Highland

Province · Scotland, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Population 235,540

Area 26,159 km²

Time zone Europe/London

Official website www.highland.gov.uk

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Featured Lists

Maddie Messenger / CC-BY-SA

Highland's Unmissable Treasures

This selection spans the Isle of Skye and the mainland Highlands, featuring geological landmarks like the Trotternish peninsula's Old Man of Storr and the Kilt Rock sea cliffs. Historical sites include the prehistoric Clava Cairns, the ruins of Duntulm Castle, and the 1745 Culloden Battlefield. Natural attractions range from the crystal-clear Fairy Pools and Loch Coruisk to the Mealt and Rogie waterfalls. The Highland Folk Museum offers insight into regional heritage, while the Staffin coast preserves Jurassic-era dinosaur footprints.

14 places

matt_47 / CC0

Scotland's Hidden Gems

Explore the Highlands through its lesser-known landmarks, from the Trotternish ridge’s jagged basalt formations to the 170-million-year-old dinosaur footprints at Staffin. This collection features the 18th-century Ruthven Barracks, the deep waters of Loch Morar, and the record-breaking acoustic echo within the Inchindown underground fuel tanks. The list spans from the remote Old Forge pub in Knoydart to the 46-meter drop of Plodda Falls and the dolphin-watching vantage point at Chanonry Point.

12 places

Mihael Grmek / CC BY-SA 3.0

Mountains and Cliffs of Scotland

This collection highlights the dramatic topography of the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye, featuring both inland peaks and coastal formations. It includes geological landmarks such as the basalt columns of Kilt Rock and the 60-meter Torridonian sandstone stack, the Old Man of Stoer. The selection covers significant Munros, including Ben Hope and Sgùrr Alasdair, alongside the unique landslip landscapes of the Trotternish Ridge. These sites offer a cross-section of Scotland’s diverse geology, from ancient sandstone ridges to volcanic rock pinnacles.

20 places

Charalampos Koniaris / CC BY-SA 3.0

Castles and Ruins

This collection spans centuries of Scottish history, from the 13th-century hall-house of Rait Castle to the 18th-century artillery fortifications of Fort George. Highlights include the French-style chateau architecture of Dunrobin Castle, the Shakespearean associations of Cawdor, and the dramatic cliffside ruins of Keiss and Dunscaith. Many sites, such as Ardvreck and Loch an Eilein, occupy strategic positions on loch promontories and islands, reflecting the turbulent clan histories of the Highlands and the Isle of Skye.

20 places

Florian Fuchs / CC BY 3.0

Scottish Heritage Highlights

This collection spans thousands of years of Scottish history, from the Bronze Age burial cairns and standing stones at Balnuaran of Clava to the 18th-century Ruthven Barracks. It features architectural landmarks like the French-château-style Dunrobin Castle and the medieval Cawdor Castle, alongside the poignant Culloden Battlefield, site of the final Jacobite rising. The list also includes Iron Age fortifications like Càrn Liath and the dramatic island ruins of Loch an Eilein castle.

20 places

Nachosan / CC BY-SA 3.0

Ancient Archaeological Sites

This collection highlights the diverse archaeological landscape of the Scottish Highlands, spanning from Middle Jurassic dinosaur footprints at Staffin to the 19th-century ruins of Achanlochry Clearance Village. It features significant Iron Age brochs like Càrn Liath and Dun Beag, alongside Neolithic burial chambers such as the Grey Cairns of Camster. Visitors can explore Bronze Age standing stones at Rangag, the unique fan-shaped stone rows of Hill O’Many Stanes, and the suspected northernmost Roman fort in Great Britain at Cawdor.

29 places

Ceitidh MacMaster / CC BY-SA 2.0

Lakes and Waterfalls

This collection spans the Scottish Highlands, from the Isle of Skye’s volcanic landscapes to the ancient pine forests of the Cairngorms. It features the Mealt Waterfall, which drops 55 meters from the Kilt Rock cliffs directly into the Atlantic, and the Fairy Pools in Glen Brittle, known for their crystal-clear turquoise basins. The list includes Loch Morlich, home to the UK's highest sandy beach, and Loch an Eilein, which contains the ruins of a 13th-century island castle.

12 places

Ian R Maxwell / CC BY-SA 2.0

Scottish Distillery Trail

This trail spans the Northern Highlands and the Isle of Raasay, featuring historic whisky producers known for distinct distillation techniques. It includes Glenmorangie, home to the tallest stills in Scotland, and Old Pulteney, established in 1826 in the former herring port of Wick. The selection features Wolfburn, the northernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland, and Cragganmore, founded in 1869 with unique flat-top stills. Visitors can observe traditional copper pot distillation and maturation processes across diverse coastal, island, and mountain landscapes.

12 places

Wilderness Huts and Shelters

This collection features remote bothies and mountain shelters across the Scottish Highlands, ranging from coastal lookouts to deep glen refuges. Most are maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association and offer basic accommodation without electricity or running water. Highlights include former schoolhouses, converted coastguard stations, and historical hermitages, providing essential shelter for hikers traversing the Fisherfield Forest, the Cuillin, and the Cape Wrath Trail.

18 places