The Highlands in 7 days
The Highlands is the Scotland that people explore in their dreams. With landscapes that’ll take your breath away, food and drink that’ll make your tastebuds dance, and some of the finest hospitality you’ll find anywhere in the world, it really doesn’t get any better than this.
• Day 1 – Perth
Make your way to the A9 and head north for the bonny burgh of Perth and the first stop on your journey through the Highlands. Set on the banks of Scotland’s longest River, the Tay, Perth has a rich history stretching back over 800 years and has the architecture (and palace – beautiful Scone) to prove it. Now known for its culinary royalty rather than the traditional kind, the city is one of Scotland's premier culinary centres with an array of restaurants serving up locally-sourced cuisine fit for a king.
• Day 2 – Pitlochry
Continue north on the A9 and make your way to beautiful Pitlochry – Perthshire’s ‘natural playground.’ Deep forests, roaring rivers and rolling hills are the order of the day here – offering the chance to sample everything from a round of golf to a blast of mountain biking or even a bungee jump! For those looking for a more sedate stopover, Pitlochry also offers spa hotels, a wide range of restaurants and cafés, and a bustling local craft scene.
• Day 3 – Aviemore
Get back on the A9, which grows more and more spectacular with each mile you spend on it, and continue north to Aviemore. If taking to the slopes is your thing, you’re in for a treat – Aviemore is one of the country’s top ski areas. If you prefer your outdoor activities a little less icy, the bustling town is also an excellent base for exploring the spectacular landscapes of the Cairngorms National Park.
• Day 4 – Inverness
Dust the last of the fresh snow from your shoulders and get back on the A9 and make your way to the Highland Capital – inimitable Inverness. Scotland’s most northerly city, Inverness sits on the banks of the picturesque River Ness and crowned by its iconic pink-stoned castle. Make your way down to the river bank for a lazy lunch in one of the city’s many trendy eateries or, if you’re looking for a little more culture, relive one of Scotland’s most infamous battles at Culloden Battlefield on the outskirts of the city.
• Day 5 – Fort Augustus and Loch Ness
Head south on the A82, following the line of the Caledonian Canal to the iconic waters of Loch Ness where myths, monsters, and majesty await! With pivotal role in the history of Scotland, breathtaking scenery, and the on-going mystery of its hide and seek grand champion, it’s no surprise this area has enthralled visitors for hundreds of years.
• Day 6 – Fort William
Leaving Nessie behind, continue your epic A82 journey through the Great Glen and some of Scotland’s most evocative landscapes. Lying in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Fort William is the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ and offers the stunning scenery and activities to more than live up to that mantle. Whether you’re looking to take to the slopes and scale the heights or simply marvel at them from a distance, you’re in for a treat.
• Day 7 – Ballachulish
Keep following the A82 south until you hit (hopefully not literally) the picture-postcard waters of Loch Linnhe and the dramatic, unforgettable scenery of Ballachulish and Glencoe. A land of crystal clear rivers, monumental snow-capped mountains, and hidden, hauntingly beautiful glens, from the moment you leave it behind this is where your unwaking mind will wander every time you close your eyes. Take it all in.
Don’t Miss
Take a trip to beautiful Banavie near Fort William to see the majestic Caledonian Canal’s iconic staircase lock flight – Neptune’s Staircase. This amazing feat of engineering, overlooked by Ben Nevis, raises the canal by 19m (62ft) over a quarter of a mile of continuous masonry and takes around 90 minutes for a boat to travel up or down the locks. Built by famed engineer Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822, it’s the longest staircase lock in Britain and the perfect location to enjoy a spot of ‘gongoozling!’
See & Do
Channel your inner 007 with a trip to Glen Etive, the hauntingly beautiful spot where Bond and M stop en route to the secret agent’s ancestral Highlands home in the Hollywood hit Skyfall. The two mountains, Buachaille Etive Mòr and Buachaille Etive Beag, you’ll see looming in the northern end of the glen are known as the ‘Herdsmen of Etive.’
Eat & Drink
Nestled in the heart of Glencoe, the Clachaig Inn has been offering ‘real people, real hospitality and real craic’ for over three hundred years. With over 260 malts behind the bar, a wide range of beers from breweries from across the Highlands, a varied menu utilising the best local produce, and regular live music, it’s the ideal place to kick back after a day exploring Glencoe.
