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.

A lovely glimpse into the history & life cycle of a castle that is still lived in. Interesting Self guided audio tour and informational panels very well done, extremely friendly docents spaced throughout. Go early as it does get very busy. Beautiful grounds to explore as well.

We came to Loch Insh as part of a family campervan holiday and it was by far and away the best value, best place, best staff and best welcome we had anywhere. It absolutely made our trip. The family day ticket is such good value for a family of 4 to try out any water sports they want all day as well as tubing. The restaurant is also really lovely.

I saw this advertised on P4N, to be able to stay in their car park for £20 overnight, in your own campervan, and have access to 24/7 toilet and shower during opening hours. Was a really good park up for us, due to time of year we were the only camper in the car park. Very peaceful and lovely to be overlooking the loch & have access to the restaurant, too.

100% recommend - kids did a weeks watersports camp and loved every moment. Every instructor was brilliant with the kids. We booked a windsurfing lesson 2 weeks later and Scott was amazing with the girls. Already excited about next summers camp! Thanks team and see you next year!

Me and my family have come to loch insh every year since finding this hidden gem, we have stayed in the bunkhouse, a backpackers haven with warm rooms, comfy beds and facilities to use, we have used the carpark to campervan in, its quiet, peaceful and the facilities are kept clean and are free to use whenever and we have now hired out 3 different cabins over multiple trips, they are beautiful and cosy, with a familial touch that only love and attention can bring. Its a family run center and it really shows with everyone pitching in to make it run smoothly, the story of loch insh is inpiring and and i cannot reccomend it enough. My grandmother is disabled and unable to do so many things but here she has her freedom again, the accomodations made for her are astounding with every effort made so she can join in, she has kayaked down the river spey taking in nature and having fun on rapids, she has been sailing, on pedaloes, swimming, she truly feels like a part of her life has been given back through this and i see her sense of spirit and adventure come to life. Not only are these accomodations met, we have never been made to feel a burden or a nuisance, it is a lovely place and i hope everyone could experience loch inshes hospitality at least once. I as a person lack a lot of conifdence but at loch insh its so encouraged to try new things, i have since completed my yatching association levels 1 and 2, i have canoed and kayaked down the river spey watching my own confidence grow year after year, i have tried SUP boarding something i never imagined myself doing but i that now i can and a whole host of other things, this year we went stargazing as a family and it was magnificent all the information and stars we saw, we love all the staff and cant wait for our next visit. Thank you from the Marriotts.

Stopped in for lunch and discovered all the activities for all ages. Beautiful location and delicious food. Will definitely come back one day with more time to kayak on the loch

We had a brilliant visit to Loch Insh Outdoor Centre. Great for kids and adults, but personally I liked the paddle boarding the best. We will definitely visit again!!

Did snowboarding today on the dry slope with the wife, had a great time! So much fun and easier than I had expected, probably due to excellent tuition from Zoe. Thanks very much for a great afternoon, will 100% be back 👍

These public lavatories should be avoided at night unless absolutely necessary. This is due to the fact that they have no electric lighting which made the evacuation of my bowels more challenging than usual. The cleanliness of these facilities also leaves a lot to be desired. As I departed the facilities I noticed my shorts had fallen into a pool of urine I had not noticed whilst sat down. All in all a very unsatisfactory lavatory experience!

I am a professional dog walker so rely on public toilets during the week when I'm out and about (when they are open!) I think Dornoch toilets leave a lot to be desired as do the toilets at Balintore(which aren't listed)which I unfortunately also have to use occasionally.

Gents toilets need a good clean but womens toilet was complete opposite

Clean and convenient, with parking outside and passing military jets for entertainment!

Gorgeous beech with views across the Moray Firth, even on a day of moderate visibility.

These are clean well looked after public toilets.

A nice place to walk to dog and good toilets

Amazing place for a whole family. All the enclosures are tidy and animals are well fed and clean. The place is run by people dedicated to their mission and loving animals. Had a great day by spotting wee wild cats and monkeys, tigers, wolves, camels, horses, leopards and a wolverine.

I had an incredible Tiger Experience. This was purchased as a gift so didn't really know what to expect. There was only one other person doing the Experience at the same time. We were given a H&S briefing before being allowed to feed the tigers, through the fence. It was incredible to be so close to such majestic creatures. The keepers were super informative, kind enough to take photos and allowed us to ask lots of questions. The Experience may only have lasted half an hour but I would highly recommend, if you want to get close to these amazing animals. The rest of the park is worth seeing too although you need to be quite fit and able to get around the walking part of the park. Nice cafe and facilities on site too. We arrived around 1.30pm and it wasn't busy at all.

What a wonderful day out. Right from the start when paying in the lovely gentleman who was at the booth was so lovely chatty and friendly. A genuinely pleasant and welcoming beginning he is a credit to the park as was any of the staff we met. We were so lucky to get to see every animal there. The wolfs were what we mainly went for and were not disappointed they were so close and they were having a sleep right at the fence of the walkway it was a great experience. We were so lucky with timing with the big cats also. The enclosures were clean and looked to be very well maintained. The animals looked to be in great condition and did not appear to be stressed at all which is lovely to see. We found the park to be well set out and had plenty of time to get round all the enclosures, have a bite to eat and a play in the playpark before closing time and we didn't arrive till 12. I highly recommend a day out here a great day for anyone of any age.

Probably my favourite zoo in the UK that we have been to. The safari is stunning with the views and the animals have plenty of room to roam about and it feels like they are in there own environment. The zoo doesn't seem to get too busy either so it doesn't spoil the views with cars being everywhere. The main zoo is a good walk aswell with good enclosures for all the animals. Some steep hills and only really recommend the mobility scooters on site for the inclines

Thoroughly enjoyed by kids. had lots of fun. Got to see variety of animals very closely. Both pandas, snow leopard, 3 tigers. Walking the trail of caterpillar was also funny. My kids loved it.

A beautiful place with well kept animals in large enclosures. Incredible scenery and activities for all ages. Fantastic play park and the education centre is a marvel with facts and interactive games. There were huts for kids to learn about animals and the world. Loved the Scottish folklore and the lessons we are taught from them to respect nature. Excellent facilities and great we were able to have our picnic in a beautiful sheltered tent. Cafe was busy but coffee lovely. We are members and just love supporting RZSS and all they do.

What an amazing experience. Great selection of animals which were active due to thought out enclosures. Cafe was busy and provides lovely coffee which is worth the wait. Ample parking and the staff we interacted with were wonderful. Shout out to the gent at the entrance before the ticket booths. Really helped us as we were using Marwell Passes. Extra special thank you!

Charming and Peaceful Stop at Dornoch Cathedral Dornoch Cathedral is a small but beautiful cathedral tucked right in the heart of Dornoch town. Though modest in size, it has a quiet charm and a rich sense of history that makes it well worth a short visit. Originally built in the 13th century, the cathedral has been lovingly restored over the years and is still very much at the center of the community. The building is well maintained, and the peaceful atmosphere inside offers a nice break from the outside world. The stained glass windows are particularly lovely, casting soft light across the stone interior and adding to the cathedral’s calming feel. There are plaques and displays inside sharing a bit of the cathedral’s history and notable figures connected to it — a nice touch if you're interested in the heritage of the area. It's an easy place to find, right in the middle of town, and only a short walk from the shops and cafés nearby. We spent about 30 minutes here and found it to be a really pleasant and reflective stop. Definitely worth popping in if you’re passing through Dornoch — a peaceful spot full of character and history.

Small Cathedral that located a crossed from old Carnegie court house. It is small but very beautiful and well maintained. It is a such peaceful place that they even left the 18 century type of key in the lock! There are volunteer display and selling some small handcrafted items to raise money! It’s just wonderful!

Founded in 1224 but largely rebuilt by the Duchess of Sutherland in 1835 along with a family burial vault in the chancel. A small but well built cathedral (Cathedral simply means it’s the home of the bishop) whose recent claims to fame are the baptism of Madonna’s son Rocco in 2000 and the wedding of Elon Musk to Talulah Riley in 2010. Windows in the cathedral are dedicated to Andrew Carnegie whose home at Skibo Castle is nearby.

A heavily restored small cathedral in a delightful high street setting with a pretty churchyard.

Beautiful church in nice village.

Stunning place and beautiful windows.

A beautiful small Cathederal in a beautiful setting opposite Dornoch Castle Hotel. Ot is well worth a visit as is the adjoining churchyard. It has a nice shop in inside and is staffed by helpful and friendly volunteers. If on the NC500 East take time to stop off and visit and sit and realise how lucky we are to have such a gem on our doorstep.

With nothing to really guide me to select one distillery over another for a tour, Tomatin gave me a great introduction to what whisky making is about. James the guide was patient and very knowledgeable and answered all the questions. Despite the fact that it was August and a non-distilling time of year (so there was little ‘action’ occurring in the distillery), it was cool to see the gear up close and personal. In all a very satisfactory experience and maybe better for the fact it wasn’t one of the big name distillers. Of course the tasting part was great and the guide took us through a step by step tutored tasting of the whiskies.

We did the legacy tour at the Tomatin distillery and we enjoyed it very much. They have a former mash tun cut open so one can see the structures on the inside which was very interesting. The tasting of three of their whiskies in the cosy „tasting room“ at the end of the tour was also really nice.

The tour was comprehensive and well executed. Our guide James was knowledgeable and took time to not just showing us the proces of Whisky making but also letting us smell during each step of the proces which I personally felt really important. Smelling the three Whisky examples afterwards really made sense that way, as will smelling whisky hereafter. What would have made it an even better tour? Perhaps some more info about the coopers work and expertese and about choosing the barels for a release. Can recommend this distillery tour

It was a tour worth doing while in the Scottish Highlands. This was recommended by a friend since I was looking for a unique activity in the area, near Inverness. Going there may require that you monitor the bus timing and endure a 20min walk from the bus drop off to the visiting centre, or bringing your own car, or taking Uber. Nonetheless it’s worthwhile going there. Hedy, the tour guide, has been very interactive and knowledgeable. The tour site is beautiful and my highlight is the whisky tasting! Definitely something to look forward to. All in all, this activity allowed me to be more interested about whisky… and Tomatin did it well. Thanks a lot and will be recommending this to friends too!

A rather large distillery offering a comprehensive tour and tasting room & bar experience. Staff were pretty knowledgeable and transparent on bottles, industry information, and prices. Thoroughly enjoyed my time there on the Single Cask experience, and bought a couple of exclusive bottles. Saw some complaints on how bottles are more expensive than in third party shops, and that's because of Scotland's whisky tax, pretty common knowledge, so hold your horses before slamming the distilleries!

We just had the tour with my mother who’s an all time whisky lover and our friend Martyn who’s a whisky ambassador, it’s an interesting, fun and entertaining experience. If you’re around the area, you definitely should go for it. Our guide Joe (I hope that’s how you spell it) was knowledgeable, captivating and passionate, quite the performer!

We are from Finland on holiday in Aviemore. We visited Tomatin during our holiday. What a wonderful experience and a very good introduction, many thanks to our lovely guide for that. 🌹🌹 We recommend 👍

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.

Went to the distillery on a tour, as part of a 'special' birthday gift. We were not disappointed. The tour was incredibly informative thanks to our two wonderful tour guides Zoe and Dougie. Zoe even sang 'happy birthday!' They were both very friendly and happy to answer any questions. The whisky at the end was great too! Thank you for a memorable experience. 😊

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

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!

Such an amazing place. The museum is so interesting, a valuable token of history. I came because I wanted to know more of this famous battle but was amazed to see how much they respected the place, created a whole area to show how the battle really happened. The museum itself gives many valuable information about the battle with numerous activities

After making our way through the entrance museum, we came out on this huge, lush field. It was hard to believe that so many people died on this field, and our guide helped us to understand the breadth and scale of the effects of this battle. To think what might have happened if the battle had gone a different way, but that is for a different person to tell. Overall, the area was pretty traversable by wheelchair, though some places it did get a bit bumpy. Also, our guide was excellent at helping to take the group on the smoothest places.

What an experience. Fascinating and sobering. The visitor centre provides superb context of the events that lead up to the battle and the battle itself. We took the guided tour of the battlefield and we’re glad we did. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and brought the events to life as we stood in the exact places that the events she so vividly described actually took place. The tour comes highly recommended from us. I would not hesitate to thoroughly recommend this place as a must see.

Last time I was here was in the 70s so big changes Cafe very nice. Guides were very knowledgeable. Well laid out paths with notices telling you the position of the 2 armies Graves had the clan names on them. Big carpark, cost me nothing as I am a national trust member. T

Beautiful surroundings. Tranquility and peace reign supreme. Guided tours are on offer should you wish. Plenty of walk options and is dog friendly. Lovely range of food in the cafe with clear labelling of gluten free items. Plenty of parking too.

This is a really captivating historical site. Give yourself some time to explore the visitor’s center and walk the battlefield. There are plenty of historical markings to help you understand how the battle was carried out.

Visiting the Culloden battlefield was a surreal experience. While the Battlefield can be viewed and walked without entering the Visitor Centre I would recommend first time visitors pay the entry and take a look. There's heaps of Information on the build up and battle presented from both the Governments and Jacobites sides. After a walk through the visitor centre we chose to use the audio guides rather a tour but really depends on your preference. The battlefeild it self was very easy to navigate and the colored flags depicting the Government and Jacobites sides really helped to get and idea of the scale. We visited on a Thursday and while there were many others wandering around the area was large enough to not feel crowded. I would Highly recommend a visit if you touring the Scottish Highlands.

Very interesting snapshot of many aspects of Scottish life through the ages up to the 1940s I'd say. Lovely walk through the woods to the start of the timeline showing turf and heather housing. Allow a couple of hours to see the whole site. Nice little cafe with reasonable prices. No entry fee but donations encouraged, or buy the very informative guidebook for £5 and hand back in when you leave for someone else to buy.

Another wonderful place to stop off and learn about Scotland. Yes, you will have to compete with the loads of buses that appear in mid-morning, so I'd recommend getting there as soon as they open. As you can see in the pictures, there are quite a few buildings to check out, but what they don't show you is how large the site is. Just keep that in mind when you go there, and budget some time in to enjoy it. The day we got there, it was threatening rain or raining at times, so the paths became a bit slippery for my wife's power wheelchair. The paths themselves were good for the most part, but note that quite a lot of it is unpaved and can sometimes be bumpy.

We absolutely loved our visit. As a family of 4 there was plenty for us to explore. Children's playground, cafe, gift shop and toilets great. Entry and carpark is free but you are welcome to leave a donation - you will want to once you experience this place. The staff are very welcoming and very informative, it's clear they love their jobs. We bought a brochure (£5) which was very Informative and great to use alongside exploring the old villages. Sweet shop was super. A must see to get an insight into the history of the highlands! Just what we wanted on our trip to Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Absolutely fantastic historical village with much to see and do for the whole family. We particularly enjoyed the Highland Cows and the mock lesson in the School house. The coffee from the cafe was amazing. Highly recommend. Free entry, you only pay for parking. You can make a voluntary donation, which I think you’ll see is warranted.

We mainly stopped as we heard they had highland cows and wanted to see them. We were surprised by how much there was to see and all for free! So we ended up staying for much longer than anticipated and checked out all of the buildings etc. The teens enjoyed the working sweet shop the most. The staff were all really friendly. We made a donation at the end as it was so worth while.

A lot bigger than we expected! Was definitely worth going and we all enjoyed. Very friendly staff. Visit to the old fashioned sweetie shop is a must - it's not open every day so worth checking on the website. School was also a highlight, make sure you ask to practice your handwriting with the fountain pen. Dogs on short leads welcome but not able to go in any of the buildings so we swapped out people holding the dog. The dog really enjoyed the walk through the woodlands.

Absolutely astounding place. In a beautiful location with buildings from different eras spread out and you walk between them. The contents temporary hones had to look to look at, there's even a curling lake, workshops, and don't miss the old thatch houses.

Great tour! Highly recommend! We were fortunately transferred to Invergordon Bus Tour by another agency, and I’m so glad we were! Their tour was much more interesting and reasonably priced—about one-third of what the cruise line was charging for something similar. The entrance ticket to Cawdor Castle was even included, which was a great bonus The Invergordon Bus Tour office was conveniently located at the first stop of the cruise shuttle—super easy to find. We had a fantastic tour with our guide, Colllllllin, and our driver, Hamish. Colin made the experience truly enjoyable—he taught us some Gaelic, shared lots of funny stories and jokes, and kept us entertained throughout the journey. Despite the less-than-perfect weather, the tour was well-organized and ran smoothly. Colin adjusted the schedule to ensure we got back to our cruise on time, and his storytelling between stops made the travel time fly by. If you want to see Nessie—or even watch a video of her swimming in Loch Ness—just ask Colin. He’ll make it happen!

We had a fantastic tour with Russell and Glen!!Well paced, organized and so much more affordable than the cruise excursions. Our tour took us to Beauly, Inverness and Cawdor Castle. Our family of 3 loved our trip to the Scottish Highland and the great commentary and service from the driver and guide.

I was in Costa favolosa cruise and took this excursion to Inverness, Loch Ness and Beauly and we highly recommend it. Our guide (Richard) and the driver (Stuart) were amazing.

Our tour today was nothing short of Amazing. From the moment we stepped on the charter bus to the drop off point, our bus driver Russell and Glenn , our tour guide were very attentive and friendly to us All. I’d highly recommend this tour company. Half the price of the cruise ships and quite funny. Definitely 5 stars

Our Taste of the North tour was first rate and I would recommend it to anyone. Gordon went out of his way to be flexible when it first looked like our cruise ship would not dock at all, and then it docked 3 hours late. He offered a full refund, and then when we were able to do a shortened tour he offered a partial refund. The tour was very comprehensive anyway. The content really wowed us and George was an excellent and highly professional driver/guide.

We had a wonderful tour with James and Glenn! The tour was nicely paced, went through great scenery, and our guides were incredible! The moments in the bus were filled with nice stories and great information and the times at the attractions were well organised and went perfectly. If you’re in Invergordon by cruise you should check them out. They offer the same routes as the cruise does but at a cheaper rate.

We Just got back from our British Isle cruise and Invergordon Bus Tours did a great job with our tour. Guide Glen and Driver Russell were both fantastic! We also loved that the prices were better than the cruise lines, provided excellent service and still got us back to the ship in good time!

I visited this place so beautiful.

Spend some good time roaming around the river and crossing the foot bridge to catch some good views of the old church nearby. This flows right through the heart of Inverness and adds a lot to the place.

Lovely walk along here. Would also recommend Ness Islands. We were here mid November so did not have ideal weather conditions but it was very worthwhile!

Such a beautiful and peaceful body of water to walk alongside.

Lovely place for a walk, nice and clean.

The River Ness is a fast flowing river it has a really strong current. You can walk beside the river in Inverness and you get some great views as you go along. It can be muddy and wet in places so good footwear is needed. It is also a good idea to have waterproofs incase you get caught in heavy rain. The weather can change very quickly. The area is popular with dog walkers and sadly some do not clear up after them.

Beautiful river which is very popular with the tourists and locals alike. Great for walking and bird watching

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.

Loch Ness, where myths meet breathtaking views. 🙆‍♂️ Have you seen the Loch Ness Monster?🦕 Over a million tourists visit the Scottish coast every year in the hope of seeing the Nessie monster.🦕 And in the last photo, Nessie herself decided to pose for my lens.🤭

Lovely to tick this one off the bucket list, but my partner felt Windermere was nicer, but it’s worth coming to see, you can drive around it and stop off and take on the wondrous views.

Loch Ness is beautiful, I have recently been to Dores on one side of the loch and on a cruise on the other side.. amazing scenery, you will not be disappointed. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Loch ness is a beautiful place to visit if yours travelling by car camper etc there is loads of nice places to stop and enjoy from the ruins of the castle 🏰 fresh fish and chip shop to the beautiful views all over the lake the whole road that goes around it is definitely one to travel on. If your close by definitely do the trip it will be worth it.

Trip to fort Augustus,well worth the trip. Beautiful views,lots of parking available,enjoyable walk around with plenty cafes .

When up in the Highlands you cannot not visit loch Ness! We went on the loch Ness river cruise and parked at the Loch Ness clansman in the overflow car park. We had not pre booked any tickets but found no issues with booking for a group of 8 today from ticket office on the jetty. Fabulous staff on board the boat with a cafe selling snacks, hot drinks and alcohol and a toilet on board. The boat takes you to Urquhart castle where more passengers embarked and then we set off back to where we started. On the boat approx 55mins which was well worth it as the scenery is stunning. Lovely relaxing day

Good place to come. The Loch is not particularly better than the others besides the legend of Nessie. Fairly touristy but pretty good. If you are in Scotland good place to see. Maybe just maybe you will find the Loch Ness Monster hidden lurking in the depths.

On the shores of Loch Ness and the castle you see in all the photos and videos. Amazing location. You get to explore on your own. Takes about an hour to an hour and a half with the visitor shop 8 min vid. Worth seeing once for sure.

What a beautiful, breath taking place this was. It killed 2 birds in one stone, you can visit the castle and same time have a view/walk around of Loch Ness! We were so lucky that they day happened to be a nice sunny day - the setting, the colours of sky and the shadows on the Ness lake was simply amazing and picturesque. It is hard to put a review on this as some things you have to experience it yourself and this place is one of them!

At first I thought £16 was a bit much, but after viewing the 10min introduction film, a walk around the pictures and the castle itself, it was definitely worth it. Stunning view, nice gift shop and access to the lake. I'd definitely recommend to friends and family.

We made a stop here during our trip through the Highlands 🌄. The ruins of the castle are well-preserved, with clear signs explaining each area’s history. Before the visit, there’s a short film that tells the story of the castle — a very creative and engaging introduction 🎥. The views over Loch Ness are stunning… though we didn’t spot Nessie this time!

A stunning ancient site in Inverness. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here. After watching the 10 minute film, the screen rises and opens up to the view of the castle. That was really cool.

Beautiful castle with stunning views over Loch Ness! The ruins are well preserved, and the short film at the visitor centre really brings the history to life. We went with kids and learned many things we wouldn’t have known if we hadn’t visited. Exploring the towers and walls was a highlight for everyone. We went on a weekday, and it was surprisingly less crowded. Highly recommend booking ahead and taking your time to enjoy the scenery and history!

£16 an adult ticket just about ok ! The facilities for parking, the cafe/ shop and terraced area over loooking the castle are great. The castle itself is limited for exploration grounds but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Well worth a visit for solo, cpuples or families. If you need a place with facilities this is it.

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.

Absolutely loved it. Booked a few days before, and managed to get the tour at 10am followed by the boat trip at 12pm. The tour is great, it explains a lot and shows you the history of Loch Ness. There is a cafe and a few souvenir shops around that have all sorts of things in to choose from. The boat trip starts with a short mini bus ride down the hill to the jetty where you are welcomed by Skipper Steve, taken in to the boat and off you go. Theres lots of photo opportunities to be had, and we were lucky enough to go on a beautiful day with blue skies, calm water and the sun out too. All I can say is go - it's worth the money all day long.

Really enjoyed our visit which was organised by Lochs & Glens. The centre was brilliant. Lots of nice touches and informative. All narrated by my fav David Tennant. All set in beautiful scenery.

This place was very interesting. In a series of short videos and interviews presented in a very cute way, you are introduced to the area, the legend and the possibilities of Nessie’s existence: your choice. Do you believe in Nessie? You decide! We enjoyed this experience, but it is not “necessary” to the enjoyment of all that Lochness has to offer… still I would recommend it.

We booked our tickets online before arriving. The 1 hour presentation at the hotel/centre was very funny, enjoyable and entertaining. Worth the money paid. The cruise though it was a slow cruise, but to feel the sun warmth on my face was just amazing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great family stop by Loch Ness! The exhibits are fun and interactive, with a perfect mix of history, science, and the mystery of Nessie. The staff were friendly, and the kids loved the immersive experience. Definitely worth visiting before or after seeing Urquhart Castle nearby!

Very cool museum! We didn't book tickets ahead of time but luckily it was only a 20 minute wait, which we spend at the centers cafe. The information is given in a very entertaining way through videos in different rooms and in different styles. At the end, you can vote on whether you think Nessie is real or not and put up a ribbon accordingly on the Nessie statue outside. Staff is very kind. Sufficient parking.

Quick museum with interesting stories and background information on Loch Ness and Nessie! We arrived too late to do a boat tour but enjoyed the museum and cute town area afterwards. A little over priced but would still recommend for the Nessie vibes.

This is a spectacular waterfall, easily accessed via a 10 minute walk from the car park down to the bridge. There are 2 circular walks here, but the coloured signs get confusing and we just came back the way we went in. Note - if you cross the bridge and keep going, you you’ll end up miles away in a different car park. Small fee for parking, which is,li,tied, but runs over constantly. Well worth the half hour stop on the way to or from Ullapool.

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.

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

Took the Loch Ness cruise in mid March this year and what an adventure! Fair warning: it was absolutely freezing, and the downstairs cabin filled up fast, leaving us braving the elements on the upper deck. Pro tip: arrive early if you want any chance of staying warm indoors! Even wearing the same gear that kept me comfortable in Iceland, I was still shivering. As for Nessie sightings? Well, let's just say only the truly dedicated (or slightly mad) tourists like us were out there in those conditions - and apparently, the monster has more sense than we do! She was probably tucked away somewhere warm and cozy. The boat had “sonar” screens and a great guide! Despite the arctic conditions, the scenery was stunning and the experience memorable. Just come prepared for Scottish weather, no matter what the forecast says! Pro tip #2: Scottish whisky really helps keep one warm!!!! 🥃 full bar on board!

A wonderful experience, if you come all the way to this place, you must take the trip around the lake (loch). The crew was fun, the ride was smooth, Nessie was shy that particular day, maybe next time she will show up. Something to remember.

Very nice cruise and at a very fair price, considering the tourism of the area. We went on a whim and were glad we did. Our guide was funny and informative. Our captain took us close to the cliffs. Overall, highly recommended.

First off, it’s super pet-friendly! The cruise had cosy indoor spaces and a lovely outdoor area on top where you can soak up the wind and the loch’s vibe. Everyone on the tour was super friendly and full of knowledge. I learned a ton about the latest Loch Ness monster research, and even got a little whisky class that I absolutely loved!

Loch Ness is a place of stunning natural beauty. Surrounded by rolling hills and peaceful landscapes, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the calm and charm of the Scottish Highlands. Whether you're there for the legendary stories or just to take in the scenery, the loch has a quiet, magical atmosphere that’s hard to forget. A beautiful destination well worth the visit.

We visited today 16/07/2025 and it was certainly worth its money for 2 hour trip. Peter the tour guide was brilliant and kept all the passengers entertained and ensuring he spoke to each one. He is definitely an asset to Jacobite!!! Peter and hubby spotted Nessie 🤣🤣 Currently staying in Loch Ness Lodges, wow these lodges are beautiful and relaxing...visiting from Peterborough and Derby

an unforgettable experience, we had good weather and I took many pictures, but the best thing is that you have to come here and experience it for yourself !! I didn't see the monster, I think it was his day off, but we'll definitely see him next time 😀 Cheers

Walked the Glen Strathfarrar Munros circuit up here had to wait at the gate next to cottage till 9am to be let in and be out by 8pm (summer time) great day out cycling from carpark to start and picking bike up after walk 4.5 miles or so down the road.

Off the beaten track. Not in the guide books and well worth a visit! Saw a couple birds of prey and wild goats!!

A magical Glen. In tbe height of summer the early stage if the walk is like a stunning cold weather jungle, heavy mosses hang from the tree and against the backdrop of the river glass, it creates something very magical. Then after the dam, it opens up to a breathtaking mountainous backdrop. Plenty of wildlife and wonder.

Literally the most beautiful view we saw in Scotland.

Beautiful estate

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.

As it's run by the NT for Scotland you can park for free if you are a member, although donations are also welcome. There is a nice visitor centre at the car park with nice clean toilets. With several different paths down the gorge, you can spend quite a bit of time here looking at all the nature, as well as the waterfalls themselves. It is all well managed and the routes are easy to follow down to the suspension bridge and on to the viewing platform. Certainly one of the most impressive waterfalls on the NC500.

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.

Wonderful trail with smaller waterfalls where you can walk on the rocks, a great suspension bridge, and a viewing platform for the big waterfall. Parking is free for National Trust Members.

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.

Loved our cruise on Loch Shiel. The Captain and First Mate were very attentive, working hard to show us whatever was out along the banks. We did not see much wildlife, but we saw the beautiful banks of the loch. A highlight of our two weeks in Glenfinnan.

Had a very enjoyable cruise with Loch Shiel Cruises from Glenfinnan to Acharacle. Not only was the scenery beautiful but seeing the Eagles in flight was amazing. Ali and Ben provide a great experience and are knowledgeable on the history and the eagles.

We absolutely loved our trip with Loch Shiel Cruises (I actually took two, the full loch cruise one day and the Gaskan cruise the next). Even without the wildlife the views are stunning, but multiple sightings of Golden Eagles and some significantly closer encounters with a pair of White-tailed Eagles elevated the experience even further. I'd recommend these trips to anyone!

Just completed our second trip of the day and can’t recommend this company enough. We opted for the morning trip so we could watch the Jacobite travel along the Glenfinnan Viaduct and were treated to a great view. The tour along the loch was also really interesting, with Captain Ally and Liam pointing out points of interest and wildlife along the way. Sadly, no white tailed eagles, but we spot a Golden Eagle soaring over head, and red deer along the hillside. Ally is a keen photographer and wildlife enthusiast so we fell into easy conversation through the trip and was invited to join the afternoon trip. What an opportunity that was. After a longer, and slightly quicker trip down the loch, we reached the area where Alastair usually hangs out and we spotted nothing. Ally took us a little further along, giving insight as we moved along. Ally took us of a sudden, Alastair burst from the trees and was spotted by my wife. Ally then used his knowledge and skill to keep us in prime location for viewing this magnificent bird, and for getting the best images. We had plenty of time as we kept enough distance so as not to disturb Alastair. All the time Ally provided valuable insights and commentary, making me want to book in the future for one of the longer tours, and associated photo workshops. Would recommend this tour to anyone and everyone and will be booking again when in the area Thanks Ally, and crew

What a great experience this was! I've been to glenfinnan a handful of times but never sailed across loch shiel. It was just no other words then stunning, the loch opens up and the scenery is superb! We seen eagles flying around following us while we sailed across the loch. It was magical to see them so close to us. Ali and the other guide was super friendly and a great commentary when we was sailing across the loch,.this loch is also very special as it was the backdrop for the black lake in the Harry potter films where hogwarts was I was in my element as a harry potter fan! You must book this cruise if your in glenfinnan!

Aly is a superb Captain along with his Mate. He is the perfect host and very knowlegable of the history of Loch Sheil and its wildlife. Makes you feel really welcome and it was an absolute pleasure to be on his cruise. We will be back again for another full return trip.👌 Highly recommended

In July I had a great cruise with Loch Shiel cruises. Managed to see an Osprey, lots of White-Tailed Eagles and a couple of Golden Eagles. Thank goodness I had my binoculars as the Golden Eagles fly at such a high altitude! Thanks for a great experience! I also went on two cruises in October and both of them were great - one was with my brother and the other was with my wife and mother in law. All 3 of them had a great experience - thanks to Captain Aly and Rosie. Looking forward to seeing you next year!

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

Lovely castle ruins, seen from a distance as we didn’t fancy paying for the carpark or tour. Worth a stop as it’s quite an impressive sight.

So so so beautiful! It’s really majestic. We didn’t get to enter the castle because there was a wedding happening.

Last visited 12 years ago. Boy has it changed! It's now so much busier, but has much better facilities - cafe, shop etc. I would recommend getting there early to maximise your chances of getting round the castle unhurried and able to view everything. When it's packed with visitors it's impossible to see a lot of the artefacts. It's definitely worth getting the audio guide for £3.

NO PHOTOS ALLOWED INSIDE! After visiting this castle, I honestly felt like I had been completely ripped off. You have to pay for parking, pay to enter the grounds, and then pay again to go inside the castle itself. We also bought the audio guide. The most important thing: photography and video are strictly forbidden inside the castle. This is why you won't see photos of the rooms in reviews, even though you can find information about tickets to the museum interior. My advice: take photos from the car park and leave. There is nothing worth doing beyond that. You won't get any magnificent shots from the castle courtyard, either. I visit museums for self-education. I usually bring my sketchbook and pencils to draw things or take photo notes for later. Here, you cannot bring a backpack and photography is banned. It took us only one hour—including buying tickets, using the restroom, and fully touring the castle with the audio guide—that's how small it is. The audio guide has only nine tracks. I noticed QR codes in some rooms, but I don't understand why this information wasn't simply voiced on the guide. Why should I download yet another app when I've already paid for something that is supposed to give me access to the information? The exhibition itself is not just bad; it’s absurd. You walk into a room where there are modern coloured photos of the royal family standing on a chest of drawers, right next to 18th-century dresses... because, well, I guess there was space. Logic? None. They had a medieval castle model but placed it in a dark corner where it’s impossible to see, so everyone just walks right past it. If I had known this beforehand, I never would have paid for the ticket. It is simply not worth the money they charge for entry.

A trap designed to squeeze as much money as possible out of tourists. You pay to park, you pay if you want to see the outside, you pay to go inside. YOU CANNOT TAKE PHOTOS INSIDE THE CASTLE. The parking staff are very aggressive and constantly pressure you to pay.

Beautiful location and we had talks from guide on each floor to explain the past and present (1900s) story of the castle.

The castle itself slashed closed for a private wedding but we got great photos and the cafe gave us teas and scones at a very reasonable price.

Absolutely amazing gardens & views over the Loch can't wait to go back again on next year's visit to Scotland. A bit disappointed with the house only a few downstairs rooms open to view. The staff were very well informed, helpful & friendly. The restaurant was very nice & able to take our two dogs inside with us. It was nice to be able to go round the gardens with the dogs as well. Joined the national trust while we were there aswell did the gardens one day & the house later in the week as dogs care not allowed in the house

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, told us where to go to see the sea otters - which we did manage to see! Plenty of car parking, large gift shop and two separate cafes provide lots of facilities. Toilets available at the visitor centre and at the main house. The garden itself is stunning, so many different species living alongside each other, seeing a Californian Giant Redwood in the flesh was a personal highlight! Couldn't recommend more, highly worth taking the time to visit!

We visited Inverewe Garden at the end of October and found it pleasantly quiet when we arrived around 3:30 p.m. Admission for two was £30. As the weather was already turning colder, many of the plants had withered, so it’s likely best to visit during the summer months to see the garden in full bloom. The garden itself is relatively compact — it takes about an hour to explore most of the grounds. There is a large car park located in front of the entrance, and parking was free during our visit.

Cheap parking, dog friendly (just had to be kept on already). Quiet (it was November). Coffee shop was open, and coffee was acceptable, but not inspiring. The map was pretty to look at but didn't really help the navigation. There was plenty of interesting plants, some still flowering well, to inspire. No funicular railway or cable car. The weather was mild and bright which was a bonus. No childrens play area. The gardens were really well maintained. Alice's walk was the highlight, excellent planting.

What a stunning place. We had one of the best days here, full of stunning plants, wonderful walk. not to busy and weather was stunning! There is a plenty to see, lots to look at and really well maintained, lots and lots of plants that are only here, you will see plants that you have never seen before. Absolutely stunning. What a place!

We went in September and there was lots of colour in the gardens. Had a lovely walk through the trees and really enjoyed our visit. The lady on reception was very friendly and helpful. The cafe and toilet area was also excellent.

Walked from the nearby campsite in the aftermath of Amy. Evidently it is in the tropics with the palms and the ensuing storm. Cafe was just what was needed for a warming drink and cake. Helpful staff. Recommended

The Aroma Café & Perfume Studio Gift Shop is located within the lovely crofting community of Mellon Charles, close to the village of Aultbea in Wester Ross, Scotland. The premisses has ample outside parking and overlooks picturesque Loch Ewe, providing wonderful views over the loch and towards the distant Torridon mountains and islands of the Outer Hebrides. The staff were friendly and welcoming and the menu included fresh soups, sandwiches, paninis and daily specials, using local produce, fresh salads, a lovely dressing and homemade vegetable crisps, plus a selection of fresh cakes. The attached perfumery business and gift shop sells their unique perfumes and lovely soaps, made with essential oils, which includes a small range made for pets. There is also a photography studio on site offering landscape photography experiences.

This is a nice place to stop for lunch. The menu is soup and sandwich or more substantial options and obviously cake and coffee etc. The food was as good robust lunch, the soup being the highlight. The view from the location is nice even though it was a misty wet day when I was there. Although this is a bit of a drive down towards a dead end, there are other places on the road there to visit and there were otters and seals to see along the road. The Perfume Studio is currently up for sale but is operating as normal.

We stopped here for a light lunch. The sandwich and millionaire shortbread were lovely. But best of all is the view!! Sadly, it’s going to be changed into accommodation next year.

Great place at the end of the road before you get to America. Beautiful views. Food and ambiance are super. Cheerful staff. And a great shop

We were lucky to be here on a nice sunny afternoon for lunch. Great food and great service. The view is just spectacular.

Lovely food and scrumptious cakes. Staff friendly and welcoming. All safe and social distancing rules adhered to :)

Wonderful view located on the coast. Don't get deceived by the name - While it does have a shop area for perfume, it is also a Great place to take a break if you are doing the North Coast 500 road trip.

A very enjoyable excursion to take with children, enjoying the coast, the scenery, and seeing seals. Callum and Jane made the tour pleasant with their comments, answering questions and showing us the area. We had a spectacularly sunny day that made for a wonderful boat ride and a lovely time in the charming village.

What an amazing experience! Calum is funny and full of banter, and, as promised, he showed us loads of adorable sea puppies - aka seals! Unfortunately we didn't catch the otters, dolphin or wale, but he took us to Peter Pan's Lost Boys island. The views on this trip are gorgeous. Thank you Calum and David for taking these 3 wee lasses on an unforgettable boat trip experience! Oh, and in case you people are wondering, it is true, no payment if no seals. But you WILL see seals 😍🦭🦭

Really enjoyed our trip with Calum and David yesterday to see the seals. Both were very knowledgeable and gave us lots of facts. Lovely sunny day which made the trip even more enjoyable. Thank you both

We loved calum's seal trip! The highlight of our plockton visit... well, we also loved the Croft café, a few minutes away! Calum and Ian were both so fun and knowledgeable. We learned lots, saw lots and left very happy. The seals are adorable! Calum has even named three of them!

An absolute must do when visiting the highlands. Calum is an amazing captain who makes great conversation. The weather was quite bad the day we went so we had the boat all to ourselves. Such an unforgettable experience. If you are visiting the highlands, make the trip to Plockton, it is worth it !

We had an amazing experience on Calum’s Seal Trip thanks to Calum and David! They are friendly, funny and knowledgeable about the area. We had the boat all to ourselves and a lot of fun talking to them. They showed us adorable seals (Seehunde) and a great view!! I would recommend this trip to everyone!

Fantastic boat trip, even though it was raining. The scenery was stunning. Saw seals, stags, Eider ducks, Mergansers and a juvinille Guillemot. The crew were really friendly and informative. Would recommend a trip with them!

Stunning drive! Can see it being hard to drive around during the peak times due to motorhomes and narrow areas, but late Sept was gorgeous.

It's still stunning 50 years after I first went over the pass, in those days, the roadside was littered with empty beer cans, consumed by three workers building the rings on their way back from the Applecross Inn. These days, there's just tourists, campers and cyclists. How ties have changed!

What can I say that hasn't been said already? An absolute must see and do if possible on your trip. Incredible scenery all round. Try to take a few stops to take in the experience and don't blast through from one side to the other. Road is quite narrow in places so take care with oncoming traffic. There are several severe hairpins so avoid if a nervous driver. A bikers' dream road.

Amazing road! Obviously quite dangerous but it’s the most amazing views, loved every second of this journey and this road will always be a highlight if anyone gets the chance to travel this road they should! Cannot wait to plan this trip again and visit these amazing sites again! Feel very privileged to of travelled this road trip!

If you have a pre-millennium campervan and it is your pride and joy, why? Getting to Applecross is bad enough for your cherished vehicle, why push it to it's limit? It is bad for your vehicle, bad for the environment and locals have to use this road as a necessity, not a thrill. Obstructing locals commute is not pleasant. Go on a roller coaster to get a buzz. It will only affect you. Don't do it for doing it sake or because it is in your "bucket list". THINK

"Breath-taking views! Balach na Bà delivered an unforgettable stay amidst Scotland's stunning Highlands. Cozy, comfortable, and perfectly located for exploring the area. Highly recommend!"

It's an amazing road, almost entirely single track with frequent passing places. It's very narrow at times, and with a very poor surface in places, and a few hairpin bends and very steep stretches. It's one of only two routes to Applecross, with the coast road also being largely single track with some exposed stretches (but nothing compared to the Pass of the Cattle). Signs at both ends rightly warn off learner drivers, and inexperienced drivers of (particularly larger) motor homes should stay away too. This road is not for the fainthearted; however, the coast road to Applecross via Shieldaig is also amazingly scenic, so the round trip in either direction is a must.