Amazing place to kayak but check forecast as it can get rough when the wind picks up. Visited here several times and never get board

Beautiful loch to be able to explore by canoe / Kyak. The Loch is very deceptive in terms of wind and water movement. Drifting between some of the islands can be very choppy and unnerving. Wind direction and weather can change in minutes so be prepared. As long as you prepare you will enjoy thoroughly! We camped on the opposite bank to the picnic carpark and were greeted with beautiful gravel beaches, rocky out crops and stunning scenery. There is a code of conduct for loch Maree and that is no camping on the islands ( they were very boggy anyway ) no staying on an island for more than 30 mins. Still plenty to explore and absorb.

Wow! what more is there to say. Definatley a must see, lovely little village

Location: Wester Ross in the northwest Highlands of Scotland. Size & shape: About 20 km (≈12 miles) long and up to ~3-4 km wide in places. Islands: The loch has 60-odd islands and islets. Some larger ones are wooded and contain lochans (small lakes) of their own. Depth: Max depth is ~112 metres. Special status: Part of Loch Maree Complex SAC (Special Area of Conservation), also jointly managed with Beinn Eighe as a National Nature Reserve. --- Natural & Wildlife Highlights Woodland & ancient pine forest: The islands preserve remnants of the original Caledonian Pinewood. Much of the native woodland around the islands is little disturbed. Flora & lower plants: Rich in mosses, liverworts; various rare ferns. Scree slopes and wet areas hold delicate plant communities. Birdlife: Loch Maree is famous for being one of the most important breeding sites in Britain for the Black-throated Diver. Also likely sightings of woodland birds (crossbills, siskins), possibly raptors etc. Fish: There is a genetically distinct population of Arctic char. --- Things to Do / Attractions Walking / hiking: Several waymarked trails in the Beinn Eighe & Loch Maree Islands NNR. From the Beinn Eighe visitor centre, or Coille na Glas-Leitir, you can do woodland walks, ridge views, etc. Island exploring / boating / canoeing: Paddle or boat out to some of the islands. There are guided canoe trips and tours that let you explore the islands and remote shores. Scenic drives / viewpoints: The A832 runs along the southern shore, offering multiple stopping points with great views. Victoria Falls: A waterfall on the southern side of the loch (on Abhainn Garbhaig) within Slattadale Forest is a nice walk and photo opportunity. --- Practical Info & Tips Access: Best approached via the village of Kinlochewe. The A832 road is main access along the south shore. Best time to visit: Late spring through summer gives better weather, longer daylight, more wildlife activity. Early mornings/evenings are often good for calm loch waters & reflections. Facilities: Visitor centre at Beinn Eighe. Some car parks (e.g. Coille na Glas-Leitir). But islands are more wild — less infrastructure. Wild camping: Possible, but follow “leave no trace” principles; on islands you’ll need to plan for water, shelter, weather. Weather: Highland weather is variable — even in summer can be wet, windy, chilly. Layers + waterproofs + good footwear are essential.

This was one of the most memorable Lochs we canoed on during our trip to Scotland. Beautiful place, with plenty of islands to explore and amazing scenery - historic Isle Maree in particular. Isle Maree is just off the North East tip of Eilean Subhainn and can be seen as a small triangular Isle on the map (now named as "Eilean Maolruibhe (Isle Maree)" on Google Maps). There's plenty written about the Isle, including a Viking Prince, Chapel remains, Saint Máel Ruba, a Druids stone circle, a Holy Well and the Wish Tree. We set off with kind permission for parking, from Hotel Maree - (a great location for a meal or stay) and headed off towards the South West shoreline of Eilean Subhainn. After stopping for a picnic on the shore, we paddled around the many inlets, then on through the passageway between Garbh Eilean & Eilean Subhainn before heading East on open water towards Isle Maree. Some pretty choppy water on this side, so take care if you're out canoeing / kayaking. On arriving at a sheltered beach in a natural harbour, we walked around and found the Wish Tree and Viking graves, leaving a small contribution on the wish tree. Very atmospheric place and worth the trip out (~ 5.5 mile round trip from the hotel put-in). See below images for route. There's Loch Maree Picnic site at Slattadale about 5 minutes drive further West as an alternative launch spot with plenty of parking alongside the shoreline. A little further away from these Islands but still accessible and closer to Eilean Ruairidh Mòr from there. UPDATE 2021: We revisited Loch Maree again, but this time headed out from Slattadale picnic site. An excellent place to set off from for the Western Islands. We dropped in on Eilean Ruairidh Mòr first, with it's twin sandy bays either side of a promontory (on the South East shore) and beautiful views over to the mountains (see videos). Further on we paddled between Eilean Subhainn and Garbh Eilean in the opposite direction from our first visit. Plenty of scenery and inlets to explore all around here. See below images for route.

Lovely place in all aspects!! Absolutely beautiful, although we chose a (not so warm) autumn day to visit. The views of Slioch are breathtaking!!There is also a lovely hill right at the back of the Loch with a clear and relatively easy hiking path, which is ideal for all levels of hikers. Really worth visiting!!

A beautiful Loch with plenty opportunities to stop and take some great scenic photographs. Well worth the trip up to see this and the sorrounding area

The Pathways could do with better signages but a fab place for walks. We tried to do the Buzzard walk and ended up on all the routes I think, and didn't actually manage the whole buzzard route. Some of the path direction markers are flat stone slabs in the ground that I also kept missing because I was looking at the scenery and butterflies etc. Who is looking at the ground constantly to look for way markers? Place has toilets. A wildlife hide. Plenty of parking including disabled bays. And also a huge visitor centre!

This is a great little visitors center with plenty of information about the park. The wildlife hide at the back of the visitors center is open 24h a day. We parked here overnight too for £10. The signage appears to have dropped the "suggested" as they have moved to using Ringo (with a dedicated overnight code). Well worth it though for a dark sky, peacefully nights sleep away from the road. 5 vans can be accommodated here.

Stunning place!! Incredible scenery with some good walks and hiking trails. There are also picnic benches near the water side, which is nice.

Very interesting information in the visitor centre covering local geology and wildlife. Motor homes and campervans can park overnight for £10 payable by scanning the bar code on the signage. Great hides for watching birds on the feeders. Walking trails to suit all abilities direct from the car parks.

Very informative display in centre. There are several walking trails. We did 2 of them which took 1 hour. Shortest walk was flat but buzzard walk was steep in places but worth it for the views.

Absolutely stunning! We did the lower easier walk as we had baby’s in tow however it’s quite a tuff walk for little legs as the incline is quick and some of the steps are quite high. That being said it’s beautiful with stunning views down loch marrie.

Absolutely beautiful national park and some great walks that start directly from the parking lot. We arrived later in the day and thus had no time to do the longer trail so we decided to do the short Woodland Trail which took about 45 minutes. We then stayed overnight in the parking lot with our motorhome with a beautiful view on Loch Maree without any problems. The next morning we hiked the Mountain Trail with our dog (not recommended for older or smaller dogs as it is quite steep and rocky). This took us around 3h45, the climb was pretty steep but the views were amazing and totally worth it.

A peaceful and tranquil youth hostel. Open kitchen-diner area, well stocked for cooking and relaxing with a book. Bird table with finches galore from window view. Two showers - one electric with constant hot water, the other a tank and hot if timed well. Stayed in tight private twin room with space for our dog and his bed. Staff kind and helpful, making our duration as dog-friendly as possible. Access from modern car park area is a short climb, so care to be taken with luggage and those less mobile.

This is a really cozy, secluded little hostel in a super scenic spot on the Highlands coastline. There's a fantastic beach and a number of nice little walking trails around. The live-in staff were very kind and helpful throughout our stay (and they have a very sweet Border Collie, Skye), and the shared facilities felt very homey and comfortable. The rooms were nicely configured with each bunk bed in its own nook with a curtain for privacy.

The location is good, close to Achmelvich beach which is really and indescribably beautiful beach for me personally. Now I understand why people say Scottish beaches are beautiful! The good part about the room that you can have some privacy by closing the curtains in front of your bed. The mattress was uncomfortable. But overall the hostel was good!

Loved our stay here,Stewart and Lauren were fantastic hosts and couldn’t do enough to make our stay memorable. Would highly recommend this hostel and area if you like being off the beaten track.

Lovely youth hostel. Friendly staff, nice clean rooms and a good, well-stocked kitchen. Also really nice how they had towels for us, never seen that before. Really close to the beach, and it has some spectacular sun sets, I highly recommend. The wee breakfast was amazing too, so all round, 5 stars. Would definitely go back!!

Beautiful location ruined by extortionate pricing and hostile staff. Go elsewhere if you can!

Little place of the heaven track. Pity the staff could nt crack a smile 😃

Absolutely incredible. The best waterfalls iv seen on the NC500, and we’ve seen a few Would recommend to anyone interested in seeing the waterfalls. We parked in the overflow car park, £10 for camper vans which may seem expensive to some but it was money well spent. We entered the route to the left which was an easy trek down to the bridge. Over the bridge then turned right off the beaten track which is only for the more daring as sheer drop a few feet from track. Can be scary. Would also recommend proper footwear AN ABSOLUTELY MUST SEE.

A beautiful spot with about 1 hour of walking trails. These photographs paths are well marked out and easy to follow. A little muddy in places after rain and some steep areas. Anyone with a reasonable level of mobility should be able to get around the whole reserve. The gorge is breathtaking and you really need to be on the bridge and the far side view point to fully appreciate it. The £5 parking fee was well worth it (£10 if you are in a camper or motorhome)

So far one of the best stops on our trip. The gouge is …. Gorgeous. The bridge over it makes the view really come out of nowhere and add to the experience. To me this is a do not miss spot! The extra short loop for the fern trail was also well worth it as we saw lots of different ferns and mushrooms. The rain forest is very beautiful and the whole ecology stands out as very unique. The visitor center sells ice cream which is a great treat after the short hike. There is an overflow parking lot down the road and several turn off parking spots. Parking in the lot cost 5 pounds.

Great natural gorgeous, beautiful waterfalls, great walk. The 150 yearvold suspension bridge across the gorgeous is not for those with a fear of heights! It's deep.. The viewing platform is also very high. Worth seeing once in your life. Could be doing with more parking. Can't comment on the cafe as we didn't use it. Staff were very helpful and friendly. Weather was great, had a great few hours there.

Spectacular Car park still very busy in late September. Cost of parking for a motorhome was £10 quite shocking but after the visit I thought it worked out at £5 each which was great value for the views. Well worth a visit. On site cafe and loos as well.

If you are into water falls and a deep viaduct then this is a great spot to visit. The walk is easy and not to far, if you are afraid of highs then the bridge might be a bit challenging. There is a nice Cafe and toilets facilities at the parking spot. But it is not free to park.

A lovely walk through fern and birch trees leads to breathtaking waterfalls and dramatic gorges. The café is reasonably priced, serving good coffee along with a tasty selection of breakfast baps and pastries 🍰😋.”

Well worth a visit if you are in the area, of course I had to walk the the whole thing. it was amazing great views and very interesting information and over in the distance is Stack Pollaidh whitch I hiked the next day.

This is a lovely walk with stunning views, not for everyone can be a little steep and quite slippery, good footwear needed. If you want to stay overnight in a campervan there is now a £10 charge. Toilets open all night but no longer any drinking water available (shame). Still one of my favourite park ups on the Nc500

So much info about the geology of Scotland and all clearly presented on colourful boards with graphics that are easy to understand. Wonderful walk up to the top of the crag, well signposted and good clear path. Really enjoyed it. Also toilets and parking.

Did the trail on a wet day — the path was a bit slippery in places and there are some steep stairs to tackle, but the effort was well worth it. The views over the loch were absolutely spectacular. On the return leg, we were lucky enough to spot a red stag — a real highlight and a perfect way to end the walk. A beautiful trail overall, but best done with good footwear and care on wet days.

A very interesting spot if your in anyway interested in the rocks under your feet , if geology is not your thing the views from on top of the crag are spectacular , the crag trail is well laid out with lots of info panels and its a great way to spend a couple of hours .

Jaw dropping scenery while learning about things we take for granted. Even if you are not a rocker, it is an inspiring place to visit. Clean toilets, campervan or motorhomes can park for the night for £10.00 (late September 25) Would highly recommend.

Very lovely stopping point in the NC500. Cost £10 to park for the night, did get attacked by the midges, but that's just the charm of the place I guess. Amazing views.

Stunning beach. Off the NC500 by about 5 miles so not as frequented. Had blue skies and clear green ocean all to ourselves then a few others arrived but not busy at all

Epic beach - off the beaten track. Short walk from the car park. Wonderful dunes, great option to walk to the headland in the middle of the beach at low tide for a wonderful full panorama. Amazing coloured rocks all along also. Highly recommended.

Great park up with a camper van, and a beautiful deserted beach, you feel it’s all yours.

One of Scotland's most beautiful beaches. It's a bit off the beat and track with a steep single track decent to the small car park where you'll find public loos, but I think they close in winter. We had a large motor home and it was fine getting in and out. The beach is a short but steep sandy walk from the car park, so if you have mobility issues, it's not very accessible.

Brilliant beach, plenty of car parking and toilets. The beach is fantastic to walk and play on, lots of small areas between rocks to shelter from the wind at times as well as plenty of open sand to run and play on. The water is clear and due to it being a flat bay area the kids could walk out into the water a fair distance yet still feel and be safe. Top place to visit, whether for a beautiful long stroll by yourself or with the family.

We stayed in the area for a few days. Just a short walk away. It's an impressive, long and wide beach. Besides the cool air you feel like being in the caribbean. Blue, green, turquoise water. Crystal clear. And one of the cleanest beaches you'll ever see. Even in summer it was pretty much deserted. Really only a handful of people. Quite surprising, but it's in a pretty remote area. There are some nice walks around and along the shore. Cross the small hill in the north to get to the equally nice (but smaller) Polin Beach. A wonderful place to be. To walk. To sunbathe. To have a picnic. Some dog-walkers were here too. There's space for everybody. Our Bulldog enjoyed her freedom very much as well. At the time we were here there was a good number of jellyfish washed ashore. Be aware in case you have kids or pets with. A fantastic, impressive beach. A hidden gem. One of the nicest beaches I've ever been to. And I've seen many.

Absolutely stunning! One of the most beautiful beaches in the world but beware, it might look like the caribean but even in summer the water was ice cold!!

Walked from the John Muir carpark with wild camping gear on my back - killer! 😆 well worth it though, Sandwood Bay Beach is STUNNING and otherworldly 😍 I camped 1 night and I couldn't believe how quiet it was 😯😊 Best nights sleep ever! Lots of people walking to and from the beach though, so it's no secret. It is absolutely beautiful ❤️

Stunning beach, nice and remote. We stayed here overnight at the end of May 2024. The walk to the beach is fairly easy with a mostly well maintained path. There were a few spots which were muddy or you needed to use stepping stones to get over the water. We set up our camp just off the main beach among the dunes. If you do this, make sure you use tent pegs that will hold in sand. We are treated to an awesome sunset, I'll include some pictures. Even at 2am it wasn't properly dark, with a glow in the sky it was like a perpetual sunset all night. I would love to come here again and go for a swim in the sea, it was just a tad too cold this time although I should have just done it. Definitely recommended.

This was a loooong walk to get here. Almost 2 hours each way. But was very enjoyable and extremely rewarding. Plenty of cows and bulls along the way when we went too!

Incredible beach, very remote, requires a ~13km walk (round trip) from the car park. The walk itself is very scenic and peaceful. A great place to wild camp too. Lots of sheep around!

A marvellous day out. Stunning scenery, and the prize of the remote beach after a trek across a good, well trodden path. The car park was full when we visited, and rather than park on verges and cause blockages and inconvenience to others, we parked around 1.5 miles away, further back on the approach road. This extended the walk to around 12-13 miles in total. Not a problem for us, but be mindful of parking issues when visiting during busy periods.

Beautiful beach, well worth the walk. I'd give yourself 1.5 hours to walk there and probably 2 hours to walk back. The walk is nice but the star of the show is the stunning sand, dunes, and beautiful blue water.

A little slice of heaven found after a 7km walk in from the carpark , when the sun shines and the colours of the sea pop its a beautiful place to chill , one of the best beaches in Scotland but probaly the most remote

Great place to visit with a nice walk through the forest to a suspension bridge and views of the waterfall. Even more special if the salmon are leaping. Unless the salmon are about, it's unlikely that you would spend more than an hour here, so it is a bit disappointing that the car park charges start at a minimum of 2 hours at £2. At least there is a toilet here though

Great walk to the falls. There is a lovely circular through the Forrest that takes you up the side of the river to the falls. Car park was reasonably priced with a small area to picnic. Public toilets are available.

Nice dramatic falls with good well signed walks. Worthwhile visiting in autumn as the colours on the trees in the valley are great and the flow in the falls can be more spectacular. Parking is now paid for, so minimum fee of £2 but contactless payment is available at the machine. Toilets were closed as they are only open until the end of October

We’ve never ever seen a waterfall before so we knew we had to come and visit whilst up in the Scottish Highlands. We did the Salmon Trail which was the easier of the two. It was about a 7-8 min walk down to the falls, which was entirely downhill. The bridge was stunning! Be warned, if you have vertigo or are unstable on your feet, the bridge is very rickety and moves a lot at either end when people are walking on it. The middle section is the most stable if you want to stand and take photos. Walking back, there are very steep inclines, but there are multiple benches to stop and sit on if you need to. The car park is not huge, so there’s a possibility of not being able to park upon arrival. We arrived at about 3:00pm, and got lucky to grab a space as someone left. ABSOLUTELY worth a visit!

A short and easy walking trail. Lovely walk. Came here to see if there were salmon swimming upstream to spawn. Sadly, not when I came.

Carpark with toilets however check as sometimes they are closed, carpark big enough for campervans ect, nice 10-15min walk from carpark to waterfall and bridge, walking routes to waterfall are easy not too hard, if you time it right you can watch the salmon jumping up there are different routes you can also walk and explore afterwards

Pay car park £3 for 3 hours accept card , plenty of car space's. There are a few signs to explain the area ,well maintained foot paths. There is a viewing point to the waterfall, and also a bridge

In August, we embarked on an unforgettable visit to a remarkable Scotch whiskey distillery nestled on the outskirts of the charming city of Inverness. We arrived without pre-booking our tickets, uncertain of our arrival timing after our scenic NC500 journey. To our delight, there were tickets available for the next scheduled session when we reached the distillery. The experience was nothing short of extraordinary, appealing even to those who may not consider themselves Scotch whiskey aficionados. This distillery boasts a rich and storied history, with its roots tracing back to 1838, all of which was expertly narrated by a knowledgeable team member who guided us through the premises. The tour began with us exploring the expansive and awe-inspiring cellar, which housed an astonishing collection of oak casks, each brimming with the potential for exceptional flavors and aromas. We were also introduced to massive malting vessels, where the grains are transformed, and encountered the famed Copper Dog. One of the captivating details we learned about was the local sourcing of the key ingredients: the pristine water and grains used in their production. The water, crystal clear and pure, flows from a nearby reservoir, marked by a towering wind turbine that stands sentinel in the distance, symbolizing the marriage of tradition and sustainable practices. As we neared the conclusion of our tour, we were treated to a delightful whiskey tasting session that truly elevated our visit. Each sip was a celebration of craftsmanship, allowing us to savor the complex flavors and aromas that make this distillery’s offerings so exceptional. It was a fitting end to a remarkable journey into the world of Scotch whiskey.

We had the pleasure of joining a tour at The Singleton Distillery in Glen Ord, and it was truly one of the highlights of our time in Scotland. Our guide, Adam, made the entire experience outstanding from start to finish. The tour was beautifully structured – not only did we get a fascinating insight into the history and craftsmanship behind Singleton whisky, but Adam also managed to explain the complex distilling process in a way that felt engaging, approachable, and easy to follow. He struck the perfect balance between sharing detailed knowledge and keeping the atmosphere light and enjoyable. What stood out most to us was Adam’s passion and enthusiasm. You could tell he truly loves what he does, and that energy was infectious – it made the tour not just informative, but also very personal and memorable. The tasting session was an absolute treat. Each whisky was introduced with care and context, allowing us to really appreciate the different flavor profiles and nuances. It wasn’t just a tasting, it felt like a journey through the character and soul of Singleton whiskies. Each whisky is slowly batch-distilled for a smooth, balanced taste and aged in ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, creating fruity, sweet, and spicy notes. We left with a much deeper appreciation for whisky, for the traditions of Glen Ord, and of course with some good memories to take home. We can only recommend this experience to anyone visiting the Highlands – whether you are new to whisky or already a connoisseur, this tour will leave a lasting impression.

Glad to have chosen this distillery considering number of distilleries are available but sometimes its all about the right experience and that's exactly what we got here. Our tour guide had a very good knowledge on whiskies and about the distillery, the process on how its made etc. He answered our "curiosity" questions very well and made the tour interesting with number of facts. We ended the tour with a whisky tasting session which was great. Whilst we did the tour, my other family who decided not to do the tour had a good time in their bar/cafe with some really magical drinks. Overall, highly recommended.

A must see if you’re next to Inverness. You’ll learn everything you should know about whisky and distillery. The visit ends with 3 generous glasses of whisky. You can bring them with you, in little bottles, so you can enjoy it later at your house. Wonderful smells and incredible shop, with so many whisky to buy. A special thanks to Hazel, our wonderful guide who took the time to speak slowly for us 😉

Very friendly knowledgable guides and staff. I great place to learn the process of making whisky, from the raw ingredients to the finished liquid. Glen Ord is a good place to start or continue your journey into single malt whiskies. The tasting just finishes off the tour. If you are driving, the samples will be bottled as mimiatures to be enjoyed later. A good half day excursion if you stay for coffee and cake in the shop area. You could always buy the 54yo whisky at £28850 for a very nicely packaged bottle!

Mary was fantastic and she explained the process and answers our questions well. Nice fun tour. I like the fact that they took care of drivers and let them have a takeaway whiskey.

A fantastic location and a must have on your list of places to visit. Everything is well organised and thought through about the tours. Our lovely guide, Beardy Brian, ensured we had a great time, whilst explaining the process of whisky production in a clear and interesting fashion! Afterwards tasting of Glen Ord product's was an enjoyable experience (and huge respect for taking kids and drivers into consideration!). Overall, a fun experience for everyone, definitely recommended.

Today, Beauly Priory serves as both a cemetery and a heritage site, offering a glimpse into Scotland’s medieval past and the monastic life that once thrived there. Its serene setting and historical significance make it a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.

Set in the lovely village of Beauly, with the great local shops and cafè's, this is a great link to the past. Free to visit and not busy. Well maintained and cared for. A very relaxed visit. Something to visit if you're hill-walked out, out weathered in. Wheelchair accessible, just. A local river walk just next to it, it is a nice way to spend 20 - 30 minutes.

Beautiful ruined priory just a short walk from Beauly village. Quiet, atmospheric setting with ancient graves and tall trees. Some parts date back to the 1200s. Free to enter and great for a short, reflective visit.

This place holds a history of Hundreds of years. And the structure still survives with its pride well maintained and will make you think about the stories of that building can tell us.

Visited on a sunny cold day. Well maintained Priory. Easy to wander around and view the building from different aspects.

A charming little spot for a break. The 13th-century abbey is an impressive sight, with gravestones dating back over 400 years. Browse the quaint shops, enjoy a cosy café, and take a leisurely stroll along the river. Well worth pausing for at least a short visit.

Beautiful, especially when the sun comes through. Felt extra lucky when an orange cat just walked right up to me asking for pets and rolled around in the grass 🥰 *open to the public for free

My family and I enjoyed our visit today. Didn’t have a chance to see leaping salmon but liked the falls and tge walking trails. Also enjoyed a good coffee at the cafe with some cake.

A wonderful place to stop. The parking payment service is a mess. They use Ring Go which didn’t work when we were there. But once parked and paid we had one of the best coffees and cakes of our trip. We went down to the falls and were fortunate to see salmon attempting to swim up the falls. Once in a lifetime experience to see for us city folk

The walk is a little steep , Beautiful place , chances to see salmon beautiful surroundings a very large car park with a play area , cafe , toilets

Look out for the cameras taking your reg and locals park for free but everyone else has to pay .Bollocks to falls of shin . Only good thing was the walk doon to see the mighty salmon jumping up the falls .The restaurant was closed .very clean toilets 50p a go .

Walked the riverside trail but were disappointed as we didn’t spot any salmon leaping. Had lunch at the Salt and Salmon Company then walked back to the zigzag path overlooking the car park. We stood patiently and saw about 15 salmon leap within 45 minutes at the falls. Probably not all salmon, a few were quite small. Visited 26th Oct.

We were there maybe 10 minutes and saw 3 salmons leaping. Amazing place

Great watching the salmon leap. We stayed overnight in our campervan. Nice peaceful night but very over priced. Everything is an extra charge on top of parking fee.

A friendly welcome from the great girls. We 4 German men were given a private tour. The sweet assistant did a great job. A fun and flavourful tasting at the end. Balblair and the girls will remain in our fond memories. Servus.

Simon gave us an amazing tour of the Distillery with lots of interesting facts about the process and the people behind it all. We loved that it was not one of the big commercialized companies but had a family feel to it. Would 100% recommend

My husband and kids enjoyed the tasting. It's not like a hopping place. 25 for tasting 3 glasses. One and done for sure. Did do the tour.

Fantastic distillery tour, knowledgeable, passionate guide, who went deep into processes and history Way better than the micky mouse tours offered by some bigger distillerirs.

Balblair is the whisky geek's dream. We did a tasting and tour which was very informative about the history of the distillery, the equipment, and the community. All staff are from the area living and working so you feel that sense of community deeply. We got to visit the dunnage warehouse, understand how the Pictish stone ties in and sample the varying bottles on offer. They do have a fill your own bottle cask that is the Distiller's choice which produces around 200 bottles and a great selection of merchandise that is not offered at other distilleries.

We had a wonderful whisky tour with Donne! She explained everything in a very engaging way and gave us great insights. The whisky selection was excellent and perfectly presented. The tasting at the end was the highlight – highly recommended! Thank you so much, Donne!

We had a tour around this wonderfull place. The tour guide explained everything really well. Showed us all the ins and outs of whisky making and tasting.

A lovely spot with stunning views, though very windy on the day we visited. We were really hoping to see dolphins – managed to catch sight of a few fins, but no full leaps. After waiting a while in the breeze, we eventually gave up and left. Still a beautiful location, but perhaps best to time your visit carefully if dolphins are the main goal.

Wow! A Scottish friend recommended this spot and so glad we took the little drive from Inverness. It was beautiful! Don’t forget to pay to park (there are limited spots but we had no issues in October at 3 pm). So many birds diving into the water and fun to walk along the beach in front of the lighthouse.

My group had a nice time out at the point. We didn't see any dolphins the hour we were there but saw plenty of birds and seals out in the water. The view of the surrounding area was serene and we enjoyed walking around the grounds. The parking lot is big enough for maybe 30 cars and there is a kiosk at the front to pay.

This is my most favourite place so far in Scotland on the East Coast. You get to see dolphins which is always a pleasure but also sea glass if you're a collector. Then the views omg are always breathtaking. This is definitely a place I call home away from home

Excellent beach and chance to see dolphins feeding on change of tides. Beautiful lighthouse and views of Fort George. Chanonry Point (Scottish Gaelic: Rubha na Cananaich) lies at the end of Chanonry Ness, a spit of land extending into the Moray Firth between Fortrose and Rosemarkie on the Black Isle, Scotland. An active lighthouse situated at the tip of the point was designed by Alan Stevenson and was first lit in 1846. The lighthouse has been fully automated since 1984 and is operated by Northern Lighthouse Board. Bottlenose dolphin Chanonry Point is one of the best spots in the UK to view bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus from the land. The dolphins are often visible off Chanonry point, particularly on an incoming tide when they play and fish in the strong currents. Other wildlife, including porpoises and grey seals, can also regularly be spotted. European otters (Lutra lutra) are occasional visitors. The Ness is home to two camping and caravan sites towards the north. Most of the promontory is taken up by Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club. Due to the popularity of the dolphins at Chanonry point, the parking area and roads leading up to the beach have become more and more congested during the summer months, causing concerns amongst local residents. The death of Coinneach Odhar, more commonly known as the Brahan Seer, is commemorated by a memorial stone on the spot not far from where he is reputed to have been brutally executed. Watching dolphins While bottlenose dolphins can be seen off the point throughout the year, the chances of seeing them increase when their food supply increases, the peak times being when salmon are returning towards the two main rivers (the Ness and Beauly) which feed into the Moray Firth. The salmon come in with the tidal current which, once the tide starts to come in, can be extreme. If planning a trip, find tide details and pick days with midday low tides with the largest difference between low and high tide (spring tides, avoid the neap tides). An unofficial "jungle telegraph" system operates round the Rosemarkie campsite and point in June and on into August with details of the latest sightings only a brief conversation away. The University of Aberdeen operates a more formal range of surveys throughout the year from their field station based just along the coast at Cromarty, supported by funds from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. While the Point is regarded by many people as the best place to watch the dolphins from land, licensed boat trips do run from Cromarty, Avoch and Inverness. The nearby Dolphin and Seal Centre at North Kessock also offers good dolphin watching opportunities during the summer months. Photographing dolphins Midsummer offers the best light for photography of bottlenose dolphins at the point, from late afternoon onwards. While early morning light is good, the direction of the point risks looking directly into the sun. The point has been featured in recent years on a wide range of television programmes, including the BBC's Coast series and nature programmes. These have greatly increased visitor numbers to the point. The wildlife requires no special equipment, but those looking for serious photography should pack a fast 200 mm to 300 mm lens.

You can go through the gates and pay to park or stop 2 seconds before and park there free 🤔 You don’t need tickets for this. The views are beautiful, we walked up but we came upon my first experience of our Scottish midges 😳 weirdly I had a bright yellow jacket on and only a few on me, hubby had black hoody on and was covered 😂. So we didn’t walk further up. Buy that midge net! You won’t regret it . We walked down, looks like somebody lives in the lighthouse, The views as always in Scotland are beautiful. No pics can do our country justice.

Chanonry Point is one of the best places in the UK to see wild dolphins up close. Here’s a bit about it: Location: A narrow spit of land extending into the Moray Firth, between Fortrose and Rosemarkie on the Black Isle, northeast of Inverness. Dolphin Watching: Famous for its resident pod of bottlenose dolphins. They often come very close to shore, especially on a rising tide when salmon are running — meaning you can sometimes see them just a few metres away. Other Wildlife: Seals, porpoises, and a variety of seabirds (like oystercatchers and terns) are also commonly spotted. Accessibility: There’s a small car park at the end of the point, and it’s only a short walk to the pebble beach where most people gather with cameras and binoculars. Best Time to Visit: The dolphins are most reliably seen from spring through autumn, and the incoming tide gives you the best chance. Atmosphere: With sweeping views across the firth, the lighthouse at the tip of the point, and dolphins leaping in the surf, it’s a magical spot — especially at sunset. ✨ Fun fact: The dolphins here are among the largest bottlenose dolphins in the world, growing up to 4 metres (13 ft) long due to the colder northern waters.

Great place for exploring. There's a lot of walking. It's mainly flat with ramps for wheel chair users. The rain dampened our enthusiasm. The museum that's housed in the fort is good. The staff are lovely. There's no toilet in the museum. The toilet is located in another building. The cafe was also closed. So we ending up the mess hall having a cuppa rather than lunch planned.

We are huge fans of the Gordon Highlanders and my husband of regimental militaria in general. The collection was larger than we expected. Also had the honor of meeting a survivor of D-day.

Amazing place to visit showing the history up to the modern day of the highland regiments The medal collection is amazing showing the bravery of the Highlanders

What a strange experience walking around this old Barracks. Which is still in operation and occupied by working troops. A great walk around with a playback device that gives you great wee snippets of information about various elements of the Fort. It has some lovely views of the Moray Forth. And if you're lucky, you might see dolphins. We didn't, but we did see a young seal. The museum is absolutely packed with the military history of the various Scottish regiments. There is a nice wee cafe also situated within the fort. There is plenty of free parking outside the fort. Odd fact, they have a tree (a spanish fir?) opposite the museum that was brought back from Spain around the 1800. Highly recommended.

I love old castles but was not disappointed by a visit to this fairly old Fort built after Culloden. If you go on a nice day the walk up on the ramparts is stunning with great views of the Moray Firth and Chanorey point where the Dolphins play. A great day out.

We visited Fort George and the Highlanders Museum while on holiday near Inverness. We only planned to have a quick look, and stayed for about 4 hours! Fascinating place, incredible 18th century architecture, well-laid out historic displays in some of the buildings, very informative, the museum was so extensive I don't think we saw it all, nice café serving sandwiches, cakes, etc, friendly staff (and over-friendly seagull) - and we saw dolphins swimming by!

What an interesting and historic place to visit for anyone even slightly interested in military history. Unbeknown to us on the Saturday we visited, the Fort was holding its annual Highland games. This wonderful event, combined with the forts fine defensive walls and military barracks, not to mention the superb views over the Moray Firth, makes it a must-see destination for anyone visiting this part of Scotland.

The story of Fort George is very interesting as you wander around the largely deserted camp. It is truly caught in a time warp with hints of the modern British Army thrown in for fine measure. Its palpable as you walk into the camp across the bridge. You sense what it must have been like for troops about to undergo training. There are toilets on site. There is also a very fine cafe. The staff are very welcoming. The cafe was spotless. The museum on site is run by dedicated people who really know all there is to know about the site and it's history. They are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. The items on display in the museum are exceptional and a lot of thought has gone into the layout. There is also a couple of gift shops on the site. Both offering items you would expect to find.

I TOTALLY LOVED FORT GEORGE!!! 🏰🐬. We visited Fort George on a Sunday, it was quite busy but we didn't have to wait long to buy our tickets, which were reasonably priced, £10-£11 for adults, £8-£9 concessions, and roughly £6 for kids. My mum is a carer for my dad so she got in for free. The Fort itself is massive, around the same size as 40 football fields. It is a star fort built in 1748 so it's steeped in military history. When you buy your ticket you are given a wee machine and a map with all the areas numbered, you type the number of an area into the machine and it plays, telling you all about that part of the Fort, it was very interesting. There are loads of little rooms you can go into that shows what it was like for soldiers years ago, there is also a cinema that you can sit in and watch the film. There is a cafe inside the fort which serves nice coffee. I liked how it is still a working barracks with soldiers living there. You can walk right up to the edge of the star fort and look out to the water, dolphins 🐬 can be seen sometimes but we didn't see any. I loved the big cannons, they were on track so they could be moved round in a half circle. I loved Fort George and I'm definitely glad we visited, well worth seeing, such an interesting place.

Beautiful place! The highlander museum was super interesting, lots of military history and the staff was amazing! You can also catch the dolphins that come out sometimes in the afternoon if you stand by the canons at the top of the fort! A must experience!

We popped in at around 4pm, they did prewarn us that we wouldn’t be able to get round it all, but we were more than welcome inside! We are so glad we did! In the museum a gentleman gave us a wonderful walk through of what they had going on inside! The grounds were to so clean and really well maintained! We will definitely be visiting again🥰 We even saw some little birds nesting 😍

What an incredible Fort. Massive and in fabulous condition. Current military barracks combined with beautiful tourist attraction. We got to see it & The Moray Firth on a lovely sunny September day, but it would have equally spectacular whatever the weather.

This was one of my favorite tourist visit. Make sure to visit at least 3,4 hours earlier vefore closing time if you like to explore in depth. Adult ticket price is £11 with vat and they will provide audio guide if you prefer to have. There is a big parking area able to park more than 30 cars at a time.

We discovered Fort George whilst visiting the highlands. We were immediately interested in visiting due to the military history. Upon arriving, we were warmly greeted and invited into the main office to buy tickets, and then offered a place on the free tour, with a man called Peter. He was extremely informative and friendly, and we learnt so much about Fort George and its history. My favourite thing that I learnt was regarding the history behind the stag and the Seaforth Highlanders. Their gift shop was also steeped in Scottish history, and had everything from magnets and souvenirs, to whiskey and guide books. We had a fantastic time exploring the grounds, and would highly recommend a visit!

Lovely whisky… we booked the innovation tour that included sampling 18y, 16y and Signet… our guide was very young… I am sorry, but to spark and transmit the love for whisky you need a certain maturity. I understand these are student jobs but would prefer for the non-standard tours a more seasoned guide. We had to ask for the drivers package, which should be offered actively in a 0 tolerance country. So, overall summary. Great whisky but tour could be improved.

Had a lovely day out at Glenmorangie distillery today. The tour started somewhat slow-ish as the tour guide seemed a but unenthusiastic but got better as the tour went on. The steel room was definitely my favourite. The distillery experience overall was amazing and would highly recommend to anyone in the area.

No distillery tour, but Glenmorangie's whiskys were worth the travel! The friendly bartender made us new fans. A must-taste, even without the full experience.

We had the more expensive distillery tour and tasting and it was just OK. The tour itself went through all the steps but was quite underwhelming. The no photos policy is nonsense - if anyone wants to copy anything, they can just go on the tour and see what's up, or take photos covertly. It's just annoying for the people on tour. The tasting was good, but more like a "right, have some whiskies, eat some chocolates, bye", not an experience as it should've been. You could tell that the place was recently renovated and it looks great, but that's just not enough. I've been to loads of distillery tours and I'm afraid to say this is one of the least impressive ones, and definitely not worth £65. And the prices in the shop?! Much higher than anywhere else, it's just not worth buying any bottles there.

Had the most incredible time at the Old and Rare whisky tasting. Learned a lot from the drams we sampled—beautiful whiskies, crafted with devotion and skill. Zoe guided us with such passion and depth; these guys really are artisans at their trade! It all set the tone for a perfect day—one that led to our engagement later that evening. Thank you, truly. We’ll be back.

Zoe and Allan led a fantastic tour!!! Thanks Edward for the bonus tasting!! Lovely whisky!! Fantastic drams!!

We booked the Classic Tour. The distillery is in a stunning location by the sea. We did quick visit to the facilities and then went to the tasting room. The lady guides were very young and seemed to be on the first days of job so we did not get many insights of the brand or particular characteristics of the Whisks we tasted. This tour was OK but was the poorest of the 10 distilleries we visited during the Whisky trail. Hope they improve in the future. I any case the quality of the drinks were great and the facilities worth visiting.

Enjoyed this place. It is gloriously understated, especially when compared to other stately homes (and occupied castles) and yet remained regal, pleasant and interesting to visit. There were no vulgar displays of excessive wealth found in so many. Audio guide was good. Garden wasn't in the prime largely due to my arrival in the later part of September.

very impressive castle and gardens ..definitely a must see when visiting inverness...This fortification founded by William the Lion in 1179 was sited to command the ford over the river Nairn near the sea. That castle has since vanished without trace. The family had another residence at Old Calder which, according to the Exchequer accounts, was last repaired in 1398. Again, not much remains of that building apart from faint crop-marks. A new, more efficient site was chosen. The imposing, rectangular tower-house consisted of four storeys and a garret with only one entrance to the outside world. Repaired and enlarged every century since, the Castle as you see it today is a family home like no other

Really well organised castle and gardens. This is a real castle where the owners live in for the good part of the year and you can feel it. Modern "tour guide" technology in different languages is another advantage. Much better experience than the average medieval castle.

Lovely Castle to walk around with lots of interesting history. We spent around 2 hours there and also had some lunch at the cafe which had delicious apple juice made from the apples in their orchard and a selection of vegan cakes. Super friendly staff who were happy to answer all questions. Gardens were beautiful!

Excellent visitor attraction and a great day out. The castle is well preserved and still occupied by the descendants of the original Thane of Cawdor. Rich in history and interesting to explore. The gardens and grounds are beautiful. Highly recommend this castle if you are visiting the area. Cafe and gift shop on site.

Plenty of parking, beautiful castle and interesting history. Complimentary audio tour was easy to use. Cafe was good. Loved wandering around the gardens, which were very peaceful to sit in.

Absolutely exquisite visit. There are plenty of castle ruins in the Scottish Highlands and we craved to see one that was still standing. This was everything we asked for. Beautifully kept, amazing gardens and the most friendly staff. We loved that the outdoors was just as nice as the intriguing indoors along with the history of the Cawdor family. Shout out to Tony, who was a staff member we met along the self guided tour and gave us an over and above history lesson. We could've kept listening to him for hours! Photo of him and us. This capped our memorable visit to the Scotland in the best possible way. Thanks so much!

Amazing castle and grounds. The staff were extremely helpful and very informative. Included in the admission price are two falconry displays which really made the day. Best to arrive early before the coaches turn up. Definitely worth the visit.

This was one of the most beautiful castles that we went into. It was completely furnished and had attendance in rooms that you can ask questions. Was really a nice morning spent. On the first floor was a snack area where you can get coffee tea or to nibble on after the tour was over.

A stunning castle. The gentleman at the castle passionately explained its history to us and even let us take a photo of a castle photo taken in the late 1800s. If we had had the energy to go down to the garden, we could have seen the castle from the other side for an amazing view.

You must buy tickets for this castle in advance, as they only open for a short time period and are quite busy. This castle looks amazing from the garden. It's like a castle pops out from a fairy tale. The garden is very nicely designed as well, especially the thistle and lavender, which are very well bred. Inside is not that impressive, as most of the rooms are quite low key, and not much extravagant furniture. However, the white lilac ceiling was quite stunning. I have not seen any interior design like that before. One thing I dislike about the castle are the over amount of deer head specimens and some animal carpets. Apparently the owners used to live hunting deets and went to Africa and killed some lions and leopard and made them into carpets. I understand those are a part of the castle so I have no complain to the staff, but I am simply saying animal lovers should be aware of this before they enter the castle. Do not miss the falconry show in the garden. It’s very educational. You get to meet Harris Hawk, American Kestrel, Barn Owl, etc. The cafe is great too. Their cakes and soup are very good. Overall, I had a great experience here. Definitely worth coming for.

The self managed tour was very interesting with some very well informed volunteers to give information if asked for it. We did not manage to go round the gardens as our mobility is not too good, but the views over the gardens are beautiful.. The cafe was very busy but food was lovely.

Spectacular castle, beautiful history, beautiful monarchs and the castle very well preserved. The staff is well trained and very kind. A small garden in the back is clean and pleasant for a walk. A small souvenir shop, a kiosk that had one liter bottles for sale, I think of Dunrobin gin... I think it was good but I'm not a gin taster but a whiskey taster 😉. I liked it. PS. A large parking lot on the left as you enter and for the disabled at the entrance to the castle.

Beautifully impressive building. You can smell the old, if you know what I mean. Loads of rooms set up how they would likely be used, a little eerie about so interesting to see the kids toys, train tracks and dolls house set up. The gardens are beautiful. You can hang around to see the birds show, it’s on at set times. We didn’t. We enjoyed our walk round both building & gardens. At the exit you can see the canons built in to the top of the walls along the long drive way. There is ample parking with attendants to tell you where to go. Think we paid about £40 for 2 adults and a teenager. The gift shop is lovely, not over prices either, if you see the little highland cow - but it! I still regret not buying it! Thought I’d find a million the same but none compare 🤦🏼‍♀️😂. There is a cafe but we didn’t go in as we’d already eaten. Check out the giant rhubarb in the garden! 😱 HUGE 😂 you’re never getting a sugar bowl big enough 😂

I did the P and P tour which was £35. The tour lasted 1.5 hours and our guide Leo was wonderful. He knew the history and answered all of the questions we had (we had a lot). Leo went above and beyond with being so welcoming and knowledgeable. The winery even offers a driving pack for the person who drives which was lovely so everyone can join in and drink responsibly.

Clynelish distillery was my first Whiskey distillery tour. We booked the 1 hr & 45 min Flavour Journey. The beautiful tasting room, the fun and interactive story telling, and the distillery tour went far beyond my expectations. This is a tour worth traveling to! The tour ended with tasting 3 whiskeys and a fun whiskey cocktail that I will definitely replicate at home!

What a wonderful tour. Our guide Victoria was charming and so knowledgeable. She kept us captivated throughout the visit. The interactive story room provided us with lots of history and information in an engaging way. Everyone we met on the tour was most friendly. We tasted 3 Clynelish whiskeys and a cocktail. We are not whiskey buffs but a more expensive tasting was available. We thought the visit was great value.

We went to cardhu as my husband wants to collect the 4 corners of Johnnie walkers world. We first came in to the shop and, I think, her name was Valerie was pushing us towards the ~self pouring whisky~ cause it has better value and tastes better. But one thing many know about whisky is that everyone has a personal taste. We didn’t really like that and she was not much help. My husband could taste the self pouring one but not the normal exclusive distillery one. We had to go upstairs to the bar. I asked at the bar if he can get a little to taste the distillery exclusive one cause he couldn’t do it in the shop. They were very helpfull here. I told him he needed to drive so he can not drink a ‘whole glass’. I asked what I needed to pay and he said that it was fine, that it was one the house. That was so so nice. I got a latte and we enjoyed the sun. He ended up buying the distillery exclusive one.

Had a wonderful experience! After my visit to the Dunrobin Castle I stopped here after a recommendation. It wasn't too crowdy and thus very comfortable and you could feel that everything was more personal. They accommodate for visitors that arrive by car by offering to refill the tasting portions into small glass bottles. The tour is highly recommended and created in an interactive way. The little cafe offers a stunning view into the landscape.

Best whisky distillery tour experience we’ve ever had was at Clynelish located in Brora! What an amazing story and what an amazing tour, Stefanie was so knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and entertaining. The first thirty minutes will captivate you. Did not disappoint! 🥃

We did the £21 tour and tasting and had a blast. It's a bit gimmicky, but that's part of the fun, and we learned a lot. The bar area where we had the tasting is gorgeous with great views. It's an easy 20 minute walk from the nearby village so no worries about driving after the tasting.

We went here for the play gardens and found out there's a soft play for the really little ones. The play gardens are lovely and well kept as you would expect. We spent about an hour going round and having fun, though there wasn't as many activities as I'd been led to believe. However I was surprised to be told the cafe has a soft play (for children under 110cm in height). When we went in it's really aimed at under 5s I'd say. It was perfect for my little one. She enjoyed this more than the play gardens. I should add that wherever I read the info for the gardens made it out to be free. While you don't pay as such to get in, the amount you pay when parking depends on what area of the estate you are visiting. If you wish to visit the castle grounds (which includes the play gardens) it's £5 for the day (per car). Adding the castle costs a little extra. Note: it's free for those with National Trust memberships. I had no issues paying this, but it came a little unexpected and thought I should mention it here in case it was important to someone else. Something to mention is that the staff who we came into contact at various points were all very polite, friendly and welcoming and offered guidance and assistance where needed.

We visited Brodie Castle this Sunday and had an amazing time! It’s dog-friendly, which is a huge bonus — we were able to enjoy the day with our 10-year-old Lab. The gardens were truly inspirational. I especially loved the extended meadow areas and the large vegetable garden with an orchard. All of the play areas were well-kept, clean, and safe. There’s something for all ages — from 8 to 45! The staff were very friendly and welcoming. Access to the gardens and play areas is free, and we only paid £5 for parking, which is a small price considering the number of attractions on offer. Highly recommended, especially in good weather! We’ll definitely be back!

A lovely historic building that was brought to life as a former family home by the knowledge and enthusiasm of our charismatic tour guide. Good facilities including two small and reasonably priced cafés (lunch of soup, oatcakes, cake and pot of tea cost about £10.40). Lovely grounds to explore and a children's play garden that was clearly being enjoyed. I visited on an October week day and it was not busy, a pleasantly comfortable and unhurried 3-4 hour visit.

We really like Brodie Castle. Our tour guide was new, but exceptional and she really added to our experience. The outside had some beautiful walking trails and we loved the huge beech tree. There were no formal gardens, but the children’s garden was so creative and really well done. If you have children, I’d highly recommend a stop here. The children’s garden was very well planned and the best we’d seen!

Visited the gardens and cafe . Staff all helpful and friendly. Two nice cafes with lovely cakes. spent a whole afternoon in the gardens and play parks. Children and adults enjoyed the play garden especially the musical areas. The big bunny was great to see. Children did the sheet to find the white rabbits and fill in the names, great idea to involve children. We didn't walk round all the areas so would certainly return.

If you have never been to a Scotish Castle I recommend Brodie Castle. Why? It is in the countryside away from traffic with plenty of parking. There is a very well organized tour with plenty of time to ask questions without feeling pressured. Several cafes are on the grounds with picnic tables to enjoy a lunch or snack. There is a playground for children. There are trails through the woods to follow . Clean bathrooms are on-site.

Lovely stop during our trip to the Highlands. Our kids loved the large outdoor playground and the soft play next to the cafe. If you go during Spring, you will see one of the largest collections of daffodils in Scotland. We also got tickets to go in the castle for a guided tour, free as we are National Trust of Scotland members. Great woodland walk to the pond to see the swans too! See our full video review on our experience under The Olive Tree Family on all social media platforms.

A lovely little distillery with an interesting story told during the guided tour. Big thanks to my man Brian for delivering an amazing tour! The tasting at the end featured three great tasting older whiskies! Big recommend!

Gorgeous distillery with quality scotch. Unlike some of the larger distilleries in the area, they seem to really focus on making a great product and keeping to tradition. The tasting was wonderful and our guide was knowledgeable

Wonderful place, wonderful staff. Tipped by Brian (distiller) to go for a quick visit on the late Saturday afternoon, welcomed by Susan who recognised us immediately from the Ceilidh the night before, we tried the Contrast tasting. Personal favourites are the Contrast Organic and the Double Matured (Bordeaux Wine Cask finish). And thanks to Steven for the free Ceilidh lessons!

Very beautiful distillery and a highly recommended tour (explorer tour). Our tour guide was very nice and she explained everything very well.

We had an incredible tour and tasting at Benromach Distillery. It was a quick and easy train ride from Inverness, and located just a five minute walk away from the station. Our tour guide was fun and informative. There is so much history here! Because it was off season we had a solo tour but that meant we had plenty of time for questions and pictures of this beautiful space. Definitely try the gin too! It’s lovely!

Fantastic tour, exceptionally friendly and helpful visitor Centre staff and outstanding whiskies to sample. Not corporate in the slightest. Shout out to your guide Matthew who was outstanding. Highly recommended.

Thoroughly enjoyed our tour and tasting here. My wife and I had not had Benromach before, and really enjoyed the lightly peated that we tasted. The Red Door gin was also quite nice! I don’t know what tour we did (it was set up by our guide) but Robert (Bob) was fantastic, indeed all of the employees we came in contact with were great. Truly delightful experience that ran long during the tasting (lots of questions by us and the other people that were in our tour - plus adding the gin tasting!) but the staff had no issues and were very patient. Will definitely be purchasing some Benromach in the future! Some folks gripe about not being able to take pictures in certain locations, but this is a standard practice at numerous if not all distilleries.

My family (wife, 5 year old and me) got the taxi over to Culbin beach / forest on 13/06/25. We pre arranged a collection 2 hours later. The service was professional, safe and the taxi driver (sailor?) was full of local knowledge. Culbin beach was beautiful, deserted snd full of wildlife (seals, cormorants, herons etc) Will do again in the future

The perfect addition to our stay visiting family. The staff are all so lovely and welcoming and very knowledgeable. All of our children loved it aged (12,10,8) I would definitely book again. Thank you for the experience😁😁😁

We had a fantastic ride out of Findhorn today. Peter was a great skipper and guide and shared so many interesting things about the area. We didn’t see dolphins today but we saw a lot of seals and nesting birds. Being on the rib was exciting enough. Also exciting to know Matt Damon and Zendaya were on the rib the week before :) Make sure you say yes to full waterproofs. It’s cold out on the firth even if it’s warm on land. Also recommend captains table for a great post ride meal Thanks for a great ride!

The highlight of our two week trip! We saw porpoises, seals, and had dolphins come right up to our boat. It was a magical experience, really once-in-a-lifetime. I’m a little nervous on boats but there was no problem with the speedboat we had, it took waves with no problem and we were very comfortable. I would highly recommend this tour!

Had the best time this morning with North 58. Roy (the captain) was a fantastic skipper and guide. Learned things about my local area I never knew before! Highly recommended.

Had a fantastic afternoon on the North 58 today, we took our three year old son who loved it (despite falling asleep due to the motion 🤦🏻‍♀️😂). We saw lots of seals and learned a lot about some of the history of the area. Roy was a fantastic skipper, would highly recommend this trip to anyone!

Great tour and well run. Roy was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable. Seeing a million dolphins during the trip definitely helped their case too!

A nice little museum telling the history of the area. Lots of things to see and read in a small place, but worth the visit.

There was a traffic jam on the A9 due to an accident so we decided to head back to Helmsdale to have coffee rather than sitting in the car. We happened upon this museum and I'm truly glad we went in. The lady on reception was lovely and explained everything about the museum. She told us we could head straight into the museum or go for our coffee first which we did. The museum itself was excellent, lots of rich history about the area. We moved fast through it because there wasn't enough to keep the kids entertained but that was the only negative. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit and I'd definitely recommend popping in if you are nearby.

Very interesting place to visit,with a wealth of local knowledge. There is a library for people who wish to research and workshop space. The cafe does a mean crepe with different filings.

There is plenty of info to see here and physical items , my children also fell in love with the museums interactive game and Ai room, it really is interactive and informative about various parts of history and bringing the museum to life too , it really helped my children to visualise it all and really enjoyed it. The gallery upstairs was about Beatrice the oil rig , which was interesting, kids listened to the sound booth and headsets. And my daughter loved her cake in the river cafe here too.

This is a fantastic place for kids & adults alike ,so much history on the Goldrush and Herring industry with loads of pictures and artifacts all around the museum our two grandsons although only 4 & 6 found it interesting well worth a visit and nice coffee shop with all things homemade

Popped in towards the end of the day and was warmly welcomed by staff member who provided helpful advice about my visit. I found the stories of local people and the jobs they did really fascinating. I wasn't too sure about the interactive room as I prefer physical things and interpretation. It felt like some of the exhibits were a bit disjointed but I enjoyed my visit and would recommend to other travellers. The exhibition upstairs had some beautiful images but I would have liked a bit more written explanation about how everything joined together. When I spoke to the staff member they were able to provide the additional information I was looking for. I didn't go to the cafe but the gardens were beautiful with their location on the riverside.

Amazing little museum tucked away on the east coast. Beautiful and interesting exhibits with interactive elements alongside a well curated gift shop. I’ve heard the cafe does great crepes but didn’t get a chance to try.

Boring. Useless cafe too hardly anything except soup and cake.

We were so delighted with the Picts stone engravings exhibit. The stones are so close and the signage well done. We would have liked more of the unbiased historical speculation

Well worth a visit - I wish I had had longer to spend there. From the earliest history of Caithness to the more recent, it's all here. I especially enjoyed the displays about the Dounreay reactor - very few museums have an original reactor control room as an exhibit! Recommended.

Always worth visiting when in town, great exhibitions, in a wonderful old building. Fascinating history of the region of the nature and the people. The film is a must and a coffee and one of the fine home made cakes a great way to finish the trip.

I had some time to fill in while awaiting the train so took the £4 tour. Well worth the small fee and I learned a lot about the area together with the UKs first nuclear power station which is slowly being decommissioned. Great little cafe as well!

the best Museum on the North Coast 500 route.

Great place to spend a few hours with the diverting history of Caithness both ancient and modern. Kids loved it. Very interactive. Could keep them entertained for half a day. £4 entry for adults fair.

Woe that you get stuck behind a campervan on the single track road to it, but it's definitely worth a visit. It can be a little bit breezy though, so make sure you've got plenty of rocks in your pockets for ballast

Stunning scenery and beautiful views of North Sea. It is the most northern part of mainland Britain. Also, it's the best place to see northern lights.

Me and the wife camp in the carpark ever year for our anniversary it our favourite place to be we proper love it there

The light post is nice but the real gem is the viewpoint which is about a min walk and that offers you stunning 360 views

We came here in the evening and it was peaceful and quiet so that we were able to sit quietly and observe some beautiful birds. I saw my favourite bird puffins and other birds like red-throated diver, razorbill, fulmar and gannet. Definitely worth visiting!!

The most northerly place on the British mainland, took the opportunity to visit as was in the area working and was pleasantly surprised and glad I took the time out. seeing Nature at its rawest was very welcome. we went out of season so it wasn't busy at all. the Puffins were not out, so took in the light house and out buildings. Overall a very enjoyable couple of hours or so.

Beautiful landmark. John O'Groates is more popular but this one is the most northerly point of mainland Britain. That's why I went there with my son. Great scenery leading upto it. Lakes on the way. Car park is very cheap. Think I paid £1. Can pay by card. Phone signal works here.

Beautiful castle and walled garden. The castle felt very homely and had so many personal effects of the late Queen Mother. The walled garden is a beautiful delight. There’s also a cafe on site and shop. Well worth a visit

A castle on the outside but very homely inside. The late Queen Mother lived very simply if the small dining room and servery are anything to go by. The upstairs and other areas are still private of course and King Charles does spend a few days here every year. I liked to hear about Britannia mooring offshore and the royal party being ferried to the jetty and walking up the path to the front door. I bet they had a car waiting if it rained. The animal shed was slightly off. Although it was interesting to learn the history of the breeds I don't need to see them cooped up. The gardens were stunning. It never ceases to amaze me what will grow in the far north of the UK when given shelter behind walls.

Lovely castle and gardens. The stories about the history and Queen Mother were great. I think the entrance fee is a bit high but overall a good day.

Lovely gardens and home. The docents are remarkable, especially Nancy, who knew the Queen Mother and tended to her during the queens stays each year. She made the visit heartwarming as did all the docents ❤️

Interesting Castle and contents previously owed and loved by the late Queen Mother. King Charles still visit's the castle and enjoys time there. Plenty of parking space and motorhomes welcome. Enjoyed my time here and a nice café and facilities. Well worth a look while on the North Coast of Scotland..👍

Right from arriving to park the motorhome the staff were all incredibly friendly and helpful . Nancy was a star at the castle entrance but everyone was so helpful and told stories of the late queen mother . In every room . This was more like a big house rather than a castle .

A very interesting castle, still in royal use by the King. Very friendly staff, with insights into the life of the Queen Mother, and who take time to explain the history of the rooms. It is a shame that only 2 floors of the castle are visitable but as it is still used, there are still areas that are private, and no photography is allowed inside. The walled garden is very pretty - it would be nice for some of the thicker and taller plants to have a more visible name tag though, and the kids loved the animal centre, getting up close to rabbits, sheep, chickens and pigs. There is a nice tea room, very reasonably priced with tables inside and out. To note: cash is not accepted, all payments for visits and food are card only.

Terrific WW1 & WW2 Navy Museum. So many interesting things to see and do. Cafe is fantastic too. Only a one minute drive from Lyness Ferry Pier. We have visited this amazing Museum twice now,and each time we see more & more.

What a brilliant museum. Incredibly well laid out with just the right amount of information and very welcoming and helpful staff. The fare as for passengers from Houton was also a bargain. The cafe was also very well priced but sadly let down by extremely unenthusiastic staff and poor housekeeping.

Very welcoming museum, so much information and so many personal experiences! Children were given very well thought of treasure hunt that made them more focused on the museum content and entertained at the same time! The cafe on site was very nice too and with very reasonable prices. All in all a brilliant experience, even more so for a museum that only asks for donations, not paid entry. Thank you! X

If you're interested in military history, this place is an absolute must. There are myriad pieces of information detailing what happened with the British and German navies at Scapa Flow, as well as what life was like here during the war. There are also a lot of artefacts from ships that sank in Scapa Flow, but British as well as German. The museum is set in a former military oil depot which was pumping oil to / from the ships, so you can also see lots of the heavy machinery accomplishing this task. Overall a great experience and I'd recommend allocating at least 2 hours to visit this. The ferry terminal is right across the road so a great activity of you need to wait for the ferry.

One of many trips to the museum on Hoy! To get here you can take the foot passenger ferry from stromness but you'd have to walk there as there is no bus or you can take the car over if you go via houghton (best if you want to explore the island!) The museum is literally the first thing you see as you come off the ferry to the right. Everything is sign posted and well documented as you go through. It's amazing to see all the photos of the people who were involved on Hoy, amd learn just how much Orkney did in the war efforts. Well worth a visit. Also, ask them to open up the shed, there is more to see in there but they'll only open it up if you ask! Also, go into the air raid shelter, it's a little spooky, but its really good. This part night no be accessible to everyone, as there is a ramp that maybe slippy in the winter months but there are no steps

Moored up at Lyness following a dive and so glad we visited this museum. Really informative and explains the whole history of Scapa Flow 👌

Really, really good. Very helpful staff offered my disabled husband a wheelchair which was so helpful. The pump house is awesome and the other displays and artifacts are very well presented and interesting. We enjoyed it and lunch in the cafe was good too. Well worth a generous donation.

Excellent place, so much to see and interact with. So much bigger inside than you think. lots of interesting stuff.

Well, we did not expect this gem of a museum! Highly knowledgeable and friendly staff and a well curated collection of items. We could quite easily have spent much longer there!

One of the best museums we have ever visited, and an afternoon well spent during our NC500 tour of northern Scotland! All exhibits are well laid out in separate little galleries and all tell an excellent story of Wick in days gone by. It was fascinating to see just how important the fishing industry was to this small port town. And then there was the highlight … Margaret! Margaret met us at the entrance and patiently explained the layout of the museum, the route we should take and what we should look out for. We dutifully followed her advice and as we toured around, Margaret would often appear out of one of the many side doors to check we were OK and give us more details about what was on show. Margaret was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic – we came to the conclusion that every museum in the UK needs a Margaret!!

This museum is outstanding. It is obvious that local people have put their heart into amassing the huge wealth of artifacts and information about the fascinating history of Wick. It ought to be the very first place that you visit to if you are coming to the area. I have not seen such an extensive exhibition of early photograghs that bring so many aspects of the people to life. An amazing experience.

This museum is just packed with information and artifacts, history and lore. It would actually take more than one visit to be able to fully appreciate all that is on display. Be sure to allow for a good amount of time to explore this treasure!

Lovely place with nice people who work there! We were just there to hide from the rain, but it was way bigger than we thought and with lots of interesting stuff. If you're in or near Wick I would recommend.

Interesting and comprehensive, the video showing how barrels were made was a highlight for us but there's something for everyone. The volunteers were all incredibly kind and eager to share personal connections ti the exhibits. Highly recommend if you've got an hour to spare.

A lovely tour by our wonderful guide Gordon, a perfect length introduction to the production of whisky without too much of an information dump which was appreciated. The tasting at the end is well presented and classy looking, just too strong for me unfortunately haha.

I don't do many reviews but I had an amazing experience here. Gordon gave a fantastic and informative tour, and Old Pultenay let you see every part of the process - not just the sanitised version other distilleries provide. 5 out of 5 and the whisky isn't bad either! Highly reccomend a visit.

Had a great time and learned a lot about how my most beloved brand makes its single malt whisky. Funny enough, the house I stayed in at Wick had walls that matched the very bottle I bought at the distillery!

We didn't do any tour, just did a tasting in the shop and visited the museum room. You can even choose from two whiskys, get them directly from the barrel, seal it with wax and write the label by yourself. Very kind and open minded staff there. Don't miss it if you are around Wick!

I had a great tour today! The guide George explained everything brilliantly, gave lots of interesting information and made a few jokes along the way. It wasn't easy to take in all the information, see this charming distillery (adore it might be a bit too much) and take as many photos as possible. I can look at the photos later at home with a nice dram of the excellent Old Pulteney 15 (the Huddart is probably no longer available) and remember the great time! Thank you very much!

An amazing experience and I would highly recommend it! This is my 4th distillery tour and there's still so much to learn and of interest. Our guide Kathy was super friendly, kind and incredibly knowledgeable. We got the £15 tour which is an hour, plus you get two drams and a free tulip glass. Having said that, you can stay as long as you want after and ask as many questions as you want so we were there for 2hrs in total!

We had a very nice and informative tour with Jane as our guide. Old Pulteney is a bit of a smaller distillery compared to some others you can find in Scotland but that made the tour, in our opinion, feel more authentic, less rushed and more genuine. If you wanted to taste any of their whiskeys (or gins) you didn't taste as part of the tour, that was no problem at all and you'd get some extra information. You also get the chance to see the warehouse which was very impressive.

The ferry itself was comfortable and clean, with plenty of seating options and a small cafe on board. The views of the Scottish coastline and the islands in the distance were stunning, and it was a great way to see more of the beautiful landscape. Overall, while the journey felt a bit long, the ferry ride to Orkney Island was a pleasant experience with efficient service and breathtaking scenery.

Wildlife tour, 90 mins and £22.00 This tour was around the island of Stroma with sufficient info from the captain to make it a very interesting tour. The information about the island and past inhabitants was great, there are plenty of houses on the island but all in a state of decay as all the residents have long gone. Now it’s just sheep! The boat gets up close to the cliffs so you can see the bird life and we did see a few seals. We also had a RAF jet do a fly over for us, that was also impressive! This trip is well worth while if you have a few hours to kill

90 min wildlife tour. Bought the tickets online. A little different than in the states. You just walk out to the boat, so I almost missed it but luckily I asked someone because I saw the boat. It didn’t look exactly like I thought it would and I ran, and they actually had to pull the boarding plank back out so that I can jump on And everyone’s super friendly. There is plenty of deck space and seating. There’s also seating inside because if you have a cold and rainy day like we did, you may want to take cover. We should have your rain jacket and secure. Any geography equipment go pros etc. to your wrist because the water can get choppy. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see any in water wildlife. I really wanted to see orcas or dolphins but apparently we are just missed them so be sure that you know what is citable during your season. We did see some seal, and, a lot of birds, including puffins. Note: it’s hard for the large vessel to get close to shore, and there’s nowhere that it docks, so be sure to bring binoculars if you have them or a camera with a really good zoom lens. You can also bring your own snacks and beverages. You won’t find them on board. I do think there is a restroom however. Be sure to check the weather and dress appropriately. It gets really windy and cold on the water.

Super ferry tour. Was supposed to be a 90 minute tour but was extended by at least 15 minutes as the captain was looking for dolphins for us to see. Nice smooth voyage with some great photo ops.

Booking online is very easy, but you can also book on-site if you’re staying in the area. In the summer the Wildlife tour leaves twice a day, 11am and 2:30pm. It is also highly recommended to take the full day trip to Orkney which starts at 8:30am and arrives back at 6:15pm. Everyone in the crew were friendly and always happy to answer questions and lend a hand.

Really friendly crew, smooth crossing one way they pointed out dolphins on the way back it was rough but skipper very considerate and did a great job in big waves .

Fast service. I suggest to do the maxi tour. It gives you the opportunity to take a complete tour of the oarkney islands. The driver is very interesting, easy to listen (also for those, like us, not english native speakers). In 45 min you reach the oarkney living from john o groats and you stay all day long on the islands. You see kirkwall, the scapa flow, skara brae, the standing stones, the italian chapel and many amazing landscapes including some white beaches. Don't miss it!