The Scottish Highlands has long been a magical and romantic land. This region covers more than 11,000 square miles of rugged and beautiful landscapes. With roughly 234,000 inhabitants, this is the perfect place to enjoy nature and step back in time. We have gathered some of our favorite Highland locations to visit below. We hope if you haven’t been to the Highlands, yet this post makes you want to put it on your list. If you have, we hope it’s a lovely reminder of the magic you experienced in Scotland.

Best Time to Visit

The Scottish Highlands are beautiful no matter the season. However, we do suggest that you plan your trip according to what you want to see and do while there. If you are looking for the best weather with minimal rain, then summer is your season. Unfortunately, the summer brings crowds and higher prices. If you are looking for attractions, this season is the best time of the year for them to all be open. Summer temperatures average in the 70’s.

If you are hoping to travel on a budget and avoid the crowds, we personally recommend the shoulder seasons of Spring and Fall.  Temperatures run a little cooler and the rain chances go up, but its still a lovely time to visit. Most attractions are open late spring and early fall. These seasons are ideal if you want to hike or bike around the Highlands.

Getting to the Scottish Highlands

Getting to the Scottish Highlands is easy, no matter your start point. Flights are generally affordable into Edinburgh or Glasgow. Our month-long stay in the Highlands included flying into Edinburgh and renting a car to drive. The drive isn’t long and it doesn’t take much time to get adjusted to driving on the left. Renting a car is the most ideal option. Keep in mind, you will pay extra for automatic transmission, but it is available. Make sure when renting a car to rent from a trusted brand and choose full coverage insurance. Your insurance from home will likely not cover you in Scotland.

Other Ways to Travel

You can also travel by bus to the Scottish Highlands. This mode of travel should only be your pick if you are on a tight budget and have extra time. While the bus will get you there, it will take quite a bit longer. Buses don’t run on quite the frequency you’d see in a big city. Some rural stops only get one stop a day.

Scotland has a large number of trusted professional tour providers that also offer Scottish Highland tours. Many times, these tours can be as simple as a bus day trip or as in-depth as a full service package. A full service package could include your flights to Scotland, transportation to the highlands, lodging, a tour guide, and maybe some meals. This is a great option for someone who enjoys the done-for-you type package. These packages often include unique experiences that can be hard to secure on your own like dining in a Highland castle or going to a cèilidh dance.

Our Favorite Villages

The Scottish Highlands are full of charming small villages and moderate-sized cities. This is by no means an exhaustive list of villages to see but rather a selection of our personal favorites.

Glenelg

The beautiful quiet village of Glenelg boasts a population of roughly 1,500 people. This village was our home for over three weeks while staying in the Highlands. While this may sound like a decent-sized village in our experience, the population feels more like a few hundred people. It’s an incredibly peaceful village with lovely people. Glenelg is home to the Glenelg Inn which offers lodgings, food, and a pub. Glenelg is also home to the Glenelg Ferry. This ferry allows you to cross “over the sea” to Skye on the only remaining turntable ferry still in operation. While there are more efficient means to get to Skye now, we highly recommend this experience. You can find more information about the ferry here. For a more in-depth article on Glenelg, please check out this wonderful article by Undiscovered Scotland.

Inverness

While not a village, we still recommend a stop in Inverness. With 55,000 people, it’s still a small to mid-sized community with a lot to explore. Inverness is the capital of the Highlands. Make sure to take the time to explore the new Inverness Castle Experience(Opening 2025). The castle has been around since 11 AD and has just finishing updating to bring it back to life. If you are hoping to spot the legendary Loch Ness Monster, then Inverness is a great location to start. Loch Ness is just 30 minutes from Inverness. If independent shops are more your speed, make sure to check out Leakey’s Bookshop. This 45 year old book lovers paradise is packed full of secondhand books to enjoy. If you are in need of a refreshing drink while visiting Inverness, we suggest making a stop at Uile-Bheist Distillery and Brewery.

Luss Village

This small conservation village sits just an hour north of Glasgow. This picturesque village has been around since medieval times but most of the buildings that you will see have been built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Many of the homes built were to house workers for the nearby slate queries. Today the Instagram-worthy village offers beautiful walk-able streets with views of Loch Lomond along rows of cute flower-draped cottages. If you have time, there are cruises you can take around Loch Lomond.

Isle of Skye

Yes, we know this isn’t a village but it’s honestly not to be missed. Skye is the second largest of Scotland’s Islands. The island is 50 miles long and can make for a wonderful day trip or a couple night stop. If you love hiking, the Isle of Skye is a hiker’s paradise. It offers 12 Munros on one island. Munros are Scottish Mountains over 3,000 feet. Make sure not to skip the adorable harbor town of Portree. This cute town is the main community on the Isle of Skye.

If you are staying the night on the Isle of Skye add these bonus spots to your list. Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. It has been home to clan Macleod for 800 years. They offer tours and lodging so, this may be an amazing spot to stop for an evening or two. If you’ve been exploring the distilleries across Scotland than you likely already had this stop on your list. The Talisker distillery is the oldest working distillery on Skye and sits on the shores of Loch Harport. It offers not only beautiful scenery but tours and tastings.

Attractions and sites not to miss

Glenfinnan Viaduct and Monument

Most will recognize the modern marvel that is the Glenfinnan Viaduct from the Harry Potter movies. The viaduct was used as a filming location for scenes of Hogwarts Express. The monument itself stands as a memorial site to those who lost their lives during the 1745 Jacobite Uprising. 1,200 Highlanders arrived here eight months before Culloden to pledge fealty to Prince Charles Stuart. In 1815, the Monument was built with a lone Highlander atop in memorial. Today you can visit the beautiful Glenfinnan area that includes the monument, visitor center, and café. If you’d like to ride the Jacobite Steam Train that runs through the area, you can board at the station in Fort William and ride straight to the historic Glenfinnan station. It’s just a short walk, from there to the monument and gift center. For more information about visiting, you can read details here.

Eilean Donan Castle

A 13th century castle with a fascinating history. You may recognize it from movies such as Highlander, James Bond, The World is Not Enough, and Made of Honor. It stands as one of Scotland’s most iconic sites. This site offers the ability to explore the castle, enjoy the shop and café. They also offer some lodging in their cottages. For more information about your visit to Eilean Donan click here.

Ben Nevis Mountain

Attracting roughly 125,00 hikers a year, Ben Nevis Mountain is a popular spot to have a stroll. The tallest mountain in the British Isles was once an active volcano that exploded millions of years ago. Today it’s a beautiful spot for a stop even for a minimally experienced hiker. If hiking is not your thing take the 12-15 minute Gondola ride to top to enjoy the views. More information about visiting can be found here.

Culloden Battlefield

Just 15 minutes from Inverness this emotionally immersive battlefield and museum offers a look into that fateful battle in 1745. The location offers a museum, visitor center, 360-degree immersion theater, café, and a gift shop. You can also research your own roots to the Highlanders who fought and died on this battlefield. To read more click here.

The Highlander Museum

This nationally significant collection of Highlander artifacts is the largest collection outside of Edinburgh and follows the history of Highlanders from just after the Battle of Culloden to the present day. To learn more about the history and how to visit check out their website here.

Highland Beauty

Unfortunately, this was a very abbreviated version of the beautiful Scottish Highlands, but we hope you found a new location to add to your bucket list. Whether you are looking for adventure travel, museums, or family-friendly attractions the Scottish Highlands have so much to offer. This land speaks right to the heart of almost anyone who sees it. Something about spending any amount of time in this magical land of history and adventure makes you miss it forever. We have been longing to go back since we stepped foot on the plane.

If you need help planning your next Scottish Highland adventure, please schedule a free 30-minute call to talk about all Scotland has to offer and how we can create a unique itinerary to suit your trip.