Scottish Highlands - UK
Overview: A long weekend exploring the Scottish Highlands with stops at the Isle of Skye, historic castles, and iconic whisky distilleries.
Duration: 3–4 days, including travel
Locations visited: Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Inverness, Cawdor Castle, Brodie Castle, Eilean Donan Castle, Dunrobin Castle, and various whisky distilleries
How to get there: Fly into Inverness Airport (INV)
How to get around: Rental car or group/private tours
When to go: Summer offers the best weather. Many towns and attractions are seasonal and may be closed during winter.
Pace: Moderate
Future trips: Explore more of the Isle of Skye, Aberdeen, Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides Islands.
Isle of Skye
Day 1: Cawdor Castle, Brodie Castle, Cardhu Distillery, Macallan Estate, and Loch Garten
After taking a late flight from London the previous night, we had a leisurely breakfast at our hotel in Inverness. Inverness, the largest town in the Highlands, is centrally located, making it an ideal base for exploring the region.
Our first stop was Cawdor Castle and Gardens. Scotland is renowned for its castles, many of which belong to historic clans. The upkeep varies—some are inhabited, while others have fallen into disrepair. Cawdor Castle, dating back to the 14th century, is well-maintained and linked to Macbeth. Visitors can tour the castle interior and explore its gardens and drawbridge.
Next, we visited Brodie Castle and Estate. The estate features a lovely cafe and daily tours of its 400-year-old castle. The Brodie clan has owned this estate for centuries.
From there, we headed to Cardhu Distillery for some Scotch tasting. In addition to producing its signature Speyside whisky, Cardhu partners with Johnnie Walker. Be sure to book tours and tastings on their website.
Depending on the time of year, you might see the Highlands covered in purple heather.
We then visited the Macallan Estate, one of the world’s most popular Scotch producers. This distillery is highly curated for visitors, so book tours and dining reservations in advance.
Note: Scotland has strict drinking and driving laws (stricter than in the US), so if you plan on tasting whisky, have a designated driver or hire one.
Another important tip: Many roads in the Highlands are single-lane and accommodate two-way traffic. Be cautious around curves, and use pull-offs to let oncoming cars pass.
After a late lunch in Tomintoul, we visited Loch Garten in Abernethy National Nature Reserve. While Loch Garten itself wasn’t overly impressive, the park likely has other worthwhile attractions.
As night fell, we drove back to Inverness.
Day 2: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle
This day is one of the longest of the trip, especially if, like us, you’re starting from Inverness. It’s about a 2-hour drive to reach the Isle of Skye. If we had an extra day, I would have stayed overnight on the Isle of Skye to explore more of its eastern side.
We left Inverness after breakfast and stopped along the way for photos. Shortly before reaching the Isle of Skye, we visited Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland’s most iconic castles. Originally built in the 13th century, it was destroyed during the Jacobite rebellions and lay in ruin until restored in 1911. Tickets are required to access the castle and its grounds. Inside tours are available but prohibit photography in most areas. For panoramic views, there’s a great viewpoint near All The Goodness Coffee & Bakeshop.
From there, we crossed the Skye Bridge, which connects the mainland to the Isle of Skye. Just after the bridge, you’ll spot the ruins of Caisteal Maol.
Once on the Isle of Skye, we headed toward Portree, one of the island’s main towns. Along the way, there are numerous viewpoints perfect for photos, including Ashaig Beach, Ben Na Cro, Loch Ainort, Eas a' Bhradain, Allt Dubh View Point, and Sligachan Waterfalls & Old Bridge. We spent a good amount of time at Sligachan, taking pictures with the old bridge and the stunning scenery. While there are hikes in the area, it was too muddy on the day we visited.
After a short walk around Portree and a coffee break, we headed further north to explore more of the island.
Some highlights include:
Bride's Veil Falls
Old Man of Storr: This iconic rock formation is one of Skye’s most famous landmarks. There are trails to get closer, but we skipped them due to time constraints.
An leth-allt Viewpoint: This spot offers stunning views of cliffs, waterfalls, and the ocean.
We then looped around the northern part of the island, passing by additional viewpoints like The Brother’s Point, Kilt Rock Waterfall, An Corran Beach, Rubha Hunish, Skye Museum of Island Life, Rha Waterfalls, The Fairy Glen, and Caisteal Ùisdein.
By the end of the day, we began the 3-hour drive back to Inverness.
If you have more time, consider visiting these additional sites on the Isle of Skye:
Dunscaith Castle
Armadale Castle
Torrin Pools & Waterfalls
Spar Cave
Coire Lagan
Fairy Pools
Talisker Bay Beach
Macleod’s Maidens
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
Talisker Distillery
Blà Bheinn
Day 3: Inverness and Dunrobin Castle
We began the day by heading north from Inverness to explore some of the highlights in the region.
Our first stop was Dunrobin Castle, one of Scotland’s most elegant and well-maintained estates. Dating back to the 1300s, this castle is one of the oldest continuously inhabited buildings in Scotland and is currently owned by the family of the Duke of Sutherland. The castle offers opportunities to explore its beautifully furnished interiors and stunning gardens. Depending on the season, you might even catch a falconry show.
After Dunrobin Castle, we stopped in the nearby town of Dornoch to walk around and enjoy a quick bite to eat.
Next, we visited a few nearby attractions, starting with the ruins of Skelbo Castle, which, while a bit challenging to locate, are accurately marked on Google Maps. The ruins offer a glimpse into the area’s history, and from the surrounding landscape, you can spot the Duke of Sutherland Monument, perched high atop the hills.
Our final stop in the area was Balblair Distillery, where we sampled some excellent whisky. For those interested in more whisky tasting, Glenmorangie Distillery is also along the way back to Inverness.
Returning to Inverness, we took some time to explore the city. We began with a leisurely walk along Ness Walk, a scenic path running along both sides of the River Ness.
Other highlights of Inverness include:
Inverness Cathedral
The Steeple
Falcon Square Market
The Victorian Market
Old High Church
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
Inverness Castle (currently closed for renovations until 2025)
The west side of the river is particularly lively, with plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops. One thing to note: many restaurants were fully booked, so I recommend making reservations in advance.
Day 4: Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, and Departure
On our final day, with only a half-day left before our flight, we focused on Loch Ness and the surrounding areas.
We started by driving down the eastern side of Loch Ness, which is more developed than the western side.
Our first planned stop was Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland’s most famous castles. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, entrance times were sold out for several hours, making it impossible to visit. If you plan to stop here, book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
Nearby, the Loch Ness Centre offers a small museum, gift shop, and tours of Loch Ness. While practical, it is a very tourist-oriented spot.
We then continued to the southern tip of the loch to Fort Augustus, a charming village with great viewpoints. For stunning views, head to the Loch Ness View Point Fort Augustus (marked on Google Maps). Many of the boat tours of Loch Ness also depart from this area.
After Fort Augustus, we drove up the western side of Loch Ness, which is more rugged and less developed than the eastern side. Along the way, we visited the Falls of Foyers, which required a short but steep hike to reach. This side of the loch also offers some incredible viewpoints of the Highlands.
Once we completed the loop around Loch Ness, we headed to Inverness Airport for our flight back to London.
If you have additional time around Loch Ness or Inverness, consider these options:
The Highlanders' Museum
Clava Cairns
Castle Stuart
Culloden Battlefield
