Discover a Tour Guides 5 Favourite Places to Visit in the Highlands of Scotland
Derek McCreadie
Head Experience Creator &
Scotland Tour Guide
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Visit 5 of our Favourite Locations in the Highlands of Scotland, chosen by our Professional, Scottish Tour Guides
Having been well travelled around the Highlands of Scotland, we asked our tour guides to give us their 5 favourite locations they’ve visited in Scotland.
These can be anywhere! From the Outer Hebridean Islands, Orkney Isles, to Glencoe, Loch Ness, and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park.
Our guides managed to narrow down their choices (there are a lot of stunning locations to visit in Scotland), and some of them were starting to sweat from the pressure of choosing.
After many changes, twists & turns, up & down the country, they finally submitted their answers and we’ve compiled them together.
Discover 5 of our Favourite locations with our fantastic Tour Guides
1) There’s No Place Like Home - Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park
Favourite place number one is Loch Lomond, part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park
A view of Incailloch from the shores of Loch Lomond.
Some of us here at Experience Scotland’s Wild consider ourselves very lucky to have grown up so close to this stunning national park. Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park is considered home for John and myself.
The views from some of the many local hills surrounding Loch Lomond are truly breathtaking. Both of us agreed that our favourite view over the Loch has to be the viewpoint on the island Inchcailloch.
Surrounded by stunning native woodland with a perfect view looking north into the Highlands of Scotland, it’s difficult to find anywhere else to be. Inchcailloch, or the Island of the Old Lady as it’s also known, is steeped in history too.
With the ruins of an old nunnery still present on the island, it’s fascinating to learn that the Clan Chiefs of the MacGregors used the site as their final resting place.
Inchcailloch is part of the Highland Boundry Fault that runs diagonally across the country from Stonehaven in the northeast to the Isle of Arran on the west coast.
This is the literal separation line between the Highlands of Scotland & the Lowlands of Scotland. You can physically see the change in landscape as you travel from the Lowlands to the Highlands of Scotland, there is nothing like it anywhere else.
The islands on the loch are perfect for that little retreat into nature to just disappear for a while surrounded by the wonder of the mountains and wildlife.
Loch Lomond is teeming with wildlife too, including a pair of Osperys that return from Africa every year to the same nest. The male arrives first to do a bit of housekeeping (showing up all of us men), in case there has been damage done through the winter months.
The largest bird of prey in the UK has recently started to return to the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond. The White-tailed Eagle (also known as the Sea Eagle) has a huge wingspan of over 2 metres. To say this thing looks like a pterodactyl in the skies is an understatement!
2) The Outer Hebrides - Isle of Lewis & Harris
Favourite location number two is the Isle of Lewis & Harris, part of the Outer Hebrides
Callanish Standing Stones.
Before I could even finish asking John where his favourite place to visit in Scotland was, his answer came flying into my face. The Isle of Lewis & Harris was the answer and it’s a very good choice.
One thing that spellbinds him to the island is the Lewis Chessmen. These incredible 12th century Viking chess pieces were part of a hoard found at Uig beach in 1831.
The hoard contained 79 chess pieces which could be part of up to five chess sets and were mainly made from walrus ivory and whale teeth.
Uig beach is another reason John loves this unimaginable island. The pristine white sand is truly dazzling along with the emerald-turquoise-coloured water, making this a special place to visit.
On a sunny day (lol) you will feel like you’re in Barbados rather than the Outer Hebrides.
The tiny island that is connected to Lewis via a bridge, Great Bernera, is another favourite stop for John. Bosta beach on Great Bernera is similar to that of Uig, but has a very interesting Iron Age house just off the beachfront.
A brutal storm in 1992 revealed a small village of late Iron Age houses, dating back to between 400AD - 800AD (also known as the Time of the Picts). An excavation in 1996 revealed the layout of the houses and provided a footprint of the village.
Unfortunately, the stone buildings could not be preserved due to erosion and the build-up of sand around them and they have been buried once again.
They offered an incredible insight into the island's ancestors and what life was like back then. To commemorate the find, a reconstruction of a house from that period was built on more secure ground which can be explored.
The builders used the same techniques as the people who built the originals. I can definitely see John living in a place like that, which is probably the main reason why he loves it so much.
We can’t mention Lewis & Harris without mentioning the gem of the island. Callanish Standing Stones predate Stonehenge in England by 2000 years.
Let that sink in for a minute… that means the Callanish Standing Stones were lifted to their great height around 5000 years ago. Mind-blowing! Walking around the site, you can feel their ancient wisdom and age seeping out of the splits in the stone faces.
3) The Gem of Loch Ness - Urquhart Castle
Favourite Location number three is Urquhart Castle on the Banks of Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland
Urquhart Castle on the Banks of Loch Ness.
A visit to Scotland’s most famous Loch isn’t complete without exploring the ruins of the castle that sits on its western banks. Loch Ness is a breathtaking experience in itself, but this castle is the cherry on top.
Urquhart Castle is by far one of my favourite castles to visit and trust me, I’ve seen a fair amount of castles. There’s an aura floating around the incredible ruins.
I still can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s literally like something out of a fantasy novel. With a settlement believed to be on the same spot as the castle since before the arrival of St Columba, you feel the history oozing out of the landscape.
The surrounding landscape does add to this magical feeling. The clean, cold air bites at your lungs as you inhale the distinct smell of wild gorse & heather from the glen.
It’s also believed that Nessie (the Loch Ness Monster) has a secret lair below the castle's foundations. Does this mean that whoever owned the castle had Nessie as their pet?!
The last residents of the castle were the Chiefs of Clan Grant, who were constantly fighting off Clan MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, who were trying to expand their power eastwards onto the mainland.
The Grants eventually blew up the castle during the Jacobite Uprisings, ensuring that no one could the castle as a stronghold or garrison.
Having Grant in my family line from my Grandma, I do feel a connection to the place. Does this mean I can get the castle by right?
4) The Isles of Ancient History - Orkney Islands
Favourite Location number four is the fascinating Orkney Isles off the North West Coast of Scotland
Skara Brae on the Orkney Isles.
The first time I travelled to this group of islands, I instantly fell in love with them. The Orkney Isles is a feast for those who love ancient history.
Some of that ancient history pre-dates the Great Pyramids of Egypt. That is mind-blowing to me! How can something that old have survived for this long to tell its story?! I am so glad it did though.
Driving along its roads with the surrounding coastal views lets your mind saunter off to a time when the most advanced piece of technology was a wheel.
Along the cliffsides are quite possibly the cutest birds on the planet! I am of course talking about puffins! The best way to describe their walk is to imagine a 1940s mafia gangster swinging their arms very dramatically with a head roll involved. Quite the picture eh?
At the top of the list of places to visit on this island has to be Skara Brae. I don’t want to give too much away about this astonishing place, but I urge you if you ever have the chance to visit, don’t hesitate to book it.
The best preserved Neolithic site in Western Europe, the village has survived some incredible conditions through the ages. It became a World Heritage Site in 1999 and is believed to date back 5000 years ago.
The volume of standing stones on the island is incredible. None is more spectacular than the Ring of Brodgar. This site has never been excavated so the exact age can’t be determined, but the best guess from the archaeology community is they date back to 2600BC.
5) Hiking in the Highlands of Scotland - Glenmore, Cairngorms National Park
Favourite location number five is found in the Cairngorms National Park, in the stunning area of Glenmore Forest Park
The Caledonian Pine Forest at Glenmore Forest, Cairngorms National Park.
The last place on this list is found in the second national park of Scotland, and the largest national park in the UK. The Cairngorms National Park is a hikers' dreamland. Mountains in every direction you look. But there’s one special place that constantly impresses me every time I go there.
Glenmore Forest Park is home to some astonishing landscapes and houses the last remnants of the ancient Caledonian Pine forest. This forest used to cover pretty much the entire Highlands of Scotland.
Unfortunately, it has been reduced over the years for multiple reasons, but at Glenmore, you can step back in time to explore what our ancient landscape would have looked like once upon a time.
The towering Scots Pine trees (the only native pine species in the UK) add to the timeworn feeling of the landscape. The Green Lochan is another reason to visit.
The emerald-coloured water still bewilders everyone who gaze upon the small body of water. Best not to look at it for too long though, we still aren’t sure why it's that colour. In my opinion, it could be any manner of creature lurking in its green waters.
Comment below and tell us your Favourite places in Scotland and why you love them!
Thank you for reading our latest blog, I hope it inspires you to visit many beautiful places all over Scotland.
Now let’s hear from all of you lovely people! Below in the comments section, list a few of your favourite places, or places you’d love to visit in Scotland.
You can also read more about our 5 Secret Locations in the Highlands of Scotland blog post.
Thank you for reading & take care everyone!
Discover 5 Secret Locations you could travel to in the Highlands of Scotland in our other Blog Post.
