Local area | Heritage Trails | Whisky trails | Gardens and wildlife | Highlands | Day tours
Recommended highland tours include
Loch Ness and Inverness
Travel north via Blair Castle, and at Dalwhinnie (visit the distillery there on the way there or back) take the Laggan road through the western end of Monarch of the Glen country to Spean Bridge (famous Commando memorial near there). Then north along Loch Lochy and Loch Oich to Fort Augustus at the southern end of Loch Ness. North along the loch to Urquhart Castle and the visitor centre at the northern end. Onward to Inverness. Then south along the A9 via Aviemore all the way back.
Monarch Country
Same as above to Laggan, then back to the lovely little highland towns of Newtonmore and Kingussie, perhaps taking on the Highland Folk Museum. Further north to Aviemore and Boat of Garten. Take a trip on the Strathspey steam railway in the summer months – to Glenbogle station and back to either Boat or Aviemore. Then return south along the A9.
Fort William and Glencoe
A wonderful round day trip takes you past the Queens View to Tummel Bridge, then to Aberfeldy, Killin and on to Crianlarich. North from there through Glencoe to Fort William. Onwards north to Spean Bridge then take the Laggan/Dalwhinnie road across beautiful countryside to join the A9 southbound at Dalwhinnie.
Cairngorms
Spend a day in Cairngorm National Park. Visit Rothiemurchus Estate, see the Ospreys and visit the Speyside heather centre. Shop in Aviemore. Visit the landmark Centre in Carrbridge – superb family amusement park. Don’t miss the highland Folk Museum on the way back to Perth then Blairgowrie along the A9
Royal Deeside
An easy and very rewarding drive takes you all the way to Braemar along the A93, well signposte, through Glenshee. Some 14 miles further on is Balmoral Castle and the lovely little town of Ballater, with good shops. Original royal Railway Station. Lochnagar distillery. You can come back the same way or alternatively cut west towards Grantown and Aviemore via the spectacular Lecht and the village of Tomintoul, then head back south along the A9.
Crieff and Strathearn
Allows the option of taking in Perth. Go south to Perth then the road to Crieff. Visit the great visitor centre there, lovely shops, also Glenturret Distillery. On the way back take the superb scenic road through the ‘Sma Glen’ north to Amulree then Aberfeldy. Perhaps visit the Crannog Centre and the World of Whisky then back to pitlochry.
Loch Tay and Killin
A very leisurely and beautifully scenic trip, taking in the Queens View, Schiehallion and the delightful little village of Fortingall, nestling at the foot of the eastern end of Ben Lawers. Try to visit Castle Menzies and the House of Menzies near Aberfeldy.
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