Scottish Highlands car itinerary

Distance:
323½ miles (520.5 km)
Airport:
Edinburgh

Plan your route: VisitBritain Journey Planner

From capital city to snow-capped peaks, this route takes you through stunning scenery to castles and battlefields before returning via Scotland’s first National Park.

Day 1: Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Start your tour at the magnificent Scottish capital of Edinburgh. Feel yourself transported back through the centuries as you wander the ancient network of streets known as the Royal Mile. Visit the world-famous castle, which dominates the city’s skyline and admire the endless sights and attractions.

Must see & do:

Edinburgh Castle | Royal Botanic Garden | Edinburgh Military Tattoo (August) | Edinburgh International Festival (August) | National Museum of Scotland | Our Dynamic Earth | Royal Highland Show (June) | Royal Yacht Britannia | Camera Obscura and World of Illusions | The Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Day 2: Edinburgh - Perth

Edinburgh - Perth: 41½ miles (66.6 km)
Totals for day: 41½ miles (66.6 km)

Perth

Cross the Forth Bridge and head north to Perth. This elegant country town inspired Sir Walter Scott to pen 'The Fair Maid of Perth', which in turn inspired an opera. Visit Scone Palace, the ancient parliament and crowning place of kings, and discover the local history of the feuding clans.

Must see & do:

Huntingtower Castle | Scone Palace | Balhousie Castle | Perth Mart Visitor Centre | Caithness Glass Factory | Branklyn Garden

Day 3: Perth - Braemar - Inverness

Perth - Braemar: 50 miles (80.2 km)
Braemar - Inverness: 79 miles (127.5 km)
Totals for day: 129 miles (207.7 km)

Braemar

Credit: neil roger

Next, travel north through the spectacular landscapes of the Grampian Mountains and the Dee Valley to the Highland town of Braemar. Braemar is host to the famous Braemar Gathering, or Highland Games, and just outside the town you’ll find the Royal Family’s holiday home – Balmoral Castle.

Must see & do:

Balmoral Castle | Braemar Castle | Victorian Heritage Trail (pdf 890kb) | Braemar Gathering | Royal Lochnagar Distillery

Inverness

Your route now takes you on winding roads below the white-tipped mountain peaks of the Cairngorms up to Inverness. Enjoy a meal of local seafood, watch the dolphins at play in the Moray Firth and take a trip to Culloden, one of Scotland’s most famous battlefields.

Must see & do:

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery | Caledonian Canal | Jacobite Cruises | Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre

Day 4: Inverness - Fort William - Argyll

Inverness - Fort William: 65 miles (104.7 km)
Fort William - Argyll: 88 miles (141.5 km)
Totals for day: 153 miles (246.2 km)

Fort William

Credit: Taylor Dundee

Your route turns southwest now. Pass the shimmering waters of Loch Ness towards towering Ben Nevis – Britain’s highest mountain – to the bustling town of Fort William. Pack a picnic and stop on the way, you might just catch a glimpse of the legendary Loch Ness monster.

Must see & do:

Nevis Range | West Highland Museum | Ben Nevis Distillery Visitor Centre | Inverlochy Castle | Neptune's Staircase | Treasures of the Earth

Argyll

Loch Lomond beckons you south through Argyll – wonderful wooded areas surround this enormous freshwater loch. National Park status means lots of parking and picnic areas, with easy access to the water’s edge and centres informing you about local wildlife. From here, it’s a short, easy drive back to Edinburgh.

Falkirk Wheel | National Wallace Monument | Stirling Castle | Cruise Loch Lomond | Duart Castle

For more information on areas covered by this itinerary, visit the following websites:

• VisitScotland
• Edinburgh & Lothians Tourist Board
• See Glasgow
• Inverness