds that night. You can start your trip pretty much anywhere, but Scotland’s capital city is a natural launching point. The Scottish, that’s who—that’s precisely why they think we Americans are so crazy to do all the driving we do. Hailed as one of the best coastal touring routes in the world, the North Coast 500 is a must do if you’re planning a Scottish Highlands road trip. Drive an hour south from Glencoe, and you’ll arrive at Loch Lomond, a massive loch with several hiking trails. This includes numerous castles, lochs & the Harry Potter train, the Trossachs, Fort William, Oban & Glencoe as well as the islands of Skye & Mull. Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, is just a 45-minute drive south. The ride back to Edinburgh shouldn’t take more than an hour, so when you’re ready to return, take your time. Our first day we arrived in Scotland and picked up our truck from WildTrax and headed to Chanonry Point. Unfortunately for us we were tired and cold so we didn’t have the patience to sit around for too long. Let the Scottish Highlands – its sights, songs, stories, and spirit delight your eyes, touch your soul, and fill your heart to bursting. — This post contains affiliate links, this means when you purchase one of the items below, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you —. Planning a trip to the Scottish Highlands? Enjoy a road trip with an accredited driver-guide as you explore the Highlands of Scotland. Travelling to the Scottish Highlands is going to be all of those experiences and more. Visit Dunnet Beach Strathy Beach Armadale bay Make camp around Tongue. Track your monthly income and expenses, estimate your travel expenses and see how long you need to save up for that dream trip! We definitely missed a few things due to our lack of planning. The Scottish Highlands and Islands were included in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel list for 2019 – the only region in the UK to make the cut.