The Highlands and Islands
of Scotland
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If you take your holiday in this part of Scotland you'll be wowed by the mountains, the glens, the lochs and the beaches.
INVERNESS AND AREA
In the Highlands you will find the most spectacular scenery in Scotland; the mountains of the Cairngorms form the striking landscapes, especially in the winter and you can take the CairnGorm Mountain Railway to the top for splendid views from the restaurant. In the Cairngorms National Park there are way-marked walks on the Rothiemurches Estate and red deer come lower down the slopes in the winter. Visit the Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore to see Mercedes, the polar bear, in her large new enclosure; you can also see the rare pine marten and the Scottish wildcat. Historic Scotland's Urquhart Castle, on the banks of Loch Ness slopes down to the shores of the loch and has a good visitor centre.
Inverness is the capital of the Highlands. To the east is the National Trust For Scotland’s Culloden Battlefield where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army was defeated by government forces in 1746. Along the coast is Nairn, an attractive seaside resort, and Historic Scotland’s Fort George, built by the British Government after Culloden to maintain control over the Highlands. Dolphins can be spotted in the Moray Firth from the ramparts of Fort George.
On the east coast north of Inverness, near Golspie, is Dunrobin Castle and Gardens, home of the Duke of Sutherland. But make sure you turn off the A9 to visit the lovely village of Dornoch, and its cathedral, as well as an interesting local museum, and a beautiful beach.
On the rugged west coast is the National Trust for Scotland's Inverewe Garden at Inverewe with its exotic plants which thrive in the warm air of the Gulf Stream.
THE OUTER HEBRIDES
If you love islands, then the Outer Hebrides are well worth the ferry journey from Ullapool to Stornoway with Caledonian MacBrayne.Explore the contrast between Lewis and Harris; the Calanais Standing Stones, the wild moorland, the birds and the beaches with white sands and turquoise seas will tempt you back time and again. Historic Scotland’s Black House, not far from Stornoway, is a traditional thatched cottage ,now a museum depicting the life of the islanders in the past.
FORT WILLIAM AND GLENCOE
You can visit the Glenfinnan Monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie and see the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films. Not to be missed is Glencoe, perhaps the most haunting of the Highland glens; stop off at the Glencoe Visitor Centre to discover more about Glencoe and go for a walk to enjoy the mountain scenery.
West of Fort William, is the Ardnamurchan peninsula – at the end of this road, which runs through woods, is the most westerly point on the Scottish mainland. Climb the lighthouse steps and you’ll see far out to sea and perhaps spot whales. Or take the short ferry crossing from Kilchoan to Tobermory and explore Mull.
From the Fort William/Glencoe area it is a short journey to Oban.
View the Thistle Holiday Parks in the Highlands and Islands
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![LOOKING ACROSS A FROZEN LOCH MORLICH TOWARDS THE MOUNTAINS OF THE CAIRNGORMS AND THE CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN SKI AREA, HIGHLAND [PIC: P.TOMKINS/VisitScotland/SCOTTISH VIEWPOINT]](/uploads/17343sml.jpg)
