Discover secret Scottish Highlands spots this summer
Scotland’s 800 or so isles are often the go-to for an escape from civilisation; understandable given what they offer. Head off the beaten track in the Highlands, though, and you can savour a world-class break away from the hordes this year without even stepping on a ferry. Even as a travel writer born and based here, it has taken me years to fully appreciate what the Highlands offer beyond those isles – here are my tips for getting off the beaten track in Europe’s last great wilderness.
Not the North Coast 500
Follow the motorhomes trailing dutifully across the Kessock Bridge on the clogged NC500 driving route, then smugly break east on to the Black Isle where many of the charms of the Highlands await without the traffic. We’re talking beaches, seafood, walks and cute villages. Not actually an island, this peninsula is sandwiched between the firths of Moray and Cromarty – sweeping sea views and big skies abound. Pict