The Ultimate Guide
Discover Your Wild Side in the Highlands
Experience the raw beauty of Scotland. From the North Coast 500 to hidden glens, we curate the perfect adventure for you.
Explore the directory · View itineraries
- Curated Routes
- Local Guides
- 500+ Destinations
- +2k Explorers
Highland Explorer - Scottish Highlands Travel Guide
Curating the most breathtaking experiences in the Scottish Highlands. Discover 160 curated places to stay, eat, walk, golf and visit, alongside 19 expertly planned travel routes and 406 stories about Scotland's wild north.
From misty glens and ancient castles to legendary distilleries, hidden lochs and remote bothies, Highland Explorer is your independent guide to Scotland's most spectacular region.
Experience the Spirit of Scotland
From the rugged peaks of the Cairngorms to the white sands of the Hebrides, the Highlands offer a landscape like no other.
- 160 curated places to stay, eat, walk, golf and visit
- 19 expertly planned Highland travel itineraries
- 406 in-depth stories and travel guides
Browse by Category
Explore the Highlands - Interactive Map
Use the interactive directory map to discover places to stay, eat, golf, visit, walk, and the great lochs and activities of the Scottish Highlands. Filter by category, region, or interest to plan your perfect Highland adventure.
Ancient Tales & History
From the archives of the Highland Journal: stories of clans, castles, dark history, sacred sites, and the people who shaped Scotland's wild north.
Explore the Scottish Highlands
Your complete guide to seasons, travel, walks, castles, whisky, wildlife, and more across Scotland's wild north
Travel - 10 min read
Moray Coast Walks: Cliffs, Dolphins and Fishing Villages
Exploring Scotland's stunning coastline: wildlife, rugged cliffs, and charming fishing villages.
Activities - 3 min read
Pony Trekking in the Highlands: a Beginner's Guide
Explore Scotland's Scenic Trails: Pony Trekking Tips for First-Time Riders
Activities - 3 min read
See the Highlands in Motion
A land of ancient wonder, dramatic scenery, and unforgettable adventure. Watch our promo film and come and experience it for yourself.
Journeys Worth Taking - Featured Itineraries
Don't just visit, explore. Our handcrafted itineraries guide you through the best routes, ensuring you don't miss a hidden gem.
Whisky & Wildlife – 2-Day Cairngorms Break
2 Days - Speyside is the whisky capital of the world — the valley of the River Spey is home to over 50 distilleries producing some of the most celebrated single malts on earth. Combine this with the extraordin...
West Highlands & Isles 5-Day Loop
5 Days - This five-day loop takes you through the most iconic scenery in the western Highlands — from the dramatic pass of Glencoe and the seafood town of Oban to the sacred isle of Iona and the photogenic Gle...
Trossachs & Loch Katrine – Classic Day Tour from Stirling
1 Day - The Trossachs — often called "the Highlands in miniature" — were made famous by Sir Walter Scott's poem The Lady of the Lake and his novel Rob Roy, and have been drawing visitors since the early 19th...
Skye & Outer Isles 7-Day Adventure
7 Days - This week-long adventure combines the dramatic landscapes of Skye with the wilder, more remote islands of the Outer Hebrides — Harris and Lewis. From the famous Trotternish Peninsula to the prehistori...
Latest from the Highland Journal
Explore the Scottish Highlands
Your complete guide to seasons, travel, walks, castles, whisky, wildlife, and more across Scotland's wild north
Travel - 10 min read
Moray Coast Walks: Cliffs, Dolphins and Fishing Villages
Exploring Scotland's stunning coastline: wildlife, rugged cliffs, and charming fishing villages.
Activities - 3 min read
Pony Trekking in the Highlands: a Beginner's Guide
Explore Scotland's Scenic Trails: Pony Trekking Tips for First-Time Riders
Activities - 3 min read
Day Trips to the Outer Hebrides from Ullapool
Explore Outer Hebrides: Stunning Day Trips Starting from Ullapool's Scenic Shores
Visit - 3 min read
Highland Games: How to Watch and What to Expect
Discover the Thrills of Highland Games: Events, Traditions, and Spectator Tips
Visit - 3 min read
Where to See Highland Cattle: Scotland's Most Photogenic Animals
Top Spots to Find Scotland's Iconic and Camera-Ready Highland Cattle
Visit - 3 min read
Explore the Directory
Browse 160 curated Highland businesses and places: hotels, restaurants, golf courses, castles, walks, lochs and activities, all hand-picked by our team in Inverness.
Featured Highland Places
Eilean Donan Castle
Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh - visit - 5.0/5
Eilean Donan Castle is an icon of the Highlands: a restored castle perched on a small island where three sea lochs meet, reached by an arched stone footbridge. Inside, you can expl...
Eden Court Theatre
Inverness - activities - 5.0/5
Eden Court is a modern arts complex offering two main theatres, cinemas, studios and exhibition spaces just a short walk from Inverness city centre. Its year-round programme includ...
Victorian Market, Inverness
Inverness - visit - 5.0/5
The Victorian Market is a restored 19th-century indoor arcade just off the High Street, offering a mix of small local businesses in a characterful setting. Wander beneath decorativ...
Leakey's Bookshop
Inverness - visit - 5.0/5
Housed in a former Gaelic church, Leakey's is the sort of bookshop people fall in love with. Inside, spiral stairs and galleries wrap around floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked with s...
Cafe 1
Inverness - eat - 5.0/5
Cafe 1 is a chef-driven Inverness restaurant known for hearty, modern dishes built around locally sourced beef, lamb, venison and seasonal vegetables. The atmosphere is friendly an...
Rocpool Restaurant
Inverness - eat - 5.0/5
Rocpool is a long-standing Inverness favourite, offering contemporary Scottish dishes that make the most of Highland seafood, meat and seasonal produce. The dining room has a relax...
Chanonry Point
Black Isle - visit - 5.0/5
Jutting into the Moray Firth between Fortrose and Rosemarkie, Chanonry Point is famous for close-up views of wild bottlenose dolphins, particularly on incoming tides when they chas...
Nevis Range Mountain Gondola
Fort William - activities - 5.0/5
The Nevis Range Mountain Gondola carries you from the forested lower slopes near Fort William up to the snowsports area on Aonach Mòr. Even if you're not skiing or biking, the shor...
Ready to start your adventure?
Join thousands of other travellers discovering the secrets of the Highlands. Plan a trip with one of our curated itineraries.