Explore the Scottish Highlands and Inverness

Scotland is 77,910 km², which is approximately the same size as New Brunswick, Canada or South Carolina, USA. It takes approximately 14 hours to drive from one end of Scotland to the other. Scotland has the UK’s highest mountains, ranging from 900-1300 m. It has a population of approximately 5.5 million people. All that to say, it’s not a small country but it is possible to explore a lot of the country in a shorter amount of time. Of course, if I had 10+ days to drive around Scotland and see the sights, that would be ideal! But, it is highly possible to explore the Scottish Highlands in approximately 3-4 days. Read on for how to explore the Scottish Highlands as part of your visit to Scotland!

Table of Contents

Where to Stay in the Highlands
How to get to the Scottish Highlands
Scotland Packing List
What to Expect in the Highlands
Explore the Scottish Highlands: Suggested 3-day Itinerary

Where to Stay in the Highlands

Inverness is a fantastic central location to visit the Highlands. It’s a great base location from which you can take many day trips (or multi-day trips). The Isle of Skye is another popular highlands destination and a great place to stay if you plan to spend multiple days on the island.

Budget Travel: Stay at the Black Isle Hostel in Inverness. It is a quick walk to both the bus and train station and relatively quiet at night.

Mid-range Travel: Strathness House. A bit further away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

How to get to the Scottish Highlands

The bus and train system in Scotland is wonderful. If you can, renting a vehicle (car or camper van) is a wonderful way to explore the highlands. However, you can easily take a bus or train from Glasgow or Edinburgh to Inverness. From Inverness, you can book a few day trips. (That’s what I did for my trip in June 2022).

Scotland Packing List

In 2021, there were 148.7 days in which 1 mm or more of rain fell. Scotland is colder than most of the United Kingdom, as it is the most northerly part of the island. It is also one of the wettest. While you must be prepared for cold and wet weather, you can definitely be blessed with hot sunny days as well! Just be prepared for the weather to change throughout the day.

1-2 activewear outfits (walking through the highlands or exploring the city)
2-3 casual day outfits (pants/t-shirts and dresses) I love this waffle knit dress and waffle shirt from Province of Canada
1-2 nightlife outfits
1-3 sweaters
A waterproof jacket (warm jacket for winter)
1 pair waterproof shoes (Vessi’s are a great option, or Hunter rain boots)
The Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag is such a fantastic travel accessory to keep your essentials close
A pair pj’s (Bambi and Birdie sets are my favourite)

Explore the Scottish Highlands by taking the Loch Ness Cruise

What to Expect in the Highlands

The nicest people.

Scots are some of the nicest people on the planet and visiting the rural highlands is more proof of that! They are incredibly welcoming and their hospitality in the UK is unparalleled. Make sure to chat with the locals, and stop in at a pub for live music and a dram!

Stunning landscapes and scenery.

Scotland has some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. If you head to the highlands, you’ll see why! The rugged landscapes are virtually untouched. The density of Scotland is low, and most people live in the two main cities (Glasgow and Edinburgh). You’ll see mountains, rolling hills, lakes and rivers, and greenery as far as the eye can see!

Rain and wind.

Expect rain and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the sun! The UK is known for being a rainy island and Scotland is no exception. You will absolutely see sunny days, but be prepared for rain, and sprinkles during the day.

Highland cow’s (coo’s).

The absolutely adorable and wonderful highland cows, known locally as coo’s! They are a Scottish breed of cattle with a long shaggy coat and are as cute as can be!

Men wear kilts.

Not all the time, mainly for special events or if you’ve booked a Scottish tour! The kilt is a symbol of the honour for the clan they belong to. Each clan has it’s own tartan pattern. There’s a whole history to the kilts itself that you’ll learn when you visit Scotland.

Explore the Scottish Highlands: Suggested 3-day Itinerary

I wish I had unlimited budget and time to explore Scotland! However, if you’re like me, you can’t galivant off into the world unlimited. You want to see and do as much as possible in the short amount of vacation time available for you. So, here is a suggested 3- or 4-day itinerary to explore the Scottish Highlands.

Inverness

Inverness is the largest city in the Scottish Highlands, and a perfect destination in the north. The city is where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. Easy to get to by train, bus or car, it makes for the perfect Scottish Highlands base camp. From here there are numerous possible day trips or multi-day trips. You can easily spend a day or two in the city, and venture out to the highlands if your timing allows for it.

It’s approximately 3.5 hours north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, by bus/train. It’s a bit shorter of a drive by car! This city itself is very walkable and the bus and train stations are in central “downtown” Inverness.

If you’re visiting in the summer, the days are long! There’s about 18 hours of sunlight during the summer! For me, that meant I found it difficult to sleep at night (especially in a bright hostel room). So, I highly suggest an eye mask (even for those who don’t normally use them).

Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands

Urquhart Castle

Most of the day tours include a quick stop at the Urquhart Castle, and the Loch Ness Cruise also makes a stop at the dock. The Urquhart Castle is a castle ruin that sits on Loch Ness. The castle was built in the 13th century and was raided several times. Urquhart was partially destroyed in 1692 and was then abandoned and left to decay. It is now a scheduled monument and open to the public, and is one of the most visited castles in Scotland!

You can visit the castle and roam the grounds and ruins. Prebooking is recommended to guarantee your visit and adult ticket prices range from £7.00 – £12.00. Parking is free, but must be booked in advance.

Glenfinnan Viaduct Day Trip

A wonderful day trip from Inverness is the Glenfinnan Viaduct Day Trip. It’s approximately an 8-12 hour day tour, with a few stops along the way. If you’re driving, the best time to visit is when the train is travelling TO Mallaig, around 10:45 AM and 3:15 PM. Give yourself loads of time before to find parking and walk to your viewpoint.

A tour guide will ensure you’ll get there on time. There isn’t a huge difference in the many day trip tours you can book online but I personally enjoyed my 8 seater bus tour. Take a look at the proposed itineraries and choose the one that speaks to you the most!

Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland as seen from below with Scottish wildflowers in the foreground

Glenfinnan Viaduct Steam Train in Scotland

Watch the Highland Games

If you visit Scotland between May and September, try your best to watch the Highland Games. Scottish Highland Games are some of the most popular events in the country! The games are spread across the country so you’re bound to catch one! The Highland Games started in the 19th century to celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture. Catch sports like the caber toss, tug o’ war and the hammer throw. Enjoy Highland dancing and music and classic fair foods and craft stalls!

Loch Ness and Loch Ness Cruise

You’ve likely heard of the Loch Ness Monster, locally known as Nessie, who lives in Loch Ness! Head out on a cruise to see if you can spot Nessie and if you can get a photo of her it’s worth $1 million!

If you’re staying in Inverness without a car, hop on the city bus at the Inverness Bus Station. If you buy a round trip ticket, it’s a bit cheaper than buying 2 one-way tickets but you have to know when you’ll be making your way back! There are a few cruise options and the most economical is to book the Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle Round-Trip Cruise. There is an option to hop off the cruise at the Urquhart Castle and hop back on the next cruise, if you want to see the ruins up close! Prices for the cruise are around £17.00 for an adult.

Did you know? Loch is the Gaelic name for “a lake”. So, Loch Ness = Ness Lake!

The Malt Whisky Trail

Scotland is known for their scotch. Scotch whisky is malt whisky or grain whisky, made in Scotland. As of 2022, there were 141 whisky distilleries in Scotland!!! Head out on the Malt Whisky Trail to visit eight distilleries, seven of which are still operational. You’ve definitely heard of a few of the distilleries on the trail. The Strathisla Distillery is known as the prettiest distillery in Scotland, and included in the trail.

Isle of Skye

Technically the Isle of Skye is not part of the Scottish Highlands but it is an absolutely beautiful and quintessential Scotland vibe. If you have the time, and the budget, staying on the Isle of Skye for a few days is ideal. The rugged landscape has so much to offer to visitors. The capital is Portree, which is also the island’s largest settlement area and only 2,300 people live there! That speaks to the nature of the area – it’s beautifully barren with so much to offer.

A line of colourful houses on the harbourfront in Portree Scotland

Isle of Skye Day Trip

The most popular stops, if you go for a multi-day trip, are the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Glen, the Fairy Pools, Portree and Kilt Rock.

Highland cow standing in a field with hills and mountains in the background in the Scottish Highlands

Looking for more Scotland content?

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. That means, if you click on it I may earn a commission, at no cost to you.