Destination
Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom
Lochs, glens, castles and whisky distilleries along empty roads make the Highlands the great Scottish road trip, with Skye as the climax.
Trips to Scottish Highlands from every city
No live trip to Scottish Highlands right now. Ask for one and we price it for your city.
When to go
| Month | Season |
|---|---|
| January | avoid |
| February | avoid |
| March | fine |
| April | fine |
| May | best |
| June | best |
| July | best |
| August | best |
| September | best |
| October | fine |
| November | avoid |
| December | avoid |
- June, July, August: Midges are at their worst in still, damp evenings; pack repellent
- August, September: Purple heather on the hills and Highland Games in villages across the region
November, December, January, February: Short daylight, winter storms and many attractions, ferries and rural hotels closed
Where to stay in Scottish Highlands
- Inverness: The Highland capital, with Loch Ness and Culloden on the doorstep.
- Isle of Skye (Portree): The Cuillin, the Quiraing and the Fairy Pools; book early.
- Fort William / Glencoe: Ben Nevis, the Glenfinnan Viaduct and dramatic glens.
- Speyside (Aviemore / Dufftown): Whisky distilleries and the Cairngorms.
- North Coast 500 villages (Ullapool, Dornoch): Stops on Scotland's great coastal road trip.
What to do in Scottish Highlands
- Cruise Loch Ness and visit Urquhart Castle
- Hike the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing on Skye
- Drive through Glencoe
- Watch the Jacobite steam train cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct
- Tour a Speyside distillery such as Glenfiddich or Macallan
- Walk the Culloden battlefield
Good to know
| Airports | Inverness Airport (INV), Edinburgh Airport (EDI) |
|---|---|
| Passport for US citizens | yes |
| Price level | upscale |
| Time zone | Europe/London |
| Kind of trip | nature, road-trip, history, lake-mountain, adventure |
Questions about Scottish Highlands
When is the best time to visit Scottish Highlands?
May, June, July, August and September. November, December, January, February: Short daylight, winter storms and many attractions, ferries and rural hotels closed
Do US citizens need a passport for Scottish Highlands?
Yes. Scottish Highlands is in United Kingdom; bring a valid passport.
How expensive is Scottish Highlands on the ground?
Scottish Highlands is upscale by US standards: plan about $130 per person per day for food, getting around and tickets.