The northern part of Scotland delights with its wonderful landscape! Featuring dramatic mountain ranges, mysterious lakes, ancient pine forests and pristine coastlines, and wilderness like you’ve never seen before. From the outer reaches of the Scottish Isles and the fishing villages along the coast, to the natural wilderness inland, there is plenty to see and discover. And when you’re done hiking, immerse yourself in a variety of cultural events, whiskey trails, and some of the most outstanding remote natural beauty in the country.
1. Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland’s Great Houses and is one of the most majestic, looking like a French château with its fantastic gardens. It is the largest house in the Highlands of Scotland with 189 rooms, and one of Britain’s oldest inhabited houses, dating in parts from the early 1300s. It was home to the Dukes of Sutherland, and it is now occupied by the Earls of Sutherland who are their descendants.
The falconry display is excellent and takes place in the gardens at 11.30am and 2:30pm daily from 29th March to 31st October.The personal museum of the Dukes is also worth visiting for its shockingly large collection of hunting trophies (it was acceptable in the 1800s) and other curious items from around the world.
2. John O’Groats
John o’ Groats is a village in northern Scotland, in the Highlands. It is the northernmost settlement on the island of Great Britain. Situated in a dramatic seaside location, it is the perfect place to unwind while discovering natural wonders, amazing attractions and exciting experiences.
From the incredible diversity of wildlife to sea safaris to hikes and walks, there is always something to do at John O’Groats. Summer is the time to see puffins and seals, take a day trip to the Orkney Islands, sail on a fin fin or just enjoy the long, long summer nights.
3. Dornoch Beach
Dornoch Beach is a beautiful golden sand beach situated on the tranquil Dornoch Firth. A large expanse of golden sand stretches from Dornoch Point, past Embo Beach, to the mouth of Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. Further north along the coast are two other award-winning beaches, located at Golspa and Brora.
Adjacent to the beach there is a site of special scientific interest with nests of birds, flora and fauna. This beautiful, long beach has been awarded the Seaside Award for its clean swimming area.
4. Bettyhill – Durness route
At Bettyhill we will hear about the renovation of the Strathnaver Museum and the Clan Mackay artefacts held there. On the way we will pass through the town of Tongue and take a walk to the old Varich Castle, the fortress of Mackay. They then saw the beautiful Lake Eriboll, which for centuries had served as a safe anchorage against the often rough seas of the North Atlantic.
Then in Durness we will find out why there is a memorial garden for John Lennon, one of the famous Beatles, and why one of his songs is dedicated to this area? The north coast is a truly beautiful, rugged coastline with fabulous sandy beaches and spectacular views of the far north.
5. Durness – Ullapool route
One highlight is the drive from Durness to Ullapool along the far north coast of Scotland.
You can also take advantage of bus trips.The journey can be completed in just an hour and a half if you take the most direct route.
Heading south on the easy and quiet A838, your first optional stop will be Sandwood Bay and one of Scotland’s more famous and remote beaches. A 4-mile walk each way is required to reach the beach, so be prepared. Returning to the main route, the road continues southwest towards Scourie. The next optional stop is Handa Island, one of Scotland’s leading seabird viewing opportunities. The nature reserve can be reached by boat via Tarbet Pier.
6. Kylesku
The bridge must be viewed from either the parking lot on the north side or the lower-level parking lot on the south side. The latter gives an interesting insight into how the bridge was constructed, as well as views of its underside. The north parking lot gives a better sense of how the bridge fits into the wider scenery.
There is also a harbor for local fishing boats in Kylesko, and the remains of the Virgin of Kylesko lie abandoned and stranded on the opposite side of the bay. This two-car ferry was built for the Kylesku crossing in the early 1950s, where it served until it was replaced by the Kylesku Queen in 1967. This in turn was replaced by the Virgin of Glencoul, shown at Kylesk on this page.
7. Glencoe Valley
Scotland’s Glen Coe is a beautiful valley which draws people who want to see some of the spectacular Scottish Highlands scenery. It’s a fabulous location for hiking, mountain biking, and getting outdoors. It is also a wonderful area for photography, and is one of our favourite photography spots in Scotland. But there are also a number of other things to do in and around the small village of Glencoe, Scotland, including visiting museums and historical attractions, kayaking, and even skiing in the winter. It’s also a favourite with film fans, with a range of movies and TV shows using the dramatic scenery of Glen Coe as a backdrop. From Harry Potter to James Bond.
8. Loch Ness Lake
Loch Ness is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles by volume. The lake is 38 km long, but only 1.6 km wide For years, Loch Ness has had millions of admirers around the world. It gained its popularity thanks to the legend of a monster affectionately called “Nessie”, which supposedly lived in the depths of Loch Ness. To this day, this myth is shrouded in great mystery. Fanatics can visit a special museum dedicated to the monster. The facility is located on the western side of the lake, in the town of Drumnadrochit, and is called The Official Loch Ness Exhibition Centre.
You can drive around the famous Loch Ness lake and take in the views, but if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can walk, cycle or horse ride the new Loch Ness 360 Trail, a scenic 80-mile circular route from the Great Trail. Glen Way in the north to the South Loch Ness Trail in the south.
9. The Old Man of Storr
The massive peak of the Old Man of Storr deserves its place as one of the most spectacular landscapes in Scotland. This rock formation is 48 meters high and is located on the north-eastern part of the Isle of Skye. It is part of the larger Trotternish Ridge rock range, which was formed by landslides in prehistoric times. This unusual formation attracts crowds of tourists from all over the world.
10. Smoo Cave
This dramatic and spectacular sea cave is set into the limestone cliffs in Sutherland.Situated around a mile to the east of the town of Durness, the cave can be explored by boat or by the path from the car park on the cliffs. The cave boasts one of the largest entrances to any sea cave in Britain at 50 ft high and is floodlit inside. It was formed by a burn that runs down into the rear chamber, as well as erosion caused by the sea.
