11 Best Natural Wonders in the Scottish Highlands

Ben Nevis is where it’s at when it comes to serious British mountain climbing. It is, after all, the tallest peak to be found anywhere in the UK. This monster of a mountain soars 1,345 meters above sea level and forms of part of the Three Peaks Challenge, which involves climbing Nevis plus England’s Scafell Pike and Wales’ Snowdon – all within 24 hours.

Ben Nevis’ 2 main tracks are suited to walkers and climbers with different levels of experience. The mountain is part of the Grampian range and was first climbed in 1771. These days, some 125,000 people still make the ascent each year. 

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Loch Ness is a freshwater lake that’s known the world over as the reputed home of the famous, dinosaur-like Loch Ness Monster, more affectionately known as Nessie.

Stretching for almost 37 km and reaching depths of over 200 meters, Loch Ness sits south of Inverness at the heart of the Scottish Highlands, and it figures high on the itinerary of most visitors to Scotland. It’s possible to walk or cycle all the way around Loch Ness in a few days, but if you’re pressed for time, you can head out on a boat tour for some Nessie-hunting of your own. 

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Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park offer plenty of outdoor activities, both on land and water. The largest loch in Scotland is excellent for kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, and even windsurfing. The best neighborhoods on the loch for this water sport are Milarrochy Bay (east shore) and Duck Bay (west shore).

The Trossachs lie to the east of Loch Lomond, offering sprawling glens and woodlands. Springtime sees the land covered with Scottish bluebells and a variety of wildflowers. If you love hiking, make your way to Ben Lomond’s summit for expansive views of the Arrochar Alps, Loch Lomond, and surrounding islands.

Camusdarach Beach is one of the most scenic neighborhoods in the Scottish Highlands. It’s part of the Silvery Sands of Morar, a series of beautiful silver- and white-sand beaches on the coastline between Arisaig and Morar.

The beach is excellent for sea kayaking, bathing, and rock pooling, as well as sunbathing in the summer. Enjoy a spectacular view of nearby islands, including Eigg, Rùm and the Isle of Skye. There’s a camp ground offering 40 pitches and 2 glamping pods, as well as several cottages within a 5-minute walk of Camusdarach Beach.

Loch Shiel lies around 24.5 miles southeast of Fort Williams in the Scottish Highlands. It’s a great place for wildlife watching cruises, as you can spot white-tailed eagles, peregrine falcons, and black-throated divers around the loch.

The picturesque freshwater loch is featured in many movies, including the Highlander and Harry Potter series. You might even see the Jacobite Steam Train crossing the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct. The Loch Shiel Spring Festival takes place in May, showcasing chamber music performances by leading musicians around the world.

Glen Affric contains over 30 miles of Caledonian pinewoods, as well as lochs, moorlands and mountains. It’s a national forest reserve that’s home to golden eagles, ospreys, capercaillie, and wildcats.

Hikers, climbers and mountain bikers often come to the glen in the summer and spring. In autumn, you can see the changing colors of the trees and moorland. Glen Affric is near Cannich, a quiet village around 33 miles southwest of Inverness. Seasoned hikers often tackle The Glen Affric Trail, an 8-day-long excursion that starts from Inverness and heads west along Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit.

The Cairngorms National Park boasts picturesque lochs, dense forests and Munro mountains with peaks of over 3,000 ft. It offers plenty of outdoor activities, including hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking year-round and cross-country skiing in winter.

Go for a hike in the forests to visit beautiful waterfalls and ancient trees, as well as native animals like red squirrels and ospreys. A must-see is Loch Morlich, where you’ll find a yacht club and watersports center offering kayaking, sailing and windsurfing equipment.

The Old Man of Storr’s angular basalt rocks jut imposingly from the Trotternish Ridge just north of Portree. Towering 164 ft up toward the skies above, this viewpoint is one of Skye’s most well-known scenic spots. If you think it looks daunting to climb, you're not alone. The pinnacle remained unscaled until 1955 when Englishman Don Whillans tackled the pillar.

While easily seen from the road below, Storr begs closer inspection to fully appreciate its magnitude. The 2.8-mile round-trip hike from the road ascends about 300 yards to offer views across the Isles of Rona and Raasay in the east and is the ideal introduction to the landscapes on Skye.

The Torridon Hills is a series of dramatic mountain peaks in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Most of them are known as Munro mountains, reaching 3,000 ft high, surrounding a village and glen of the same name.

The area has many walking paths offering dramatic mountain scenery along the way. Moderately skilled hikers may enjoy the Liathach trail, a 7-mile-long hike along the ridge of the Torridon mountain. You can also enjoy kayaking and canoeing in the Upper Loch Torridon – picturesque coastal walks are available on either side of the freshwater loch.

Loch Maree is the largest freshwater loch in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It has over 60 wooded islands, which you can explore by hiring a boat. The largest island, Eilean Sùbhainn is big enough to have its own little loch with its own island. Isle Maree contains the remains of an 8^th-century chapel.

Loch Maree home to many rare animals, including sea eagles, golden eagles, black-throated divers, and red deer. A woodland walk that starts from the shore of the loch gives birdwatchers the chance to spot crossbills, tree pipits and siskins. Southeast of Loch Maree is the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve, where you can tackle hiking trails with excellent views of the loch.

Faskally Forest spans around 61 acres of woodlands in Perthshire, on the northern shore of Loch Faskally. Established in the 19^th century, you’ll find 23 species of trees like wild cherry, oak, and Douglas fir.

Follow the Dunmore Trail for an easy, 30-minute route around Loch Dunmore, passing a boathouse and lumber footbridge. The Foresters' Trail is a moderate hike that takes you past the Faskally House and Loch Faskally. The best time to visit the woodlands is autumn, when the trees are covered with bright red and yellow foliage.